Whether you’re planning an informal get-together for your mates in the park, a family celebration in the garden, or a festival-style outdoor wedding, outdoor event planning comes with many extra considerations. Since the sun pokes its head out from behind the clouds so rarely in the UK, we Brits tend to love to take every last opportunity to soak in the sun - so outdoor events are super popular. That doesn’t make our weather any more predictable though! Read on for our blog post on all the must-haves any outdoor event relies upon.

1. Bathrooms.

Toilets are a no-brainer, but a nice toilet bridges the massive gap between grimace and grin. Whilst festival-style portaloos are enough to actually put many people off outdoor events, luxury portable toilets add a little flair and comfort to any outdoor event.

2. Power.

Most events will need power - for a bit of music at the very least! If you’re planning to be able to cook, bear in mind that the capacity of the generator depends on your output. A benchmark would be that a 2000 watt generator should power (and chill) a food trailer capable of catering to about twenty people. If you’ve got live music, consider all the electric kit, that'll need power for too.

3. Weather-proofing.

Okay, your fingers are crossed for sunshine, but what is your backup plan for bucket loads of rain? Ditto, will your event be safe to take place in high winds? How about scalding sunshine, is there a place to take shade? Consider all the iterations that Great British weather can throw at you, and plan for them all!

4. Comfort.

Chucking rugs on the grass might be fine for kids and young adults, but that’s no way to keep older guests comfortable. Plan for seating and standing options that suit all of your likely guests, so that there’s space for everyone to do whichever they’re most comfortable doing. Equally, make sure there are individual-specific comfort features, to keep everyone happy. For example, providing a basket full of rugs for people to wrap around themselves, or an open fire for chillier people to gather around come nightfall, can make all the difference when it comes to whether your guests leave early or see the party through to the end.

5. Chill.

If you’re inviting guests for more than an hour or so, you’re going to need refreshments, whether they’re alcoholic or soft. In hot weather guests are likely to enjoy these drinks better chilled - can your power source support a fridge, or can you sort out some ice buckets, to keep those beverages refreshing? Always make sure there’s plenty of drinking water, too - which can be more of a challenge, if your outdoor site isn’t mains connected!

6. Know the rules.

If you’re holding your event on someone else’s property, be that a picnic in the park or a private wedding venue, there is likely to be a roster of rules to abide by. Whether that’s reducing noise levels after a certain time at night, ensuring you’ve got all the right permits (from food & beverage permits to gathering permits or zoning permits), whether animals are welcome or whether you can have fireworks, for example, make sure you’re keeping well within the required regulations. 

7. Lighting.

As soon as the sun sets, most outdoor venues need adequate lighting. Think through how you’ll get enough lighting to support the activities your guests will be doing; hurricane lanterns with pillar candles might be perfect for a chat over a glass of wine in the back garden, but if you’re expecting people to be able to serve themselves from a buffet, for example, or be able to see - to play a game, or read, for example - you’ll need a generator to support some higher-duty wattage.

8. Pest control.

Nothing puts the kibosh on an outdoor event like unwelcome visitors! Keep biting bugs at bay come nightfall using citronella candles and open fires. By the seaside, you might have to consider seagulls - they are pretty monstrous when they have their beady eyes on your chips! Don’t leave any food out for a prolonged period, both because of the risk of contamination by flies and because it might become a welcome sign for unwelcome rodents.

9. Consider accessibility.

 Your great nan won’t be able to lower herself into one of your rickety deck chairs, and a wheelchair-using friend will need step-free access. Ensure nobody feels unwelcome or forgotten by making sure this most basic of steps is covered, for all guests.

10. Enlist help!

Outdoor events require much more effort for setup and breakdown (think about it, even barbecuing in the garden requires the relocation of the contents of your fridge, the condiments drawer, and most of your kitchen cupboards). Add to that shelter, chairs and tables, and equipment for music or food, and you’ve got a grand-scale clear-up on your hands. Make sure you’re not left doing it on your own!

Here at WEThire, we’re experts in bathroom hire solutions. Let us help you to sort out any and all of your portable toilet and shower event requirements today.