No Bridal Party Question

BlckRoses

So FI and I aren't having a bridal party for a number of reasons.  But this is making it confusing on who to invite to the rehersal dinner. 
Both our parents live about 1.5 to 2 hours away from us (and the wedding), so my out of town family will be staying with my parents and coming down with them the day of the rehersal dinner or the day before.  Do we invite them to the dinner even though they're not in the wedding?  Also, I have some friends coming in from out of town who will be staying with me for a couple of nights.  They are going to be doing some bridesmaids duties without the title.  Do I invite them? Or just leave them hanging out at my house?
My FI wants to invite only immediate family, but I feel some out of town guests will feel left out and abandonded if we go to the dinner and leave them at hotels, etc.  But it could easily spiral out of control.
Any advice about who should be included?

Calypso1977

there is no obligation to invite OOT guests.

we had only a best man and a MOH.  our rehearsal dinner was 11 people - us, the best man (h's bro) and his GF, my MOH (my sister), our 3 parents, the priest and we included H's sister and her fiance.  it was wonderful.  we were able to spring for a really nice meal since it was a small number.  honestly, i wish we could have just gotten married with that group and no one else.  would have been a lot simpler.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

The only people you NEED to invite are the people who need to be at the actual rehearsal, which I'm assuming are your parents and officiant.

It would be NICE to invite out of town guests and people they are staying with, but not necessary, etiquette-wise. Let your venue, budget and the size of your wedding determine where you go with this.