How Far in Advance Should You Book Portable Toilets for a Wedding or Backyard Event?

The one thing that you should prioritize booking for your upcoming event is the restrooms. You can always ask a neighbor for additional seating, or pick up an extra bag of ice on the way to your backyard barbecue, but a portable toilet unit requires a scheduled delivery. If you've been reading about Portable Toilet Rental in Manalapan NJ, it's very likely that you've got a date picked for your event and a growing guest list. Perfect! This means that you're well on your way to reserving your portable toilets.

 As with many tasks, waiting on this one seems harmless since it's just another checkbox on your ever-growing to-do list. One day you realize it's been nine days and every company in the area is booked. I've seen people stress over this more than any other part of their special day. It's not a difficult process, but it does come with a deadline that can sneak up on you, so let's talk about where that deadline falls.

The short answer: 2-4 weeks in advance

For most occasions, two to four weeks prior to your event is well within the window to reserve your portable toilet units. This gives the rental company time to verify availability, and you time to make sure everything checks out. Is that the earliest you can book? Certainly not. Many companies have availability just about any time, but you could be risking higher prices or not getting your preferred unit type.

 As with any last minute change, some people want to hold off until they're positive they know their attendee count. Please don't wait to reserve your units. Book what you know, and make changes from there. Most companies can add a unit with a quick phone call, which is much easier than trying to scramble when your wedding is three days away.

Weddings and Other Special Occasions

If you're planning a wedding, you're going to want to book at least two to three months ahead of time. For Saturday weddings in June, September, or any other peak wedding month, it's not uncommon for companies to book out 8 weeks. Since the luxury portable restrooms are a prized rental item, you could be missing out on upgraded trailers if you're not early. There's also the factor of your planner and caterer needing to know your portable toilet locations for tent placement, décor, and more. By booking your portable toilets ahead of time, you're doing yourself a favor by giving your other vendors an estimated layout. Confirm the ground conditions you're renting on and notify the company if there are any restrictions regarding the delivery and setup of your units. If you're getting them delivered in the morning on a Saturday, make sure that the parking lot or venue has open hours for a truck to deliver your units.

Backyard Events and Parties

For an off-the-books backyard BBQ, it's easy to want to relax and book your portable toilets right when you get home from work. Instead, give yourself some time to plan and get your headcount accurate. Graduation season and summer weekends are a busy time for small rental companies. A backyard graduation party would ideally book three to four weeks in advance, while peak season bookings should be made even earlier. Since you're at a residential property, make sure the ground surface is suitable for the trailer and that there's not a tight turnaround or gate for your delivery driver. 

You should walk the space out before committing to a unit type so that the rental company has an easy time delivering and setting up your restrooms. Ask your town or Homeowners Association if there are any restrictions or ordinances regarding portable toilets on private property. Some municipalities have rules about the length of time a unit can stay on a lawn, and those restrictions are just as applicable to a weekend cookout as they are to a wedding.

What dates book up the fastest?

Holiday weekends and graduation weeks tend to lean towards the busier side for any rental company. As do summer Saturdays and high school football nights. The weather can play a part in this as well, rainy days and winter storms cause many events to be postponed or canceled, affecting the availability of restroom units for surrounding events. The time of year you're booking in can impact availability as well. If your special day falls during construction season and a company has several units under maintenance, it'll be more difficult to reserve a trailer for an event that only requires one or two units. 

When you're considering your date options for your event, keep in mind other events that might be occurring that weekend. If you have flexibility, consider booking a Friday or Sunday event. While Saturday weddings are ideal for most couples, they're also the most competitive. For events outside of peak rental months, you may want to keep in mind the off-season rates and availability. I would still recommend booking at least two weeks in advance even if you're having your event in early spring or late fall.

Information to have ready when booking

You don't need to have everything fully ironed out before you call a rental company, but there are a few questions that you should have answers to and information that you should have on hand. If you let them know your date preference and the hours that the restrooms will be in use, your quote will be more accurate. You should have a general attendee count, but if your guest list keeps changing, let them know. Include the address of your event and the type of ground surface the unit will be on. In addition to general restrooms, you might want to let them know if you need an accessible unit, a hand wash station, or anything else specific to your event. 

Tell them whether or not there will be alcohol served to help them determine the number of units you may need. Find out if delivery and pickup are included in the rate, or if those will be additional charges. Request a written confirmation through email or text. As long as you know the general details of your event, most of the questions a rental company asks will seem like common sense, but not all companies will ask the same things. A reputable company will help you determine your unit type and quantity by asking the right questions, and confirming your answers in writing. The more information you can give the company, the better your quote will be. A good company will ask the same questions you've already been considering when setting up a budget for your event.

What happens if you wait to book your event?

In the event that you wait too long before reserving your portable toilets, you might have to make do with a smaller selection of unit types. There may also be reduced flexibility with delivery and pickup. If you're booking a week in advance, your chosen rental company might offer rush delivery for an additional charge. If your first choice of rental company isn't available, that's nothing to fret over. Many companies will be willing to work with you when you're short on time. Just be realistic with your requirements and let them know your preferences. You might even get several good options. If you really are in a jam, don't be afraid to ask the company if they know of anyone with availability. Locals tend to be more helpful in a situation like this. It's always better to have a couple of portable toilets with longer lines than to stretch a unit thin and cause overcrowding. Just don't compromise your standards for the sake of availability.

Conclusion

So, now you know how far in advance to book your portables. For most backyard events, that number is two to four weeks. For weddings and other special occasions, two to three months is a good rule of thumb. There's no hard and fast rule for when you should book based on where you live, but if you're having your event closer to Marlboro, don't assume the distance changes much. If you need Marlboro Porta Potty Rental, it's always good to ask questions, confirm what you know in writing, and give yourself plenty of leeway. After you've picked a date and a rough attendee count, you're nearly ready to reserve your portable toilets. If it's a special occasion, you may want to book earlier if your date falls on a peak rental weekend.