30 Fun Ideas for a Poolside Wedding

Getting married in the summer, or in a particularly warm location? Or are you craving gorgeous photographs and a scenic place to wed? Satisfy your needs by tying the knot somewhere poolside. Crisp, clean agua makes a beautiful portrait backdrop, and the relaxing sounds of rippling water guarantee a peaceful cocktail hour. Plus, if the weather allows and you're celebrating all weekend, your guests will be thrilled to jump into a pool before or after the big day.

Plenty of real weddings have capitalized on pools for their ceremony or reception. Tap into their creative genius to throw a waterside bash of your own! From first dances to dinner to lounging around, pools can elevate any aspect of your wedding. Click through for some of our favorite ideas, and prepare to be wowed by the fun, pretty, and one-of-a-kind inspiration. Now, let's dive in!

Take a Spin

This gorgeous first dance was made entierly picturesque thanks to a stunning pool backdrop and the glowing sunset. 

The weather was on the bride and groom's side during their late-October wedding. To close out the celebration weekend, they invited their guests to take a dip in the venue's pool. 

Pools are pretty but can pose a challenge, as they separate the two sides of your venue space. Eradicate the problem by choosing something with a walkway (making sure, of course, that it's wide enough for no falls!).

Get the music bumping with a waterfront DJ. Pool float not necessary, but definitely recommended. 

These diver straws were a fun addition to refreshing, poolside drinks.

This couple sent a message with huge letters sitting within their venue's pool. The giant words were a unique way to put their name in the wedding photos. 

Forget poolside and dive straight in (sans-water). This quirky ceremony took place inside of an emptied structure. 

This brave bride risked it all for the perfect photo, standing on the edge of an infinity pool overlooking mountains. Utilize water's reflective properties for similarly-stunning images.

This wedding's gorgeous lighting twinkled beautifully above its reception pool.

For her wedding portraits, this bride showed off her gown with lace detail and an illusion neckline while walking on Casa China Blanca's clear platform over the stunning blue pool.

Clear beach balls, all in different sizes, floated in this pool at Casa Verona in Palm Springs.

At this all-day wedding reception at the Ace Hotel, guests could lounge in the pool in one of the many fun floats and rafts.

Guests at this rehearsal dinner in France enjoyed a pastis bar, where they could try four different styles of the Provençal specialty liquor, overlooking a crystal clear pool. 

What better backdrop for your bridal party portraits than a picturesque pool, like this one at Locusts on Hudson.

Framed by a tree trunk-based chuppah supporting a canopy of roses, dahlias, and woodland-esque flora, the pool at this rooftop venue, 620 Loft & Garden in New York City, served as a stunning backdrop for the enchanted forest-themed wedding.

Not only are infinity pools beautiful (especially when situated before an ocean), but their name is so fitting for a wedding. This couple exchanged vows under an arch of driftwood and dendrobium orchids, built just feet from the water—both an infinity pool and the ocean behind it.

Guests at this wedding had a choice of many activities at the Maldivian hotel, Maalifushi by Como, including diving, snorkeling, kayaking, game fishing, and sailing. But many of the guests chose to just hang out by the gorgeous pool that was just as blue as the turquoise ocean.

This bride wanted to fill the pool at her venue, La Chureya, with a pop of color, and balloons were the natural answer. "I love [balloons] because of the happiness and nostalgia tied to them," she said. "They make everyone smile."

This couple set up a mid-century modern lounge with boho flair at The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs using rented pieces from Yeah! Rentals.

After the DJ went home for the night, the party kept going with many of the guests even jumping into the pool at Villa La Banane, fully clothed. "It was raucous," the bride of the late-night pool party. 

Groomsmen posed for portraits together in front of this pretty pool at Casa China Blanca.

At the end of this reception in Palm Springs, synchronized swimmers performed a routine to Donna Summers's "Let's Dance."

Pools aren't just for warm-weather celebrations! Even in the winter, a steaming pool makes for an ethereal and romantic addition to wedding portraits.

Florist Boutique Souk embellished La Mamounia's blue-tiled pool with red and magenta flowers and petals for this wedding in Marrakech, Morocco.  

The iconic pool at the Raleigh Hotel provided a pretty and summery backdrop for this couple's modern reception in Miami.

Guests at this wedding sat at a table right next to Casa Verona's pool. The seating included a mix of thrift-store finds and rented vintage chairs that had been spray-painted in the day's color scheme. Blankets were also tossed across the backs of each chair to keep guests warm after sunset.

This couple had the sides of their tent rolled up so that guests could enjoy the beautiful California evening air and poolside view. Everyone jumped into the hotel pool after dinner and dancing.

This couple's venue, Haciena San Antonio el Puente, houses seven gardens and one gorgeous pool, where the couple stopped for their first photos as husband and wife.

Modern poolside lounge furniture, vintage-inspired chandeliers, and wood crate coffee tables were set up to the side of the pool for guests to enjoy the beach breeze and fresh air. 

Guests at this wedding in the Maldives enjoyed dinner in a clear-topped tent sitting right in between the pool and the ocean.