a couple weeks ago we had the most fun mermaid birthday party EVER at goldfish swim school and if you missed it, you can check it out HERE.
since then, i’ve had so many questions about the specifics of the party so i wanted to share a bit more about what having a party at goldfish swim school looks like.

10 reasons why i LOVED a party at goldfish swim school!

you don’t have to be a member – this was the #1 question i’ve been asked since posting our party and the good news for y’all that aren’t members is no, you don’t have to be a member! if you’re not, i’d strongly suggest you check them out for lessons because they’re AMAZING, but, if you’re strictly looking for a cool place to party…this is it!

weather – if you’ve ever tried to plan a party outside, you’re stalking the weather and cursing any slight chance of rain. for the girls 1st birthday, i thought for sure we’d be okay outside at a park until 50 people showed up in the hail + 30 degree temps. major fail and we wound up crashing my moms house. since then, i’ve had them at our house and i’ll be honest, it’s SO MUCH WORK. the great thing about having our party at goldfish {especially for a POOL PARTY!} was i didn’t check the weather once and we all went swimming in a 90 degree pool!!

you don’t have to plan – literally a single thing. there are two types of people in this world…people who like to plan parties, and people that don’t. i happen to fall in the first and love to plan all the details, decorations, etc. {see next point} but if party planning isn’t really your jam, this is TOTALLY your place! when you book with goldfish, you get a party planner and they handle literally e v e r y t h i n g. they even hand you a stack of invites to fill out then you show up the day of the party and just have fun! i often find when i’m hosting parties that i’m so concerned about refiling food, making sure everyone has everything they need and moving to the  next activity, the whole day goes by and i haven’t even really enjoyed the birthday guests {aka, my kids}. this was my FAVORITE part of the whole thing is that they ran the party so smoothly that i had fun swimming with the girls, playing and talking to guests.

…but you can!  – if you’re anything like me and like to plan, don’t be deterred by a place that is able to do it all! goldfish is just as customizable as the next and while you can very easily do an ocean/mermaid/beach/luau theme, you’re not limited! i’ve heard princesses, unicorns, etc. themes have been there and even the most pinterest-worthy parties can be executed! the plus?! you just have extra hands to help!! our entire party was set up within 30 minutes with the number of hands on deck!

everything is included – e v e r y t h i n g!!! the worst is when you sign up for something…and then realize you still have to pay for a cake, plates, entertainment, etc. obviously, i added a whole bunch here, so if you’re looking to add all of the extras, then of course you’d have to pay for that. but if you’re a minimalist, the decorations, invitations, cupcakes, party planner, etc. all of that is included and again, you just show up! they’ll take care of the rest!

no set up or cleanup! – this was the hit of the party and what all the parents were raving about when we were leaving… the biggest perk, in my opinion, is that there is no set up {unless you’re adding details like me!} and 100% no cleanup! you walk out with any presents, your crew and fist bump each other that there is no clean up!

best activity ever… swimming! – sometimes it can be difficult to plan an activity for a variety of ages with siblings, etc. but swimming at goldfish swim school is the perfect activity for every age!! we had a 4 month old all the way up to a 8 year old…plus adults and it was a blast!! everyone had fun and the big kids were talking about how it was the ‘coolest party’ they’ve ever been to!! WIN WIN WIN!

fun for everyone – and i mean everyone! this was the perfect set up for kids, parents and grandparents to enjoy…even the adults and grandparents who weren’t swimming were able to come into the pool area if they wanted, or sit outside the windows and watch as all the kids swam!

private use of pool – i went to a party once at a facility that was still open to the public..and while i understand the need for that, it is pure chaos. it was so nice to have the entire facility to ourselves getting the staffs undivided attention and having full reign of the facilities. it made for a very low key, stress-free atmosphere and the kids could run around without having to worry about bothering anyone else!

perfect for any age – while we celebrated the girls’ 3rd birthday, goldfish can accommodate parties for any age and ability! they provide the life vests, life guards and even activities/games if you’re interested! we just spent the time playing and talking with the real life mermaids and opted out of any games, but for older kids that would be the perfect addition! every level of comfort is welcomed and the staff are pros at making everyone feel welcomed and comfortable!

what you need

when you’re packing up for the party, there are a handful of things to throw in your bag, so don’t forget:
bathing suit
dry clothes {including undies!} + shoes
a towel

what you don’t need

shampoo/bodywash
hair dryer
decorations
dessert
drinks
plates/napkins/cutlery

if you’re looking for the perfect place to host your next birthday party, call goldfish swim school to book! they’re happy to answer any question and help you book the easiest + most FUN party ever!

a huge thank you to goldfish swim school for sponsoring this post and to ivory lamb photography for capturing all of our fun!