The chic and panic-free gowns of Cicada

When my fiancé and I announced our engagement, my married friends told me that wedding gown shopping would be one of the best parts of the whole wedding planning process. "You have an excuse to go shopping a lot, and you really feel like a princess," they'd say. Maybe that sounds great to most gals, but to me-someone who isn't into excessive shopping, and never wants to look like a spoiled, high-maintenance "princess"- it sounded awful.

My gown hunt began with excitement, but soon became stressful and overwhelming. The search started with at few big bridal boutiques which were kinda fun -- if you like huge, dramatic statement dresses, dealing with ultra-chic salespeople who are applying some serious sales pressure, and an average ticket price of $3,000 per dress (not including alterations).

I was further discouraged when, a full seven months before my wedding day, I was told by many boutiques that I already may be too late: Most designer bridal shops have their gowns made on the other side of the country -- or in some cases, on the other side of the planet -- so it takes time to make and ship them.

I was distraught and on my way home when the answer appeared right in front of me on First Avenue: Cicada, a small custom dress shop. The shop was about to close for the night and I didn't even have a chance to try anything on, but I saw a cute top and skirt combo in the window and talked to a helpful designer who told me not worry because Cicada customize the gowns onsite and only asks for about four months to turn one around.

I took a peek at the price on the dress that caught my eye. I have never been so delighted to see a $900 tag.

PERFECT DRESS, NO STRESS

As it turned out, that dress in the window was the one for me. But even more than the garment itself, it was the relaxed attitude of the salespeople, coupled with the fact that the designers make the dresses in-house (in a space right behind the dressing rooms) that made my Cicada experience such a positive one.

"Your experience is more personal here-we don't do the high-powered sell," said Elizabeth Klob, who co-owns the shop with Jennifer Gay. "We feature modern, clean lines in fabrics you can afford. Plus, there's a huge comfort in knowing that your dress is made here in Seattle instead of, say, a designer brand name in New York, because sometimes they simply don't arrive in time. In fact, we've made dresses here at the last minute for brides who have experienced this very thing."

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LORI HINTON

Cicada creates dress designs you simply won't see anywhere else.

Almost every person on the floor at Cicada is a designer or a seamstress, so they can all answer questions and even provide suggestions on how to customize your dress. It's a real bonus to have the same people who design your dress be the same ones who make alterations to it. And the dress styles are beautiful in a way that's not so princess-like - designs are thoughtful and sweet, subtle but unique.

Klob and Gay started Cicada in 1994 and their blending of talents has been serving the Seattle bride ever since.

"Jen and I have very different ideas," said Klob. "She uses more clean, modern lines and I do more of a vintage look with structured bodices, similar to costume design. But our two directions integrate well and speak to different customers-and when we both get our hands on the same dress it almost always ends up being one of our best sellers."

"We know, as a bride, you are already dealing with the emotional impact of getting married plus trying to make your dream wedding day come true, so we have to be as calming and relaxed as possible and not add to that stress," said Klob. "Our goal is to help create that dress that will make your eyes light up when you try it on."

And mine did exactly that.

TIPS FOR PANICKING BRIDES

Many women have envisioned themselves in their fantasy wedding dress since the early days of playing dress-up as a child and know exactly what they want. Others just know they need something, preferably white. No matter which end of the spectrum you're on, the designers at Cicada have a few tips to make wedding gown shopping a better experience for you.

• When choosing a style, make sure you are wearing the dress and the dress is not wearing you. In other words, don't let the dress upstage you.

• Focus on the portrait area -- from head to bust -- when picking a dress. The majority of your photos will be taken in the "portrait zone."

• If you're torn between two different styles, pick the one element that is most important and let it lead you. For example, if you like your shoulders go with a strapless instead of something like ruffles that hides them.

• Don't bring too many friends or family members when dress shopping; a mom, sister or best friend is great, but too many people means too many opinions and it can easily turn into a frustrating, modern-day version of "Cinderella."

• Always listen to your gut. Don't go with anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, and don't let anyone talk you into something you don't want.

• Be sure to step back and look at the whole picture instead of getting stuck on the minor details of a dress. The wedding dress is almost like a living thing-there will be slight imperfections, but the overall appearance is most important.

• Get a price quote that includes alterations. Often this hefty expense is not mentioned until after the dress arrives, and if you haven't planned for it in your budget, you could be in for a shock. (At Cicada, the hem is included in the dress price.)

• Once you decide on a dress, don't show it to your fiancé as it robs you of any surprise on the wedding day. Some believe this is an ancient tradition not meant for modern-day brides, but revealing yourself to your partner as you walk down the aisle is often one of the most cherished moments in your marriage