The Best Wedding Insurance Companies (and Why You Need One)

Imagine this: one of your wedding vendors gets extremely sick and doesn’t respond to you for nearly eight months. Your wedding is getting closer, and you aren’t sure what to do. You think you should go ahead and book a different vendor, but you would need your money back from the MIA vendor to secure a new one. 

One Epic Thyme couple didn’t have to “image” this scenario; they had to live it. Fortunately, their story has a good ending. We helped them submit a claim to their wedding insurance provider, and they paid us back so we could book a new vendor! What is wedding insurance? Let’s dive into the details to explore what it is and what it covers.

What Is Wedding Insurance?

What’s wedding insurance, you ask? Also known as “special events insurance,” it’s your safety net for protecting your wedding investment. It covers everything from minor hiccups, like surprise costs, to major disruptions that could force you to postpone or cancel. While everyone hopes for smooth sailing, plans don’t always go as expected. Sure, your wedding planner can handle small crises, but when trouble really flares up, wedding insurance steps in to save the day.

Do You Need Wedding Insurance?

Absolutely, yes! Wedding insurance is one of those things you hope you’ll never need but will be so thankful you have if something unexpected happens. It’s a safety net for one of the biggest days of your life.

Here’s the thing: weddings are full of moving parts. Vendors, venues, weather, unexpected mishaps — it’s all part of the mix. What if your venue suddenly closes its doors a month before the big day? Or a vendor doesn’t show up? Wedding insurance can help cover those financial headaches, so you’re not stuck footing the bill for something completely out of your control.

Beyond money, having wedding insurance brings peace of mind. Planning a wedding is stressful enough without worrying about every “what if” scenario. Knowing you’re protected means you can focus on what really matters — celebrating your love with the people who mean the most to you.

And while your wedding planner is there to manage the day, even they can’t fix everything (trust us, we’ve tried!). When life throws a curveball, wedding insurance steps in to keep your plans on track. Bottom line? It’s a small investment for the kind of protection that can save you a lot of heartache (and money) if things don’t go as planned.

So, is wedding insurance worth it? To us… without a doubt! Taking this one precaution lets you enjoy your wedding day with confidence, knowing you’ve got all your bases covered.

What Does Wedding Insurance Cover?

Just like the example we shared about a wedding vendor ghosting our client, there are a lot of less-than-ideal situations wedding insurance can cover. Image this:

• Weather Woes That Derail Your Day: Imagine planning a dreamy Tahoe wedding, only for a surprise winter storm to block the venue’s entrance the night before. Without wedding insurance, you’d be stuck in a panic. But with it? You can reschedule your big day and could get reimbursed for the unexpected costs. Crisis averted!

• Decor Disasters and Damage: You opted for stunning real candles to set the ambiance, but a strong gust sends a flowing table runner into the flames. The runner and garland catch fire, leaving you with damaged decor. With wedding insurance, you could be covered for those losses, turning what could’ve been a major headache into a minor inconvenience.

• Vendor Flakes or Venue Fails: Two months before your wedding, your reception venue suddenly shuts its doors for good. That deposit? Gone. Now you’re scrambling to secure a new spot. Thankfully, wedding insurance can step in to cover these unexpected curveballs, keeping your plans (and sanity) intact.

  
  

Does Wedding Insurance Cover Things Already Booked?

It depends! While wedding insurance can often cover deposits for pre-booked vendors and venues, every policy is different. Some situations may be covered, while others might not be. That’s why it’s so important to read the fine print and ask plenty of questions. Make sure you fully understand what’s included so you can feel confident your big day is truly protected.

The Two Types of Wedding Insurance

It’s important to note that there are two main types of wedding insurance: liability and cancellation. And the type of coverage you purchase determines what exactly is covered and what is not.

When you research your wedding insurance options, ask questions! Get specific. The last thing you want is for something to happen that you thought was covered. Ask about:

• Site coverage for your ceremony and reception venues

• Weather coverage if inclement weather prevents access to the wedding locations

• Vendor coverage in case a vendor stops communicating with you or doesn’t show up to your wedding

• Sickness or injury coverage for the couple or essential wedding guests

• Guest coverage in case someone is injured at your wedding (this is important, especially if you’re serving alcohol) 

• Lost or stolen items coverage in case something important goes missing

• Military or job coverage in case your wedding needs to be postponed due to an unexpected deployment

Not all wedding insurance covers everything, and some features might come with extra costs. That’s why it’s crucial to dig into the details, ask plenty of questions, and review every policy thoroughly to avoid any unwelcome surprises. (Need help with this? We offer contract reviews as part of our full-service wedding planning packages!)

Best Wedding Insurance Companies and What They Offer 

We’ve done some of the heavy lifting for you! Here are five of the best wedding insurance companies and their coverage. Now, we’re passing the baton to you to find the one you feel most confident using — that fits within your budget and gives you the peace of mind you need leading up to and on your wedding day. 

1. Travelers Wedding Insurance

Travelers is a traditional insurance provider with special event coverage that includes the following:

• Cancellation or postponement of the event

• Event photographs/video

• Event gifts

• Special attire

• Special jewelry

• Lost deposits

• Liability insurance (optional coverage)

• Liquor liability insurance (optional coverage)

With a 24/7 claims service, the ability to purchase anywhere from two years to 24 hours before an event (in most states), and the ability to add additional coverage if needed, Travelers is a well-known and reliable insurance provider. 

2. Event Helper

Event Helper includes host liquor and liability coverage in their plans, which many other providers include at an additional cost. With their already low-cost plans, this provider is best for couples on a budget who still want quality protection. Event Helper has gone completely paperless to make your experience quick, easy, and virtual. However, it is important to note they don’t have a 24-hour claims service, and they do make it clear on their website that viral outbreaks such as COVID-19 are not covered. 

While Event Helper states this clearly, it doesn’t mean that others do cover such events. Even if they don’t put it on their website, it’s important to ask. 

3. Wedding Protector Plan

Wedding Protector Plan offers primary coverage for wedding cancellations and postponements, with “liability” and “jewelry insurance” offered as additional coverage options. With Wedding Protector Plan, all the main wedding events are covered, including some additional ones:

• Wedding ceremony

• Wedding reception

• Wedding rehearsal

• Rehearsal dinner

• Send off brunch the day after your wedding 

With no deductible and a 24-hour claims service, they make it easy to use the coverage if needed. 

4. Wedsure

Wedsure wedding insurance is designed specifically for weddings, so they know exactly what every couple needs in terms of coverage. Additionally, Wedsure also covers “change of heart,” also known as cold feet. While it might feel weird planning for something like that, if a family member is paying for the wedding, they may feel more comfortable knowing they are covered should a change of heart happen.

5. Markel

Markel is one of the simplest, most straightforward wedding insurance companies. They offer event liability coverage that meets venue requirements (or your money back) and cancellation insurance that includes vendor bankruptcy, extreme weather, and military deployment. If you choose both types of coverage, Markel offers a 15% bundle discount. You can purchase coverage up to 24 hours before your wedding and include add-on coverage options for a low cost. 

Bonus Option: Your Current Insurance Provider 

The best wedding insurance company might be closer than you think! Many traditional insurance providers offer special events coverage, too. So, another option is to check with your current provider to see what type of wedding insurance they have available.

When To Purchase Wedding Insurance

When it comes to when to get wedding insurance, it’s as soon as you start spending money on your wedding. Depending on the wedding insurance company you choose, they may have specific policies as to when you can purchase insurance and how long it covers you, so always ask!

We know wedding insurance can be confusing, but we are here to help. If you have any questions about choosing the right coverage for your wedding, reach out to us! We will do our best to point you in the right direction.