Do you invite the Wedding Planner to the Rehearsal Dinner?

I think inviting her would be a very nice gesture - but I would assume you dont NEED to invite her to the rehearsal dinner since you're paying for her services (which probably include the rehearsal).

Hmm, I've been wrestling with this a little, too. I noticed the other day that our contract with our DW coordinator includes her presence at the wedding "and reception." We're not really doing a reception - having dinner at the restaurant at the hotel and then back to a private rooftop terrace for music and...whatever - we don't really have anything planned.

So, I was thinking it would be nice to ask her to have dinner with us, but we're going to be a group of 21-23 people. It's not like she could just generally mingle. Then again, not everyone knows each other anyway.

What to do, what to do...

(bump)

I'm curious about whether anyone else has insight.

We are inviting ours... she is actually "working" the rehearsal dinner. It will help her get to know people and see interactions, etc.

I loved my wedding cordinator well she was mainly my day of cordinator but she went above and beyond to help me out. I did not invite her to the rehersal dinner I thought that would just be akward for her. I just tipped her the night of the wedding and let her sit down and eat at the reception.

My wedding day coordinator is actually making our rehearsal dinner, so

she will be there!

Hmm...it's a little stickier with a DW. We won't meet her until the day before. Hmmmm......

So it seems there's no customary solution? We only have a DOC so even though I've met her twice before the wedding, I didn't get the impression that she would come to the rehearsal dinner. The other thing is that our rehearsal is much earlier than dinner, so I don't think she will hang around.

I can't speak for other planners, but unless I'm working the event or designed it I like to skip it. First of all, it tends to be awkward because I don't really know anyone (besides the bride of course and she's obviously busy with her friends and family and rightfully so) and then I feel bad because you've paid money for me to eat and I'm not doing anything productive and lastly it takes away time that I could be spending doing any last minute preparations or catching up on sleep so I can be fully rested and ready to tackle the wedding day. So while it's very kind to offer, I almost always decline.