WEDDING INSURANCE?

SHOULD YOU CONSIDER GETTING WEDDING INSURANCE?

By Susan M. Keenan

If something occurs leading to the cancellation or postponement of the reception, the bride and groom usually suffer the loss of some of the money they have spent. Wedding insurance is designed to cover that loss. Policies vary in what they protect.

Whether or not you should consider getting wedding insurance is a decision that many brides and grooms have never even considered before now. Is it something of value that you should purchase or is it just one more task on your already too-long list of wedding tasks to complete? What exactly is wedding insurance and what does it cover?

WHAT IS WEDDING INSURANCE?

Wedding insurance is a specific form of insurance policy that protects the bride and groom from misfortunes related to a wedding. The exact terms of the policy vary according to the insurance agent or company that is used to provide the wedding insurance policy. The cost of a basic insurance policy for weddings is approximately $100 to $600, depending on the exact terms of coverage that have been selected.

WHAT DOES WEDDING INSURANCE COVER?

Sickness and Injury: An illness or injury can lead to the cancellation or postponement of a wedding. Typically, the expenses associated with cancellation or postponement are covered under the policy if the sick or injured individual is one of the essential people for the wedding.

Reception Location Going Out of Business: If the restaurant, banquet hall, or specific reception location that has been selected goes out of business prior to the wedding, the insurance policy covers the cost of the money that is lost.

Cancellation at the Reception Location Related to Unforeseeable Problems: In some cases, electrical, plumbing, heating, fire, lightning strike or other problems can lead to the cancellation or postponement of the wedding reception. The wedding insurance policy covers the cost incurred.

Officiant is a No Show: On occasion, the wedding officiant fails to show up for the wedding. This might be due to an illness, accident, or death. When this happens, the insurance policy allows the policy holder to recoup some or all of the costs associated with this unfortunate circumstance.

Weather: If the wedding is canceled because the weather is bad, most wedding insurance policies cover the cost to reschedule the event.

WHAT ADDITIONAL RIDERS ARE AVAILABLE WITH WEDDING INSURANCE?

Wedding Attire: The cost incurred due to accidental damage of a wedding gown or tuxedo is offered as an additional rider to the policy. This rider would also cover any loss due to the shop going out of business before the bride or groom has taken possession of their garments.

Wedding Gifts: Many couples leave their wedding gifts at home while they go on a honeymoon. A rider can be added to cover the cost to replace gifts that have been stolen or damaged.

Honeymoon: A honeymoon rider protects the bride and groom against the financial loss should the honeymoon get cancelled due to sickness, weather, or certain other occurrences.

Liability: In the event that you are having the wedding at someone’s personal residence, you might want to include a liability rider.

Military Service: If the bride or groom is in active reserves or the military, it might be a good idea to get a military rider that would cover the financial loss if he or she is called up for duty.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CHOOSING A WEDDING INSURANCE POLICY

Some of the items that are covered under a wedding insurance policy are sometimes covered through the insurance carried by the vendor or business involved. Ask questions and check first to see how much benefit you actually get by purchasing a wedding insurance policy. It is also important to understand that some limits and restrictions might apply to the actual coverage of the wedding insurance policy.