To not pay for guest accommodation

[WindInThePussyWillows]

Having a christening at our local church and a bit of a party afterward, approx 30 guests and 10 children.
We live in a relatively expensive town in the South where unfortunately hotels and b&bs are very busy so charge a fair bit per night.

A few uni friends who are coming have messaged me saying the hotels are more expensive than they had anticipated and would I be paying all/ a contribution towards their accommodation for the night.

They are live 2 hours away, no children. The christening starts at 11 and I imagine the after celebrations will end about 5.

After the cost of the party, cake..etc I just can't afford to pay towards their accommodation.

WIBU to say no?

I'd completely understand if they couldn't afford to come and aren't able to make it.

I cannot imagine EVER asking someone to pay accommodation for a day event that I was invited to. This is beyond weird. Just say NO! There are Travelodge and Premier Inn all over the place and if it is a Sunday event not sure why they would stay that night after something finishes at 5.00, so imagine they will come down the night before. Their choice.

What a cheek! Unless you recently won the lottery or something and are considerably richer than them? (Goes into Brummie accent). But even then it would be cheeky.

Two hours away is nothing for a special event like this.

Of course YANBU. That's a bizarre request. I'd reply saying, 'I can't afford to pay accommodation for people - the ceremony starts at 11 and it's an afternoon tea afterwards which I expect will be wrapping up around 5. It would be lovely to see you so hope you can make it for the day.'

They're having a larf, mate!

Tell them to do one!

It's probably a not very subtle way of asking if they can stay...

It's a definite no. They are rude to ask.

That is some serious brass neck......................................

The cheek of some people!

Cheeky gits. Is there a Travelodge you can point them in the direction of. Those are often dirt cheap. Or Airbnb etc. Stopping over doesn't have to cost them a fortune if they want to.

Ummmmm - no. You're paying for the alcohol they obviously wish to drink enough of to necessitate the hotel in the first place.

Bluechip nailed the response. There is no need to stay over so thankfully that should solve their problem!

Unbelievable cheek to ask this of you.

Heck no. If you accept an invite far away you pay you own travelling and accommodation costs. They are taking the piss.

Crikey, that's guestilla.

"' Sorry, I booked the christening for 11am to give people town to travel to that morning. After church, afternoon celebrations will finished by 4-5pm latest so assumed people would just be going home'"

This is the perfect reply.

If they are seeing other friends too, they can stay with them - or get an airbnb together if those friends are also travelling to you.

Wow - incredibly cheeky!

Are they normally like this?

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
No

I've never heard of this if they choose to stay they pay. They have enough time to travel there and back. Say no.

This isn't a christening for them it's a chance to catch up with old friends and have a few hence they want to stay the night rather than drive or travel home. No YADNBA it's a christening not a piss up!!

I find this hard to believe - was it really a few Uni friends who asked this? If so then that's seriously weird.

Maybe they are expecting the Sunday to be a full blown booze fuelled party like a wedding reception and they need their rest the morning of.

This was my first thought:

these friends are not religious and expect a christening to be just like a wedding only substituting a baby for the bride

My second thought was:

your friends must have got together and planned this request because there's no way more 2 or more people could all individually come up with such an outrageous demand for the same event

I'm very surprised they are even asking, it wouldn't cross my mind to ask for a subsidy on accommodation costs.

They are taking the piss!

Cheeky mares! Yadnbu. They are. Very.

Honestly, I think my reply would be "hahaha, you're hilarious". I've several times flown to attend christenings, so cost of transport to and from airport, flight, car hire and hotel. No way in a million years would I even think of asking for a contribution! I wonder do they do the same for weddings?

I'd just reply 'haha that's funny. Are you really planning on staying over though even though the christenings 11-5? check out the premier Inn if you are'

They've obviously got together on this as a number of them have asked the same peculiar question. There is no reason whatsoever why you should pay to enable them to have Saturday night out with their mates.