What is wedding insurance?

Wedding insurance might not be the most exciting part of planning your big day, but it’s one of the smartest. It’s your safety net for all the ‘what ifs’ that could throw a spanner in the works – from your venue going into administration to the dress getting damaged or lost.

In simple terms, wedding insurance is a policy that protects you financially if things don’t go to plan. It can cover everything from cancellations and supplier issues to illness or accidents affecting key people in the wedding party. So, if your caterer goes bust or your photographer suddenly can’t make it, you won’t be left footing the bill for something out of your control.

Most couples will never need to claim on their policy – and fingers crossed you won’t either – but just a single hiccup could cost you hundreds or even thousands of pounds. Having insurance in place means you can relax and enjoy the countdown to your big day.

Why do I need wedding insurance?

We all want to hope for a smooth experience when planning our big day. But even the best-laid plans can unravel. Wedding insurance protects you if something unexpected happens – like your venue cancelling, a supplier going under, or a key person falling ill. Without it, you could lose thousands and face the stress of rearranging everything yourself.

With the average UK wedding now costing £23,250 according to Hitched, having some form of cover makes sense. It’s a small price to pay for peace of mind, helping you recover costs and get things back on track if disaster strikes.

Of course, not everyone needs wedding insurance. If you’re having a small, low-cost celebration or have flexible cancellation terms with your venue and suppliers, you might decide to skip it. But for many couples, even basic cover is worth it to protect such a big investment.

The benefits of having wedding insurance include:

  • Financial protection: Get reimbursed for deposits, cancellations or other costs if something goes wrong.

  • Peace of mind: Enjoy your big day knowing you’re covered for the unexpected.

  • Flexibility: Many policies let you tailor cover to suit your wedding plans and budget.

  • Cover for weddings abroad: Some policies offer protection if you’re marrying outside the UK.

  • Optional extras: Add extra layers of protection – such as guest personal liability, marquee, honeymoon or coronavirus cover – for additional peace of mind.

  • Multi-event cover: Planning a wedding spanning a few days? Some policies cover multiple events under one policy.

What does wedding insurance cover?

Every wedding insurance policy is a little different, so it’s always worth reading the small print before you sign up. Most policies will cover you for a wide range of mishaps that could disrupt your big day, but there will also be limits and exclusions to keep in mind.

In short, wedding insurance is designed to protect you from the unexpected, but not for cancellations or changes you make by choice. Here are some of the main things wedding insurance can cover, depending on the policy you choose:

  • Venue issues: Cover if your venue cancels due to problems like fire, flood or financial difficulty, leaving you unable to go ahead with your booking.

  • Illness or accident: If you, your partner or a key member of the wedding party can’t attend due to illness or accident, your policy can help cover cancellation or rearrangement costs.

  • Severe weather: If extreme conditions mean a specified percentage of your guests can’t get there, or conditions impact an outdoor wedding ceremony, you could claim back costs for postponement or cancellation.

  • Supplier failure: Protection if a supplier doesn’t turn up, delivers damaged goods, or goes out of business – from florists and caterers to photographers.

  • Lost, stolen or damaged items: Cover for key items such as wedding attire, wedding rings, cake, gifts and flowers if they’re lost, stolen or damaged.

  • Photography and video faults: If a technical issue means your photos or video can’t be developed, insurance can help with the costs of re-staging key moments.

  • Public liability: If property is damaged or someone is injured during the wedding, public liability cover can protect you against legal costs or compensation claims.

Optional extras for wedding insurance

Some policies let you add extra layers of protection to make sure your big day is fully covered, such as:

  • Guest personal liability cover: Protection if any of your wedding guests have an accident and make a claim.

  • Marquee cover: Adds protection if you’re hiring a marquee for your celebration and it gets damaged.

  • Honeymoon cover: Provides cover for your travel and accommodation costs if your honeymoon is cancelled following the cancellation of your wedding.

  • Covid cover: Provides protection if covid affects your wedding plans.

  • Ceremonial sword: Cover for loss, theft or damage to hired ceremonial swords.

  • Excess waiver: Choose this optional extra to reduce the excess on all sections of your policy down to zero, so you won’t have to pay anything if you make a claim.

Just remember – every insurer’s list of inclusions will differ, so check what’s covered before buying. That way, you’ll know exactly where you stand if something unexpected happens.

What isn’t covered by wedding insurance?

Exclusions vary between insurers, but here are some that may apply, depending on the insurer you choose:

  • Changing your mind: Want to cancel or postpone your wedding just because you’ve had a change of heart? Sorry – that’s never covered.

  • Losing your job: Some policies won’t cover cancellation or rearrangement if you lose your job, even if it affects your ability to go ahead with the wedding.

  • Pregnancy: You can’t normally cancel or rearrange your wedding for pregnancy. However, if a serious pregnancy-related medical complication arises, some claims may be considered.

  • Pre-existing medical conditions: Policies typically won’t cover you or others for health issues that began before the policy started.

  • Money paid some time ago: Policies may exclude financial losses from payments made more than a specified time before or after the policy is taken out.

Always read the policy details carefully for any wedding insurance you are considering, so you are clear on what’s included and what’s excluded.

How much does wedding insurance cost?

The cost of wedding insurance depends on how much you want to cover your big day for. Policies are often priced in tiers based on your total wedding budget – the more you spend, the higher the level of cover you’ll need.

As an example, one leading wedding insurance provider charges around £40 for cover up to £6,000 and £100 for cover up to £25,000 (October 2025). If you’re planning something more extravagant, there are higher levels of cover available – going right up to around £500 for weddings worth up to £100,000.

Whatever your budget, you can usually find a policy that fits, giving you peace of mind that your big day is fully protected. Of course, prices for policies vary between insurers, so it makes sense to compare wedding insurance policies before you buy to make sure you’re getting the best value and the right level of cover for your wedding.

Answering your questions about wedding insurance

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Page updated on 7th November 2025, Reviewed by Richard Groom