Accomodating Guests...?

I want to get married in the church (in another state) I grew up in, but since prices are skyrocketing, I'm worried about people showing up to the wedding! So, I was thinking that I could rent buses, one that would bring people down if they wanted to attend the rehearsal dinner, and one that would bring people down later if they didn't. And then have shuttle buses bring people to and from the wedding. If they wanted to find something else to do (which there isn't much to do in this town since it's really small) and they would need a car, they could drive and I would pay for half of their gas. Since The church is 5 hours away from most of my guests, I was thinking about finding a hotel and renting a bunch of their rooms for the out of town guests. I could easily do this as I am still a member of this church so it will be free, so the amount budgeted for the venue could go to hotel rooms. If I did this, I would want to put a gift basket in the rooms with all sort of things (cont)
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I think this sounds awesome if it is in your budget -- and from your other q&as it sounds like you have really thought out your budget. I think paying half their gas is a lot but you could put gas cards in the baskets...I keep deleting this next part and starting over: I am thinking some way of bus people to give their gas cards away to drivers if they so desired. I think you are over the top with your consideration but if you can afford it that is not a bad thing. I believe your Fab 50 -- the invitation list you have decided on -- are probably people who would drive 5 hours for you. I think the bus thing (esp 2 busses LOL) is enough without the gas card. If people do not want to give up access to their cars then it is their choice to drive down. What if there were shuttles they could sign up for to go to the main town close to your church town? If there was an area that was walking distance to museums and shopping etc. then a shuttle could go at X:00 there and leave at X:00 to come back. I think that would be plenty or... I went to my cousin`s wedding in his bride`s hometown in a sort of yucky town in Ohio. They had events like a golf outing and a picnic etc. for the guests to do. We honestly did not have that much time for sightseeing. I honestly believe the recipients of the fab 50 invitations would show up at your wedding if it was on Guam and you don`t have to worry -- but the hotel rooms plus the buses is very generous and I think you will have a fabulous wedding weekend. Getting away somewhere different is fun so I think if the hotel has a lounge the guests will like socializing with one another during what little down time there might be.
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