Thanks to Mosquito Joe for sponsoring this post. All opinions are authentically my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support me!
A few weekends ago, the hubs and I decided to kick off summer with a backyard pool party!
The weather threatened rain but thankfully, it was a gorgeous (and HOT) day!
(Shop my one piece here, size large)
Pool Party Tip 1: Easy Invites
We began planning about 3 weeks from the chosen date. I made electronic invites on Canva to mass text out. They make it so easy and this template below was perfect! PS don’t forget to invite your neighbors 😉 .
Tip 2: Get the yard in shape
The week of the party, we did a lot of yard work. Our yard isn’t quite where we’d like it to be yet but it is coming along. We set up furniture, strung some lights, and planted some flowers.
A huge game changer for the yard was having Mosquito Joe of Northern Virginia Beach come out and spray. Nothing kills a party more than everyone itching. Our neighborhood is constantly crawling with mosquitos and I am always a target. In the past, I’ve gone out for just 30 mins and come back with 10 bites!
Mosquito Joe came out a week before the party and the day before and the results were remarkable. I didn’t get bit all day! And I even stayed outdoors till 9pm!
Tip 3: Food and Drinks
We did some grocery shopping a few days prior to the pool party. We got a million hot dogs (ok, maybe 100), buns, condiments, paper plates, napkins, chips, ice, waters, sodas, and beers.
My parents threw pool parties all the time when I was a kid and although ours wasn’t quite as impressive as theirs were, I did learn a few things from them. One trick is to have separate coolers for each type of drink and label them.
Tip 4: Ambiance
In addition to all that, we made a playlist and blew up all the floats!
Our pool floats were a HUGE hit and I actually think they initiated a lot of the fun! I picked up a few of them from Amazon at the end of last season (on sale) and them a few more from Five Below this year.
By the end of the night we had seen over 40 people come and go. It was an awesome day!
Photos by Meridith Bright Photography
OMG this looks like a blast!! Love all the floats 🙂
xo, Kristina
Sounds like so much fun! I wish I had a pool! Pool floats I remember were my absolute favorite as a kid. For some reason they always make it more fun! That mosquito spray sounds super nice too! Getting bit by mosquitoes is the worst. Happy Summer!
Cassie
Cassie’s Big Adventure
This party looks SO FUN!!! Love the floats and all the cute suits! Good tip on the separate coolers!
http://www.andthenwetried.com
Love that bathing suit! Especially with those jean shorts. Also, so glad it looked like you had fantastic weather!!! Happy fourth xx
This looks like so much fun! We’re currently looking for a house, and a few have had a pool! I’d definitely love to have a house with a pool, throw some amazing summer parties! I love the floats so much fun!
This looks like so much fun! Love the picture of you and your husband!
xx, Melissa
OMG The party look so fun! Its so nice to hang out with friends and catch up
XOXO
Shi Hui | IreviewUread
ireviewuread.com
This little get together looks like so much fun! Love your suit too.
How cute is your suit! I seriously always get eaten by mosquitos. They have a radar for my blood type or something. This makes me want to jump into the pool and grill up some burgers!
Love this post and I’m obsessed with your swim suit!
AHH this looks like so much fun!!! I want to come hang haha
Sounds like so much fun!! I hate mosquitoes, they seem to target me too! This is such a great idea to take care of the mosquitoes before the party. Don’t know why I’ve never thought of that haha. You’re looking gorgeous, Tilley!
Your photos are adorable – it seems like everyone had a great time!
Your swim suit is def giving me TSwift 2016 4th of July party vibes!
Looks so fun and the floats are super cute!
http://chicglamstyle.com
Fun post!! I would love to jump in a pool right now!