is the largest city in Pennsylvania and the sixth most populous city in the U.S.

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Imagine having your intimate wedding in a free, large, well-decorated space that overlooks an expansive, sparkling-blue pool, surrounded by dogwood trees in full bloom.

Imagine… your apartment complex clubhouse.

Hosting your wedding at an apartment clubhouse is probably not how you envisioned your wedding as a child, but it can be beautiful regardless. There are plenty of bathrooms, guests can swim in your complex pool during your wedding weekend and you can host a laid-back cookout for your rehearsal dinner. Plus, the wrought-iron railing that surrounds the pool, detailed landscaping and multiple lights provide instant ambiance.

If you do not live in a apartment complex but want to utilize a clubhouse you’ve seen, many apartment complexes will rent their spaces to you. Better yet, if you do live in an apartment clubhouse, you may not have to pay anything at all. Simply call the apartment manager and find out how you may reserve the space, but specify that you want to reserve the pool and grills as well so you have complete control of the space. Perhaps you could also arrange for your guests to stay in the complex’s furnished apartments instead of nearby hotels.

Having your wedding in your apartment complex clubhouse means that, for the most part, your wedding will be outdoors. The clubhouse is where guests can use the restroom and where the wedding party dresses. Since it’s equipped with a large kitchen, the clubhouse will also be where caterers or family members prepare the food. You can even have your bridesmaids’ luncheon inside a well-decorated clubhouse, as it often has café tables and chairs, as well as sofas and armchairs.

The ideal apartment clubhouse will have a balcony that overlooks the pool. The bride and groom can say their vows on the balcony and the wedding party can be there too, or the bride and groom can be alone on the balcony (with the officiator, of course). In this instance, guests’ chairs should be lined up around the pool. Or, arrange for the band or DJ to be on the balcony, and the bride and groom, wedding party and guests are on the same level as the pool.

To differentiate your wedding from your reception, divide the surrounding area of the pool into separate spaces simply by using décor. Designate one area for food display, one for dining, one for dancing, one for gift display and one for photos of the bride and groom, and separate them with varying light displays, sheer, draped cloth or rented tents. Indicate the focal point of the wedding – where the bride and groom will say their vows – with two large flower displays and a rented archway. To really set your romantic scene, display rented ferns in varying heights near the food, string white lights around the fence and set up an area with white paper lanterns overhead for dancing underneath. You can always have someone move the flower displays and archway, and put a rented dance floor in their place.

Of course, with a apartment complex wedding, you may worry about freeloaders or onlookers. Chances are, if you utilize a space in a luxury Philadelphia apartment complex, you will not have to worry about freeloaders. If you’re still worried, speak to the apartment manager about arranging security for the area, or have him send out advanced notice to nearby residents about the event, so they don’t think it’s an apartment-sponsored party.

Some residents may look from their balconies at the romantic scene happening at the pool, but they will most likely be respectful of the event. Besides, you’ll be having such a good time and saving so much money that you probably won’t even notice.

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