My hubby-to-be's parents have stated that they would pay for the rehersal dinner. I am inviting the people in the wedding and their significant other/date/family, my parents and my grandparents. Who do they pay for and who is on their own?

It would be just like any other party you would throw, and it is also a thank you to those involved in the wedding, I would pay at least for all meals involved. I did wait tables at a rehersal dinner where everyone's meal was paid for but the drinks were not. But I dont think that is the norm.

The rehearsal dinner is traditionally the responsibility of the grooms family...Yikes! Did I just say that?...I am the MOG!
I think everything at the rehearsal dinner should and will be covered by the grooms family for our sons wedding.

The groom's family typically pays for everything at the rehearsal dinner.

Yeah, we have TONS of out of town guests (like around 30) that aren't in the bridal party, so we're going to have be rude and un-etiquette-like and say bridal party, parents and grandparents only.

Who pays for this?

My best friend recently got married in January. Her rehearsal dinner was paid for by her now MIL and everyone in the wedding party plus their significant other were paid for... She did pay for the champagne for toasting and also any non-alcoholic beverage we wanted...we were only responsible for any alcoholic drinks that we wanted with the meal... My FH and I are starting to plan our rehearsal dinner which won't be until the fall but we have already decided on the same thing. We will pay for some of the drinks but not all...hope this helps!

I agree that all the meals and sodas should be paid for and that the guests should pay for their own alcoholic drinks. We are in the very early stages of wedding planning but I know for my FH's uncle's wedding, all the women in their family made this wonderful meal and rented out a community center and all the family on both sides were invited. This definately isn't the norm, but it was really nice. Hopefully they will put something on for us like that