How To Throw The Perfect End of Summer Pool Party

Looking to end the summer with a bang? We are too. So, we threw an IBT pool party to cool off from the heat and have fun with the girls – and it was a total hit! From pool floats to popsicles and everything in between, we made sure everyone stayed refreshed and relaxed. Our #1 party tip? Plan ahead, so you can avoid sprinting to the party store 3o minutes before entertaining. That is why we created a list of our must-have party essentials, so you can be the hostess with mostess! And of course, make sure to take a ton of cute pool pics!

Pool & Drink Floats

We have officially dubbed these the most Instagramable party supplies of the summer. We think they make the best props for pictures and make swimming in the pool all the more fun. Our favorite design? Yes, you guessed it, the pink donut! Because why wouldn’t you want to pose with a life sized donut? And we got you covered drink wise too. If you have a margarita in hand and no place to rest it, you will love drink floats as much as we do. They are basically just miniature versions of our favorite pool floats, so you can look cute holding a mini flamingo while storing your drink safely too.

Fun Towels

We don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we have seen so many brands up their towel game this summer. Between the prints, stripes, sayings and bright colors, we are all about laying out in style. And now with so many cute ones to choose from, it’s so easy! However, we have total heart eyes for this ban.do towel. I mean can we talk about that hot pink? And because it’s oversized, you can wrap up in it after you take a dip into the pool. Plus, you are fun and you deserve to tell people that. Don’t you agree?

Printed Koozies

Koozies will always have a piece of our hearts. They keep our drinks cold and they look cute when we are having a low-key photo shoot in the pool. I mean how can we not love them? Plus, they add a little color and excitement to the picnic table! We love this Lilly Pulitzer duo, because it comes with two koozies, so you can keep one for yourself and give one to a friend (or just keep both for yourself…we get it, they are really cute). The only hard part is deciding which tropical print to choose!

Homemade Popsicles

Combat the heat with some sweet treats! We love whipping up a batch of fruit popsicles, because they are so easy to make, yummy to eat and highly photogenic. Our latest go-to recipe is this watermelon lime concoction from one of our fave nutrition experts, Jennie Miremadi. Plus, they are super healthy, so you won’t get a sugar high in the middle of your summer fun (the best part: they taste so good that no one will even notice). Just make them the night before your big bash and voila! they will be ready to serve the next day.

Water Guns

Yes, these have been one of our favorite pool accessories since we were like six. But, what can we say, they are so fun! We had some at our pool party and it was an easy way to stay cool and keep everyone on their toes. We love this party pack, because there are enough for everyone to enjoy. You can also pack them in a party favor to hand out as guests leave; we can assure you they will love this amazing throwback to their childhood.

Tropical Decor

A pool party is not the same without decorations! And our girls totally delivered (we felt like we were on vacation). Think banana palm leaves meets classic luau. First step? Statement pillows. We gathered some inspiration from our office and pulled in some of our fave Lulu and Georgia accent pillows to add a little print. Then, we plopped some flamingo straws into our margaritas and dawned some colorful leis. Final step? We picked up some banana palm leaf plates to match our pillows. All that is left is the Tiki torches!

Killer Speaker

No pool party is complete without some summer jams! But, with all of the splashing, cannonballing and swimming, it can sometimes be hard to hear. So, a music speaker is a must-have. We love the Beats Pill, because it is portable and compact, (aka you can transport it in your purse) but it amplifies your sound like no other. And it has a 12-hour battery life, so you don’t need to worry about missing out on your favorite tunes. Simply sync it to your laptop or iPhone and dance (or karaoke) the day away!

Drink Tumblers

It is so easy to get dehydrated during the summer, so we always make sure to keep our drink tumblers on hand. We love this Kate Spade initial tumbler, because it’s stylish and easy to personalize in both color and letter! Plus, you will actually be able to differentiate your drink from the others! So no more stolen drinks. We know, we are excited too.

Polaroid Camera

We love polaroid cameras because the pictures develop right away (aka perfect for parties). And they are so fun to use. Double the photos as decor and create a photo garland! Just hang up some twine and string the photos with clothespins along the twine.  Then, give each guest a polaroid from the party, so they can remember it forever.

Flash Tattoos

We are all about flash tattoos, especially in the summer, and this rainforest-inspired set is right up our alley. We love the bright colors that go perfectly with the summer pool party vibes. Cut out each tattoo and throw them in a bowl for guests to grab on their way into the party. You can feel good about purchasing this set, because Flash Tattoos donates 5% of the proceeds from each “Illia” collection purchase to help protect the rainforests. We think that is pretty cool.

Planning your next pool party already? Tell us what you need poolside!