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Family reunion
I'm planning a surprise party in the mountains for my husband's 30th birthday. I rented the biggest cabin I could find and plan on stocking it with food, beverages, activities. I invited all of my hubby's family and a few of my own that hubby is close to. I wish I could say that everyone was being really nice about it, but they're not. Instead, they are all complaining about who gets what room and who doesn't get a room at all. My first rule, "first come, first serve", did not seem fair, so now I'm saying that married people have priority. This is being met with resistance by my single sister-in-law, and my mother-in-law is taking her side! What is the best way to give priority in the rooms? And how can I ask people graciously to just suck it up? It's a huge cabin, and it's not costing them a dime.
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Want to answer more questions in the Relationships category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Families?
I see nothing wrong with a first come first serve room allotment, or with giving priority to couples (if your sister-in-law is willing to share a room/bed with her cousin or her mother, then count them as a couple and give them the same priority as a married pair, then it's all nice and fair). Trying to fill the rooms with two people, rather then giving a solitary person priority only makes sense when you have so many people to find space for.
As satisfying it would be to tell them to suck it up (if I were in your place I probably would have said just that by now) I think you could skip that speech by simply providing those who are unhappy with the room allotments with information on renting a near-by cabin or getting a room at a near-by hotel. Explain that there are only so many rooms in the cabin and that you are doing your best to make sure everyone is comfortable but if they aren't happy with the arrangements that there are some near-by places they might find more comfortable. I think that will quite effectively remind them that they are your guests at this cabin, and if they don't like your rules they may pay someone else to become their guests.
Don't let their discourteous behavior cause you stress, you aren't doing anything wrong. Enjoy the party.
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