Top 4 Most Common Wedding Insurance Claims (and How to Avoid Them)

The top four most common wedding insurance claims are related to issues with vendors, illness or injury, extreme weather, or property damage, according to a new report.

You can avoid the need to make some of these claims via careful vendor vetting and wedding planning with the weather in mind. That being said, even if you do need to make one of these common insurance claims, with the right wedding insurance company on your side, you can easily protect the financial investment you’ve made into your wedding day.

Here’s what Brian Kelly, BriteCo Event Insurance Product Lead, has to say about why you might need to make one of these common insurance claims, the types of insurance for a wedding available to you, and how to mitigate risk where possible.

Common Wedding Insurance Claim #1 Issues with Vendors

As reported by Property Casualty 360, the majority of wedding insurance claims are related to issues with vendors, typically involving cancellation due to vendor bankruptcy, or, even more last-minute, vendor no-shows. “When that happens close to the wedding date, couples are often left scrambling to find a replacement, and that can get expensive fast,” Kelly says.

He recalls clients who visited their caterer’s office “and peeked through the window, only to find the entire space cleared out and empty! The caterer had basically disappeared.”

With the right wedding insurance coverage, though, lost deposits can be recouped so you can find a suitable replacement at no extra cost.

Some wedding insurance policies bundle vendor-related coverage into a broader cancellation or postponement policy.

How to Avoid Issues with Wedding Vendors

“First, do your homework,” Kelly says. “Read recent reviews, look for consistent feedback, and make sure the vendor has a real track record with weddings similar to yours.

“Second, get everything in writing. The contract should clearly spell out what is being provided, payment terms, cancellation rules, refund policies, and what happens if the vendor cannot perform.”

“I also recommend avoiding paying the full amount too far in advance when possible. Use secure payment methods, keep records of every payment, and stay in regular communication as the wedding ceremony gets closer.”

Even the most careful wedding planner can’t predict issues that might cause a wedding vendor to no-show or go under, which is why the best wedding insurance to purchase includes coverage for unforeseen incidents such as these.

Common Wedding Insurance Claim #2: Sudden Illness or Injury

According to the same report, illness or injury is the second most popular reason couples make claims on their event cancellation insurance. Event cancellation coverage allows couples to cancel or postpone their wedding if the bride, groom, or a close member of the wedding party is suddenly ill, injured, or deceased.

Check to see if your wedding cancellation insurance will cover the costs of lost deposits and rebooking the wedding at a later date.

How to Avoid Sudden Illness or Injury Ahead of Your Big Day

Unfortunately, avoiding sudden illness or injury before your big day is difficult, since it’s not something you can predict. You can, however, do your best to avoid it by limiting risky activities; the day before your wedding is not the time to try skydiving or base jumping. It’s also in your best interest to maintain healthy habits that lower the risk of catching a severe illness.

Even if you do still fall ill on your wedding day, wedding event cancellation insurance ensures you can rebook your wedding for a better time.

Do note that an insurance company will typically specify that they only cover illness or injury if it’s “sudden.”

Kelly notes that “coverage generally would not apply if the wedding was scheduled against a doctor’s advice, if the illness or injury was tied to a known pre-existing condition before the policy effective date, or if the situation involved self-inflicted injury, mental illness, alcohol, or drugs, unless the drugs were taken as prescribed by a doctor.”

Common Wedding Insurance Claim #3: Extreme Weather

Severe weather is the third most popular reason that couples make claims on their special event insurance. Hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, snowstorms, and other natural disasters can make holding the wedding dangerous or render wedding venues unusable. Cancellation coverage and postponement insurance allow couples to reschedule their wedding for a later date.

A BriteCo policy applies, Kelly says, if the act of nature “prevents the couple, immediate family, active participants, or more than 50 percent of guests from reaching the venue.” Coverage may also apply if severe weather damages the venue so badly that it cannot be used.

“This coverage only applies if the policy effective date is at least 14 days before the event date,” Kelly says. “So couples should not wait until a storm is already in the forecast to think about coverage.”

How to Avoid Extreme Weather on Your Wedding

You can best prevent the need to cancel or reschedule your wedding due to weather conditions by holding your wedding in a destination that doesn’t frequently experience extreme weather, as well as during a time of year when such events are less likely to occur.

For example, if you’re planning on getting married in Florida, you don’t want to schedule the big day to fall during hurricane season. If you’re having a wedding in the northeast, you also might want to avoid a winter wedding.

That being said, even if you choose the best possible time of year and location to avoid extreme weather, out-of-the-ordinary things still happen. If you find your plans threatened by unanticipated flooding or an earthquake, you’ll be glad you have that wedding cancellation insurance.

Common Wedding Insurance Claim #4: Property Damage

Wedding insurance claims related to property damage are the fourth most popular claim, and specifically make use of wedding liability insurance. This is a type of coverage that many wedding venues require couples to buy, so that both the couple and the venue are absolved of any financial liability arising due to not just property damage, but also bodily injury. If a guest breaks something at the venue, or they fall and slip in the parking lot. This is where your liability coverage comes in.

For instance, Kelly handled a case when a bridesmaid put a hair curler in a place that wasn’t secure. “It ended up falling and damaging both a floor tile and the curtains near the window,” he says. “It’s a great example of how property damage at a wedding doesn’t always come from something dramatic.”

Furthermore, many venues also ask couples to purchase host liquor liability coverage. Host liquor liability insurance covers many of the same issues, but specifically in circumstances where alcohol consumption has potentially led to damage or injury.

How to Avoid Property Damage During Your Wedding

Avoiding property damage during your wedding is going to rely on your and your guests’ responsibility and behavior. Even then, though, accidents (like falls or slips) do still happen. When you buy event liability coverage, you’re covered from any related costs.

What Does Wedding Insurance Cover?

Depending on your exact liability and cancellation coverage, most policies will cover:

• Property damage and bodily injury occurring at the venue, including damage or injury occurring under the influence of alcohol
• Cancellation or postponement related to weather, illness, death, venue issues, change of heart, or cold feet
• Vendor issues wherein a vendor cannot or does not supply contracted services
• Stolen or damaged wedding gifts or wedding jewelry
• Damaged wedding attire

Every policy has its unique coverage limits, but you can expect wedding policies to protect you for 48 hours surrounding the event, from your rehearsal dinner to leaving for your honeymoon.

FAQs About Wedding Insurance

How Much Does Wedding Insurance Cost?

Some wedding insurance policies provide coverage starting at less than $100, making them one of the most affordable parts of your wedding budget.

Where Can I Get Wedding Insurance?

You can buy wedding insurance from a variety of online providers, as well as standard insurance providers. Specialized, more comprehensive coverage is provided by BriteCo, one of the best wedding insurance companies, as seen in publications such as The Knot and Brides.

Is Wedding Insurance Worth It?

Yes, when you consider that the average couple will spend well over $30,000 on their wedding. Protecting that financial investment via a wedding liability policy and cancellation policy is very much worth it.

Does Wedding Insurance Include Medical Payments Coverage?

BriteCo offers optional liability coverage, including medical payments coverage that will cover the medical expenses or funeral costs related to accidents occurring at the wedding venue. This includes the costs of medical care, dental care, surgical care, ambulance fees, and emergency services.

Can You Cancel for Any Reason with Wedding Cancellation Insurance?

Most wedding cancellation insurance policies will not allow you to cancel your wedding and recoup the costs for just any reason at all, but BriteCo offers a special, optional cancellation coverage that allows you to cancel for any reason and receive up to 75% of your standard coverage.

Ready to Protect Your Wedding?

Whatever it is that you’re worried will interrupt your plans for your big day, there’s likely a wedding insurance policy that will cover you. Learn more and get your quick and easy BriteCo wedding insurance quote now.

Affordable Wedding Insurance: More Coverage, Less Cost!

LEARN MORE →