Have you been dreaming about your wedding day for as long as you can remember?

The dress, the cake, the flowers and of course, your soon-to-be spouse?  You’ve likely been planning all the details for more than a year.

Then, less than a month before your big day, your reception venue goes out of business.

You lose your deposit and have to spend money on booking another space.

What’s next?

Has your perfect day been ruined?

Thankfully, you planned ahead and one of those details you checked off your list was getting Wedding Insurance.

Although you might not want to think about it, disasters can strike on your wedding day. While the stress of planning and covering all the details can be overwhelming, just think about trying to relocate your entire reception venue, and how much money could be lost as a result.

What is wedding insurance?

Wedding insurance protects a couple’s investment from circumstances beyond their control, and reimburses any expenses incurred as a result of these circumstances.

So, if your wedding venue goes out of business just weeks before your event, you could be protected with reimbursement for any incurred expenses.

Here are a few examples of what wedding policies will cover:

  • A limo driver doesn’t show up on the day of your wedding, forcing you to hire a different company in a crunch… at double the price of course.
  • A winter wedding venue is inaccessible because of an ice storm. With the right wedding insurance policy, you can postpone the wedding and receive every penny you lost (less the deductible) – including money for the invites, cake, catering, etc.
  • The bride’s custom-made veil is lost in the airport so she must purchase a new one the day before the wedding.
  • The bride’s father is injured in a car accident just before the wedding and can’t travel. If the couple has to postpone their wedding, with the right wedding insurance, they could be reimbursed all their expenses enabling them to have the wedding when the father recovers
  • The reception hall goes out of business a month before the wedding, causing the couple to lose their deposit, and have to book a new venue last-minute

Typical coverage options

Most policies will cover the following losses:

  • Venue: Policy covers the costs of unavoidable cancellation (damage to the venue) and if the venue is in an unusable condition due to fire, an electrical outage or has closed. Some policies will also cover the rehearsal dinner site as well.
  • Weather: If weather conditions prevent the couple or relatives whose presence is essential to the wedding, or a majority of the guests from arriving to the wedding site, the policy can cover the cost of rescheduling the event, including all details, such as flowers and food.
  • Attire: The policy can pay to repair or replace special attire if they are lost, stolen or damaged, which includes financial failure of a bridal store.
  • Military or job transfer: Coverage is available if the postponement of the wedding due to a bride or groom being called into military duty, or forced to make a last-minute job transfer.

Additional options

The following options can be purchased in addition to typical coverage:

  • Photography: Covers the cost of retaking photographs if the photographer fails to show up, or if image negatives are lost, stolen or damaged. Some policies will pay to restage the event with the principal participants so that pictures can be retaken. A policy may also pay costs for rehiring a photographer, and buying a new wedding cake and new flowers.
  • Videographer: Policy pays to have a video montage created, video compilation of photographs, or retaking the video using restaging techniques, if the video is damaged.
  • Gifts: Policy pays for the cost of repairing or replacing non-monetary gifts that are lost, stolen or damaged.
  • Personal liability: Policy covers bodily injury or property damage caused by accidents that occur during the wedding (i.e. your best man trips and falls on his way up to do his toast).
  • Medical coverage: This covers reasonable medical expenses (up to the policy limits) for each person who is injured during the covered events from a cause of loss, which would be covered by your personal liability.
  • Honeymoon: Certain policies include optional travel insurance for the honeymoon.

Other precautions to consider

In addition to purchasing a Wedding Insurance policy, remember these precautions to avoid a wedding day mishap:

  • Do extensive research on the vendors you select. Get references from family members, friends and other local couples, and obtain a reliability report from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) before signing on the dotted line.
  • Keep your deposits small, as most are non-refundable. By limiting your deposit amounts, you will protect against a large loss if you need to reschedule or cancel your wedding.
  • Use a credit card versus a personal check to pay for services; it’s easier to dispute charges when using a credit card. Also, save receipts for all purchases in case of a problem.

Wedding insurance does NOT cover

  • A change of heart. In other words, backing out of a wedding due to cold feet would not be covered.
  • While your wedding rings may be covered by the policy, your engagement ring probably will not. You may want consider a separate Jewelry Insurance policy to cover your engagement ring.
  • Watches, jewelry or semiprecious gemstones or pearls (even if they are attached to clothing) may not be covered.

You can count on Hill & Hamilton

Though you may not want to think that a disaster could ever strike on the happiest day of your life, there’s always a chance of a mishap or two. From a sudden vendor cancellation to damage to your treasured white gown, wedding insurance can protect against unforeseen problems, while also giving loving couples peace of mind.

A typical wedding insurance policy covering the loss of photos, videos, attire, presents, rings and deposits is affordable, especially considering the typical wedding budget. Every Wedding Insurance policy and every wedding scenario is different, so be sure to talk to your Licensed Insurance Advisor to understand what’s available.

If you have questions, give us a call or find out the cost to protect your special day by completing our online form.

Looking to protect a different event?  No problem, check out our Event Liability program to learn more about all the types of events we can help you protect.