Iconic Summer Pool Party in Philadelphia
At the heart of any truly memorable summer, there can often be found a memory of a pool party. The heat of summer tempered with a cool, blue oasis and sated with an ice-cold cocktail - there are few more perfect combinations to be found. When we were asked to plan an upscale summer pool party for the Wolfe family to celebrate their contractor Gemmi Construction, we were pumped to plan a party that really celebrated this iconic summer event.
Delving into the details of this sweet family, we discovered a story that really helped set the personalized theme of this event. During the Wolfes’ first Christmas at their home, a set of plastic pink flamingos was mysteriously placed at the top of their driveway. Over the next few seasons, the flamingos would be dressed by the same mystery person to match the holiday of the season. This story was so unique that we knew we had to incorporate these flamingos into the Wolfes’ party. Along with the flamingos, the essence of which we captured in pink flamingo pool inflatables, we added in design elements of black and white palm fronds, vintage, striped changing tents, bright fuschia and black pool loungers, and balloon decor featuring pops of hot pink, white, and green.
The entire party was designed around the Wolfes’ house in Philadelphia. We built part of the color palette around the classic black and white design of the home so that the party would feel like an extension of the house itself. Pops of pink were added to create a playful element in the palette as a nod to the flamingos. The backyard pool was surrounded with black loungers topped with fuschia cushions; a spacious, white canvas tent provided an escape from the sun and a place to sit, relax, and enjoy a drink; finally, the backyard itself was surrounded by lush greenery and trees, which cultivated an atmosphere of luxury and exclusivity at the event.
Utilizing different textures to build up the event caused each sense to be ensnared throughout the afternoon. However, we wanted to go beyond capturing just the senses - we wanted to keep the attention of each guest engaged and enraptured. To do this, we layered entertainment throughout the event. Unique foods and drinks are easy elements to incorporate into events to occupy guests. Colorful, custom-iced cookies were at the ready for guests to snack on, and an adorable ice-cream cart plied the cold, sweet treat to guests towards the end of the evening. A bar was set up under the tent for cool refreshments during the party, and a caricature artist was available to render humorous depictions of each guest. Guests and colleagues enjoyed watching the artistic interpretation during the character experience. Large, whimsical pool inflatables encouraged pool play and relaxation in the summer sun. No pool would be complete without two changing rooms, so we created our own using small, vintage changing tents!
Hosting fun, unique events is a delightful way to start the summer, and House of Joy had such a sweet time helping plan this iconic summer pool party!
Photos by: Meghan Baskin Photography
