WEDDING INSURANCE AVAILABLE ENDORSEMENTS

(September 2023)

Wedding Insurance is a non-standard form of special event coverage. Companies that issue this coverage use proprietary forms. Keeping in mind that various forms will differ wildly in what is offered as basic coverage, the items listed below (which have titles that will vary among companies) are often candidates as optional wedding coverages.

Ancillary Activities

Typically, a basic wedding policy only covers the location of the wedding ceremony. This optional coverage extends protection to ancillary (related) events that are held at different locations. Most commonly the coverage is for the sites of rehearsal dinners, receptions, bridal showers/engagement parties and bachelor parties, but could also extend to something more unusual such as a separate photo studio session.

Cake and Flowers

This optional coverage will reimburse the insured/honoree for expenses related to the loss, damage or destruction of the wedding cake, flowers, and sometime other decorations. The typical coverage period is for the day of the event and the immediately preceding 24 hours. Covered locations include the home of the bride, groom, either party’s parents, or the reception site. Coverage is effective during transit between these locations.

Exclusions–Typical noncovered situations are losses that occur after the end of the event, transit losses when the property was not properly packed and/or secured and theft losses when the property is unattended.

Call to Duty/Active Service (aka, Military Deployment)

This optional coverage will reimburse the insured/honoree for certain expenses if the wedding is postponed or cancelled because the bride or groom is, suddenly, required to report for military duty. The coverage also applies if the event was planned during a scheduled military leave and the leave is revoked or cut short.

Note: It is not unusual to have this eventuality covered under a basic wedding or event policy.

Documents

This option responds to loss of wedding (or special event) related records or documents that occurs, typically, within 24 hours before, the day of, and 24 hours after event. It only applies to such property that is in the care or custody of key event (wedding party) participants. The insurer reserves the option of reimbursing the loss or replacing the items.

Honeymoon

This option acts as trip cancellation coverage which, normally, is secured via a separate policy. It reimburses the cost involved with circumstances beyond the married couple’s control that results in cancelling a post-wedding trip.

Jewelry Rider

This option provides separate, comprehensive coverage for engagement and wedding rings, as well as accessory jewelry that is acquired specifically for the wedding (anything from bracelets, anklets or even tiaras). Naturally, pricing depends upon the documented value of the jewelry (bills of sales or, for older items, current appraisals). Coverage may be only for the bride and groom’s jewelry.

In some policies this coverage may be extended to cover borrowed or rented jewelry while on other policies such borrowed or rented jewelry may be covered only under a separate option, sometimes called “Special Jewelry” protection.

Liquor Liability

Responds to allegations that the applicable insured/host of the wedding or reception is responsible for a loss due to his or her providing alcoholic beverages. This option is for instances where alcoholic beverages are sold, such as a reception that includes a cash bar or a cover charge.

Marquee Cover

Provides coverage for a wedding and/or reception that is held in a marquee. A marquee is a larger, elaborate tent that is suitable for parties and which may include hard floors and luxury furnishings.

Pregnancy Cover

Extends the wedding insurance policy to include cancellation or postponement due to the bride’s pregnancy, but coverage usually terminates after a maximum number of weeks into the term, such as 28 weeks.

Professional Counseling

This coverage is subject to the deductible appearing on the form. It responds to the expense faced by a former honoree to receive professional help to deal with the cancellation of the wedding.

Note: The need for counseling needs to be determined and recommended by a licensed physician.

Stationery

This option responds to the loss of wedding (or special event) related stationery that occurs, typically, within 30 days of the covered event.

Exclusions – Typical noncovered situations are losses that occur after the end of the event, transit losses when the property was not properly packed and/or secured and theft losses when the property is unattended.

Weather Conditions

Wedding policies cover wedding postponements or cancellations that are caused by extreme weather conditions such as flooding, earthquakes, blizzards, hurricanes, etc. Routine weather activity is usually excluded. However, if the event is particularly expensive and weather is a major concern, optional coverage may be available, but usually for a specific cause. Coverage and rates will be highly dependent upon available forecasts for the date of the event and the rider may be written for a coverage period of only a few hours.

Wedding Liability

Many companies that offer wedding insurance may have basic policies that only cover first party losses suffered by the insured or honoree. In those instances, optional coverage is generally available to cover losses or lawsuits involving third parties (typically wedding guests/reception attendees) who suffer bodily injury or property damage and allege that the hosts are responsible.