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Should You Get Event Liability Insurance for your Manitoba Wedding? We Say Yes.

happy couple celebrating at their wedding
June 20, 2022
Updated: September 30, 2023

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With everything else you need to pay for right now, you might be asking yourself, “Do I need event insurance for my wedding? What about liability insurance? And liquor liability insurance?”

Our answer? Yes. And there are a lot of solid reasons why.

Wedding insurance covers you in the event that something goes wrong or plans have to be changed. And because you just never know what could happen, we always recommend it.

In this article, we’ll discuss all the reasons why insuring your wedding is a good idea. Then fill you in on what exactly wedding insurance covers, and how much it costs.

Prefer to talk to us directly? Reach out! Our Insurance Consultants are here to help.

What Is Wedding Insurance? (And Do You Need It?)

First of all, it’s important to know that the insurance you need for your wedding isn’t actually called “Wedding Insurance”, it’s really just Special Events Liability Insurance you buy for your wedding. Special Event Insurance is available for a number of private or public events including weddings, festivals, fundraisers, baby showers, and anniversary parties. (And it’s a good idea to get for all of them!) Liability limits are usually available for up to $5,000,000 (meaning you’re covered for up to $5 million in damages) and can accommodate events for up to a maximum of 10,000 attendees as well as events that last up to five days in length.

This type of insurance provides coverage for Commercial General Liability, meaning it protects you in the event that any attendees are injured or any property damage occurs during the event. It also protects you from losses around your wedding day caused by unforeseen circumstances like weather, issues with the venue or one of your vendors, or other situations that could stop your wedding from happening altogether. (In other words, it buys you peace of mind leading up to your wedding day!)

So, do you need wedding insurance? Well, no. But do you want to risk losing all the hard-earned money that went into your wedding if something goes wrong? Or blow your wedding budget on a canceled event? We’ll let you decide!

Insurance for Weddings in Manitoba

Getting married close to home? These are the types of coverage we recommend:

Coverage For Event Liability

Not to overwhelm you, but as the event hosts, you are responsible for the protection and safety of your attendees and the property your wedding is hosted on.

Event Liability Insurance covers any bodily injury to your guests and vendors as well as venue damage—if any were to occur. Some venues offer this coverage as part of your rental, others will require you to get it before you’re allowed to book or host anyone. So talk to your venue before purchasing to be sure.

Liquor Liability coverage is another thing to ask your venue about. Many wedding venues require couples to obtain it if they’re not providing it themselves!

Coverage For Wedding Gifts

Coverage for gifts isn’t necessary, but it’s something many couples opt for. It offers you and your partner financial protection by covering any direct physical loss of or damage to wedding presents in the 24 hours before and after your wedding. Within that time frame, it doesn’t matter if your gifts are at home, at your venue, or anywhere else. They’ll be fully covered!

Coverage For Suppliers

Coverage for suppliers would help cover the costs of hiring a last-minute replacement if one of your suppliers didn’t show up. Since these last-minute services are expenses, and can usually run you double to triple a normal service cost, it’s not a bad idea to add this on!

That said, it’s worth mentioning that although this coverage exists and can be helpful, it tends to be limited in nature because there are a lot of exclusions. The best way to find out if this coverage is worth it for you is to talk to one of our Insurance Consultants, so reach out to us before buying.

Coverage For Wedding Cancellation & Postponement

The last thing you want to consider when pouring hours into planning your wedding is that the wedding might not happen—but sometimes, this is the case. A wedding can be called off for all kinds of reasons including vendor illness, extreme weather, and venue damage, to name a few.

This coverage reimburses you for any lost deposits (ones you’ve paid or are contracted to pay). If your wedding is canceled unexpectedly, it can save you a whole lot of headaches. Just note that this will not cover you in the case of someone getting cold feet.

Insurance for Destination Weddings

Chances are that the destination you choose will greatly affect the type of coverage need or want to purchase. In some countries more than others, getting food poisoning before your wedding or having to cancel due to extreme weather may be likely.

Our advice? Once you’ve chosen a destination, talk to local companies in the area. They’ll know best what coverage will be most beneficial—and what your insurance options even are.

Insurance For Your Honeymoon

It can be easy to forget about your honeymoon when all your focus is on your wedding day. But just like any other trip you take, it’s crucial that you’re protected in case anything goes wrong while you travel! Standard travelers insurance may be enough, but if you’re a thrill-seeker or love adventure, you may want to add on extreme sports and activities insurance!

How Much Does Wedding Insurance Cost?

Wedding Insurance packages range from $200 – $1,000. The cost of the package depends on things like the coverage limits, deductibles, and the package you choose.

The type of coverage you pick will not only determine the cost of your coverage but what things your policy will cover and how much you’ll have to pay out of pocket if something does occur.

When To Buy Insurance For Your Wedding

Talk to an Insurance Consultant as soon as possible so that you have time to search around and find the best plan for your needs.

Some policies will let you buy insurance up to a year in advance, all the way to a couple of days before your wedding day—but we don’t recommend waiting that long unless you have to! The sooner you purchase coverage, the sooner all the money you’re pouring into your wedding will be covered. (You can get coverage to include events surrounding your wedding as well, such as a rehearsal dinner or a shower for the bride or groom.)

We know buying an insurance policy for your wedding probably isn’t the most romantic or exciting part of the planning. But it’s a really important one! So don’t put it off too long.

FAQs About Wedding Insurance

You’ve got the rings, we’ve got the answers to your questions!

Yes you do. Talk to your venue to make sure you get exactly what is needed for their space.

It protects you in the unfortunate situation your wedding needs to be postponed or cancelled. 

 

This can cover you in situations such as an unexpected illness, vendor issues, or extreme weather. It’s important to make yourself aware of the restrictions and exclusions your policy may have before you buy it. This will help you know what you’re entitled to if something does go wrong, and make sure the policy you plan on getting actually suits your big day.

It depends. Most wedding insurance no longer offers cancellations due to Covid-19 as restrictions have loosened. 

 

Once again, be sure to read your policy carefully and ask questions before you make the decision to buy. There usually are exclusions to every policy, so make yourself familiar with yours. The rule of thumb here is that wedding insurance mostly covers things outside a couple’s control (extreme weather, some illness..). It does not cover things within a couple's control such as a change of heart.

How To Buy Insurance For Your Wedding

Start by talking to one of our Insurance Consultants today! We’re on your team and want to ensure you have the right coverage so that you can focus on the other important things (like finding the perfect cake). We’ll start by listening to your wedding day dreams and fun plans, then help you narrow down the coverage that makes the most sense.

Insurance For New Families

As you start planning for your future with your partner, we recommend making sure you both have the right insurance coverage in place to protect your newly solidified family unit. And our Insurance for Young Adults resource page is the best place to start. With tips for maximizing your coverage and financial potential while minimizing your premium costs, it’ll help you start your life together on the right foot.

Ready to commit? Buy your wedding insurance online.

Buying your wedding insurance online is easy. Click the link below to request a quote. Then, if you like the quote, hit purchase. And you’re done! (If only planning the rest of your wedding were that easy.)

And if you’d rather talk to someone one-on-one, reach out to us! We’re always here to help.