Wedding insurance: a beginner's guide

Wedding insurance? Is that really necessary? I'd rather put the money towards more wine, or the honeymoon.
Your wedding should be a perfect day, and you probably won't want to think about anything going wrong... but if you're spending large amounts of money on your celebrations, it's always worth taking out a wedding insurance policy.

What sort of things does wedding insurance cover?
Wedding insurance covers most of the main elements of a wedding. A wedding cancellation due to circumstances beyond your control, damage to the wedding dress before the wedding or loss of the wedding video before copies are made are just a few examples of common problems that wedding insurance can cover.

How do I choose which wedding insurance policy is for me?
Get several quotes before deciding which policy is for you, then study them very carefully so you know exactly what the policy covers before you take it out. Many big high-street stores now offer comprehensive wedding insurance policies, as well as all the big insurance companies.

How much does it cost for wedding insurance?
Like all insurance policies, wedding insurance varies greatly in cost, so it's worth shopping around until you find a competitively priced policy that offers the level of cover that you want.

When should I take out wedding insurance?
Take it out as soon as you start planning your big day. If you are putting down deposits on specific wedding services such as the reception venue many months before the wedding day, your wedding insurance will cover you if anything goes wrong, for example, if the venue burns to the ground or the videographer goes out of business.

Is there anything that wedding insurance doesn't cover?
Yes—you won't be covered if the bride or groom get cold feet or change their mind at the last minute.

Will our wedding insurance policy also cover our honeymoon?
No—wedding insurance policies usually only offer cover up to and including the big day and the services specific to that day. You'll need to buy separate travel insurance for your honeymoon if you don't already have annual travel insurance. Bear in mind that your credit card and your home insurance policy may cover some losses, but not all of them.