The Ins and Outs of Bathroom Rentals for Weddings

Bathroom rentals for weddings: They're not as exciting as other wedding rentals, like photo booths, dinnerware or tents, but if your wedding venue is outdoors or in a location without enough bathrooms on-site, you're going to need to supply portable restrooms for your guests. It might be unglamorous, but adding portable toilets to the wedding rentals checklist it's a necessary part of planning a wedding for many couples. To make the experience a little more pleasant for everyone involved, we asked wedding bathroom rental vendors and other wedding pros to share their best tips and advice, including how many wedding porta potties you should budget for and how to keep the rentals smelling nice.

Wedding Bathroom Rental Tips: How Many Do You Need? | Cost | Are Upgrades Worth It? | How to Find Wedding Bathroom Rentals | Extra Amenities | Decorations | The Three S's

How Many Porta Potties Do You Need for a Wedding?

Yaz Quiles, founder and CEO of POP! By Yaz, an experiential and creative agency in New York City, recommends one bathroom stall for every 25 guests. "Couples should also consider who their guests are," says Quiles. "Kids, and especially infants, will have different needs than adults. Also, take into consideration elderly and handicapped guests [who might need] an ADA-compliant restroom." If you're planning a small wedding or micro-wedding where you may not have more than 25 guests, it's still wise to bring in at least two portable restroom rentals just to be safe.

Aside from the number of guests you've invited, the exact number of wedding restroom rentals will depend on the type of bathrooms you choose. A basic porta potty or two may be enough to accommodate 50 or 60 guests, but that won't be ideal for hundreds of people. On the other hand, a deluxe, three-stall restroom trailer can accommodate up to 250 guests, according to April Khanthaphixay, coordinator at The Good Life Restrooms in Torrington, Connecticut.

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Quiles says in addition to deciding how many restrooms you need, you should also think about the size of the water tank you'll need to rent to supply running water for sinks and flushable toilets. And besides your guests, don't forget to take into consideration the comfort of your staff and vendors, including how long they'll be on-site from load-in to load-out.

Bathroom Rental Wedding Cost

Paying for portable wedding toilets might not be at the top of your list when you think about how to allocate your wedding budget, but c'est la vie. Bathroom rentals for weddings don't always come cheap, but they can make all the difference in creating a positive experience for your guests. Keep in mind that pricing will vary by location, so reach out to wedding bathroom rental companies near you for the most accurate cost estimates. Here are a few other factors that can affect the cost of portable toilets for weddings.

Basic vs. Luxury Bathroom Rentals

It probably comes as no surprise that basic porta potties for weddings (think: the single-person stalls you find at large public events) are the most budget-friendly option. But these no-flush mobile restrooms may not be the best choice for your big day, particularly if guests will be using the facilities dressed in their wedding day best. That's where luxury bathroom rentals and deluxe restroom trailers come into the picture. These options are usually climate-controlled and include flushing toilets, running sinks and in some cases, artwork or decorative finishes. If you want a luxury trailer (or two) with all the bells and whistles, be prepared to allocate more for your wedding bathroom rental cost.

In Connecticut, Khanthaphixay says that portable bathrooms for weddings typically range from $1,750 to $2,500 based on the restroom type, additional services, and location. Chris and Jodie Bath, owners of Bathrooms on a Roll in Chester, Maryland, share a similar estimate. They recommend that couples should budget between $1,250 and $3,000 for restroom trailers, depending on the location and the size of the guest list.

Guest Count

Similar to other wedding expenses, the more guests you have, the higher your bathroom wedding rental cost is likely to be. That's because you'll need to rent enough porta potties or restroom trailers to comfortably accommodate your guests without too long of a wait.

Delivery, Set-Up and Pick-Up

While some vendors might bundle delivery, set-up and pick-up fees into their final cost, it's important to confirm the price breakdown before signing a contract. Be aware that these costs could be separate from the initial rental fee, depending on when you need the bathrooms dropped off or picked up. If special accommodations have to be made for your wedding, like providing backup power sources or extra amenities, those could also impact the cost of your wedding porta potties.

Is the Upgraded Porta Potty Option Worth It?

While guests likely won't gush about their restroom experience in the days and weeks following your wedding, they will remember if their dress got caught in a non-flushing porta potty. "Even if you're having a rustic-themed wedding, you don't want the guests' experience to feel rustic," says Jesse Reing, owner of Events by Jesse, a team of wedding and event planners in New York City.

Pennsylvania-based wedding photographer Thomas Beaman says he advises his clients to splurge on higher-end wedding bathroom rentals. "I highly recommend spending a little more money on a portable bathroom that includes a flushing toilet, a sink that automatically shuts off after you are done washing your hands, and a vanity with lighting," he says. "Another thing to consider is renting a unit that comes with handbag hangers installed inside," Beaman says. "Nobody wants to put their belongings on the floor of a porta potty. Plus, they can also be used for men's suit jackets."

Climate-controlled restrooms are another option to consider. If you're hosting an outdoor wedding in the heat of summer or the dead of winter, you may want to spring for air-conditioning or heat in your restroom trailer rentals to ensure the best experience. Lastly, the Baths stress the importance of not waiting until the last minute to reserve your restroom trailer rentals. "Most trailers are reserved six to 18 months prior to the event," they say. "Spend a little extra to make your guests feel comfortable when they use the restrooms. Your guests will appreciate it and brag about how beautiful the restrooms are."

How to Find a Wedding Bathroom Rental Near You

A quick search for "wedding bathrooms near me" might bring up a few results, but you can easily use The Knot Vendor Marketplace to find local bathroom rental companies all in one place. After entering your location, you can browse vendor reviews from previous clients and bookmark pros who might be a good fit. When you have a shortlist of vendors you like, you can reach out to ask about their availability and pricing, along with other important details (use this full list of questions to ask a rental company).

"It's very important to look into the company based on the quality, customer service, and size of the trailers offered, as well as confirming placement and access to power and water on site," says Khanthaphixay.

Should I Include Any Other Amenities?

Wedding guests can experience everything from spilled drinks to hair that needs fixing, Quiles says. Avoid guests leaving early or dancing with a huge stain on their outfit by creating a wedding bathroom amenity basket filled with toiletries and thoughtful essentials, like mouthwash or breath mints, floss, spray deodorant, stain remover, safety pins, bobby pins, hair ties, feminine hygiene products and pain relievers.

Beamon agrees, and says he recommends his clients set up a decorated table with small bottles of water, hand sanitizer, tissues, hand lotion and mints. It may seem obvious, but don't forget to include towels and a waste basket in the restroom as well.

How to Dress Up a Porta Potty for a Wedding

You don't want guests to linger too long in the bathrooms, so there's no need to go overboard with decor, but we do have a few tips on how to decorate a porta potty for a wedding. Signs, battery-operated candles, fresh flowers or faux greenery wreaths are just a few easy ways to spruce up bathroom trailers or porta potties. Depending on the vendor, some luxury bathroom rentals for weddings are already decorated with artwork and upgraded finishes, like marble countertops and tile flooring.

Wedding Bathroom Tip: Keep the Three S's in Mind

Wedding planner Michael Radolinski of Michael Henry Events Creative recommends keeping three S's in mind when it comes to bathroom rentals for weddings: sight, sound and scent.

"For sight, we prefer to hide portable restrooms out of direct view by placing them behind understated yet thematically appropriate screening," says Radolinski, adding that this can be a hedge wall, rustic door or nautical slat. He also recommends adding signage directing guests where to go. For scent,Radolinski recommends incorporating fragrant dried florals, a refreshing infuser or a custom fragrance. "Keep it light, and make sure it does the trick without being overpowering," he says. Finally, "for sound, we make sure the facilities are far enough away from the festivities so as not to interfere while still being readily accessible to guests."

Samantha Iacia contributed to the reporting of this article.