Pool parties can be a fun way to entertain friends and family on a hot Florida summer day. Unfortunately, it can be awfully stressful to prepare and plan the event, so here are five tips that can help you set up the ideal backyard oasis without a lot of effort.
Create the Invitation
A pool party is a great way to show off your home and outdoor garden. The key to a successful event is in the invitation. It should have the time, place and what your guests should bring. If you'll be grilling, you want to avoid having to fire up the grill for those who arrive late. You can put that dinner will be served from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. If you're planning on swimming, you may want to let the party revelers know the attire and to bring swimsuits. Unless you're having more guests than what your home can hold, you probably don't need a rain date for your guests. Make sure the inside of your home is set to accommodate guests in case the weather is inclement.
Limit the Decorations
Unless you have a particular theme in mind, you don't have to go overboard on decorating your home. You can skip the balloons and streamers and focus on tidying up your patio. The outdoor seating should also be plentiful and cater to your guests. If you don't have enough chairs, you can reserve them from a party rental facility. Many of the places available in Miami will deliver and might even help you set up. You should also set up tables for food that encourages guests to circulate and mingle with others. If there will be swimming, keep the area around the pool separate. Those not wanting to get wet can find a dry place to sit and visit.
Mix Up an Assortment of Cocktails
You don't need to stock your bar for a pool party. This festive type of party is ideal for serving cool drinks. Select a few cocktails ahead of times such as sangria, beer, wine and margaritas. You can eliminate having to be bartender by mixing up pitchers ahead of time and storing them in the refrigerator. You also want to have soda, water, iced tea and other alcohol-free drinks for guests who don't imbibe. As a good host, you'll want to keep an eye on your guests and dissuade drinkers from getting behind the wheel. The best Miami car accident attorney won't be able to help much if they're that irresponsible. Let them sleep it off in a spare bedroom and provide contact information for a few taxi services or your favorite Uber driver. That'll ensure that your event remains car accident free.
Decide on a Menu
If you're planning a barbecue, you can hire a service that will grill the food and cater the side dishes. For the grill master hosts, pick out meats that are easy to cook such as hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken breasts or shish kebobs. Since our guests will be swimming throughout the party, you also don't want to weigh them down with a heavy meal. Potato, macaroni, fruit and garden salads are excellent lighter fare options. If you have a grill or fire pit, purchase graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows for your guests to put together for dessert.
Music and Entertainment
Background music can add to your party's ambiance. Just ensure that it's not too loud or annoying. You want everyone to be able to chat without having to yell. You can even set your musical play list ahead of time. Pick music from the different genre's such as jazz, pop and classic. If you want to get your guests involved, put together some games. Bag toss, water polo and trivia questions can be entertaining. You can also award small prizes to the winners.
