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Today we went to one of our favorite wedding dress shops in the whole world—Cicada Bridal. It’s where Priscilla and I got her wedding dress when we got married (14 years ago!). They were in Capital Hill then and so were we. Cicada has since moved to their downtown location at 1121 1st Ave. They got their start 17 years ago above Retro Viva in the U District. So, they have been around a long time.

Even though they have fancy new digs downtown, their store is just as inviting as it was when it was a little shop on Capitol Hill. When you enter, you are surrounded by gorgeous gowns and wedding dresses bathed in natural light from the rain you just exited. Oddly, today it was sunny and the sheen on the dresses reflected our good fortune. We interviewed Elizabeth when she was cutting fabric from a pattern for their upcoming fashion show. She spoke with obvious emotion and enthusiasm for her work. She truly loves when a bride comes in knowing what she wants, but not exactly knowing how to realize her vision. She loves creating the most flattering, beautiful dress to suit each individual bride.

So how did you get the name Cicada, we asked. Elizabeth said that Jen went to school for entomology and she promised her father that she would use her degree in her work so they named the shop after her favorite bug, the Cicada (!). And she also talked about how she really loves the symbolism of the Cicada, how it spends a long time in the ground and then emerges with these gorgeous gossamer wings.

Elizabeth said that when a bride walks into Cicada, she wants her to feel comfortable and not intimidated. It’s usually her first time shopping for a wedding dress, so it’s good to try on lots of different styles and ask lots of questions. She loves it when a bride trusts her to design her a custom dress that makes her look and feel fabulous. It’s not a one-size-fits-all proposition. And while they of course accept walk-ins, it is better to make an appointment, especially if you want to discuss a custom dress. About 35% of their dresses are custom designs. For their off-the-rack dresses, they can do alterations in just a few days.

We asked if there is a particular situation that Elizabeth likes with brides. She said that when a family comes in with something difficult such as having to fit two very differently sized bridesmaids in the same dress (e.g. a seven -year-old girl and the bride’s 3x sister) and she can get the same dress to fit both perfectly, it gives her great deal of satisfaction. She loves when the Mom of the bride calls and tells her that everything came together so beautifully that it “made her daughter cry.”

Having done a bit of Photoshop work to enhance the appearance of many a strapless dress, we confess that this style is not our favorite and we are anxious for this fashion to pass. Elizabeth said that it has taken her some time to understand the enduring appeal of the strapless gown, but that when a woman exposes her collarbone, it is both gracious and vulnerable and she thinks that this is why the strapless gown has enduring appeal. We appreciated her insight. She also said that the Photoshop work wouldn’t be necessary if the strapless dress fit properly and that’s where she comes in.

When we bought our wedding dress at Cicada 15 years ago, they asked us to bring in our photos after we got married. Only about 20% of brides ever bring their photos back in. We had intended to bring our photos back for a long time. When we finally did bring them in just a couple weeks ago (14 years after we got married!), they thought this was wonderful and a “blast from the past.” They recognized the dress right away. They remembered that they made me a cape. Yes, I wore a cape at my wedding. Elizabeth said that she identified with the dorky side, and she still liked to make wedding capes—in fact, they have two capes there right now. In case I want to increase my cape collection…I do. ;)

We also showed them a couple of wedding albums that we had of other brides that we have photographed who had worn Cicada and they recognized one of the dresses just from the strap. Elizabeth says she remembers every bride that they have made a dress for. She says she doesn’t necessarily remember names, but that she remembers every face and every dress. She says that each dress has a spirit. As part of their sustainable business practices, all of their fabric is composed of natural fibers and made in the United States. She also makes sure that they use every scrap, either by making decorations for the dresses, maybe dyeing them, or if they can’t use them, they give them away to local schools and organizations. She says as long as you’re going to be spending this much money on the garment, it’s nice that it’s handmade at every point of the process. Priscilla says that she feels like the Cicada dresses embody a sort of generosity and truthfulness of spirit that you won’t find in your average dress shop.

We are so excited that we get to photograph the fashion show for their new line coming out, on November 7. Elizabeth says that their new line is more whimsical and fun—lots of chiffon, tulle and flowery fabrics. They are moving away from the heavier fabrics. When they work on the designs for a new season, she says that they both have to agree (and they have very different tastes!)—if it passes the litmus test and they both like it then it must be a pretty great design. The fashion show is a private event, but if you want to go, check out their Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cicada-Bridal/183690884985013) or send us an e-mail and we will see if we can get you an invitation.

Bob