Memorial Day is truly the start of summer and is typically celebrated by neighborhood BBQ’s – what could be better than a backyard of freshly cut grass, newly planted flowers and the smell of the grill?!

A Memorial Day Pool Party!

My favorite neighbors have had their backyard under construction for the last few months to put in the most spectacular pool!  After all of the planning, working with contractors, and preparations – they deserve a party to celebrate the opening of their pool!

There are so many different components that go into outdoor entertaining – decorating, food, drinks and of course, the little details that will set their party apart any old BBQ.

Let’s start with creating the outdoor party space.  You want to create a few different areas – one for eating, one for socializing and one for lounging by the pool.  Make sure to define these spaces by using elements such as umbrellas, an outdoor rug, a series of chairs that are arranged to be conducive for conversation.  Try to carry one color story throughout the whole outdoor area, and use accents such as lanterns and throw pillows to accessorize.  Take a look at my post on decorating with lanterns for inspiration….not only do they add style by day, but the reflection of the candles in the pool at night will add an instant glow to the party!

Since the pool party is going to be Memorial Day weekend, it makes choosing a color story or theme very simple!  A Memorial Day party invites certain expectations – guests expect that they will be celebrating outside, will be eating all-American fare, and will definitely be seeing a flag or two as decoration.  Flags are a symbol of our patriotism, but let’s surprise your guests with how we use them to decorate.

Speaking of cocktails – no pool party would be complete without Margaritas!  With so many different variations out there – it’s hard to choose which ones to serve.  Check out this post for ideas….if you are looking for a quick but yummy mix, Crate & Barrel has a variety of flavors and rimming salts!  Seeing as though you will be outside and near the pool, you are going to want to stay away from using glass or anything breakable.  There is an abundance of acrylic glasses and  silverware, and melamine dishes currently on the market at all different price points.  Seeing as though you may need to buy in bulk – check out target for these great margarita glasses.

Now, onto the food!  Platters of snacks are definitely important – but for the main course, serve up a pan-roasted corn salad with tomatoes and feta, and barbecued chicken.  For dessert, serve mini-berry parfaits – done in small glasses, they are easy to eat and still carry on a conversation – and by using blueberries and raspberries, they look oh, so festive!

Well, the components are all there – great food, tasty drinks, a stunning atmosphere and good friends to celebrate the new pool!  Enjoy!

Images: table with pool and umbrella (wshome.com), lounge chair (potterybarn.com), drinks (emilywongdesign.com)