out of town guest

I think that you can contact a nearby hotel and reserve a block of rooms a few months prior (sometimes at a nice discount). Then send the info to your out of town guests in a "save the date" kind of mailing. This way they can call and reserve. Dont forget to include the date they must reserve by to lock in the discounted price. A nice gesture for out of town guests is a welcome basket in their room. Also I have heard that it is customary to invite out of town guests to the rehearsal dinner however this also is not a "must". My fiance has alot of out of town relatives and it would be exorbitant to pay for sit down meals at a restaurant if we invite them all. So we are thinking of having food catered back to his mother's house after the rehearsal so we can extend the invite. If you prefer a restaurant setting and can't include out of towners that is OK too. (Just like with paying for hotel rooms, I dont think people expect you to go over your head with footing the bill) You really can customize your wedding to your own liking. I have obtained quite a few ideas from other weddings and we are incorporating them with our own style, taste and budget. Good luck.

If you're waiting for the reception hall to hold the receiving line, then maybe the bride and groom could duck into a side room and wait for the guests to leave. I think you have to go and sign the marraige certificate with your MOH and Best Man anyway.