If you’re like us, you have a beautiful pool in your backyard and enjoy entertaining your family and friends. It’s one of the features about your home you’re most proud of.
1) Prep: If you haven’t already started, it’s time to prep your pool area. This means giving your patio furniture a good hosing down along with the deck. And be sure plant a few flowers for pops of color through the yard. But that’s just the start of this great season. When the heat is on, people are looking for ways to cool down. Well, don’t worry. With just a bit of preparation, your pool parties can be the talk of the neighborhood!
2) Pool Party Invitations: Be sure to hand deliver or mail your invitations, if you really want to do it right. While calling or sending an e-vite is fine, if you really want to impress, take the time to do it with style! One fun way would be to print your own invitations on blue paper, roll it up and stuff it into a bottle – and consider adding a bit of sand or confetti, especially if your pool party theme is beach, Hawaiian or tropical, which will bring a touch of the island to your party!
3) Decorations: While you might think the pool is the main attractions, it’s really what goes on all around the pool that sets the stage. Many of your guests may not want to swim, or may choose to just take a quick dip or two. Arrange a few small tables around the pool and cover them with a pretty table cloths or flowery material and surround them with chairs so your guests feel comfortable in or out of the pool. Feel free to bring in tables from indoors for the day – or pick up a few inexpensive outdoor end tables that can be used indoors as well, like this Simply Siesta chat table for just $79 or this 26” Round Bistro Table and you have all the space you need. Add artificial flower arrangements like these that can be used indoors or out, or choose organic selections such as sunflowers in bamboo vases or go tropical with Birds of Paradise you raided from your neighbor’s garden. Set into vibrant colored metal buckets that you or the kids can paint, fill with river rock or sand, you have gorgeous table decorations for very little cost. You might also pick up round fish bowls and put some sand and seashells in the bottom, fill half way with water and float a lily in each. After dark, replace the lily with floating flowers for an added glow to your party!
4) Seating: Make sure there are plenty of chairs for your guests to sit in – both in and out of the pool! If they will be in the sun be sure they don’t have any metal pieces to burn legs. Adirondack chairs like these make great pool chairs. They last years and years and can be left outside without worry about wear or tear. You can get matching deck chairs, rockers, benches and swings and really liven the place up. Make sure your guests have plenty of comfort with chairs like the Premium Water Hammock, the Unsinkable Pool Float or the Oversized Cooler Couch that has it’s own on board cooler for your own personal stash!
5) Shade: Be sure you have plenty of patio umbrellas. It’s always fun to get them in several hues to add pops of color to your party. You can find inexpensive wood umbrellas here from $79.99. If you put them away after each use, they’ll last for years. If you want to get an umbrella that you can leave up year round, just be sure the fabric canopy is made from Sunbrella like those here which resists fading for up to 5 years and comes in any color to match your style or décor.
6) Safety: If there’s going to be children, we recommend hiring a local teenager (one who is an actual lifeguard would be best) for the afternoon to lifeguard the pool. Their job is to sit and watch the pool and kids. That way parents can have a great time knowing their children are in good hands. Be sure your hired lifeguard knows the rules and that they have a comfortable chair, and umbrella for shade, plenty to drink and last remember to give them a break – the last thing you want is their concentration wandering for a moment. We recommend the Bistro Lifeguard Chair you can find here. It will match with the rest of your Siesta patio furniture and makes a great chair poolside or sidled up next to a bar.
7) Music: Be sure you have music! With today’s technology, you don’t need a DJ. You can burn a few CDs to play or use your IPOD with a dock and remote control and the music is yours to control. For a beach themed party, forgo the Beach Boys (they’re so overdone), and go for a great mix of today’s hits, some dance music and a little reggae. As the afternoon ramps up, so can the music. And when you feel it’s time for your guests to go home, slow the music down and shut down the bar for the evening. They’ll usually get the hint!
8) Fun: Consider winging it with a few games or crafts. While the men may not enjoy it so much, the women and kids will have a blast! How about a Butterfly Cocktail Straw like the one we found here on Martha Stewart? The directions are simple and the concept is great for young and old. I’m sure the men in the group will have ideas of their own on what they can stick on a straw!
9) Food and Drinks: What’s a party without food and drinks. You don’t want your guests to go home hungry do you? Or worse, run out of food halfway through the party. Keep up with your guests appetites with finger foods that you can bring out throughout the afternoon will help keep the costs down too. Keep with the beach theme and serve teriyaki chicken on skewers, shrimp cocktails, some slides of cheese, salami and pineapple – well you get the idea. Add large pitchers of iced tea and spa water (allow a few slices of cucumbers and oranges to soak for an hour or two in some water – then add plenty of ice). Keeping your guests hydrated is especially important if the weather is really hot and humid. You might consider either setting up multiple drink stations in galvanized tin buckets filled with ice. If you prefer something more permanent or substantial, take a look at the Coco Palm Patio Bar in Dark Bronze – made for the outdoors but beautiful indoors as well!
10) Party Favors: Beach party decorations can be found just about anywhere and are easy on the wallet too. Here’s some ideas: Beach Balls, which can be used during the party then sent home with your guests, Frisbees, flip flops and inflatable beach toys all make great party favors for kids and adults alike.
Either way, have fun! It’s all about creating memories, not about spending money! “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened! (Thank you Dr. Seuss). If you have any questions about any of our products, please feel free to call us at (888) 564 – 4744 or (866) 777-5295. We’ll be happy to offer our decorating or party advice!
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