When Maria planned a surprise party for her husband’s 40th birthday, she didn’t expect strangers to walk through the door instead of him. The mix-up, caused by an unexpected Airbnb booking, turned into an unforgettable night filled with laughter and unexpected guests.

To prepare for the surprise, Maria told her husband, Tom, that she would be out of town on his birthday and stayed at her friend Karen’s house instead. On the party day, she invited friends and family to their home at 5 p.m. to decorate before Tom’s 6 p.m. arrival.

As guests arrived and began decorating, Maria was excited. However, at 5:45 p.m., a young couple entered the house instead of Tom. “We rented this house on Airbnb. We were supposed to stay here for a few days,” the man explained. Maria was stunned but quickly realized Tom must have listed the house thinking it would be empty.

Maria called Tom, who said, “I figured since you were going to be out of town, we could make a little extra money.” Realizing the misunderstanding, Maria invited the couple, Jake and Emily, to join the party. They accepted, and everyone had a great time.

Tom arrived soon after, apologizing for the mix-up. The night ended with everyone laughing and enjoying the surprise guests. “Cheers to unexpected guests and surprise parties,” Dave toasted, and the whole room echoed, “Cheers!”

Despite the chaos, it turned out to be a night Maria and Tom would never forget, with a story to tell for years to come.