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Poolside Weddings

Written by System X Designs. Posted in Blog

The perfect wedding day is a day that you’ve probably dreamed of a time or twenty, long before it was on the horizon. There may have been a few nightmares about how to pay for it, too. Hosting weddings and the accompanying events like rehearsal dinners and bridal showers at home has become much more than an affordable alternative to high priced resort venues. It’s on trend to host the big day at home and even more so to host it poolside.

Tips from a former wedding coordinator

Any outdoor event should have a backup plan in case of bad weather. You wouldn’t settle for the old “it doesn’t rain that time of year” pitch from a fancy resort venue, so don’t do it with your poolside wedding at home. Whatever the worst-case scenario is for you, plan that out as thoroughly as you will your plan A.

Pro Tip: If you’re renting a tent to hold the reception, consider also using it as the ceremony location in the event of rain. If a tent is not in the picture, think about possibly removing furniture from the house to accommodate the reception. It’s best to plan ahead and keep an eye on the weather in the days leading up to the big day so these decisions can be made before the tables and chairs are already setup.

You may think that none of your guests will end up in the pool at your reception, but please plan on it happening. It may be a good idea to have some towels on standby (keep them out of sight; no need to give anyone ideas). Think of them as insurance and pray you won’t need to use them, but if you do, you won’t be running around to get Uncle Bill a towel in the middle of the celebration.

Pro Tip: For evening weddings, line the perimeter of your pool with flowers and candles to define the edge of the pool at night. This may help avoid some accidental plunges. I recommend using acrylic candle holders in case of capsize or collision. No one wants to pick up broken glass from the bottom of the pool. Floating arrangements alone won’t define the pool’s edge, but they are a beautiful addition to poolside wedding décor.

Pool Safety: Consider having at least one designated sober adult watching the pool, especially if you are inviting children or serving alcohol at your event. It takes less than a minute for tragedy to strike and nothing ruins the magic of a wedding faster than a loved one getting injured or worse.

I’m sure you are focused on the wedding décor and looking up every YouTube video and Pinterest board to make it a dream wedding. Make sure you put that same effort into getting your home and pool area in tip top shape.

Consider the outside of your house and how it will look to guests and in wedding photos. Does it need to be pressure cleaned or painted? Is your lawn and landscaping up to the challenge of being the wedding backdrop? The pool is an area where photographers love to center wedding photos. The reflective quality that a pool provides can add an unmatched artistic flair to your wedding photos. Is your pool crystal clear, algae free, and camera ready?

Pro Tip: If your pool is not in wedding shape, use Revive!® and E-Z POOL®; a match made in heaven (or at least Florida).

Links:

Pinterest – Pool Wedding

https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=pool%20wedding&rs=typed&term_meta[]=pool%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=wedding%7Ctyped

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Top 5 Pool Gift Ideas

Written by System X Designs. Posted in Blog

‘Twas less than a month before Christmas and all through the house
People were worrying and getting stressed out.
No stockings were hung, no presents with bows.
The tree wasn’t purchased; you know how that goes.
What to buy for loved ones, was the number one worry.
Then, to make sure it’s delivered in time, you really must hurry.
We put together our Top 5 Pool Gift Ideas for this gift giving season.
So, you can sit back, relax, and remember the reason.

Catchy poem aside, trying to come up with new gift ideas each year can be a challenge. Most people have someone on their shopping list that they can’t think of gift ideas for. We’ve put together our Top 5 Pool Gift Ideas to help you narrow down the vast choices out there. Hopefully this will help you mark one or two people off your shopping list and help you enjoy a little more of this holiday season.

(Please note that we are not affiliated with these products or businesses.)

  1. Whether you’re still swimming in your pool during the winter or need to wait until next pool season to use these, LED Ball Lights bring color and light to your pool. I think these would be a great addition to any evening poolside party even if the water is too cold to swim.
  2. There always seems to be a shortage of hooks or chairs to hang wet towels on. The Pool and Spa Valet not only gives you more towel hanging space, but also offers you a place to put your sunscreen so it’s easily available. The best part is that you can place it front and center on the pool deck or move it out of the way. It’s freestanding.
  3. These days everyone is monogramming just about everything: their purses, key chains, door mats, and more. Why not monogram your pool? The Monogrammed Pool Mat is an easy way to personalize your pool and is easily removable when you decide you need a change in style or a deep clean.
  4. In case you needed a reason to never leave your pool again, the Floating Mesh Pool Chair might just be it.
  5. The Froglog is a lily-pad-like float that helps frogs rescue themselves from your pool by offering them an escape route. Who doesn’t want to save the frogs?

Pro Tip: Have you ever noticed a ring of crud on the bottom of your pool floats and toys? Regardless of which pool gift you purchase, you should maintain your pool water chemistry to help your new items have a longer life and keep them from developing that gross ring on the bottom. The easiest way to care for your pool is to start with Revive!® START UP / CLEAN UP and maintain it with E-Z POOL®.

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Aquatic-based Exercise

Written by System X Designs. Posted in Blog

When you hear “water exercise,” chances are you picture a grandma in a pool with a hair cap doing water aerobics; there may or may not be flowers and floaties involved. But pool fitness isn’t just for Grandma anymore. Today, people of all ages are taking to the pool to help reach their fitness goals. Even professional athletes and collegiate sports teams are enjoying the benefits of aquatic-based exercise. They’re using pools and swim spas to not only rehab injured athletes but also diversify their everyday training programs both during and off season.

There are many forms of aquatic based exercise available including aqua yoga, water walking, water aerobics, and swimming. The techniques may vary, but they all take advantage of the buoyancy and resistance provided by the water to help you achieve your fitness goals.

Like most people, I’m not quite on the level of a professional athlete. Let’s just say that I’m more likely to tear my ACL walking my dog than I am being taken down by a linebacker. With reported benefits like increased circulation, flexibility, balance, and muscle tone, decreased joint stress and improved heart health, aquatic-based exercise is a great way to improve overall health for people of all ages and abilities. I hope you’ll give it a try.

Pro Tips:

  • Regardless of which aquatic-based exercise you choose, be sure to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Just because you’re in a pool, that doesn’t mean you’re not sweating.
  • Remember that increased organic debris (in this case sweat) can throw off your pool’s chemistry. APi offers products that work to break down and rid water of unwanted organic debris. Revive!®, EZymePRO®, RevivePRO®
  • These products can be used in your own personal pool or spa and are also available for use in fitness facilities, community centers, hotels and the like. Ask about them the next time you’re headed to the pool!
  • Consult your physician before starting any exercise program. Avoid swimming alone for safety reasons.

Links:

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Hurricane Preparedness Tips for POOLS and SPAS

Written by System X Designs. Posted in Blog

june is synonymous with summer fun! Unfortunately, if you live in a coastal state, so are hurricanes. A hurricane means something different for everyone.  For some, it’s a reason to throw a party, because there ain’t no party like a hurricane party. (Sorry- got carried away there) Others take a more serious approach (not to mention, less lyrical) by doing research and creating a checklist. Whatever your take on hurricane preparedness is, we know your pool and spa is an investment.  An investment you want to protect. If you prepare in advance of the storm, you may even have time to enjoy a hurricane party, too. To help, we have collected a list of tips from our colleagues in the industry of the do’s and don’ts for preparing your pool and/or spa for a storm.

Photo by NASA on Unsplash

Before you begin your pool and spa preparations, be sure your family and home are as ready for a storm as they can be.  For information on preparing your family and home for hurricane season, visit Red Cross, FEMA, or National Hurricane Center.

Remember, it is always best to get started early!  The idea is to prepare as much as you can now and then finish the remaining tasks PRIOR to the arrival of the storm. For your safety, do not attempt to “prepare” during the storm. 

Click on the link below for a printable version.

Download

This list is not meant to be all inclusive.  It is a list of tips, collected by us and presented to you, as a tool and resource to help you prepare for hurricane season.

What do you do to get your pool and spa ready for hurricane season?  We’d love to hear from you.  Send your checklist and suggestions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In addition to our own pool and spa experts, Matt Ribar and Rick Hamilton, we used the following resources to create this post: Florida Swimming Pool Association, Aqua Rest Spas, Master Spa Parts, Leslie’s Pool, Hot Tub Works, America’s Swimming Pool Co., Pinch a Penny, PoolCenter.com, Pool and Hot Tub Alliance

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