Port-A-Potties at an Outdoor Wedding and Reception?

Question

Would it be trashy or gross to have port-a-potties, port-a-johns, portable restrooms, or whatever you want to call them at our outdoor ceremony and reception?

It is possible that we will have our ceremony somewhat far away from any house or building. (I know some of you will think that is the stupidest thing ever, but we aren't making our location decision based on whether or not there are restrooms.) We will think of something if the perfect place is somewhere without permanent restrooms.

As much as I hate the thought of having them there, I can't think of ANY other options other than having the ceremony and reception somewhere else. Is there any way to disguise them or somewhere to put them that they won't be as obviously there (not in view during ceremony)?

EWwwww.... The thought of it just kind of ruins my "wonderful day" feeling. LOL

Any suggestions?

Has anyone had to use them before for a wedding?

I appreciate the info!

Answer 1

I had to use them for mine so people wouldn't have to wait in line after the long trek to the house.

They were from a company that guarantees clean new units and it was really helpful- nothing hillbilly about it. We put them far enough away from the festivities and made sure the doors faced away from the event.

If you have a wedding without nearby 'facilities' it is extremely unkind for the guests. Just make sure they are nice and you can also order hand-washing stations. Nothing tacky about it.

Gotta do what ya gotta do- just do it gracefully.

Answer 2

Here's an easy and simple idea, cause i too am having my wedding outside, and i may do this....

Rent a tent just the right size for the amount of guests to the amount of stalls you may need (its not as expensive as it seems), and have them lined up in there. Then have two dividers (like a metel clothes rack that you can put solid white fabric over to block view). And here's what that's for!:

One divider is used to block the female section from the male (clear printed signs and seperate entrances will help), and the other is to put a few chairs and maybe a small table for nursing mothers/baby changing (if any)....

Answer 3

We often go to parties at my bosses country manor and they always have portable toilets in the gardens. You can get very classy ones eg they ones that they use are called something like 'Portable Thrones' (BTW this is in the UK). They are a small demountable building with a couple of male and a couple of female toilets and you don't even feel like you're in a portable toilet. They are proper procelain toilets that flush and there are proper sinks and mirrors etc. These ones even have flowers next to the basins and pictures on the walls.

Something like these ones would be more than suitable for a wedding but I would be hesitant to go to a standard any lower than that. People are usually dressed in their finest at a wedding and the last thing that they would want to deal with is dirty and disgusting toilets. You want your wedding to be memorable but not because of the terrible toilets!

Answer 4

Andy G is right.

I went to an outdoor function where the tickets for this event were $250 per person. Might not sound like alot to you but it's a little steep for my pocketbook.

Anyway, they had this semi truck trailer there, which were the bathrooms. They were nicer than most restarurant potties. See what you can find out.

Answer 5

I think that's very smart. Nothing worse than potentially having your guests need to pop a squat behind a tree or something. Just keep them a distance away and back behind where your aisle is going to be so it's not in view when the attention is focused on the alter.

Answer 6

You'll need to get something a lot nicer than the standard blue honey buckets. You won't want to be fighting with one in your dress, the Bridesmaids won't want to be fighting with them in *their* dresses, the guests won't want to be dealing with them in their nice clothes. You also aren't going to want to be dealing with the smell of them should the wind shift in the direction of your ceremony or reception.

I was recently at a nice upscale event and they brought in a trailer that had 3 or 4 bathrooms in it. It had running water, lights, a mirror, ventilation, flushing toilets, and was actually very very nice. I recommend searching for something like that. Good luck to you! : )

Answer 7

Um.... imagine that you are one of the guests, and you've come wearing your best suit or dress and brand new shoes, and.... outhouse? Would YOU be happy wearing a formal dress in a portapotty? (And dealing with your pantyhose in that itty bitty space??)
Why not just have your wedding someplace with bathrooms? If there are no bathrooms available, then that's not a location that will work for you.

Answer 8

It is possible to rent EXTREMELY nice porta-potties. These are not your typical outhouse-style devices. They generally stay attached to a truck, and are fully lit, flushable, and as nice as a lot of regular bathrooms (several units come on each truck). You will pay a LOT for these (compared to renting regular porta-johns) but no one will complain about the facilities.

Contact companies that rent tents and generators for large events. One link is:

http://www.unitedsiteservices.com/specialevents/experience.html

Answer 9

Well if there's no bathrooms close by you really have no choice. I would try to hide them in a way. What about putting a screen in front of them so they don't stick out so much.

Answer 10

Unless your wedding and reception are very, very informal (think jeans), that sounds horrible. I could not imagine having to lift up my wedding gown and try to pee in a porta-potty.