Poolside Weddings
The perfect wedding day is a day that you’ve probably dreamed of a time or twenty, long before it was on the horizon. There may have been a few nightmares about how to pay for it, too. Hosting weddings and the accompanying events like rehearsal dinners and bridal showers at home has become much more than an affordable alternative to high priced resort venues. It’s on trend to host the big day at home and even more so to host it poolside.
Tips from a former wedding coordinator
Any outdoor event should have a backup plan in case of bad weather. You wouldn’t settle for the old “it doesn’t rain that time of year” pitch from a fancy resort venue, so don’t do it with your poolside wedding at home. Whatever the worst-case scenario is for you, plan that out as thoroughly as you will your plan A.
Pro Tip: If you’re renting a tent to hold the reception, consider also using it as the ceremony location in the event of rain. If a tent is not in the picture, think about possibly removing furniture from the house to accommodate the reception. It’s best to plan ahead and keep an eye on the weather in the days leading up to the big day so these decisions can be made before the tables and chairs are already setup.
You may think that none of your guests will end up in the pool at your reception, but please plan on it happening. It may be a good idea to have some towels on standby (keep them out of sight; no need to give anyone ideas). Think of them as insurance and pray you won’t need to use them, but if you do, you won’t be running around to get Uncle Bill a towel in the middle of the celebration.
Pro Tip: For evening weddings, line the perimeter of your pool with flowers and candles to define the edge of the pool at night. This may help avoid some accidental plunges. I recommend using acrylic candle holders in case of capsize or collision. No one wants to pick up broken glass from the bottom of the pool. Floating arrangements alone won’t define the pool’s edge, but they are a beautiful addition to poolside wedding décor.
Pool Safety: Consider having at least one designated sober adult watching the pool, especially if you are inviting children or serving alcohol at your event. It takes less than a minute for tragedy to strike and nothing ruins the magic of a wedding faster than a loved one getting injured or worse.
I’m sure you are focused on the wedding décor and looking up every YouTube video and Pinterest board to make it a dream wedding. Make sure you put that same effort into getting your home and pool area in tip top shape.
Consider the outside of your house and how it will look to guests and in wedding photos. Does it need to be pressure cleaned or painted? Is your lawn and landscaping up to the challenge of being the wedding backdrop? The pool is an area where photographers love to center wedding photos. The reflective quality that a pool provides can add an unmatched artistic flair to your wedding photos. Is your pool crystal clear, algae free, and camera ready?
Pro Tip: If your pool is not in wedding shape, use Revive!® and E-Z POOL®; a match made in heaven (or at least Florida).
Links:
Pinterest – Pool Wedding
