A guide to wedding insurance
Getting married can be an expensive business. So, if you’re organising your big day you may want to consider taking out wedding insurance. But is it worth the money? Do you really need it, and how much does it cost?
Find the answers to these questions and more in our guide to wedding insurance.
Getting married can be an expensive business. So, if you’re organising your big day you may want to consider taking out wedding insurance. But is it worth the money? Do you really need it, and how much does it cost?
Find the answers to these questions and more in our guide to wedding insurance.
60-second summaryWant a bite-sized overview of how wedding insurance works? Here are the main need-to-knows:
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What is wedding insurance?
Wedding insurance offers cover in case you have to cancel or postpone your wedding day.
According to a Hitched.co.uk study, the average cost of a UK wedding reached £23,250 in 2024 – a 12% increase on 2023 when the average cost was £20,700. That’s a lot of money by any standards, and certainly a sum you don’t want to lose.
Please note, you can’t currently compare wedding insurance with Compare the Market.
Do I need wedding insurance?
If you’re only planning a small event for close family and friends, you might not need wedding event insurance.
But if you’re planning the party to end all parties and would be left footing huge bills if the caterers cancelled or the venue went out of business, it may be worth getting cover.
Before taking out wedding insurance, check your supplier contracts as you may already be covered.
If you pay by credit card, you could have some protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. However, this isn’t guaranteed. And it’s not a straightforward alternative to wedding insurance. For example, it won’t cover you if someone falls ill before the big day.
What does wedding insurance cover?
Wedding insurance could cover:
- The venue cancelling or going out of business
- Your florist, caterer, photographer or another supplier cancelling or not following through on the contract
- Technical faults with wedding photos or videos
- Having to cancel due to illness, accident or death
- Having to cancel because of extreme weather or a natural disaster
- Losing something crucial, such as the wedding dress or rings.
But all policies are different, so read yours carefully.
If you’re having two ceremonies, such as a civil ceremony followed by a church blessing, check your policy covers cancelling both dates. Some insurance providers only cover both ceremonies if they’re less than 21 days apart.
It’s worth noting that if you make a claim, your insurance provider may cover the cost of rearranging the wedding or replacing an item, rather than giving you a pay-out.
What add-ons are available?
You may be able to add extra cover to your policy for an additional cost:
- Marquee cover – for any damage to the marquee during your event.
- Ceremonial sword cover – ceremonial swords can be very valuable. Having cover could protect you if they’re damaged or lost.
- Public liability cover – this could cover your legal costs (and any compensation) if someone is injured or killed at your wedding and a claim is made against you. Some venues may already have public liability cover in place, so make sure you check.
Be aware that some venues require you to have public liability insurance as part of your contract. If you take out separate public liability insurance, make sure it covers weddings.
What isn’t covered by wedding insurance?
Your wedding insurance is unlikely to cover:
- One of you changing your mind
- Cancelling due to illness caused by a pre-existing condition
- Cancelling because something minor has gone wrong
- Bad weather ruining your big day (although you may be covered if conditions are so severe your guests can’t make it)
- Cancelling because you’re having financial problems.
But all policies are different, so read yours carefully.
What insurance do I need for a wedding abroad?
If you’re having a destination wedding, travel insurance could cover theft and baggage loss. You’ll need to check your policy’s single item limit to make sure it covers expensive items like your wedding dress, the rings and wedding gifts.
Travel insurance could also cover you if you get taken ill while abroad and need medical treatment.
Travel insurance won’t cover mishaps such as your wedding venue, caterer or florist going bust after you’ve paid them. But you can buy wedding insurance in the UK with overseas wedding cover as an add-on.
Just be aware that buying extra overseas wedding cover doesn’t replace travel insurance. You’d still need a travel policy to cover medical expenses, travel and accommodation costs and baggage while you’re abroad.
Will my home insurance cover my wedding?
Home insurance won’t cover the wedding itself. But it may be possible to extend your home contents insurance to cover a temporary increase in the value of your belongings because of a wedding.
If you’ve bought expensive engagement rings or wedding rings worth more than your home insurance policy’s single item limit, you’ll need to add these as named items to make sure they’re covered. Get in touch with your insurance provider and ask them to amend your policy.
The same might apply if you’ve bought an expensive wedding dress.
How much is wedding insurance?
The cost of wedding insurance will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
- The size of your wedding
- Where it’s happening
- The level of cover you want.
Typical wedding insurance can cost between £30 and £500 depending on how large you plan for your wedding to be.
Insuring a wedding abroad may cost more than insuring a UK wedding as there’s a higher chance of something going wrong.
How to choose the best wedding insurance
When choosing the right wedding insurance policy for your needs, first calculate exactly how much cover you need.
- Work out the approximate cost of your wedding
- Note down any extras you may need, for example, marquee or public liability cover
- Once you have a budget, you can start comparing wedding insurance policies
- Read the small print to see exactly what cover you’re being offered
- Don’t forget to check any excesses and cover limits.
Top tipWhen reading the small print, check the term ‘supplier failure’ very carefully. This is often the top priority for couples taking out wedding insurance. You’ll be relying on these people for your special day, so you want to be sure you have the cover you need if anything goes wrong. |
What do I need to get a wedding insurance quote?
To get a quote for wedding insurance, you’ll need to have a few things nailed down:
- Where you’re getting married
- How much it’s going to cost
- The level of cover you want.
Please note, you can’t compare wedding insurance with Compare the Market.
Frequently asked question
Is wedding insurance a one-off payment?
Yes, the price of your wedding insurance is a single, one-off payment. It’s not a recurring or renewable premium like home or car insurance.
When should I buy wedding insurance?
It’s a good idea to buy your wedding insurance sooner rather than later. After all, the sooner you get cover, the sooner you’ll be protected. You can buy insurance up to 30 months ahead of the big day.
Does wedding insurance cover my honeymoon?
Wedding insurance policies don’t tend to cover honeymoons – it’s expected that this will be covered by your travel insurance.
What will happen if I need to make a claim on my wedding insurance?
If you want to claim on wedding insurance, you’ll need to provide as much evidence as possible. This could include:
- Any supplier agreements you have in writing
- Confirmation that a supplier has let you down
- Photographs of damage or news stories covering bad weather
- Medical reports
- Crime numbers.
How can I lower the risk of needing to claim on my wedding insurance?
You could lower the risk of needing to claim by using experienced suppliers who are used to handling every eventuality. The more credible and reliable they are, the less likely it is that something will go wrong.
Get all agreements with suppliers in writing, and keep copies of agreements and receipts, just in case you do need to make a claim.
I’ve already arranged services or paid deposits. Will they be covered?
Deposits you’ve already paid should be covered by wedding insurance. But it may depend on how long ago the payment was made. For example, you might not be covered for payments and deposits made more than 90 days before the start of your policy.
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Anna McEntee – Home, travel and pet insurance expert
Anna’s all about delivering fantastic insurance products at a great price. Value is the most important thing for Anna, as she cuts through the jargon and finds what’s most important and worth your hard-earned money.