What does wedding insurance cover?

PLANNING a wedding can be one of the most exciting - and expensive - milestones in life.

- LARA OWEN

And in the wake of the pandemic, more couples are turning to wedding insurance to protect their big day. But what does it actually cover - and is it really worth it?

We hear from insurance experts what you need to know before getting wedding insurance, including what's covered, what isn’t and how it works.

Wedding insurance is designed to safeguard you against any disasters. “Wedding insurance typically covers unexpected events that can disrupt or cancel your big day,” says accountant and personal finance writer at Best Money, David Kindness.

“That includes a venue shutting down, a vendor failing to show up, bad weather that makes the event impossible, or sudden illness or injury affecting key people. It can also cover lost or damaged wedding items like attire, rings or gifts.”

However, not every mishap is claimable. “What it usually doesn’t cover is a change of heart,” says David, “if one partner decides not to go through with the wedding, the policy won't pay out.

“Pre-existing conditions or travel restrictions due to things like pandemics may also be excluded unless the policy explicitly states otherwise.”

It's also good to check the terms and conditions of any existing insurance you have. “It's worth checking what is covered under your existing home and contents policy, as it could save you some valuable pounds,” says chief customer officer at Tesco Insurance, Alex Cross.

“Most insurers will automatically uplift your contents insurance for a set time before and after the big day, so things like dresses, suits, gifts and decorations are covered.”