Dance Floor

If I were invited to a wedding and I found out the couple built the dance floor over the pool themselves I would not be dancing.

Nothing against you, but I wouldn't trust anyone but a professional, especially something so dangerous.

"Back yard" weddings are often not cheaper at all because of rentals, bringing in all of the seating, needing extra bathrooms/port-a-potties because a homes septic system isn't capable of 150 using it within a few hours, etc.

That is not something I would attempt to DIY because it could effect guest’s safety. Most of the time using someone’s home as a venue will end up being more expensive because you have to rent every little thing that a typical venue would have. I would scrap the idea or make it more of a dinner party with no dancing.

It is a common misconception that having a wedding at home saves money. It doesn't because, as you've found, it involved NUMEROUS rentals.

That being said, agree with PP. This is not something to DIY. Just dangerous.

Yeaaahhh...don’t do this.
Theyre expensive because they’re a HUGE liability and present safety issues and NEED to be installed by a professional. This is very much not a thing to DIY and not a thing where it is remotely safe to cut corners.

Hi Elizabeth! Welcome to WeddingWire and congrats on your engagement!

You received some helpful feedback here in this thread and I agree. Are you open to looking at venues that already have space for a dance floor? Or are you hoping to keep your wedding day at your family-friends home?

View Quoted Comment I guess I should have mentioned it's a small family thing. Probably only 30 to 50 people.

I wouldn't expect my guests to dance on something that puts their safety at risk.

View Quoted Comment I dont know why you assume it would be a safety risk. I would obviously take all safety precautions needed and even if the whole thing fell apart it's a pool not over a cliff? I asked for a how to not your opinions.

View Quoted Comment

It's not a great sign that you're asking advice on how to build it via a wedding planning forum. Sure, it's not a cliff, but having a crowd of people and shattered plexiglass fall into a pool isn't exactly ideal either. Your intentions are great, but this isn't a safe or feasible option.

I'm assuming there is nowhere else for a dance floor? It also may depend on their homeowner's insurance. Some require fences around pools, and I'm assuming most wouldn't cover liability on guests possibly injuring themselves on a DIY pool cover.

Lol you people are weird.

View Quoted Comment I’m sure you would take your guests’ safety into account. But if you’re not a carpenter, structural engineer, or something similar, don’t do this.

View Quoted Comment I guess if it's weird to worry about safety and liability, then that's what we are.

Foes the homeowner know your plan to make this dance floor?

I'm not sure this is necessary....does the pool take up the whole back yard?
And like others said...DIY is no good for this. And I'm sure it would be just as expensive to build even if you were able to safely construct it.
Sorry we are "all weird" for caring about the safety of others.

I am also doing a backyard wedding and so far even with rentals it will be way better priced than nearby venues. But to answer your question: if I were to build a dancefloor over a pool I would build it more like a porch deck rather than a pool cover. It should have it's own legs and not simply bear down on the pool edges if possible. Plexiglas can also become very very slick so be careful with this please!! (If it's dark people aren't going to be able to see the pool water anyways). (My true suggestion is entirly wood 2x4 or 2x6 with 4x4 posts and screws not nails) The system should at least be framed with wood and extend well past the pool edge. Not sure why everyone else says this is so impossible, but hey who am I to judge, I only work in the structural engineering field everyday😂.

**Before you build, always consult with a professional and always use the correct and safest materials**

I'm guessing you want a look like this. As you can see, they have structure supported by the pool floor throughout. If your friend's pool has a sloped floor or deeper end, this just gets more complicated - plus you run the risk of ruining their plaster or liner. You probably know this but you CANNOT just have big sheets of plexiglass without support underneath - due to the material properties it will crack almost immediately but I won't go into all those details (Mechanical Engineer here)

These products clip onto the sides and have structure throughout - this would also be very difficult to accomplish on your own.

Depending on the size of the pool, a wood route COULD be possible but you NEED very good insurance in the event that there is an accident. Yes, people would only fall into water but not everyone can swim and it can become dangerous easily.

Do you have someone in your family who works regularly on these types of projects? This is certainly a big undertaking and is not just a job for a hobby wood-worker.