Not Your Grandmother’s Boudoir
August 25th, 2008 @ 9:29 am by Mrs. Espresso
Because we’re planning our wedding at a venue that comes with virtually nothing, we’ve had our fair share of phone calls and e-mails with vendors. But never did we think that this would be one of them. Last week, we booked our boudoir, and oh, how I wish it looked like this:
But it doesn’t. It looks more like this:
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you our boudoir.
Who am I kidding? It looks exactly like this. Maybe it can be my something blue?
Since our guests are not allowed into the guest rooms of the B&B, we needed to rent portable restrooms. I know just hearing that causes some people to cringe. As long as they’re clean and smell good I’m fine with them, but I know some of our guests are going to try and hold it for six hours (Good luck with that by the way!).
For the guests who will be using them, we wanted to try and get the nicest ones we could. This is why we rented the boudoir. It’s slightly bigger than a regular portable and comes with flushing toilets, a sink, running water, paper towels, soap, a full length mirror, coat hooks, and more. I know it’s what one would expect out of a normal restroom, but I was a little bit impressed that all this could come in a portable. For the boys, we’ve rented regular portables, because I don’t think they really care and they’re cheaper.
Another issue with the portables… they kind of clash with our decor. :) Now I know it’s a silly complaint and we can’t go painting them white when nobody’s looking, but we still want to do something to soften their construction site feel.
So we’re thinking of setting up something along these lines, minus the water basin. We’ll add some perfume, cologne, and lotion.
Have any of you been to a wedding with portable restrooms? What helped or needed help?
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17 Responses to “Not Your Grandmother’s Boudoir”
I went to a fabulous “backyard” wedding where they had port-a-potties that were SO much nicer than my bathroom at home — with granite sinks and everything! Your guests might be skeptical initially, but I’m sure they’ll be wowed by how far portable toilets have come.
I went to Cirque du Solei a couple years ago, and they had amazing portable toilets! They were stainless steel, totally clean, with three stalls and running water! I was so impressed. I think as long as you make sure that there is plenty of soap (might want to buy a few bottles of handsoap just to have) and toilet paper hanging around, it should be fine. Maybe you could put a kitschy sign on the front like the crescent moon from Far Side Comics or something. Also, maybe wrap some tulle around it and add some flowers that match the blue?
EDB~ I was JUST going to say the exact thing. The Cirque toilets are great!
I went to a wedding two weeks ago (backyard wedding) and the host did not want people going inside the house to they put a portable bathroom outside next to the house. It was nicer than a port-a-pottie because it flushed, but it was so tiny- reminded me of an airplane bathroom. It had a sink and everything!
I’ve also seen very nice port-a-pottys…and this pic you posted? It looks huge!!! MUCH bigger and nicer-looking than the old nasty ones at outdoor concert venues!
Twice I have been VERY impressed with the portable toilets at events. One was at Cavalia (a Cirque du Soliel style show with horses) and the other was at a NASA family day. Both times I walked in and was absolutely taken aback. There were several toilets with full wooden doors, a separate area for the stainless looking sinks, AC, and even Muzak! Granted I am sure those things don’t come cheap. All I have to say is, if you have the space - a CD player with some elevator music or whatever playing softly is an INCREDIBLY nice touch.
maybe you could drape the outside with something so the blue doesn’t show?
I have the same issue with my venue. I guess its the price we pay for mountain weekend weddings. My venue said that they decorate the porta-potties, but I dropped in a couple of weekends ago to see the large size porta-potties in all their construction site glory.
We’re gonna have to do something about that!
Hehe the something blue comment cracked me up too! I think it’ll be fine - I’ve been to a wedding that was outdoors and near a house (but they wouldn’t let you inside - odd, no?). They had a porta potty - after the first time, you didn’t even care. 
Isn’t a boudoir a bedroom/sitting room? Please don’t make your guests sleep in that thing!
@JenniferP: Good idea! I was just joking before but I’m totally going to label it now! And I’m going to place it on the side of our venue so it won’t be in all the photos
@edb: I didn’t even think about that- I just figured they would come with everything, but I guess I better check about backups
@Starry-Eyed Barefoot Bride: I’ll have to see if I can fit one of those over there because that would be a nice touch
@Mr. Bee: yay! Now you and Mrs. Bee have commented on one of my posts! I feel so honored
@Anna: haha now I want to make them
The only thing I’d be worried about is the smell. I hate the smell of the cleaner they use in port-a-potties and rest stops (and now the bathroom in the dorm I work at, ew). Makes me gag every time.
I love the idea of the rustic dressing table outside. So cute! Also, the something blue idea cannot be passed up! Too funny! In the words of Tim Gunn, my dear Espresso, I am sure you will “make it work!”
I went to a wedding with one of those boudoir port-a-potties, and I was pleasantly surprised! That port-a-potty smell was even much weaker than I would have expected. I’m sure it will work out great!
Mrs. Espresso, Corona/Big Bear
Age and Occupation: 23, Community Services Specialist
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 22, Maintenance Technician
Engagement Date: December 21, 2007
Wedding Date: October, 2008
Blogging Since: June 25, 2008
Venue: Outside a rustic b&b in Big Bear Lake
About Me: I'm a lover of all things good: coffee, music, travel, rain, and of course- my handsome fiance! I'm a full believer in the "Life is Short," mantra - and therefore, eat lots of dark chocolate. I'm a Geographer by degree and nerd by choice. I cook to the sound of French and Portuguese music even though I speak neither. I love road trips, camping, hiking, and capturing life through the lens of my camera. Take me to Anthropologie and I may never leave. I'm a sucker for pretty packaging, bargain finds, and old movies. Mr. Espresso and I are high school sweethearts and I am so blessed to be this amazing man's future wife.
My dad rented one of those portable restrooms for his backyard wedding last year, and it was surprisingly nice! I think it may have even had marble or granite sink countertops. It was air conditioned, spacious, and looked like any indoor bathroom. It was placed behind his tent so it didn’t stick out too much. If it’s possible, can you place it so it won’t stick out too much in photos? Actually, I think it’d be really cute if you put a sign on the outside that labeled it as your something blue. Clever.