Wedding Insurance: Worth it or a waste of money?

You’ve picked the perfect venue, booked your suppliers, and have the dress or suit of your dreams but have you thought about what happens if something goes wrong?

Don’t worry, wedding insurance to the rescue! It offers you peace of mind and financial protection for your big day and it’s there to protect you…just in case.

Do you really need wedding insurance?

It’s often seen as an extra cost and it’s easy to think, “what are the chances that something will go wrong?” but with an average UK wedding now costing over £17k, it’s worth considering. A relatively small premium could save your ass if the worst happens.

We all have busy lives so we fire up Google, do a quick search online, find some insurance, buy it, tick it off the list and move on with your life.

We do this with all kinds of insurance; car, holiday, life, the list goes on and on. You get the little booklet in the post or via email with the policy wording or T&Cs in the world’s smallest writing, and you file it away and never give it a second thought. You’ve got insurance, right?

Big mistake!

Like most of my blog posts, they are reactions to conversations I see in various wedding groups on Facebook. Here are a couple of things I saw this morning about wedding insurance…

I contacted my insurance company because the kids entertainment company and caricaturist didn’t show up. I was told this was a breach of contract on the supplier’s part and this was not covered. I lost £700.

My wedding was a couple of weeks ago and the photographer didn’t show up. We went on our honeymoon straight after the wedding and I contacted my insurance company yesterday to put a claim in for the no-show photographer only to be told that there was a time limit of 24hrs in which to make a claim! I lost £1500!!! I can’t believe it!

We booked a DJ and photo booth through one company, and it cost us £800, neither showed up. The company is a well-known scammer online, and because the company technically liquidated in 2022, we are not covered and will get nothing.

With all of this in mind, here is my guide to the top 5 most important questions you should be asking any wedding insurer before you sign on the dotted line.

#1 – When am I covered FROM and UNTIL?

This is a super important question. Some insurers will only cover you for things you hire or pay for AFTER you have bought the insurance. If you have already booked your venue, photographer, DJ, etc. and then bought insurance a few weeks later, in the event of a claim, you might NOT be covered as you paid for those services BEFORE your insurance cover was in place.

#2 – Does the policy cover extreme weather conditions?

We live in the UK where you can experience four different seasons in one single day, yet during the summer months we hope and pray for an outdoor wedding. If you have booked an outdoor location, it’s important to verify whether the policy includes cancellation or postponement if the weather makes the wedding impractical or unsafe to hold.

#3 – What is covered under the wedding insurance policy?

It’s so easy to assume, but remember, this is insurance, and insurers will do everything possible to wriggle out of paying by pointing out an exclusion in their policy, so it’s important to find out what is covered. Here are some examples:

• Venue cancellation (e.g. closing down or they double booked your date)
• Supplier didn’t turn up (e.g. DJ, photographer, etc.)
• Damage to wedding dress, suits, rings, etc.
• Damage to a venue during your wedding
• Postponement if the couple, close family or key participants are unable to attend due to illness, injury, or some other kind of emergency.
• Rings, gifts and cake: These cherished items can be pricey so it’s important to find out that if they’re lost, damaged or stolen, your insurance will help with replacement costs.
• What happens if a supplier such as a caterer, photographer, photo booth or florist fails to deliver the service you booked? The policy might only cover deposits or the cost of finding a replacement at short notice.

These are just a few examples.

#4 – What is NOT covered under the wedding insurance policy?

This question is just as important as the one above. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that everything is covered because there are some things that wedding insurance won’t cover, for example, a change of heart. If you or your partner decided not to go through with the wedding, most insurers would not cover your claim.

#5 – What is the claim process and how long does it take?

Ask about the steps involved should you have to make a claim. What documentation do you need to keep and how long does it typically take to sort out? How quickly do you need to make a claim? Is there a time limit AFTER the wedding?

Final thoughts…

Don’t end up feeling like this poor bride above. Shopping around is key. Compare policies, read reviews and ask questions to make sure you’re getting the best deal for your wedding.

Ensure the policy limits match the cost of your wedding and don’t forget to check if public liability cover is included, especially if your venue requires it.

Wedding insurance might not be the most glamorous part of the planning process but it could easily be the MOST important. It’s all about ensuring that no matter what happens, you can still have the day you’ve always dreamed of.

Hopefully, you’ve found this post useful. If you’re looking for an amazing, reliable DJ for your wedding, no matter where in the country it is, fill in my contact form, call me on 07799 782764 or email me at hello@ianforest.com!