Summer is just around the corner which means more time spent by the pool and outdoor barbecues with friends and family. Everyone also loves a night out with friends to see a good movie. So, why not combine them all and host a poolside movie night? It might sound like a big task to take on, but it can really be as simple, or as elaborate as you want it to be. So how do you go about hosting a pool party movie night? Here are some tips for bringing it all together and creating an evening your friends and family won’t forget.
Select the Movie Venue
If you have enough space, and the budget, you may want to consider screening the movie on an inflatable movie screen. There are also rental options out there that come in a variety of sizes and price points. Check out this google search for options to buy or rent jumbotron inflatable movie screens. Or, you can go the free movie screen route! All you need is a large, blank wall or a king-sized white sheet. Make sure if you’re using a sheet that the wrinkles are steamed or ironed out and hang it as tout and smooth as possible. Last item needed is a projector. Again, these can be purchased or rented. You may even have a friend or family member that has one you can borrow! You may already have an outdoor TV installed, which could also work to play the film depending on the size of your crowd. However, this may lead to more of a patio movie night rather than the pool. Again, whatever works best for you!
Pick the Right Movie
Be aware of your guests age and their preferences to make sure the film chosen is appropriate for everyone in attendance. Since you’ll be watching the movie outdoors, and hopefully while floating around in the pool, a water-themed movie may be a great choice! If you have a lot of “littles” coming over, Finding Nemo or The Little Mermaid are good choices. Having more of a teenager-aged group? How about making it their first-time seeing Jaws or Pirates of the Caribbean? If it’s an adult movie night, the options are pretty open as far as movie selection. Just remember, the movie you choose sets the theme and mood for the night!
Set up the Viewing Area
Once you’ve got the venue and the movie picked out, you can then move onto the viewing area. Make sure there are plenty of lounge chairs for those guests not in the pool so they can relax and watch the film too. For those in the pool, get plenty of inflatables! Inner tubes, fun floats (perhaps ones that go along with the movie??), pool noodles, etc. You may also want to consider getting floats with cup holders and maybe even a floating cooler! It’s all about making your guests comfortable as they float around the pool and enjoy the movie. If you have a grassy area that is in view of the movie screen, set up a picnic-like area with a blanket to sit on and little folding tables for drinks and snacks.
Set out the Snacks
If you really want to go all in, pick snacks that go along with the theme. Watching Finding Nemo? Set out bowls of goldfish crackers, cut the hotdogs to look like octopi and for dessert – Swedish Fish! Pinterest has a TON of fun ideas for ocean-themed snacks. You could also share the theme with your guests and have a potluck where everyone brings a dish, or a snack related to the film. For the adults, whip up a fun cocktail for everyone to enjoy and have a cooler with kid-friendly drinks at the ready for the kids to serve themselves. And what movie night is complete without popcorn? Make a popcorn station where your guests can butter and salt their popcorn to their liking. Take it to the next level and offer a variety of seasonings and mix-ins like pretzels or M&Ms that guests can mix up themselves. To save your pool from a potential popcorn mess, you may want to consider a “no food in the pool” rule for the younger kids. Whatever your theme, rules, or snack offerings, everyone is sure to be impressed with this amazing pool party idea! It isn’t often anyone gets to lounge around or in a pool and enjoy a movie, so live it up and enjoy yourself!
Pools by Bradley is Here for YOU
All of us here at Pools by Bradley live and breathe our mission of designing and building your ultimate outdoor pool atmosphere – but the most important thing is we want you have FUN! We intend to inspire you to improve the recreational time you spend with your family and friends in your new outdoor environment. Hosting a poolside movie night is a GREAT way to do that! Our motto is “take care of the customer and everything else will take care of itself”. When you choose Pools by Bradley to help you build your dream pool, you can rest assured that you’re choosing the very best. As a local family owned and operated company founded in 1996, we have received numerous design awards and honors. Pools by Bradley is rated as one of the top 50 pool builders in the U.S., plus recognized as the “Best Pool Company” in Orlando by Orlando Magazine several years in a row! We offer custom built pools and spas with additions ranging from water features and lighting effects to rain curtains and water slides…the sky’s the limit! Contact us online or call us today at 407-323-7946 to see how we can help you build the pool of your dreams!
