Given how unbearably hot it’s been this summer, it’s likely that you would need to spend much time or effort enticing guests to attend a pool party. In fact, I recently received a call from a friend of ours offering money if we would be so kind as to invite her brood to swim at our neighborhood pool.
She was joking of course.
About the money, not the desire to go swimming.
If it weren’t already booked for the rest of the season, I would happily rent out our neighborhood pool and invite all of our friends to splish and splash in the summer sun.
If you have the means to throw a pool party this summer, then make it one to remember by adding some pizzazz to all aspects of the celebration.
Invitations: Choose bold colors and prints to make the invitations stand out. I would also suggest finding fun shapes, such as beach balls, slippers or tropical drinks to give clues about the party’s theme. Be sure to include special instructions such as encouraging guests to bring a towel and extra sunscreen. Finally, consider adding some zing to the initiations by gluing on some sand or a few seashells.
Decorations: Faux palm trees decorated with coconuts or tropical birds are easy to find at party stores and can really brighten the mood at pool parties. Add some tiki torches around the perimeter of the pool area, and then add some floating inner tubes and balls in the water. Depending on your budget you could also add silk leis and grass skirts to lounge chairs, trees, and railings.
Music: If you can’t afford a live band, then round up some CDs with Hawaiian music or tunes from the Beach Boys. Just make sure the audio equipment is far enough away from the pool so that it is safe from splashing.
Food: You could go a number of different ways with food. A Hawaiian themed buffet would be wonderful, as would a traditional backyard BBQ or seafood menu. If you don’t want to hassle with a major spread, just order a bunch of pizzas and pick up a few boxes of Popsicles for dessert.
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