Rehearsal dinner required for a wedding? Or can I do something else?

When is the rehearsal taking place? If you expect your rehearsal to take place at or around a meal time (say, after work at 6:00), you need to provide an actual meal. If your rehearsal is at 2:30 in the afternoon, you can get away with appetizers/hors d'oeuvers. Time of day should always determine what refreshments/meals you serve. You don't want your guests (or bridal party in this case) going home hungry just because you feel like cheaping out on a rehearsal dinner.

Are you hosting the rehearsal dinner? Traditionally it is hosted by the grooms family so they would decide what is server, but it's not uncommon for the couple to host it their self and if that is the case it's up to you what is served.

However, the majority of the people will be hungry and Hors d'oeuvres might not cut it. You will have people either skipping the dinner portion or leaving so they can eat. The rehearsal dinner doesn't need to be anything big and fancy, but you should at least provide them a meal. People in your wedding party who may work the day of the rehearsal will becoming from work to the rehearsal, thus they have not eaten.

If you are having an rehearsal, you should feed them an meal as an thank you for taking time out. Most of the time it's during dinner time.

Here the thing, you do not have to have it at the place.

My mother in law had it at her house, she did most of the cooking.

Most rehearsal dinner I been to was at someone house or backyard. Most family cook with some tray food. I been to where they picked up pizza and had it at someone house.

Do you have an family or friend that could have the dinner at their house? That would be the cheapest way.

It does not have to be fancy or in an restaurant, should be an meal.

Remember you bridal party and others are taking time out, some leaving work or taking the day off to be at your rehearsal.

If you are able to, you can the rehearsal, then you do not have to have the dinner. That is because they are charge to have the rehearsal, to save money they skip it.

You can do whatever you want to, but the rehearsal dinner is usually paid for by the grooms family, and is arranged by them. That may factor into your decision, and you'll need to talk to his family about it in case they don't know the protocol.

Yes; but it therefore isn't a dinner, so you might want to warn your guests in case they think otherwise.

You do it how you want it. Its your wedding.