Wedding Blog

Every 17 years, something magical happens. I mean, besides Robin Williams making a good movie. I’m talking about the billion-strong emergence of the cicada, the singing, winged insect often mistaken for the locust, throughout parts of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

It’s happening this week, and believe it or not, it’s wedding related.

(How many garters does she wear?)

For Midwestern brides having an outdoor wedding, the swarm of cicadas could be a factor to consider. The males of the species (the only ones that sing) are louder than a motorcycle and can easily drown out human speech. In other words, you may want to tell your harpist to crank it up a notch or two.

No worries about biting or stinging; once hatched, the harmless cicadas head straight for the trees to engage in some long anticipated hanky panky. And the bugs won’t be around for more than a few weeks. Still, this bride’s horror story might cause you to think up Plan B, just in case.

Chances are your wedding won’t be affected. If anything, you’ll just have some some unpaid vocal talent at your nuptials. But if you’re worried, you can always check out Cicada Mania for answers. Their wedding guide has a list of Do’s and Dont’s as well links to “brood maps” that will show you exactly where the infestation will be happening.

Oh, and if you’re the lemons-to-lemonade type, there are plenty of cicada recipes (adult AND larvae) to be found. And if you really wanna get buggy with it, you can give your guests French Provence cicada soap as favors.

Just don’t be too harsh on the lil’ guys. I mean, they only get to mate every seventeen years. Perish the thought.