Backyard wedding: can we put porta potties behind a hedge?

Question

We're planning our wedding for next spring in my parents' backyard in Charleston. We'll have about 140 guests, a tent, a band, and catering, so we definitely need portable restrooms. The yard has a tall privet hedge along one side, and we'd love to tuck the units behind it for privacy, out of sight from the reception area. But I'm worried about truck access for service. The ground back there is level grass, but the hedge is dense, and I'm not sure a vacuum truck could get close enough to reach the units with its hose. Has anyone done this? Did you have to trim the hedge or choose a different spot? How far can the hose stretch from the truck?

Owen G. · Answer

Yes, you can place portable toilets behind a hedge if the vacuum truck hose can reach them. The hose on a vacuum truck typically stretches 100 to 150 feet, but every extra foot reduces suction power. For a wedding with 140 guests, plan on renting three standard units and one ADA-compliant unit to meet the ADA cluster rule and guest comfort. Alcohol and a longer event mean you should add units beyond the one-per-50-people guideline.

Service access is your main issue. The truck must park within hose range of the units on every service day. If the hedge blocks the path, you will need to trim an opening wide enough for the hose or choose a different spot. Level grass is fine for placement, but the driver needs a clear route to avoid a missed service visit. Talk to your rental company about the exact hose length they use and measure the distance from the nearest truck parking spot to your proposed location behind the hedge.

Backyard wedding: can we put porta potties behind a hedge?

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