Best Wedding Insurance Based on In-Depth Reviews
- 200+Hours of research
- 20Sources used
- 13Companies vetted
- 3Features reviewed
- 5Top
Picks
- There are two types of wedding insurance policies: general liability coverage and cancellation and postponement coverage.
- Most wedding venues won’t host the event if couples do not purchase a general liability policy.
- Claims related to COVID-19 are excluded from coverage.
- Insurance providers have suspended the sale of cancellation coverage as a result of the pandemic.
How We Found The Best Wedding Insurance Provider.
Wedding Insurance and COVID-19
The novel coronavirus pandemic has had far-reaching consequences across every industry—including weddings (and any other large gathering). And many consumers are finding that their insurance policies aren't covering cancellations related to COVID-19. Why? Because a global pandemic isn't a covered reason.
Just as with travel insurance, wedding insurance policies usually have a list of reasons for which they'll cover cancellations or postponements, such as severe weather, sudden illness or injury to a member of the main wedding party, withdrawal of military leave, job loss, or venue bankruptcy. Note that neither fear of contagion nor government-issued quarantines are included.
Further, couples trying to obtain a new policy face another obstacle—many insurers aren't under a moratorium, and aren't issuing new cancellation insurance policies at all. And even if they are, it likely wouldn't cover coronavirus issues anyway, since after a certain period, the pandemic is classified as a "known event" (an insurance term for an event that has been widely covered in mass media, enough so that the average consumer should be aware of it).
What can you do? Some couples are simply opting to reschedule and moving their wedding up a year. Others are taking creative approaches and replanning their wedding according to the new rules—maybe it's by inviting less people (and everybody gets their own table), or maybe they have a combination of on-site and live-streaming. What's most important is that your special day works for you—while still keeping safe.
Our Top Picks: Wedding Insurance Reviews
Weddings are expensive. According to top wedding site The Knot, the average wedding cost in the US is around 33,000, with couples paying for around half of the event themselves out of their savings, with the rest of the bill footed by parents on both sides of the aisle. While some might consider it a superfluous add-on, considering the amount of money being poured into this event, wedding insurance becomes an essential safety net you’ll be glad of if anything goes sideways.
The companies we evaluated all satisfy our baseline requirements, such as quotes and policies that are readily available for online purchase, coverage that meets venues’ minimum requirements—including Certificate of Insurance—and Host Liquor Liability Coverage.
To help you select the right provider for your special day, we compared multiple companies, highlighting their best features and potential downsides.
Markel review
Best Overall
Screenshot Markelinsurance.com, October 2020
Markel focuses on specialty insurance and offers both liability and cancellation coverage for your wedding. Customers can purchase insurance under the category of Private Event for a single event (ceremony, reception, rehearsal dinner, or shower) or the Wedding category, which includes coverage for all four events under a single policy.
While they also offer coverage for international locations, some locations only qualify for cancellation coverage. Liability coverage extends only to US states and territories, and Canada. Cancellation coverage has a broader range that includes the UK, Mexico, The Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean (except Cuba), and cruise ships departing from any of the locations listed.
Premiums start at $150 for the first level of liability coverage, including Host Liquor Liability, at no additional cost. However, if there will not be any alcohol served at your event, you can forfeit this for a lower premium cost. You can purchase a policy with liability coverage up to one day before the event, and add basic cancellation coverage of $5,000 for the added price of $50. However, even with the said extension, the policy will not be as comprehensive as purchasing Markel’sCancellation Coverage Package.
The Cancellation Coverage Package starts at $130 and includes coverage for cancellation, postponement, extra expenses, photography, special attire, special jewelry, lost deposits, and professional counseling. Markel offers a 15% premium discount when you bundle this with a liability policy. Customers can purchase cancellation coverage up to 14 days before the event.
Markel charges a $25 deductible for each cancellation coverage section (photography, deposits, vendor issues, etc), and a $1,000 deductible for property damage under liability coverage.
eWed Insurance review
Best for Small Weddings
Screenshot Ewedinsurance.com, October 2020
EWed’s standout offering is Micro Wedding Insurance for weddings with expenses that do not exceed $5,000. This policy includes all the features of their standard cancellation coverage for a one-time payment of $75, with no deductible fees.
There is no international coverage available for cancellation or liability policies. The coverage area includes the United States and U.S Territories (PR, U.S Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands). Standard cancellation coverage starts at $10,000 for $139, up to a $100,000 limit.
You can purchase both policies up to one day before the wedding, but claims related to weather conditions are excluded if you purchase cancellation less than 14 days before the event.
WedSafe review
Best for Large Weddings
Screenshot Wedsafe.com, October 2020
WedSafe offers six coverage levels for liability policies, starting at $500,000 and going up to $5,000,000—they offer the highest coverage limit on our list. Also, while many other providers limit liability coverage up to 2:00 am, WedSafe extends coverage up to 24 hours after that deadline, if the party goes on till the wee hours of the morning—provided the event is still at the location listed on your insurance documents.
Liability premiums start at $150 and cover both the damage to premises rented and any medical expenses. Liability policies can be purchased individually, with a 15% discount if bought in conjunction with cancellation and postponement coverage, including insurance for extra costs, photographs & video, gifts, special attire and jewelry, and professional counseling.
Insurance is available for events and cruise ships departing from all US states, Canada, Puerto Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United States at no additional cost. For a 10% surcharge, cancellation coverage can be extended to locations in the UK, Mexico, The Bahamas, Bermuda, and the Caribbean Islands (excluding Cuba).
You can purchase liability insurance online up to your actual wedding day, and cancellation coverage up to 15 days before the event. Claims can only be made via telephone by calling the Claims Department at K&K Insurance.
Wedsure review
Best for Custom Policies
Screenshot Wedsure.com, October 2020
Wedsure is ideal for couples who want to insure specific elements of their event—think coverage for special attire, rings or photographs. Coverage for liability, cancellation, or both, starts at $125 and increases depending on the add-ons, with a separate deductible charge for each coverage category.
Cancellation coverage can go up to $250,000-maximum and may include honeymoon costs. Special add-ons include lost deposits, photographs and video, special attire, jewelry, gifts, rented party supplies, professional counseling, and medical payments. Photography coverage can even allow you to retake and re-stage parts of the wedding if the photographer failed to show up.
Wedsure is the only company on our list that offers a “change of heart” add-on, providing coverage for third parties affected by the couple’s choice to cancel the event. However, it does not cover the couple’s expenses.
Purchasing a policy, requesting changes, and filing a claim can all be done online. The website’s interface is easy to use with step by step guidelines on how to complete the process. There is also the option to apply for a full refund up to 48 hours before the covered event.
Wedding Protector Plan review
Best for Destination Weddings
Screenshot Protectmywedding.com, October 2020
Wedding Protector Plan is ideal for couples planning a destination wedding, as its coverage area includes the following at no additional cost: U.S territories, Canada, United Kingdom, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, and the Caribbean Islands (excluding Cuba & Haiti). It also covers cruise ships departing from a port within these territories.
The core coverage has three available levels for cancellation and postponement. The first covers up to $7,500 for a premium of $160, and the third level covers up to $25,000 for $255. Liability policies are an optional add-on that offers coverage for up to $1,000,000 for all three levels. The main difference between each level is the Property Damage sublimit, which is $25,000 at the first level and $1,000,000 at the third level. The liability policy premium will depend on the level you chose, and Host Liquor Liability is a $50 add-on.
While there is no deductible fee for liability or cancellation claims, this does translate to higher premiums. You can purchase coverage as late as 24 hours before the event in most states, and there are no refunds except for New York, New Hampshire, and Oregon residents. Lastly, claims can only be made by telephone with their 24/7 customer service representative.
Further Insight Into our Methodology
Reviewing wedding insurance during the pandemic proved to be challenging. Many companies have suspended certain features due to the virus, so we found that reviewing a company based solely on their current offering wouldn’t be accurate, since these are constantly changing to adapt to the current circumstances. For example, at the beginning of our research, Markel had suspended cancellation coverage, but just a few weeks later, they relaxed some restrictions and had begun offering it in select states. In light of this, we decided to consider every company’s full offering, evaluating them accordingly, and adding appropriate disclaimers for any suspended services. We therefore highly recommend looking into each company’s fine print before purchasing a policy, to make sure that there haven’t been any changes.
Coverage
We focused on highlighting standout features that fit particular couples’ needs, such as destination or luxury weddings. While researching coverage, we also took special note of customization options, sub-limits, exclusions, and coverage areas.
In the case of liability coverage, we took special note of policies such as Wedsafe’s, that offered a maximum way above the industry standard, at $5,000,000. We looked at the coverage levels listed from each company, noting the maximum limit amount, along with inclusions like Host Liquor Liability and the option to add venues.
For cancellation and postponement coverage, we prioritized the available levels of coverage and the categories included. The most basic policy provides coverage for financial loss due to a cancellation or postponement of the event, but the best providers extended special coverage to other expenses like wedding attire, rings, photography, and even the honeymoon.
Cost
We used the quote calculators available from each company to determine the premium costs for an average wedding and learned that quotes can vary considerably, even under one single company—and that changing one minor detail in the quote affected the final amount. The number of guests, the wedding cost, and any added special coverage are only some of the variables that determine the premium. Because every wedding is slightly different, it was difficult to compare companies solely based on price. We decided that the best way to go was to look at each company’s most affordable policies and compare the coverage.
Customer Service
Ease of claim and purchase
We prioritized companies that allow the consumer to file a claim or request additional support via an online platform or email, for added convenience. While Wedding Protector Plan and WedSafe only allow claims via telephone, they do include features that offset this potential downside—Wedding Protector Plan’s claims service is available 24/7, particularly useful for customers calling from overseas. For its part, WedSafe has an after-hours service available 24/7 in case of emergencies.
Online experience
Understanding and purchasing insurance can be overwhelming. According to Wedding Wire’s Newlywed Report of 2020, nearly 90% of couples plan their wedding online, and insurance policy should be no exception. We included companies that allow you to complete the process online, with a well-designed, user-friendly interface. We also considered the amount of helpful information on each website and further assistance options, such as live chat.
Information and transparency
The best companies had a thorough FAQ section with the most common questions and concise information about essential exclusions, limits, and conditions. Sample policies readily available were considered a plus.
Helpful information about Wedding Insurance
Wedding insurance is special event insurance with added features and coverage specifically tailored for weddings. The most common way to get wedding insurance is by purchasing it from a specialized provider, though it’s also possible to get some sort of coverage through your homeowner’s or car insurance.
Wedding Insurance and COVID-19
Couples who already have a cancellation policy
If you purchased cancellation insurance before the COVID-19 pandemic, we recommend two things to check immediately. The first thing you must verify are the exclusions in your contract. The second is a more time-sensitive matter. In order to use your cancellation policy, you must have purchased the policy before COVID-19 became a “known event.” The exact date will be different for each company; it could be 11 March 2020, for example, the day the WHO officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Before this date, policies purchased could claim cancellation or postponement reimbursement because the pandemic was still considered an unexpected event beyond the insured party’s control.
Negotiate with vendors
Couples struggling to adapt their wedding insurance to the current circumstances can also approach each vendor to discuss contract terms. Although it ultimately depends on their goodwill, many vendors are open to reschedules and postponements to retain their clients.
Force majeure clause
In general terms, a force majeure or an “Act of God” is an unpredictable, significant event that interferes with one or both parties’ ability to uphold a contract, for which no party can be held responsible. If your agreement includes this clause, you might be able to negotiate a full refund successfully.
Couples looking to purchase a policy
Do not purchase wedding insurance with the expectation that it will cover future costs of cancellations due to COVID-19. Only a handful of wedding insurance providers still offer cancellation/postponement coverage, and pandemic-related claims are almost universally excluded. The range of this exclusion varies: some policies have very rigid language, while others employ a more general language that might allow some exceptions. It is essential to read all available information and contact customer service to clarify any ambiguities in this exclusion.
Do you need it?
Now that we’ve gotten the most pressing question out of the way, let’s delve into whether wedding insurance is a good choice for your special day. Most venues will require that you purchase a general liability policy, while cancellation and postponement coverage is entirely optional. However, wedding insurance that includes both types of policies will be incredibly useful, especially if the cost of your wedding falls near the national average of $30,000+. We can safely assume that no one in the wedding planning industry wishes for a situation where having insurance becomes necessary. Still, if something happens, you will be glad to have a backup.
Consider a scenario where the caterer cancels and fails to comply with the contract. They might return the deposit out of goodwill, but what if they retain it? You could sue them for it or file a claim with your own credit card company, but this is a stressful and time-consuming process that might still leave you empty-handed in the end. Wedding insurance is a reasonably priced solution for this, since the total cost of such policies adds up only to a small fraction of your entire wedding budget. At the very least, it broadens your venue options, and for a relatively higher cost, you have broad financial protection for a wide range of wedding-related mishaps.
Cost breakdown
The cost of wedding insurance includes both the price of a one-time premium and your deductible cost, if applicable.
Premium
Premiums can range from $75 to more than $1,000, depending on multiple variables such as the number of guests, coverage limits, type of policy, and any additional special coverages. For most couples, an insurance policy will be a small fraction of their total wedding budget. The national average cost of a wedding is around $33,000, for which premiums can be as low as $175.
Deductible
The deductible policy is unique to each company, and to the type of policy you choose. Low or no deductibles are ideal, but this might mean a higher premium upfront. Most of the companies on our list offered either zero deductible or a low $25 deductible for cancellation coverage. Liability coverage is slightly different, with most companies providing zero deductible, except under the category of property damage.
Coverage in detail
Liability coverage
This policy is active only for the duration of the event. You can purchase liability protection months in advance or even the day before the event if the provider allows it. An acceptable, thorough policy should include coverage for set-up and take-down of any décor and equipment, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception. Many venues require that they’re listed as additional insured and will therefore request a Certificate of Insurance, so make sure to select a provider that offers this service.
Host Liquor Liability
Furnishing or serving alcohol at your wedding can make you legally liable for any bodily harm or property damage that arises as a result of an intoxicated guest. Host Liability laws are typically drafted to reduce alcohol-related injuries among minors, but depending on state laws, this could also apply to any guest that consumes alcohol at your event. Host Liquor Liability coverage will protect you against legal or medical expenses in either of those situations.
Cancellation/postponement coverage
Cancellation and postponement coverage protect non-refundable expenses if the wedding is cancelled or postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. This policy’s maximum coverage limit should be no less than the wedding’s overall cost (you can include honeymoon expenses in this calculation). Under this type of policy, there is also special coverage that extends to deposits, wedding attire, rings, photographs, gifts, and even professional counseling. You can claim reimbursement for any of these expenses without having to cancel or postpone the whole event.
Most companies allow you to purchase this coverage up to 14 days before the event, while a select few have more flexible policies. If multiple family members contributed financially to the event, they must be considered immediate family for their expenses to be protected. No policy will reimburse the couple if they call off the wedding due to a change of heart; the only policy that allows this provision limits its reimbursement to third parties who were financially affected by the decision—not the couple.
Our tips
Wedding insurance protects your investment, but there are still additional measures you can take to ensure your wedding day runs as smoothly as possible.
Select the right date
Avoid blackout dates and dates when significant events are taking place. This includes holidays, concerts, festivals, and other occasions that can create heavy traffic and general chaos on your wedding day. Check your friends and family’s calendar to learn of important dates such as graduations, milestone birthdays and anniversaries, or even another wedding. You do not want important people in your life skipping your wedding because they have another event that same day.
Plan for the best season
The weather will always be unpredictable, but selecting seasons with the least possible variability mitigates this risk. Make a note of seasons where extreme weather can impact your event’s location, such as hurricane season, winter snowstorms, extreme heat waves, floods, or tornados. Remember to check the weather forecast a week before the wedding and be ready for the unexpected. Bad weather that is not covered by insurance can still be remedied with temporary outdoor shelter or by providing guests with umbrellas, blankets, or fan favors.
Be organized and prepared
It’s very easy to forget crucial things right before the wedding. People forget to pack early for their honeymoon, check-in with vendors, get wedding insurance, pick songs for the reception, hydrate flower arrangements, or prepare an emergency kit with essentials like bobby pins, hemming tape, traction pads for heels, a shawl, and stain remover.
If you cannot hire a planner, designate a dependable friend or family member to help. You can also use free wedding planning apps—The Knot, Wedding Wire, and Zola are amongst the top-rated ones. These apps feature seating charts, vendor databases, checklists, and even color palette generators, all of which will help you get as ready as possible. Just don’t lose your phone the night before!
Know your vendors well
The average couple hires about 13 vendors for their wedding, between the food, flowers, music, drinks, and the cake, to name just a few. Before you hire your wedding team, make sure your vendors are reliable, venue-approved, fully available (some overbook), within your budget, and open to offer samples or tastings.
Arrange for transportation
Schedule transportation not only for yourself but for the entire wedding party and all other indispensable family members or friends. If they do not make it on time, your wedding could be derailed. Be sure to book a car for them and instruct the driver to take the fastest route, particularly if the wedding is held in a busy city or a remote location. Allow a generous amount of time for the drive from the pickup location to the event venue, to account for anything that could delay arrival time.
Have a power backup
If there is a power outage, you will need generators or inverters to keep the show going. Make sure your venue’s backup options are ready to be used. Bonus points if you have a technician in the family that can be ready if there's a need for some troubleshooting.
Consume alcohol moderately the night before
There is always drinking involved at rehearsal dinners, but you (and your wedding party) should not go overboard. You really don’t want to wake up the next day with a bad hangover, wanting to sleep in, only to realize you’re getting married in a matter of hours. You won’t look your best either—think puffy skin, reddish eyes, and sluggishness. Speaking of redness, don’t get a facial or waxing the day before the wedding, since you’re never really sure how your skin will react—stress and even minor dehydration can cause major side effects.
What To Watch Out For With Wedding Insurance
Eligibility
Eligibility refers to the conditions you must meet to qualify for insurance coverage. Wedding insurance providers state that some activities—carnival rides, amusement devices, live animals, water events, or use of firearms or pyrotechnics—can make your event ineligible for any type of policy. Hosting the event at a private residence, such as someone’s home or backyard, could also render you ineligible. Having a history of previous event insurance claims may also affect your eligibility, and providers will likely request further evaluation before granting you a policy. Finally, there are also time-sensitive elements. Many companies have a cutoff date for purchasing a policy, though a select few allow you to sign up on the same day of the event.
Exclusions
Exclusions within a policy refer to the circumstances and events which will not be covered by the provider. These are essential to know when purchasing insurance, and every contract should specifically state them. However, exclusion details are a bit harder to find when shopping for policies online. Some might be included in the FAQ section or written in smaller print somewhere on the website, but most are written only in the actual policy. You should be able to find a sample version of this document on the website; if not, it’s advisable to request one directly from a representative. Standard exclusions in wedding insurance policies include death or illness due to a pre-existing condition, “known events,” lack of funds, and illegal activities. Your provider might offer coverage for damaged or lost photos but won’t reimburse if the claim is merely about blurry pictures or low-quality photographs. Read through the exclusions before making any purchase to avoid any unpleasant surprises if you need to file a claim.
Limits & sub-limits
These are the maximum amount of money your provider will pay for a valid claim.
Liability
Limits for liability coverage are divided into two categories: each occurrence and general aggregate. Each occurrence establishes the payout limit the company will pay per incident (property damage, bodily injury, and medical expenses). In contrast, the general aggregate limits the total amount the company will pay for any number of multiple claims under that same policy.
Cancellation and postponement
Your cancellation coverage limit is the maximum amount of reimbursement you are entitled to if you must postpone or cancel the entire event. That’s why it should be no less than the cost of your whole wedding. Sublimits set the maximum amount your insurer will pay. They usually come into play if you need reimbursement for a specific expense under one category without cancelling the entire wedding. This is particularly important when it comes to the loss of deposits. You want to select a policy with a “lost deposit” sublimit that can cover your most costly deposit—which tends to be the venue.
Refund policy
If you want to cancel your policy for any reason before the event, some providers allow you to do so for a full refund. Refund policies vary across companies, and while some explicitly state them on their website, others do not have this information readily available.
FAQs about Wedding Insurance
Do I need wedding insurance?
Your wedding can take place perfectly fine without insurance. Still, it is extremely advisable and beneficial to purchase one if: 1) your wedding is costly, 2) you are renting a venue or hosting at a private residence, 3) inviting a large group of guests and, 4) if you are serving alcohol. You might not need to shop for wedding insurance if your wedding is small, affordable, and alcohol- free—or if you have access to coverage through your homeowners or auto insurance. Sometimes even your credit card’s insurance will be enough.
Is COVID-19 covered under liability insurance?
No. If the insured party or any guests contract COVID-19 during the event, it is excluded from any liability coverage.
What classifies as a small wedding?
These numbers vary, but there are estimates and averages in the industry, nationwide, and state levels. EWed Insurance, for example, labels a small wedding as one with up to 50 guests and a budget of $5,000 or less, but this number might be unrealistic in costly cities like New York.
What happens if my wedding venue goes out of business?
If you purchased cancellation/postponement coverage, you should be able to get reimbursed for any non-refundable expenses.
What questions should I ask my wedding venue and vendors?
Ask them about their policy on deposits and payments, postponements, and cancellations, especially considering the pandemic.
What if my vendors have their own insurance?
Vendors and venues purchase liability insurance to protect themselves from any losses, equipment damage, or legal liability costs. While their insurance offers them protection from liability arising from damages and injuries, it will not protect your expenses, should you be the liable party. Additionally, their insurance will not cover your payments and deposits in the event of cancellation or postponement.
Can I claim my deposit if a vendor or venue cancels?
Most deposits are non-refundable. Some vendors might be flexible out of good faith, but it is not assured and they are under zero obligation to do so. If a vendor does not fulfill their contract and does not return your deposit or payments, you might be able to get it back by filing a civil suit. If you paid with a credit card, you could also try by filing a claim with the credit card company, but the only guaranteed way to get that money back is through an insurance policy.
Will cancellation/postponement cover deposits and payments made before purchasing the policy?
Some companies say that they will retroactively cover deposits, provided there are receipts and no impending claims with that same vendor. However, do not take this policy for granted. With every company, contact customer service and ask.
Do you have to buy an individual policy for rehearsal, ceremony, reception?
No. If you purchase a wedding insurance policy, it will apply coverage for those events that traditionally make up a wedding, meaning rehearsal, reception, and ceremony. Some companies allow you to add brunch, too.
What if my wedding has separate venues for the rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception?
Wedding liability policies allow the policyholder to add multiple venues as additional insured if needed.
Can I purchase liability from one company and cancellation from another?
Yes. This might be especially useful now that so many companies have suspended cancellation coverage. You can benefit from your preferred company’s liability portion and complement it with a separate cancellation policy. Keep in mind that this can complicate a claims process because you would have to deal with two different insurance companies.