Your wedding should feel like an extension of your life—not a performance of what a wedding is supposed to be.

I never expected to have slacklining at one of my events. And yet, there we were.

Near the end of the planning process, my couple mentioned that they were planning to have slacklining and juggling at their wedding. I’ll admit: I was hesitant. It wasn’t something I had any personal experience with and it’s certainly not something I would consider a typical wedding activity. My first mental image was of people trying to balance on a line after a beer or two while I stood nearby wondering how many ways this could go wrong. Part of my job as a planner is to consider any and all safety implications so naturally my that’s where I went.

What I didn’t know yet was that nearly a third of their guests were slackliners themselves. This wasn’t a random activity the couple had found online because they wanted their wedding to feel “unique.” Slacklining and juggling were part of their lives. They were things these friends did together, as a community, long before there was a wedding.

And once I understood that, everything changed.

It didn't feel like an activity that had been added to fill a gap in the timeline. It felt like their people being their people. The bride had even hand-painted flowers onto the anchors. A detail that could have seemed completely random in another wedding was suddenly beautiful and deeply meaningful because it belonged to them.

Julia Kinnunen Photography

Meaningful doesn't always look traditional.

Sometimes it looks like a beautifully set dinner table. Sometimes it looks like a family recipe or a song your dad has played for twenty years. And sometimes it looks like a bunch of your friends balancing on a piece of webbing in the middle of your wedding reception.

You don't have to make your wedding meaningful by adding more personalized details just for the sake of personalization. You can start by looking at the life you already have.

What do you and your friends/family do together? What communities are you part of? What makes your people light up? What would feel completely normal at a Saturday afternoon with your closest friends, even if it feels completely out of place on a traditional wedding inspiration board?

Those are the things worth making room for. Because the goal isn't to have the most unique wedding.

It's to stop trying to have a normal one.

Julia Kinnunen Photography

Yes. That’s the short answer. Read on if you need convincing.

I have been on the other side of a wedding without a tent and I’m going to let you guess how it turned out. I cannot stress this enough…GET THE TENT.

If you are based anywhere in the PNW, you are aware that it can rain absolutely any time of the year…even in the hottest of months. Even when it’s been beautiful all week. Even when the forecast says otherwise.  Rain is the most obvious reason to rent a structure of some kind but here are some other ideas for you.

1. It could be very very hot. Living in the PNW, we know the weather can be fickle. A tent provides shade which creates a far better environment for guests, food, drinks and overall experience. The idea of my glass of chilled Rose baking in the sun is enough for me! In addition, you could add water misters which in my experience, are an absolute fan favorite like these ones from CORT. 

2. You are creating something out of nothing! If you are considering a tent, you probably are hosting your event in a large field or grassy space. A tent provides an ‘outdoor room’ of sorts. Still outside but it creates a beautiful focal point. Somewhere to land and design the rest of the spaces such as cocktail hour, lawn games, welcome table, things like that. Just make sure they can be tucked in the tent if needed (minus the lawn games). 

3. How can you keep it elegant? We aren’t talking about a tent at your local small town festival. You can add leg draping, a liner for the ceiling, drapery walls, pendant lamps, greenery or floral installs which could cover any metal that could give it a more casual look.  

4. Is there more than one type of tent? Oh my yes there are! I am fully in love with Sailcloth Tents like this one from Sperry Tents. Structures like this Skyline Pavilion create an exquisite space with a cross between a tent and a building. Cleartop tents are also fabulous and create a fun greenhouse vibe…just be careful on the hot hot days so it doesn’t actually turn into a greenhouse.

5. If you want to go a step further, you could add a true floor, create an entrance with florals and a walkway leading your guests into a meaningful celebration they won’t forget. 

Imagine your wedding or celebration day. You have curated the rentals and the tables look beautiful, the florals are thoughtfully arranged, your look is flawless, everything is in place. And then…that first drop. And then a second…you weren’t blissfully dreaming. I’ll let you fill in the rest. 

Ellie Goulding said it best ‘Anything could happen, anything could happen…’. Get the tent, thank me later.

xoxo, eva

Julia Kinnunen Photography