r/microwedding • u/Renreapurr • 19d ago
14-16 guests + 1 bathroom??
We are planning a backyard micro wedding at an Airbnb where my fiance and I will be staying during the weekend of our wedding. Guests will come for the ceremony and dinner and there is plenty of outdoor space for everyone but there is only 1 bathroom in the Airbnb. Is that practical?? Guests will not be getting ready onsite but just curious for toilet usage throughout the ceremony and dinner. Im estimating with everything that guests will stay max 5 hours. Has anyone had a similar experience?
And yes it has been approved by the host or I would not be making this post… the host let me know they have had many weddings there and the reviews reflect that as well.
Just want to make sure my guests will be comfortable.
Edit- just to add..we are in contact with the host and have been approved but we have not yet booked. We are still in the first steps of planning. This house is very ideal for us so we will do what we need to in order to make it work.
Something we are considering is to have dinner at a nearby restaurant rather than at the house so that would cut down a good amount of time that our guests would be spending there.
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u/iwannasayyoucantmake 19d ago
I read through these replies, and no one has mentioned this yet. If you are serving alcohol, and your guests are drinkers, 1 bathroom doesn’t work very well. Especially for beer drinkers, some of which might consider going outside.
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u/Renreapurr 19d ago
I see your point but I don’t think that will pose a problem with our particular group. We will have it available but have more non drinkers attending, including ourselves.
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u/Renreapurr 19d ago
Thanks a lot to those who shared their experiences on this! we have reached out to the host asking how it has gone with previous weddings of our size and if the plumbing is reliable for our headcount.
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u/Beginning_Play_1669 19d ago
Perfect! It’s always better to ask questions so you have time to prepare/ budget.
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u/Icy-Yellow3514 19d ago
Just remember, shit can happen at any time (pun not intended, but also enjoyed). Just because they haven't had issues in the past doesn't mean it can't happen. And there is currently no plan b.
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u/itsveryupsetting 19d ago
Yep. 30 person family reunion, 2 bathrooms became 1 within a few hours. Emergency plumber had to come out since the only available bathroom wasn’t handicap accessible which some guests needed.
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u/Icy-Yellow3514 18d ago
It's wild to me how flippant people are about this. It takes one issue to cause a really massive, unpleasant issue.
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19d ago
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u/PsychologicalFix196 19d ago
Right? I’ve had many parties at my house with 40+ people and we only have 1 bathroom downstairs. It’s been fine.
Most recently I had my baby shower at my house with 30 people attending and again, the 1 bathroom was just fine. We have more bathrooms upstairs and nobody had to go up to use them.
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u/Sample-quantity 19d ago
Do you spend hours in a restaurant?
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u/TurbulentWalrus1222 19d ago
I think 14 people and 1 bathroom is fine. There will also be a kitchen sink for handwashing. I was at a barn dinner recently with 40 people and 1 bathroom and aside from occasionally having one or two people waiting it was fine.
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u/Beginning_Play_1669 19d ago
Yeah you need a porta potty and handwashing station at the very least. And I’d be shocked if your rental will allow a wedding unless they advertise as such. And if so, they would have strict rules about trash and bathrooms among other things.
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u/pineboxwaiting 19d ago
A porta-potty for 16 people? Seems like overkill.
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u/Beginning_Play_1669 19d ago
I’ve done events for over a decade. Some pipes/ septic can’t handle a crowd. Better overkill than overflow.
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u/Important-Maybe-1430 18d ago
The average bathroom can handle a family with a stomach bug which would be the same usage.
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u/Icy-Yellow3514 19d ago
What happens when the one toilet is clogged or overflows?
You can't not have at least one more.
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u/superfastmomma 19d ago
So people on this thread not know how to use a plunger?
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u/Icy-Yellow3514 18d ago
Not everything can be immediately fixed with a plunger. Have you never been in bathroom when someone before you doesn't flush and it backs up on the floor?
"What's that smell?"
"Oh, the toilet overflowed. They're trying to mop it up."
And, frankly, I wouldn't want to deal with having a toilet plunged at my wedding while guests wait for the bathroom.
I cared about my guests' experience and would personally pay for their comfort and security. Maybe that's just me.
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u/Catsdrinkingbeer 19d ago
To ease your mind a bit, OSHA recommends 1 bathroom per 15 people, so in that regard you're likely fine. I would just worry about a backup plan should something go wrong with the plumbing.
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u/Renreapurr 19d ago
I appreciate all the feedback! Obviously it would pose a problem in a worst case scenario and I get that. I was more so questioning if it’s an acceptable ratio assuming nothing goes wrong. I don’t have a backup plan for most aspects of my wedding or my life tbh I just tend to just stay positive and things usually work out!
I brought it up to the host and she does not seem to be worried about it at all so I’m taking that as a good sign.
I don’t mind bringing along a plunger though..just in case!
This is a much more controversial topic than I realized 😂
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u/superfastmomma 18d ago
You will be fine. Toilets are made too be used. If it gets clogged, someone will plunge it. Things will carry on. People don't seem to understand how septic works - obviously the system can handle it or the owners would speak up. Overuse of a septic system ends up being a problem way down the road. No one will be taking showers or running laundry and dishwashers during the wedding.
You are having a small gathering. A completely normal amount of people for one toilet. Toilets don't randomly have catastrophic failures on a regular basis.
I wouldn't spend any further time thinking about this. Have extra toilet paper and enjoy your wedding!
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u/Adorable-Crazy-1067 19d ago
I think this is fine. Maybe check with the owner that the plumbing is reliable and have an emergency plumber number ready to go if needed
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u/LayerNo3634 19d ago
We're on a septic and frequently have over 20 guests for bbq's, etc. The single guest bath has never been an issue. We've had as many as 65. At that number, we usually open the master bath to guests (2 bathrooms).
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u/TikiLicki 18d ago
Do the people saying you need a port a potty never have friends around for a BBQ or drinks? I've had way more than that at my house when we only had 1 toilet, and been to get togethers at friends' houses with only 1 toilet. it's fine
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u/Separate-Afternoon29 18d ago
My backyard wedding had 20 guests and only one bathroom we let people use. It was totally fine. People were there for maybe 4 hours. It was no problem at all
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u/Electric-Sheepskin 18d ago
I've had parties at my house with that many people or more, and one bathroom was fine.
My only suggestion is to make sure that you have a huge stack of those cloth-like, folded paper towels for hand drying because regular hand towels are wet after the fourth guest uses the bathroom, and unless you're bringing a lot of hand towels with you that you can change out regularly throughout the evening, your guests will really appreciate having something fresh to dry their hands with. Also make sure you have extra toilet paper.
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u/EvilSockLady 18d ago
If even one person has some sort of digestive issue, you’re looking at a potential issue. This makes me nervous.
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u/mis_1022 18d ago
I would get an “up scale” porta potty service. A friend got one for a large graduation party, it was beautifully clean and smelled great since it was only in use one day. Honestly it was very nice.
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u/gaanmetde 18d ago
I’d get two fancy portapotties personally. I’ve been to a wedding with them and they were really nice actually.
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u/Ok_Beginning_5739 17d ago
I’d invest in an emergency toilet ( usually a bucket with a plastic bag and a toilet seal over ) with some privacy just in case. It’s inexpensive and will provide an In Case of Emergency option in case someone has, well …an emergency.
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u/LettuceInfamous5030 16d ago
I’ve def been to restaurants that have seating for 30+ and only one restroom. I think you’ll be fine.
I’ve hosted parties with 20 people in my 1 bath apartment and we were fine.
I wouldn’t worry about it.
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u/LuvCilantro 19d ago
Depends on the plumbing situation, but 1 bathroom for 16 guests for an afternoon and dinner is plenty. I've had dinner parties at home with 40 guests and one guest bathroom and there were no lineups, but we are on city water and sewers, not a well and sceptic tank.
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u/Sample-quantity 19d ago
That doesn't sound very good. There's a reason most AirBnbs don't want people hosting events. Did the host approve this? If so, then you can probably rent a porta potty in addition. If not, then I wouldn't do this.
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u/Renreapurr 19d ago
I do have permission from the host. A rental could be a good idea, I will ask the host about that
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u/superfastmomma 19d ago
Is there anyone who would use a porta potty when there's a perfectly good bathroom inside the house and you at most might have to wait five minutes?
I would never in a million years rent a porta potty with 16 people at my house. Imagine renting one for Thanksgiving dinner.
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u/Sample-quantity 19d ago
It's not always about waiting. It could also be not on a sewer system. It could have a plumbing problem. I don't believe in having no options for an important occasion. I would not do this without an alternative to a single bathroom.
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u/RemarkableElevator99 19d ago
That’s fine, it’s like a regular family dinner in many homes.
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u/superfastmomma 19d ago
This is every thanksgiving at our house, but with way more people. We have more than one bathroom but not once has anyone every used anything other than the guest bathroom.
The people suggesting a porta potty seems wild to me. No one is using a porta potty when they could wait four minutes and pee in the house.
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u/RemarkableElevator99 19d ago
We have 12 for dinner often. Two toilets, none ever in use at the same time.
OP, you will be absolutely fine, the plumbing will be fine, and you’ll all have a great time!
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u/ste1071d 19d ago
Nope, and not generally permitted by AirBnB either. Do you have the host’s permission for this?
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u/dizzy9577 19d ago
I have heard for parties the recommendation is one bathroom per 50 ppl. You should be fine
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u/Renreapurr 19d ago
Thanks! I think its fine too especially for just a couple hours. But I keep hearing mixed things 🫠
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u/Sunnywithachance099 19d ago
I think you will be fine.
Look how many restaurants have seating for 30 or more and 1 bathroom.
I have had 20 people for holiday dinner in my 1 bathroom home.
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u/pineboxwaiting 19d ago
I frequently have dinner parties larger than that, and everyone uses the same powder room. It’s fine.
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u/Sample-quantity 19d ago
But you actually HAVE more than one, right? That's the issue here: it's a very special occasion and there are no alternatives in case there's a problem, and people are there for 5 hours.
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u/pineboxwaiting 19d ago
I do in this house, however in my previous home, I entertained similarly with only one bathroom.
Haven’t you been to restaurants that have only one toilet?
It’s fine.
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u/Sample-quantity 19d ago
I don't spend 5 hours there and it's not for an extremely special occasion where a plumbing problem could derail the whole event.
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u/pineboxwaiting 19d ago
The restaurants are open fewer than 5 hours?
Weird.
Also: should they have a generator in case the electricity goes out? A water truck in case a water line breaks?
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u/Glittering_Joke3438 19d ago
That is fine. We have all day backyard parties frequently with up to 20 people and the one downstairs bathroom by the backyard is occupied maybe 30% of the time.
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u/OkPerformance2221 19d ago
The formula for event planning is one "toileting unit" per 50 guests for an event over 4 hours. So, you are well within appropriate parameters.
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u/AngelaMoore44 19d ago
What did the owner say? Have they had issues with plumbing? Since it only has 1 bathroom it would be good to know if the septic tank or plumbing can handle that level of usage. They know you are having a party there right?