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You
can make every effort to ensure that all of your planning details come together
for the wedding day of your dreams, but there are many factors outside your
control that can profoundly affect or even postpone your special day. The
illness of the bride or groom (or a close family member), an unforeseen weather
pattern, or a deposit lost to a vendor who goes out of business can all make
adjusting or postponing your wedding unavoidable. There's no need to panic
however - wedding insurance can safeguard the investment you've made in the
perfect wedding, and give you the confidence (plus peace of mind) that your
planning and beautiful day are covered. The remarkably affordable policies
(starting at less than $195) are specially tailored to meet the needs of couples
planning a wedding, and are appropriate for both small and large events.
What Is Wedding Insurance?
Wedding insurance are policies specifically designed to protect you from
financial loss in the event your wedding must be cancelled or postponed due to
circumstances beyond your control, or if one of the major elements of your
wedding (e.g., photographs, wedding attire, and/or gifts) is lost or damaged.
Most policies respond in the event of a cancellation or postponement resulting
from causes ranging from such common concerns as adverse weather and illness, to
events that are rarely considered, such as unemployment, military deployment, or
acts of terrorism. In addition to providing coverage for cancellation and
postponement, many wedding insurance policies include coverage to protect your
wedding photography, wedding dress and attendant clothing, jewelry, and gifts
from damage or loss. Finally, most wedding insurance programs also provide the
ability to purchase liability and property damage coverage that protects the
wedding couple against claims for damage to the premises and/or property rented
for the wedding reception, as well as host liquor liability. Whatever your
situation, there is a wedding insurance policy that is suitable for your needs.
What Is Usually Covered?
Not all wedding insurance policies are alike, and the cost for a policy
naturally depends on the coverage limits you need. Some of the areas covered in
a typical policy include:
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Weather.
Generally, if the policy is purchased more than 14 days before the wedding and
extremely bad weather prevents the celebration from taking place or a majority
of the guests from attending, the cost of rescheduling the event is covered.
You should note that stormy skies and light rainfall alone won't qualify as
reason enough to cancel your wedding.
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Key People.
If people crucial to the wedding are unable to attend due to illness or
injury, the cost of postponing the event is covered. This also holds true if
the officiant fails to appear on your wedding day.
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Service Providers.
If your caterer doesn't arrive with the food, for example, or the ceremony or
reception site burns down or goes out of business, you're covered for the cost
of your non-refundable deposits paid and expenses incurred so that you can
reschedule your special day. Some policies will also include coverage for the
increased cost of replacement items or services, if they are available, to
avoid a postponement of your event.
Additional Coverage.
There are a number of additional areas that can be covered by a wedding
insurance policy (either as part of a package, or as add-ons at an additional
charge). The options include:
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Photographs & Video.
If your photographer fails to show, if the film used for your photos is
defective, or if the negatives are lost, destroyed, or improperly developed,
this coverage allows you to reunite the wedding party for a re-shoot.
-
Gifts.
This coverage is designed to protect you against the theft, damage, or loss of
your wedding gifts.
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Wedding Attire.
If your wedding gown or the attire of one of your attendants is lost or
damaged, this coverage will provide for repair or replacement.
-
Loss of Deposits.
If one of your vendors goes bankrupt or ceases doing business, this coverage
will reimburse you for any deposits you may lose as a result.
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Personal Liability.
More and more, wedding couples are expected to carry their own liability
insurance to protect their ceremony and reception sites against damage to
property and injury to guests. Without such coverage, you may be left
vulnerable to expensive bills and/or lawsuits.
-
Rented Property.
If you are renting a tent, tables, or chairs for the wedding, this coverage
will pay for repair or replacement of the rented property.
Cost And Acquisition.
The cost of wedding insurance generally starts at a one-time premium of less
than $195, with a number of the coverage options previously mentioned included.
Of course, higher limits and additional coverage options are available with only
moderate increases in the premium.
One Last Thing.
Wedding insurance does not cover you for "change of heart." So, if either the
bride or groom decides not to go through with the wedding, the people footing
the bill will pay out of pocket.
A Few
Couples Helped By Wedding Insurance:
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The couples' wedding that was
postponed to a future date because the groom was rushed to the hospital with
appendicitis.
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The bride who arrived to pick
up her dress at the bridal salon only to find a "Bankruptcy" sign plastered
across the window.
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The couple whose garden
wedding was canceled when a September hurricane blew in.
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The couple whose caterer went
to a tropical island with the deposit money and never returned.
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The couple whose wedding
gifts were stolen from the reception hall while the wedding ceremony was
taking place.
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The wedding that was
rescheduled due to a fire rendering the appointed ceremony location
unavailable.
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