Hi Everyone,
I hope this is okay to discuss here, this situation actually happened through another hosting platform that we thought we would trial (but are now cancelling as soon as we receive our one and only payment). But this could just as easily have happened through Airbnb. So we would love some advice....
Our Airbnb Studio (3 guests max) is attached to our home, but is on a lower level with its own separate entrance.
Our guests from this past weekend booked months ago for 2 guests, on behalf of family members who were coming for the booking Guest's wedding, at a location just up the road from us. Two days before they were due to arrive, I contacted the 'soon to be newly weds' asking for the contact details of their family members that were supposed to be staying with us. They then told me that they had decided to stay in our Studio themselves..... Great! No problems there.
They arrived late the night before the wedding, and so we hadn't met them, although I had been in contact with them several times during the day about arrival times, and self check in details. Lots of chances to discuss anything with us.
The morning of their wedding, cars were coming and going on our property.... from what we could work out, the bride left, the groom was picked up, then another car arrived and 2 women got out, at this point I introduced myself, believing one of them to be the bride.... but No, one was the Mother of the Bride, and the other was a Bridesmaid. I assumed that the bride was in the Studio, but was told she was somewhere else having her hair and makeup done, and that they had been given the pin code to let themselves in to our Studio!! They proceeded to go inside and get ready for the wedding. The Bride arrives a little later.
The doorbell to our house rings, my husband answers it.... and two wedding photographers start taking his photo as they try and step through the doorway!! Completely taken off guard.... He points them in the direction of the Studio! At this point in time, we were really considering saying something, but we felt it was all too late, and we didn't want to put a spoiler on their day....
While all all this is going on, and not having any clue of what was about to unfold that day, we already had a house full of our own visitors..... my parents, our daughter, son in law and our grandsons, who we'd been babysitting overnight! Which wouldn't normally be a problem, as we were at the back area of our home.... furthest away from the Studio, for our guests privacy!
Next thing we know, the Groom has turned up again in his suit, greets the bride and they are off wandering around our Backyard with the Photographers, having their photoshoot! I know, we 'did' actually say in our listing that Guests are welcome to wander around our yard.... but there's nothing to say that they are also welcome to invite other people and/or professional photographers onto the property without our permission!
They had lots of opportunities just to ask us if this would be okay! And, while everything had all been well thought out and pre planned in advance on their side of things, no consideration or notification had been given to us, and the use of our home.
Sorry about the long drawn out scenario, but it has opened up a few questions for us, as well as some contradictory feelings, and we would appreciate some input....
Because, at the end of the day, if they had asked us in advance, we probably would have said Yes to all the activity, but with conditions.... after all, in this instance, our Studio was no worse for wear. It was kind of exciting to watch it all happen, and they really just seemed like a lovely young couple who just didn't think.... or maybe, they got one over us!
1. Where would we stand with Insurances? With no prewarning, we hadn't prepared our Backyard for a Wedding Photoshoot..... We have a grey water sprinkler system that automatically comes on when the tank is full. That would have made for an interesting photo.... not to mention a ruined wedding dress! Also the fact that someone could have hurt themselves.
2. How do we make sure that we aren't caught by 'surprise' again? I know we can put something in our House Rules.... but, if someone doesn't tell us they're getting married and chooses not to read, or disregard the rules, I'm pretty sure we will still have the same reaction, and not say anything..... because we wouldn't want to spoil their day!
3. Is there any way of offering a 'Bridal Package' without being out of pocket? In other words, an extra charge to cover extra services such as cleaning, extra people using the property and privacy/location hire. We'd really love to hear feedback from anyone with any experience in this area!!
Thanks in advance,
Michelle 🙂
