Wedding Insurance

Everyone wants their big day to be perfect but unfortunately, things can sometimes go wrong. Wedding insurance is often overlooked when couples plan their wedding, but how much would you stand to lose if you had to cancel your wedding because you or a close family relative were too ill to attend? You would certainly lose any deposits you had already paid, and you could be liable for some, if not all, the balance.

What if your caterer went bankrupt (with your deposit) and you had to make last minute alternative arrangements at a much higher cost? Your wedding dress could become damaged or your rings mislaid. There are a number of things that could go wrong, which would end up with you either having to replace the service at an inflated price, or result in you simply having to do without.

Insurance policies usually include two types of protection:

• Replacement
  (e.g. the caterers go out of business)
  This means that if something unexpected happened at the last minute you would be able to amend your plans without having to worry about the cost.
• Compensation
  (e.g. the photos fail to come out)
  Although the compensation money won't be able to give you back your original wedding day photos, a financial payment might make you feel slightly better about it, and perhaps give you the opportunity to book some post-wedding pictures.

You should take a policy out as soon as you start planning for your wedding, to cover you for any bookings or expenses that you commit to. Expect premiums to be around £50 for basic cover, with extras available (such as marquee cover) to suit different circumstances.

A recommended minimum level of cover should include:

• illness or death of bride or groom or immediate family
• failure of any contracted supplier to provide the goods or services agreed upon at the time of agreed delivery
• loss, damage or failure of photographs
• loss, theft or damage to/of wedding rings - loss, theft, damage to/of any item of clothing (bridal gown, bridesmaids' dresses, accessories and menswear, whether bought or hired)
• loss, theft or damage to/of wedding presents

However, bear in mind that no insurance company will insure against you changing your mind!