Wedding insurance. Do you really need it?

What is wedding insurance?

Wedding insurance is a specialist type of cover offered by a small handful of insurers in Australia. 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.

According to our latest Finder research, the average Australian wedding costs roughly $35,000. Read our guide to understand what is covered and more importantly what isn't with wedding insurance.

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 hurricanes, blizzards, 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 a 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 canceling 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 travel 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. There are a few specialist insurance options available in Australia. Make sure you compare prices from each provider to see who offers the best value for you.

Frequently asked questions

• Is wedding insurance a thing in Australia?

  Yes. Weddings are expensive in Australia. Wedding insurance can cover venue cancellations, cancellations due to extreme weather, vendor no-shows and more. It's a special type of cover only offered by a handful of providers.

• How long before wedding should you get insurance?

  It's a good idea to get cover as soon as you start paying anything for your wedding. Keep in mind though that there may be restrictions on when you can get covered for cancellations — often no later than 2 weeks before the event and no sooner than 12 months prior.

• What insurance do I need for a backyard wedding?

  As long as you aren't breaking the terms outlined in your policy, your home insurance should cover you for a backyard wedding. It should be able to cover you for third-party liability.

Written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Editor, Insurance

Gary Ross Hunter was an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio

Gary Ross's expertise

Gary Ross has written 644 Finder guides across topics including:

• Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
• Managing the cost of living