Making sure your outdoor corporate event is wheelchair-accessible isn’t just a good way to make a more inclusive event; in many cases, it’s the law! And, in the beautiful Northwest, with the growing popularity of outdoor venues, there are more options for accessibility than ever before.

It’s all about rethinking traditional approaches to things like decor, flooring, and restroom facilities. There are beautiful lighting and décor strategies that keep accents off the floor and pathways clear. Temporary flooring companies have mastered ease in mobility with solid surfaces, paths, and ramps. And a variety of restroom options are available that are not just wheelchair accessible, but are fully ADA-compliant.

Read more about government accessibility guidelines here.

Restrooms

To offer as many options as possible to our clients, we reached out to manufacturers to see what was available in the restroom industry for ADA-compliant outdoor events. To our shock, the options ranged from limited to nonexistent, with many restrooms not even meeting full ADA compliance.

Partnering with the top manufacturer in the country, we designed one of the most beautiful custom restrooms in the Northwest… one that also happens to be fully ADA-compliant and wheelchair-accessible.

Our standards were extremely high in the design process. Crown molding, custom cabinetry, back-lit vanity mirrors, sound systems, vessel sinks, and more have been incorporated into this beautiful and highly functional design. It forever leaves behind the industrial, hospital-grade look and feel.

Best of all, these restrooms were designed with a fully ADA-compliant ramp system and an absolutely gorgeous, oversized room with more than enough space to do a full turn; any guest will feel absolutely welcome in such a beautiful space.

The same principles of mobility and high-end design can be applied to the rest of outdoor event planning. We’ve listed some tricks of the trade we’ve learned while being a part of some truly incredible events. Check them out!

Learn more about our luxury portable restrooms!

Décor: Keep It Off the Ground!

A growing new trend for both indoor events and outdoor events that we absolutely love is hanging décor and flower arrangements and it fits perfectly with keeping pathways clear for an ADA-compliant event.

Hanging chandeliers and strings of pearls from tree branches sets a whimsical scene and allows for high impact in the visuals department. Another trend we are obsessing over is hanging floral designs, whether they are oversized floral wreaths hanging horizontally or hundreds of tulips hanging vertically one by one above the guests’ table, hanging floral designs are a super modern twist on favorite traditional designs.

Temporary Flooring

Many outdoor events come with a lot of dirt, grass, gravel, and uneven ground. Looking to get around a little easier? Those small square dance floors you see at weddings can be extended to cover your venue! You can even cover pathways for a “runway” type feel and ramps over small sections of steps for easy transitions for all guests.

Flooring comes in almost any design you can imagine, from black and white retro tiles and glossy runways to an elegant hardwood look. Many floors also help protect grass and plants, and most flooring options are able to pull electrical lines underneath to avoid tripping hazards. If you really want to blow the minds of family and friends, you can even have extra neat features such as clear flooring built over a pool with LED uplighting; the options are never-ending.

No matter which matches your aesthetic best, the ease of moving throughout the event to greet each of your guests will be the most memorable part!

Wrapping it All Up

Best of all, these restrooms were designed with a fully ADA-compliant ramp system and an absolutely gorgeous, oversized room with more than enough space to do a full turn; any guest will feel absolutely welcome in such a beautiful space.

The same principles of mobility and high-end design can be applied to the rest of outdoor event planning. We’ve listed some tricks of the trade we’ve learned while being a part of some truly incredible events. Check them out!

Learn more about our luxury portable restrooms!

ADA-compliant and wheelchair-accessible event designs can have all the high-end features for a fabulous outdoor event. Whether it be creative hanging décor, lighting and floral arrangements, a modern temporary floor design, or the most beautiful outdoor restroom options in the Northwest, all the pieces are there to make an ADA-compliant and wheelchair-accessible outdoor event truly incredible.

Get started planning your event today by calling the professionals at Privy Chambers or getting a quote online. We’d love to help organize your event!

With so much focus on what we can do to help the environment, there is an emerging trend of Eco-Friendly Glam. Wedding ceremonies and receptions can be your chance as a couple to celebrate your environmental stewardship as a nod to your forever future together, and can help kick start your guests on the Eco-Friendly Glam path.

Keeping waste to a minimum and repurposing items are great places to begin, but keeping a fine balance of glam in your eco-friendly inspirations is the ultimate goal for a flawless event. Choosing local and organic food sources for your catering, using vintage décor and even a vintage gown and suit, purposeful wedding favors, water-saving elements with over-the-top amazing outdoor restroom rentals, and a consideration for locally sourced live floral arrangements are all among our top list of favorite tips and trends into Eco-Friendly Glam.

Vintage Gown, Suit & Décor!

A fabulous Eco-friendly venue is one that comes with most of its own décor. Whether it be through amazing architectural designs that need little accenting or a mature outdoor landscape providing its own live flowers and foliage.

With the extra little items used to accent the happy couple’s personality and interests, a touch of vintage décor, such as old books and antiques from any interest or hobby sourced from either the local shop on Main Street, Grandma’s attic, or go extra eco-savvy with vintage rentals. The more couples are able to share different items, whether it be throughout the generations or throughout the season, the better!

The Catering: Keep it Local, Keep it Fresh, Keep it Organic!

Being in the Northwest, we are surrounded by some of the freshest meat, dairy, and produce in the country. Organic has become a household norm, and our farms and food suppliers are listening!

Home to some of the best Honey Crisp apples, blackberries and raspberries, wild chanterelle mushrooms, filberts (or hazelnuts to all you non-northwesterners!), locally owned and operated dairies, wineries, and breweries, it is no wonder so many of our caterers have opted for seasonal menus to be able to offer the freshest ingredients all year round. Keep your caterer closely involved in your guest counts to avoid waste for the compost. End up with too much extra food? Consider donating it!

The Restrooms: Beauty & Environmental Stewardship in One Package!

Oftentimes, an eco-friendly venue may have an abundance of natural beauty, but it may be lacking in some of the basic necessities for a ceremony and reception lasting into the evening.

Don’t let a lack of restrooms deter you from your dream wedding venue! Our luxury restroom trailers at Privy Chambers have the perfect restroom replacements for your black tie affair, whether it is in the middle of the woods, within the vines of the vineyard, down on the farm, or in your family backyard.

All of these restrooms are built with low-flow water systems, helping to save thousands of gallons a year; LED lighting for low power draws, equipment made in the USA; and the new option of solar power on some units. These restrooms are the absolute best in the Northwest over any of the options and are definitely keeping the Glam in Eco-Friendly Glam!

Check out our local projects here!

Fresh, Local, Live Floral Design

The choices in floral design can be overwhelming. Style, color, cut, arrangements or bouquets, singles or bunches; the choices are endless! When choosing eco-friendly glam options, keep local availability in mind. Ask your florist what their local vendors have available season to season to help avoid costly delivery fees while also keeping an eye on that carbon footprint. Want to go the extra mile? Choose live plants and floral designs! Potted ferns and flowers, live mosses, shrubs, trees, are all wonderful examples of sustainable floral design. And the best part is, with a proper green thumb, these live florals can be a lasting reminder of your budding love for seasons to come!

Eco-Friendly Glam is the hottest new trend aimed at keeping our one and only earth at its coolest. Minimizing your carbon footprint with repurposed gowns, suits, and décor, locally sourced catering options, restrooms that will amaze while also saving thousands of gallons of water, and thoughtful floral options are the perfect tips and trends for an over the top glam affair while also celebrating our environmental edge in the Pacific Northwest! Get started planning your dream wedding today at Privy Chambers by getting a quote online.

October in the Pacific Northwest is something special. The air turns crisp, the leaves shift into amber and rust, and, if you’re an event planner, your calendar starts looking very, very full. Fall harvest festivals, corporate retreats, outdoor weddings, community fundraisers, and winery events: they all converge into one of the most vibrant event months of the year.

But October also has a reputation among seasoned planners: it rewards the prepared and humbles the optimistic. Here’s what you need to know to pull off a flawless fall event this year.

Start Earlier Than You Think You Need To

If there’s one piece of advice that applies to every October event, it’s this: the timeline you have in mind is probably too short. Fall is peak season for vendors across the Pacific Northwest: caterers, photographers, tent rentals, entertainment, and venues all fill up faster than most planners expect.

A good rule of thumb is to begin your vendor outreach at least three to four months in advance for larger events and no less than six to eight weeks out, even for more intimate gatherings. The planners who secure the best vendors, the best pricing, and the most flexibility are almost always the ones who started the conversation early!

Build Your Entire Plan Around the Weather

October weather in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho is beautiful and completely unpredictable. You might get a gloriously sunny weekend with mild temperatures, or you might get sideways rain and 45-degree evenings. Sometimes both, on the same day.

This means weather contingency planning isn’t optional. A few non-negotiables:

• Always have a tent or covered structure available, even if you’re hoping to go without one. Renting a tent you don’t end up needing is a far better outcome than needing one you didn’t rent.
• Plan your lighting for darkness, not just dusk. October sunsets come early, and evening events need thoughtful illumination for both ambiance and safety.
• Communicate weather contingencies to your guests in advance so no one is caught off guard by a change in setup or flow.
• Choose ground surfaces carefully. Rain turns grass into mud quickly, which affects everything from foot traffic patterns to vendor access and setup.

The best October events feel effortless to guests precisely because the planner anticipated every weather scenario and built in a solution.

Lock in your vendor access and logistics early

Ask yourself and your venue contact the following before finalizing any plan:

• What is the vendor access route, and can large vehicles navigate it?
• Are there weight restrictions on driveways or paths during wet weather?
• Where is the designated setup area for each vendor, and how early can they arrive?
• Is there reliable power available, or do vendors need to bring their own?
• What is the parking situation for guests arriving after dark?

Getting clear answers to these questions early prevents a cascade of last-minute problems that no amount of good attitude can fully fix on event day.

Don’t Neglect the Details That Guests Notice Most

Here’s something experienced event planners know well: guests rarely remember the big, expensive centerpieces with as much clarity as they remember how they felt throughout the event. And how guests feel is shaped almost entirely by the small, practical details, whether they were comfortable, whether they could find what they needed, and whether the flow of the event felt intuitive.

Signage matters. Parking direction matters. Coat check matters on a cold October evening. And restrooms? Restrooms matter enormously. They are probably the most important part of your event.

Can somebody please think about the restrooms?

If your October event is at an outdoor venue without adequate permanent facilities, a farm, vineyard, park, or private property, your restroom situation needs to be solved well before event week. And “solved” doesn’t mean a standard porta-potty dropped in a corner. Your guests’ experience doesn’t pause when they step away from the event.

At Privy Chambers, our luxury restroom trailers are designed to feel like an extension of the event itself: climate-controlled, beautifully finished, with full vanities, hot water, built-in sound, and ADA-accessible options. They serve events from 10 to 1,000+ guests across Oregon, Washington, and Kootenai County, Idaho, and they book up quickly during October’s peak season.

Your October Event Deserves to Be Remembered for All the Right Reasons

You’re putting real thought, time, and heart into this event. Don’t let an overlooked detail undo it.

Get a free quote from Privy Chambers, and check restrooms off your list today!

Just in time for fall event planning season, here’s a cornucopia of news stories specially curated to keep you up to date. One of our objectives is to keep our readers up to date on new technology in the field, and this post is no different: we’re sharing a great article on leading-edge event website technologies.

To round things out, we cover a unique dinner held in a football stadium, partying with tequila, and an update on the sustainability practices of an industry giant!

Trends In Event Websites

With more than a billion websites on the internet, standing out from the crowd is never easy. Author Sean Burke makes sure you know that mobile functionality and great SEO are critical: he lists them early. Burke says to be sure:

…that the site is mobile-friendly and… …that the site doesn’t use Flash, as it doesn’t show in mobile and loads slowly on desktop. Over 50% of all traffic most sites get is mobile, as confirmed by Google’s mobile update, so this is an easy win.

But he notes that:

Due to the complexity of SEO, you may want to have someone handle all of this for you.

https://meetings.skift.com/2016/09/15/6-trends-in-cutting-edge-event-websites/

Tequila Trucks To Pencil Centerpieces: Great Event Ideas

In their efforts to differentiate their event from all the others, professional planners work hard to come up with unique ideas. Here we’ve collected a bunch of the best for your inspiration.
For the Excel Academy’s Celebration of Excellence, the folks at AB Events designed awesome table centerpieces to fit the education theme. According to author Ian Zelaya:

…sunflower centerpieces wrapped with a row of pencils…and table numbers were created with new covers on old books, which were then used in classrooms and libraries.

https://www.bizbash.com/event-venues/10-best-ideas-of-the-week-a-mini-tequila-truck-display-pencil-centerpieces-a-budweiser-swing-ride

An Awesome Party In A Football Stadium? Absolutely!

There aren’t many sit-down dinners hosted in professional football stadiums, but that’s exactly what American Express did at CenturyLink Field, where the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL play.
Deborah Curtis, vice president of entertainment marketing and sponsorships for American Express, explained the firm’s reasoning in choosing this venue:

…we are focused on delivering amazing experiences for our card members by tapping into their passion points, and the ‘Dinner on the 50’ event worked to accomplish just that… By leveraging our partnership with the Seahawks, we were able to create this unique experience that brought the 12s even closer to the team they love at one of the most exclusive locations in Seattle.

https://www.bizbash.com/event-venues/why-american-express-hosted-a-seated-dinner-on-a-football-field

Industry Leader Freeman Management Goes Green!

Titans of the event industry, Freeman Management, are demonstrating leadership in sustainability and green practices. With more than 4,000 exhibitions and 11,000 corporate events yearly, Freeman is certainly the “gorilla” in the field, and now they’re environmental leaders as well.

The firm earned the International Event Sustainability Management certification, ISO 20121, certifying that the organization’s management system complies with environmental, economic, and social aspects of sustainable development, and it requires the organization to integrate sustainability into all stages of planning and throughout the supply chain.

https://www.freeman.com/resources/green-for-the-greater-good/

At Privy Chambers in Oregon, we’re proud to offer the finest portable luxury restrooms in the Northwest. With the largest fleet, the most luxurious appointments, the region’s only ADA-compliant restrooms, and more, we’re the experts’ choice for rental restrooms. Call us today!

As the summer sun sets for the last time, I am eager for the fall wedding season to begin! The colors of the outdoor venues, the gorgeous tents, the warm foods, and the darker side of whimsy often sneak into the edges of the event planning. With the impending arrival of All Hallows’ Eve, we have resisted the temptations of pumpkins (with the exception of pie) and spiderwebs, opting for a more mature haunted mansion type scene. With this being our favorite time of year, we couldn’t resist gathering a few tips and trends for planning an elegant fall wedding with a touch of dark magic.

Setting the scene couldn’t be more exciting. Industrial ruins are an emerging trend across both downtown and rural venues, offering a dramatic and unique backdrop. Savory catering that highlights traditional harvest foods is a must, while historic décor adds depth and emotion to the atmosphere. And of course, the perfect vintage-style dress ties it all together. Each element leaves room for a dark, whimsical twist, creating an unforgettable evening that truly embodies “Till Death Do You Part.”

The Venue: A Life Begins in Ruins

Tucked away in the nearly forgotten corners are buildings left in ruins. Though their original purpose may have expired, their reclaimed shells, when properly reinforced, can be the most amazing setting for a wedding or event venue.

The building pictured above can be found in the heart of Portland’s Forest Park! Just amazing… who knew such a space was within minutes of the hustle and bustle of downtown living? With lighting, floral design, and friends, it is just the right amount of dark magic for a night you and your guests will never forget!

For another venue with Ruins in Hood River, OR: https://www.theruins.org/

Off the Beaten Path: Bring Your Own Necessities!

With all the incredible venues popping up everywhere between wineries, vineyards, breweries, industrial ruins, or even classics such as historic buildings, parks, and cathedrals, oftentimes they are lacking in sufficient amenities of the plumbing variety.

Not willing to miss out on the location of a lifetime, at Privy Chambers, we’ve solved the restroom issue with top-of-the-line, custom-built luxury restrooms to complete the party package for you and your guests to celebrate all night! Restrooms with heating, air conditioning, sound systems, vessel sinks, and backlit mirrors are an extension of the event space and even a conversation piece for your guests. The new necessity!

See all of our options here: https://privychambers.com/gallery/

Spooky Décor: Just Add Elegant Twist

The décor is by far one of my favorite parts of any event. It tells the story of the couple; whether minimalist or over the top, the elements a couple chooses to share with their family and friends are a reflection of their passion, their personality, and their creativity.

My husband and I planned an outdoor fall wedding with influence from Halloween, but we skipped the pumpkins (except in pie form) and spider webs. Instead, we went for the outdoor “anthropologist’s library” look with chandeliers hanging from the trees and historic books on every table, along with aged scrolls under glass domes. We completed the look with replica fossil displays and an amazing backdrop for our head table. With multiple thick dark window curtains strung behind our table, we achieved a sort of vintage linen wallpaper look in the middle of the woods! To continue the outdoor theme, we had moss, ferns, and other greenery creeping in on all the tables and displays. Just amazing looking back at the look we achieved with so few materials.

For the most incredible wedding fit for witches and wizards: http://bit.ly/2cNuO41

The Food: A Feast of Desserts!

A fall or winter wedding is one of the top excuses to have a buffet of desserts. When planning my wedding, we were looking out for vegan diets, gluten-free diets, and eat-everything diets, so we had something for everyone! Cheese cakes (which are technically more pies than cakes), pumpkin pies, apple pies, berry pies, and pecan pies were all present and accounted for. With all the options displayed on oversized books, surrounded by ivy and lanterns, the display had just the right amount of dark whimsy, such a delectable spread in the woods!

That Dress, Though!

Planning a Halloween-themed wedding leaves the door wide open as far as the dress, hair, and make-up go. If you want to keep it classic and romantic but still fit the theme, a vintage lace design is a flawless choice. I had cap sleeves added to my dress to include a modernized twist to a look of yesteryear and the perfect addition for a dress that could have come from the year 1890 or 2090 (unless, by then, we are wearing only metallic and spandex).

If you want to go full costume, there is no better time! A full Victorian costume, a bride of the living dead, or full ensemble costumes such as the cast of Star Wars or FernGully would be amazing. And if you really want to get the whole gang involved, encourage your guests to dress up! For those not showing up in costume, a selection of masquerade masks is a perfect last-minute costume.

Planning a Halloween-themed wedding can run the spectrum of dark whimsy and vintage lace all the way to full-on costumes and stage makeup. It’s a time to let your imagination run away with you and plan a wedding of your dreams! Venture off the beaten path to find the venues near you that hold the magic you have been seeking, let your passions guide you in terms of décor and ambiance, and be sure to bring in the necessary amenities for a flawless evening full of spirits and memories!