Guide to Wedding Insurance

With the national average cost of a wedding at just over £24,000, it’s a significant investment of your time and money. With all the planning and anticipation that goes into organising a wedding, it’s only natural to hope that everything will go smoothly. But how could wedding insurance help if things don’t go quite as expected?

In this guide to wedding insurance, we’ll answer the most popular questions including what it does and doesn’t cover and how to find a policy.

Do I need wedding insurance?

If you’re spending a lot of money on your wedding day, insurance may seem like an obvious choice, but if you have a modest budget, it may not be at the forefront of your mind. Whatever your overall spend, think about the time and effort that’s gone into arranging your wedding. Could you afford to pay for a second wedding date if something unexpected happened? Wedding insurance doesn’t have to be too expensive depending on the elements you want to cover.

Where to buy wedding insurance

You may have a limited amount of cover for some wedding items under your home insurance policy or you may be able to add additional cover. Check with your insurance provider what’s covered and what isn’t, before you start looking for a wedding insurance policy.

There are a number of specialist wedding insurance providers, some of which may feature on comparison sites. You can also check our wedding insurance reviews page to see who our community love and who to avoid.

When do I need to take out wedding insurance?

Ideally, you should have wedding insurance in place when you start making bookings, paying deposits and making financial commitments. But if your big day is just a few weeks away and you’ve only just started thinking about wedding insurance, you may be able to get a policy at short notice – but you could pay higher premiums.

If you buy a policy close to your wedding date, you won’t be covered for anything that’s already happened. If you know before buying a policy that your wedding venue has closed unexpectedly or a member of your wedding party is seriously ill and you need to rebook, you won’t be covered.

As you plan your wedding, you’ll need to monitor your spending in line with your insurance provision. If you’ve taken out cover at one level and find that you blow the budget along the way, you’ll need to increase your cover to make sure you’re protected.

What does wedding insurance cover?

Most of the protection provided by wedding insurance relates to the suppliers you choose including the venue, photographer, DJ, band and caterer.  

Rings, tuxedoes, gifts and dresses can also be covered for loss or damage. Just check any cover caps, excesses and exclusions so you’re comfortable with the level of protection you’re buying. Rehearsals, the ceremony and reception are usually included as standard, but things like the stag and hen dos and the honeymoon will need to be covered separately – usually under a travel insurance policy.

Most providers offer some protection for certain members of the wedding party, so if they fall seriously ill or there’s an unexpected death which means you need to rearrange your wedding, you’ll be covered. When it comes to other guests, sometimes accidents happen that could lead to damage to premises or rental equipment and you could be liable for the costs. This may not be covered under a wedding insurance policy, so you could buy liability insurance to provide cover.

If you’re putting up a marquee, this will usually be an added insurance expense. If you’re planning a fireworks display, check the organisers have their own insurance in place.

How to insure a wedding ring

You can insure a wedding ring by either adding it as a high-value item to your contents insurance policy, or through a separate wedding policy.  Whichever you choose, check that the policy specifically covers valuable jewellery and you have enough protection for loss, theft or damage.

If you want cover for your ring when you're away from home, you could add "personal possessions" protection to your home insurance policy. To get accurate insurance coverage, have your wedding ring professionally valued by a qualified jeweller.

Does wedding insurance cover break-ups?

Unfortunately wedding insurance doesn’t cover situations if you have a change of heart.

Who offers the best wedding insurance?

The best wedding insurance provider will depend on what you need covering, the price you pay and the level of service you receive. You can research wedding insurance providers by checking comparison sites, but it’s also a good idea to read reviews.

Wedding insurance reviews give you an insight into what it’s really like to be a customer. Having to claim on an insurance policy is stressful, but there can be an added emotional impact when it’s related to a wedding. Choosing an insurer who has a good track-record for dealing with claims and enquiries could make all the difference if something unexpected happens.