Rain, Rehearsals, and Refunds: What You Need to Know About Wedding Insurance

You’ve booked the venue, ordered the dress, and sent out the save-the-dates. Your Pinterest board is thriving. Everything is going according to plan—until it’s not.

Enter: wedding insurance.

It might not be the most romantic part of wedding planning, but it’s one of the smartest. Because as much as we all love a good fairy tale, real life sometimes throws curveballs—and wedding insurance is how you keep those curveballs from wrecking your big day and your bank account.

So what exactly is wedding insurance, and do you really need it? Let’s break it down.

What Is Wedding Insurance, Anyway?

Wedding insurance is a policy that protects your investment in your wedding day. It’s designed to help you recoup costs if something unexpected happens; like a vendor bailing, a natural disaster, or a sudden illness that forces you to postpone.

There are two main types:

Liability Insurance – Covers property damage or injuries that happen during your wedding. Many venues actually require this.

Cancellation/Postponement Insurance – Reimburses you for non-refundable deposits and expenses if you have to cancel or delay the wedding for a covered reason.

Some policies offer extra coverage for things like:

• Vendor no-shows

• Lost or damaged wedding attire

• Stolen gifts

• Severe weather

• Military deployment or sudden illness

Do You Really Need Wedding Insurance?

Short answer: Probably.

Longer answer: If you're investing more than a few thousand dollars in your wedding, or if your venue requires it, it’s a smart move.

Here’s when it’s especially worth considering:

• Your venue has strict insurance requirements

• You’re planning an outdoor wedding (hello, unpredictable weather)

• You’re hiring multiple vendors and putting down large deposits

• You’re having a destination wedding or involving lots of travel

• You have a very specific wedding date and rescheduling would be complicated

What Doesn’t It Cover?

Like any insurance, there are limits. Most policies don’t cover:

• Cold feet (yes, really)

• A change of heart

• Budget overruns

• DIY fails (if your cousin “DJ Carl” ruins the playlist, that’s on you)

Always read the fine print and ask questions before signing.

How Much Does It Cost?

Surprisingly, wedding insurance is pretty affordable—especially compared to the total cost of a wedding.

Photos 1 & 3- The Ten Oh Eight Co Photography

Photo 2- Jenna Bradfute Photography

Basic liability insurance: $75–$200

Cancellation/postponement coverage: $150–$600+, depending on the coverage amount and extras

Think of it as a safety net: not something you hope to use, but something you’ll be very glad to have if you need it.

Where Can You Get It?

There are several companies that specialize in wedding insurance, including:

• WedSafe

• WedSure

• Travelers

• Markel

• EventHelper

Your venue or wedding planner might also have recommendations or partnerships.

Final Thoughts

Wedding insurance might not be as fun as cake tastings or dance floor playlists, but it’s a key part of protecting the day you’ve worked so hard to plan. Because even with the most detailed timeline, unexpected things happen—and when they do, you’ll be glad you had a Plan B.

So yes, go ahead and dream big. Just make sure your dream has a backup.