Nerdy takeaways
- Wedding insurance covers you if something spoils your big day, such as extreme weather or a no-show vendor.
- Your policy can also cover liability issues like an injury on the dance floor or damage to your venue.
- Wedding insurance costs range from less than $100 to over $1,000.
You’ve put months of planning and thousands of dollars into your wedding day — which means you’ve got a lot to lose if anything goes wrong. If you have nightmares about your photographer not showing up or a blizzard snowing on your parade, wedding insurance may help you sleep a little easier. Here’s what you need to know.
Looking for great wedding insurance companies? Jump straight to our list of recommended providers.
What is wedding insurance?
Wedding insurance can pay for damage or injuries that occur during the big event. It can also reimburse you if you have to postpone or cancel your wedding. Your policy may cover other wedding week events, including the rehearsal dinner or farewell brunch. Some policies will also reimburse you for nonrefundable honeymoon expenses.
Wedding insurance is a type of event insurance. You may see it sold by companies that insure other events like anniversary parties and festivals.
What does wedding insurance cover?
Wedding insurance policies generally offer two main types of coverage: liability and cancellation. You can buy them separately or together.
Wedding liability insurance
Liability coverage pays for injuries or property damage that happen during the event. For example, it could cover medical costs if someone gets hurt at your wedding, or pay for a mirror someone breaks during setup.
This type of insurance often includes host liquor liability coverage. This is important coverage to have if you’re planning to serve alcohol at your wedding. Say a guest has too much to drink and crashes into another car on their way home. If the other driver sues you (as the one who provided the alcohol) to pay for their injuries and vehicle damage, host liquor liability could cover your legal defense.
You may also be able to add medical payments coverage to your policy. This would cover relatively small payouts for injuries, even if you’re not at fault.
Did you know...
Wedding liability limits generally range from $500,000 to $5 million. Some policies have no deductible, while others require one for property damage coverage. A deductible is the part of a claim you’ll need to cover yourself.Wedding cancellation or postponement insurance
This coverage reimburses you if you have to cancel or delay your wedding for reasons beyond your control. The policy can help pay for a new ceremony and reception.
Here are a few sample scenarios when this coverage might come in handy:
- A hurricane hits your beachfront venue the week before your wedding, and it’s too damaged to hold the event.
- You scheduled your wedding during the bride's military leave, but the army calls her back to active duty.
- The groom's mother has a stroke two days before the wedding.
- Your caterer goes bankrupt and you can’t find another one at the last minute.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Choose enough insurance to cover all the nonrefundable deposits you would lose if your wedding couldn’t take place.Cancellation insurance often comes with other types of coverage. Many of them can help if things go wrong but the wedding goes ahead as planned. Below are a few common ones. Note that separate deductibles may apply to each of these coverage types.
Additional expenses
This coverage pays unexpected costs to help you avoid canceling or postponing your wedding. For example, if your DJ backs out but you’re able to find another one for a higher price, this coverage could pay the difference.
Photography and video
If your photographer doesn’t show up or the videographer loses the footage from your wedding, this coverage can help. Some policies reimburse the amount you were supposed to pay for that vendor’s services. Other policies will pay for the wedding party and immediate family to get together again and recreate the lost photos or video.
Gifts
This coverage can pay if someone steals wedding presents from your car or drops a gift box filled with fragile china. However, coverage for cash, checks or gift cards is typically limited.
Special attire
If something happens to your bridal gown or tux, this coverage will pay to repair or replace it.
Special jewelry
This section of your policy covers jewelry bought or rented specifically for the wedding, such as wedding bands. Note that this coverage may not include your engagement ring. (For that, jewelry insurance may be a wise purchase.)
Loss of deposits
If a vendor goes out of business or doesn’t provide the service they agreed to, this coverage can reimburse you for the deposits you put down.
Professional counseling
If you’re upset about canceling your wedding for a covered reason, many policies will pay for counseling for a certain period of time.
» MORE: Wedding budget calculator
What wedding insurance doesn’t cover
Most wedding policies don’t pay for things like:
- Cold feet or a change of heart, with few exceptions.
- A rainy day, rather than extreme weather.
- Theft or loss of your engagement ring.
- Deciding to switch to a different vendor, such as a caterer or florist, once you’ve already paid a deposit.
- Cancellation, postponement or liability claims due to COVID-19.
- Photos or videos that aren’t as good as you’d hoped.
- Known or pre-existing conditions. Say your father had heart problems at the time you bought the policy. If he has a heart attack the day before your wedding and you have to postpone the event, your policy might not pay.
- Potentially risky activities like fireworks, hayrides, bounce houses or live animals.
Do you need wedding insurance?
You may need to buy wedding liability insurance if your venue requires it. Otherwise, the decision is up to you.
Depending on your circumstances, you may already have some coverage. For example:
- If a relative or friend is hosting the event at their house, their homeowners insurance covers liability. However, they should ask their insurance agent about liquor liability in case a drunken guest causes a car accident after leaving.
- Your own homeowners, personal articles or renters insurance may cover stolen or destroyed gifts.
- Your venue may have liability insurance of its own, so you wouldn’t need overlapping coverage. For example, a banquet hall likely has its own policy covering liquor and other liability issues. But it's important to ask what it does and doesn't include. A venue’s policy typically covers its own liability, not yours.
Consider buying wedding insurance if:
- You’ve put down a lot of money in nonrefundable deposits.
- You’ll be serving alcohol at your wedding.
- A bride or groom is in the military and could be deployed at any time.
- Your venue is in a place that could be affected by extreme weather.
- Having insurance gives you peace of mind.
Get home insurance quotes in minutes
Answer a few questions to see custom quotes and find the right policy for you.How much does wedding insurance cost?
Wedding insurance can cost less than $100 for one type of coverage only. Premiums for larger policies that include both liability and cancellation can be over $1,000.
To give you an idea of how much you might pay, we gathered quotes for Travelers’ Wedding Protector policy for three sample weddings.
Wedding location and size | Coverage amounts | Price |
|---|---|---|
Utah: 50 guests |
| $310 |
Illinois: 100 guests |
| $450 |
California: 200 guests |
| $780 |
How much you pay for wedding insurance will depend on factors like:
- The number of guests.
- Where your wedding takes place.
- Which types of coverage you buy.
- The deductibles you choose.
- Your policy limits.
Some companies offer a discount if you buy liability and cancellation coverage together.
When to buy wedding insurance
Insurers generally recommend getting your policy as soon as you start putting down deposits. Some companies let you get coverage up to two years before the big day.
If you’re already in the midst of planning, it’s not too late. You can buy liability coverage up to the day before the event in many cases. But if you want coverage for extreme weather, you may need to get cancellation insurance at least 15 days before the wedding.
Where to buy wedding insurance
Below are a few wedding insurance companies to consider.
BriteCo
Choose if: You want coverage for COVID-19 illness in your cancellation policy. This is an uncommon inclusion in the industry.
Don’t choose if: You want to get married outside the U.S.
Coverage details: BriteCo is a popular seller of jewelry insurance policies, but it also offers wedding insurance. Its optional change of heart coverage will pay 75% of your nonrefundable expenses if you choose not to go forward with your wedding. (Note that this coverage doesn’t apply to circumstances you knew about before buying the policy.)
BriteCo’s liability policies automatically include host liquor liability. Plans can cover pre-wedding setup and up to five days of events such as your rehearsal dinner and farewell brunch.
Availability: Unlike some other wedding insurers, BriteCo covers events only in the United States and its territories.
Cost: Cancellation policies start at $80, while liability coverage starts at $102.
eWed
Choose if: You’re looking for a policy with no deductibles.
Don’t choose if: You’re planning a destination wedding abroad.
Coverage details: Policies from eWed can cover your rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception and farewell brunch. The company can also reimburse you for nonrefundable honeymoon expenses if you cancel your wedding for a covered reason.
Liability policies from eWed include host liquor liability at no extra charge. You can also add medical expense coverage to pay for injuries, regardless of fault. The company offers cancellation insurance with coverage limits from $5,000 to $100,000.
Availability: eWed covers events only in the United States.
Cost: The company advertises cancellation policies starting at $75. Liability policies start at $119.
Markel
Choose if: You want both cancellation and liability coverage. Markel offers a 15% discount on its wedding insurance policies if you buy both types of coverage.
Don’t choose if: You’re looking for a policy without deductibles. Markel charges $25 deductibles for each coverage type within its cancellation policies. There’s also a $1,000 deductible for property damage liability.
Coverage details: In addition to the ceremony and reception, Markel can cover setup and takedown within 24 hours of the event, as well as a rehearsal dinner up to 48 hours before the wedding.
Markel will refund your liability policy if it doesn’t meet your venue’s insurance requirements. Liability coverage is available up to $2 million. Host liquor liability is included, but if you won’t be serving alcohol, you can remove it for a premium credit.
Availability: Markel's liability policies are available only for events in the U.S. and Canada, or on cruise ships leaving these countries. Its cancellation policies can cover weddings in:
- The U.S. and its territories.
- Canada.
- Mexico.
- United Kingdom.
- Bermuda.
- Bahamas and the Caribbean (except Cuba).
- Cruise ships departing from these destinations.
Cost: Markel lists rates starting at $75 for liability coverage and $130 for cancellation coverage.
Travelers
Choose if: You need high coverage limits.
Don’t choose if: You live in Alaska, Hawaii or Louisiana. Travelers doesn’t offer wedding insurance to residents of these states.
Coverage details: Travelers' coverage is called the Wedding Protector Plan. The core of the policy is cancellation insurance, with liability coverage as an optional add-on.
The Wedding Protector Plan can cover large and lavish events, with cancellation coverage up to $500,000 in many states. Its photo and video coverage can pay to get the wedding party and family members together again to shoot new images or footage.
Unlike some other providers, Travelers charges extra for host liquor liability coverage.
Availability: Liability coverage is available only for events in the U.S., its territories and Canada. Cancellation policies can cover events in:
- The U.S. and its territories.
- Canada.
- United Kingdom.
- Bermuda.
- The Bahamas and most Caribbean islands.
- Cruise ships leaving from these areas.
Cost: Travelers advertises cancellation policies from $160. Liability coverage starts at $165.
WedSafe
Choose if: You need coverage at the last minute. You can buy a WedSafe policy up to the day of your wedding. However, you’ll need to get cancellation insurance at least 15 days before to have coverage for severe weather.
Don’t choose if: Your wedding will involve animals or “amusement” features such as bounce houses or dunk tanks. In some states, WedSafe won’t sell you a policy at all if your wedding has these elements.
Coverage details: If you’re planning to serve alcohol at your wedding, WedSafe will automatically include host liquor liability in its rates for liability policies. The company offers a 15% discount if you buy both cancellation and liability insurance.
WedSafe has cancellation coverage limits between $7,500 and $175,000. A $25 deductible applies for each category of coverage, such as special attire or gifts. There’s a $1,000 deductible for property damage claims on the liability policy.
Availability: Liability policies are available for weddings in the U.S. or Canada, or on cruise ships departing from these countries. Cancellation policies can cover events in:
- The U.S. and its territories.
- Canada.
- Mexico.
- United Kingdom.
- Bermuda.
- The Bahamas and all Caribbean islands but Cuba.
- Cruise ships departing from these destinations.
Cost: WedSafe doesn’t publicize its rates, but you can get an online quote to see how much you can expect to pay.
Wedsure
Choose if: You want change of heart coverage. Keep in mind that conditions apply. For example, the person paying for the wedding must be someone other than the bride or groom. The event must be canceled at least a year in advance.
Don’t choose if: You’re planning a destination wedding outside the U.S.
Coverage details: Wedsure offers many ways to mix and match your wedding insurance, including a range of coverage types and limits. Aggregate liability limits go up to $5 million, with higher limits available by phone. This coverage automatically includes host liquor liability.
Wedsure’s photo and video coverage stands out. If one of these vendors doesn’t show up or deliver what they promised, Wedsure will help you gather your important guests for a redo. It will even pay for things like travel expenses, flowers and a new cake, as long as your coverage limit is high enough.
Availability: Wedsure doesn’t list state availability on its site. However, its online quote function allowed us to enter venues only within the United States and Virgin Islands.
Cost: The company advertises cancellation and liability policies starting at $125 each.
Compare wedding insurance companies
See this table to compare the companies above at a glance.
Company | Minimum cost | Key feature | Can cover non-U.S. weddings? |
|---|---|---|---|
BriteCo |
| Optional change of heart insurance. | No |
eWed |
| No deductibles. | No |
Markel |
| 15% discount for buying both types of coverage. | Yes |
Travelers |
| Covers cancellation up to $500,000 in some states. | Yes |
WedSafe | Not available. | Policies available up to the day of your wedding. | Yes |
Wedsure |
| Many ways to customize your coverage. | No |
Company | Minimum cost | Key feature |
|---|---|---|
BriteCo |
| Optional change of heart insurance. |
eWed |
| No deductibles. |
Markel |
| 15% discount for buying both types of coverage. |
Travelers |
| Covers cancellation up to $500,000 in some states. |
WedSafe | Not available. | Policies available up to the day of your wedding. |
Wedsure |
| Many ways to customize your coverage. |
Tips for buying the right wedding insurance policy
- Review existing coverage. Before buying a wedding liability policy, see what coverage you already have. Anyone hosting or paying for the wedding should check their home or renters insurance policies.
- Check the deductibles. If a vendor doesn’t show up, and the deductible is higher than the deposit for that vendor, you’ll swallow the cost for that lost deposit.
- Choose the right coverage limits. For cancellation coverage, you’ll want the limit to be close to your wedding budget, including the honeymoon. It’s most important to cover any nonrefundable deposits.
- Read the terms and conditions. Many companies offer sample policies you can look at before you commit. Pay particular attention to the “exclusions” sections to understand what will and won’t be covered.
- Verify the refund policy. Some wedding insurance policies are nonrefundable if you decide to cancel your policy.
More Nerdy wedding advice
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common wedding insurance claims?
Travelers recently released data on the most common wedding insurance claims in 2025. According to the release, 55% of the wedding insurance claims Travelers paid in 2025 were for vendor problems. That was by far the most common type of claim, followed by injury/illness claims at 16% and extreme weather claims at 10%.
Does wedding insurance cover destination weddings?
It depends on the company. Some insurers will provide coverage for weddings in places like Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and U.S. territories. Some will even insure weddings on cruise ships.
Does wedding insurance cover venue damage?
Yes, as long as you buy liability coverage. This type of insurance can pay for accidental damage that happens to your venue during your wedding. A deductible may apply.
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