How to tell family they can't stay with us?

No is a complete sentence. Have your FH tell his family there is not enough room and provide some links to affordable places to stay.

Firstly you need to get your FH onside. Tell him that the week prior to your wedding you are likely to be stressed to the max, and if there are eight extra people staying in your house you will probably say something to one of them that you would normally not dream of, and it could jeopardise your future relationship with his family. In order to preserve this relationship they will need to stay in a hotel. Then, he needs to email his family and say "hey family, we are very excited to have you in our city for our wedding. We've put together a list of great local hotels where you will be very comfortable, here are the details: (then list three or four local hotels in a reasonable price bracket). We would love to have you all over for a BBQ on (whatever night before the wedding weekend) so we can all catch up properly before the wedding festivities begin. Love, OP's FH and OP."

Are they under the impression that they are staying with you? Because I mean, 8 house guests is quite an inconvenience, and quite an assumption to make that you would be able to host them.

8 guests?! That's crazy. We just told our family we are not hosting guests during the wedding. It would be too much to worry about to make sure they are accommodated well in our home. It would also be unfair to pick and choose who gets to stay. Many of our guests are on a tight budget and it wouldn't be right to pick one person over another. Just tell them sorry but no.

I told all our relatives (way more than 8 of them), "Here's the link to book a room under our hotel block if you want to stay there. I wish you could stay with us, but since my parents downsized, there's no room for everyone"

(FH & I live a couple hours south but are getting married in our hometown)

They were all super nice about it and said things like, "of course! We totally understand" etc etc.

"No." Eight is a lot, even if you have a huge house and nothing else going on. It's a huge inconvenience for you and no one will be comfortable crammed into a house. My parents have a huge house, and while it worked it wasn't overly comfortable fitting 8 guests in for *one* night recently, let alone a week.

It's nice that your fiance is trying to be considerate of their budget, but it sounds like he may not have exactly thought this through. It's his family, so he should address this with them, but make it clear that it's not feasible for them to stay with you. If you want to help, offer to look up some good inexpensive places to stay and give them recommendations (VRBO and AirBnB might be cheaper than hotel rooms).

I had the EXACT same problem. I was very blunt with them. I told them "I love you guys, but we can't have you stay with us that weekend. We have to much going on, and I'll be too stressed out to be a good host. Here are some local hotels (at different price points)."

I'm inviting them to the rehearsal dinner, to ease any tensions. But I'm to high strung to deal with people at my house.

HE tells them, not you.

We did this, we turned away every request to stay with us.

My own son and dil never asked, they booked a hotel.

"So glad you're coming to celebrate! I am sure you understand that we haven't the room or the time this time to host you properly. Please considering the following hotels..."

Hell no! There is so much to do around your wedding that it's impossible to host one guest, much less 8. My parents' house was covered in my stuff the days leading up to the wedding that we changed the "getting ready" area from her living room to the church (which is next door to their house). I wouldn't have been able to worry about being tidy those last two days

Your FH should tell them without dancing around the subject. He needs to be super clear that no one can and will stay with you the week of the wedding. If FH is so worried about the cost he can pay or help pay for the hotel. Frankly, there's no reason they need to be in town for s whole week before and if they choose to do that, that's a cost they have to bear.

Does FH have other relatives in the same city as you? You could split them into 2 or 3 different houses. I'm offering this opinion because depending on your/FH's cultural background, housing them might be expected of his family. You can always say no, of course, but maybe offer a solution at the same time? Like finding alternate or inexpensive accommodations, especially for his grandmother.

"I'm sorry, but we do not have room to house 8 people."

EIGHT people??!! That's 4 extra bedrooms!!

I agree with trying to find an Air BnB to accommodate them. FH can pay for it if he is that worried about it, but as @Firstoneat56 said, there's no need for them to be in town for a whole week prior to the wedding. That is their CHOICE. They are all adults, they should be able to figure out it without inconveniencing you.

My mother wanted to do this! She wanted to host her whole family for my wedding! I said, "Mom people book hotels, for weddings, thats the normal, thing to do. " She's like for MY wedding (in the 80s) all my brothers and sisters put up all of my relatives at their house. I was like uh the wedding is AT A HOTEL I booked it FOR that reason mother.

Hi, Although we are thrilled that you have come to our wedding, we cannot accommodate you all in our home. There is no room. I'd be happy to make hotel reservations for you. I can use my AAA Card and get you a great rate.

I think PPs have it. Get FH on board. You'll be thankful for the alone time. Air B&B or Home Away is a great option. FH needs to break the news, though.

I would never assume that anybody would put me up anywhere. H and I actually like being in a hotel room. We want our own space and our own bathroom. I collect free samples of soaps, creams and shampoos for our homeless project too. Works out well for all. You can find a nice room for 90 bux a nite anyway.

He tells them. Who wants to entertain eight people the week before the wedding?

No one. That's who. And who even asks? No one sane.

Definitely say no! Those bridal balls are in there, I promise! My aunt (love her but she drives me nuts) has been dogging me about her and her bf staying with us the WHOLE WEEK she is there before the wedding. It sucks, I feel you!

You need to tell your FH no, and he needs to deal with his family. As it's been said already, "No" is a complete sentence.

I would talk to FH. If you have the budget you could find them a place to stay near by and make time to see them but 8 people is a lot to host in your home!