Wedding insurance. Do you really need it?
Nervous about your big day? Wedding insurance can cover venue cancellations, vendor no-shows and more.
Key takeaways
- Wedding insurance is a type of insurance that covers unexpected events or natural disasters that could impact your wedding.
- You can buy wedding insurance from Wedsure or weddinginsurance.com.au, but they are not two separate insurers - both are brands of the same company, Niche Insurance.
- If you are planning a destination wedding, a comprehensive travel insurance policy may be sufficient cover for certain areas.
For many Australians, the day they say “I do” is a day they never want to forget — unless things don’t go according to plan. Between misplacing the rings to vendor no-shows, minor and major wedding hiccups happen all the time.
If you are planning your wedding, and looking for that extra layer of protection for your big day, there is something you can do. Wedding insurance can give you the peace of mind you need if the day takes an expected turn.
What is wedding insurance?
Wedding insurance is a specialist type of cover, sold in Australia by Wedsure and weddinginsurance.com.au, which are both brands of the same company. It covers unexpected mishaps or disasters that could disrupt your wedding plans, from vendor no-shows and extreme weather forcing you to reschedule to personal liabilities or a loss in the family.
In lots of cases, you might not need a specialist wedding insurance policy – travel insurance may be enough. It can cover medical and hospital treatment if your wedding is overseas, cancellations and delays and lost or stolen luggage. Many policies will also cover you for expenses incurred if you miss the wedding or are late for it due to unforeseen circumstances.
What does wedding insurance cover?
Here are some of the things that can be covered by wedding insurance policies:
- Venue cancellation: If your wedding venue unexpectedly cancels or goes out of business, wedding insurance can cover the costs of finding a new venue or rescheduling your event.
- Vendor no-shows: If a vendor such as a caterer, photographer or florist doesn't show up on your wedding day, wedding insurance can reimburse you for deposits lost, plus cover the costs of finding a replacement vendor.
- Extreme weather: If severe weather conditions such as cyclones, severe storms or flooding force you to postpone your wedding, wedding insurance can cover the expenses of rescheduling.
- Illness or injury: If you, your partner or an immediate family member falls ill or gets injured before the wedding, it can reimburse you for any non-refundable expenses.
- Lost or damaged items: Wedding insurance can cover the costs of repairing or replacing wedding attire, rings, gifts and other personal property that's lost, stolen or damaged.
- Liabilities: Wedding insurance can cover legal costs in case of an accident or injury that occurs during your wedding.
- Military deployment: This is a very niche one. If you or your partner are unexpectedly deployed for military service before the wedding, wedding insurance can cover the costs of postponing or cancelling the event.
- Honeymoon expenses: Some offer optional coverage for honeymoon expenses, including trip cancellation, interruption, or delay due to unforeseen circumstances.
Keep in mind, every policy differs slightly. Make sure you look through each one – see what's covered and what's excluded. It may be a bit boring but it's worth it come the big day.
What won't you be covered for?
As with any insurance policy, some exclusions do apply to wedding insurance. These normally include:
- Wedding cancellation costs incurred because one or both of you decided not to go through with the wedding
- Rearrangement costs if the rearranged wedding is more than a certain time (usually 12 months) after the date of cancellation
- Photography and video recording costs if they are incurred more than a specified time after the wedding
- Any losses incurred in relation to wedding services where you do not have a written contract in force with the party in question
- Financial default of a wedding services provider if their insolvency had already occurred or could be reasonably expected to occur at the time of booking
When might travel insurance be enough?
Travel insurance is often a cheaper alternative to wedding insurance. It can cover you for cancellations, delays, lost or stolen luggage and travel delay expenses. If you're getting married overseas, it can also cover medical expenses.
If you want cover for the wedding itself, such as vendor no-shows, or your wedding venue unexpectedly cancelling on you, then wedding insurance may be a better option. Wedding insurance is a specialist product in Australia. Compare the cover and the price of each policy before you buy.
Getting hitched overseas? Compare travel insurance quotes.
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Are you able to provide the list of recommended wedding insurers specifically? I can only find WedSure in Australia and it has no reviews. I require both wedding and travel insurance for my destination wedding.
Hi Kate, I’ve had a look around and it looks like WedSure and weddinginsurance.com.au are the only remaining wedding insurers in Australia – other insurers I’ve looked into no longer offer products/have shut down. I’ll be updating this guide shortly to include this information. Since you are planning a destination wedding, a comprehensive travel insurance policy may be your best bet. While it won’t cover you for things like venue cancellations or vendor no-shows, it can cover you for lost luggage, travel delays and medical expenses. You can compare travel insurance policies by visiting this page. Good luck!