When it comes to US-based destination weddings, insurance shouldn’t be an afterthought. Destination wedding insurance helps you meet your venue’s liability insurance requirements and protects your financial investment if you need to cancel your wedding or a vendor cancels on you.

Keep reading to learn from Brian Kelly, Briteco’s event insurance product lead, about whether you need destination wedding event insurance, what it will cover, and how much it will cost. If you decide that purchasing a policy is right for you, you can get covered in minutes, with plans starting at just $125.

Do You Need Wedding Insurance for a Destination Wedding?

Answer the following questions to determine whether this is something you’ll need.

• Does your venue require liability protection and a certificate of insurance?
• Do non-refundable deposits account for 30% or more of your wedding budget?
• Are you holding your wedding during a weather-volatile season (such as during hurricane season or mid-winter) and/or in a difficult-to-reach destination?
• Are crucial guests or members of the wedding party flying into the destination?

If you answered “yes” to two or more of these questions, we recommend purchasing wedding insurance for your destination wedding, ideally as early in the wedding planning process as possible.

“In a destination wedding, even more so than a local wedding,” Kelly says, “there are a lot of moving parts. You are managing guests and family who are away from home and in an uncomfortable spot. Your number of to-do’s goes up, so taking care early and often of any of the mandatory, non-fun parts of the wedding, like event insurance, is smart.”

Is Wedding Insurance for Destination Weddings Worth It?

Destination weddings in particular can be very expensive, and there are plenty of things that can go wrong. With this in mind, wedding insurance coverage is a relatively small investment and extremely worth it.

While some may assume that a destination wedding is more affordable than a traditional hometown wedding (mostly due to the smaller guestlist), the average destination wedding tends to cost more, at $39,000 vs. $32,000, respectively.

Moreover, most destination venues, such as resorts, also require non-refundable deposits.

The premiums for wedding liability insurance and event cancellation insurance start at just $125, which is likely the most affordable expense in your entire wedding budget!

See what you could pay for liability and cancellation coverage now.

What Does Wedding Insurance Cover?

There are two types of wedding insurance: liability coverage and cancellation coverage. The former protects you from being financially liable for property damage or bodily injury that may occur at the wedding. The latter protects your financial investment if there’s an event cancellation or postponement.

Event Liability Coverage

Many wedding venues require that you purchase event insurance and provide a certificate of insurance (COI) at the time of booking. They will likely ask that you add the venue to your policy as an additional insured, and may also require host liquor liability insurance if you’re planning on serving alcohol at your wedding.

This coverage ensures that neither you nor the venue is held responsible for the cost of any personal injury or personal property damage that may occur on your wedding day. This includes incidents that may occur due to alcohol consumption.

“With liability, it’s important to not buy it until you know your venue’s requirements because there are a lot of different combinations,” Kelly says. “And they often have timelines on when to get it.”

You may also be covered up to 48 hours before the wedding to account for your rehearsal and breakdown spaces, with a $1 million to $2 million claim limit.

“On BriteCo’s policies,” Kelly says, “we require that people list at least one location for the venue. Most often people list the reception site. However, even if they don’t list the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony or the post-wedding brunch, and they are at four different locations, all of these events are covered.”

Wedding Cancellation or Postponement Insurance 

Wedding cancellation and postponement insurance refunds your lost deposits if your wedding needs to be canceled or postponed due to medical emergencies, sudden illness, extreme weather, vendor bankruptcy, or vendor no-shows.

“As you feel comfortable with the general cost of your wedding, and that you feel like the wedding is going to take place,” Kelly says, “that’s the best time to get a cancellation policy.”

How Much Does Wedding Insurance Cost?

How much you’ll pay for wedding liability or cancellation and postponement coverage will depend on the following factors:

• Coverage type (for example, liability coverage vs. both liability and event cancellation coverage)
• The location of your wedding
• Your resort or wedding venue’s insurance requirements
• The date you’re hosting your wedding
• How many guests you’re inviting
• Whether or not your venue requires host liquor liability coverage

Event insurance from BriteCo starts at $125.

Still Not Sure You Need to Buy Wedding Insurance?

Imagine this:

• You’re planning a beautiful Florida Keys wedding. You’ve ironed out every detail, picked out the wedding dress of your dreams, and curated your guest list to perfection. Suddenly, a tropical storm shuts down your venue and cancels your flights. Cancellation or postponement insurance kicks in to cover your deposits and change fees if you purchased your policy before the storm became a known event.
• Your caterer goes bankrupt three weeks out from the wedding date. Your cancellation coverage helps you recoup your initial deposit and cover rush replacement costs so the entire event goes off without a hitch.
• One of your guests slips and falls at the resort during your wedding reception. Your liability coverage handles all the medical and legal fees associated with the accident.

There’s a lot that can go wrong over the course of a destination wedding, and being far from home can make it all even more stressful. Special event insurance keeps you covered so you can focus on your special day.

How to Buy Destination Wedding Insurance

1. Pick the coverage you need. Either just liability, cancellation, or both. Get some quotes from wedding insurance companies.
2. Purchase your policy early, before you’ve paid any large deposits, or before anything pops up that could risk your wedding, e.g., extreme weather, which you might not be covered for if you purchase your policy after a storm becomes a “known event”.
3. Ask your provider for a certificate of insurance and add your venue as an additional insured. Keep your certificate of insurance on file, with copies made for your planner and vendors.
4. If your plans change, such as if the wedding date or venue shifts, update your policy accordingly.

Whatever you do, don’t assume your homeowners’ insurance or credit card protections will cover you in the event of travel- or liability-related issues such as property damage or personal injury.

Additionally, be sure to ask your venue about their requirements before purchasing a policy. Ensure that the policy will cover other destination events outside the wedding ceremony, from the rehearsal dinner to the post-wedding brunch.

Frequently Asked Questions About Insurance for Destination Weddings

Does wedding insurance cover U.S. destination weddings?

Yes, BriteCo wedding insurance policies are designed for U.S. customers and U.S.-hosted events, including destination weddings in other states/territories.

Will my resort or venue require proof of insurance (COI)?

Many do, and will want you to add the venue as an additional insured on your policy.

When should I buy wedding insurance for a destination wedding?

Purchase your wedding insurance policy as early as possible, ideally before paying major deposits or entering storm season. Waiting can result in previously avoidable coverage limits.

Are airline delays or weather issues covered by destination wedding insurance?

Travel and weather-driven wedding postponements can be covered under a wedding cancellation policy.

Is host liquor liability coverage included in wedding insurance policies?

Wedding liability insurance policies can include host liquor liability coverage, but be sure to verify with your policy provider and check your certificate of insurance.

How much does destination wedding insurance cost?

Pricing for wedding insurance varies by state, coverage type, wedding size, and more. BriteCo’s plans start at $125. Get an instant quote.

Protect Your Big Day

Destination weddings often carry higher disruption and compliance risks, but they can be an especially memorable way to celebrate your love. Don’t leave yourself exposed to the unforeseen; insurance protects your deposits and helps you comply with venue rules.

Get your destination wedding insurance quote and request your certificate of insurance now. Plans start at $125.

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