You've devoted countless hours and thousands of dollars to make sure your wedding is everything you've dreamed of. But all that effort can't guarantee something won't go wrong: A hurricane blowing through town, a fall on the dance floor or even the venue going bankrupt.
Wedding insurance can't ensure your big day will go off without a single hitch, but it can take the sting out of financial losses if the worst happens.
Here are CNBC Select's top picks for wedding insurance companies, based on for affordability, customization, liability coverage and more. (Read our methodology for more on how we made our choices.)
Best for affordability: Event Helper
Event Helper Wedding Insurance
Coverage limits
Up to $5 million in liability coverage, $100,000 for cancellation coverage, $5,000 medical payments
Deductibles
No deductible, $500, $1,000
Riders
Endorsements for waiver of subrogation, hired auto and liquor liability
Availability
Available in all 50 U.S. states
Policy highlights
Event Helper policies can cover everything from a small affair to a 5,000-person event. Insurance documents are available instantly to download and share with your venue.
Pros
- Easy to get quotes and buy online
- Available in all 50 states
- Can choose zero deductible
Cons
- Does not cover international weddings
- Customer service only available Monday to Friday
- No payment plans
Who's this for? Event Helper specializes in coverage that won't break the bank, with pricing starting at just $66 for a small ceremony. And all policies include liquor liability coverage, which most competitors charge extra for.
Standout benefits: Event Helper also has plans for multi-day events, so you can cover the welcome party, rehearsal dinner, and post-wedding brunch, too.
Cost: Policies start at $66
Availability: Event Helper is licensed to insure events in all 50 U.S. states
Liquor liability: included
Best for small weddings: eWed
eWed Wedding Insurance
Policy highlights
eWed insures weddings, showers, quinceañeras, anniversaries and other celebrations, with no deductible for injuries or property damage and liability coverage that includes host liquor liability coverage.
Coverage limits
Cancellation: $5,000 to $100,000
Liability: Up to $3,000,000 for bodily injury and property damage
No-fault medical expenses: $5,000
Pros
- Coverage available the day before the wedding
- No deductible for liability or cancellation insurance
- Optional waiver of subrogation available
Cons
- $1,000 deductible for venue damage
- Excludes losses from Covid-19 and other communicable diseases
- Only available in the U.S. and U.S. territories
Who's this for? Amid of the pandemic, eWed launched its Micro Wedding policies for parties of 50 or less. Policies include scaled-down cancellation coverage for accidents, illnesses, extreme weather, deployment and vendor bankruptcy , as well as loss or damage to wedding attire, gifts an photos.
Standout benefits: Liability policies include host liquor liability and the ability to name a venue as an additional insured. Up to $2 million in coverage is available.
Cost: Cancellation coverage starts at $75 for $5,000. Liability starts at $119 for $2,000,000 in bodily injury and property damage
Availability: eWed is available in all 50 U.S. states and U.S. territories
Liquor liability: Included
Best for no deductible: Travelers
Travelers Wedding Insurance
Cost
The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote
Maximum coverage
Varies by state, up to $250,000 cancellation coverage in many states
Policy highlights
Travelers wedding insurance plans offer a wide variety of coverage in its cancellation plans and high limits for liability coverage. It offers no-deductible coverage for both liability and cancellation insurance and doesn't have surcharges for destination weddings or additional insureds.
Pros
- No deductibles for basic or liability coverage.
Cons
- Not available to residents of Alaska, Hawaii and Louisiana
Who's this for? There's no deductible with Travelers Wedding Protector, which makes it easier to file smaller claims for incidents that happen during the ceremony.
Standout benefits: Policies can be purchased anytime between two years to 25 hours before your ceremony, with cancellation coverage up to $250,000 in most areas.
Cost: Travelers cancellation policies begin at $160, liability coverage starts at $165.
Availability: Travelers wedding insurance is available nationwide except in Alaska, Hawaii and Louisiana
Liquor liability: Optional add-on
Best for destination weddings: Markel
Markel Wedding Insurance
Cost
The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote
Maximum coverage
$2 million liability coverage available
Policy highlights
Markel's wedding insurance policies offer high limits for cancellation and postponement coverage and offers a discount for buying both types of coverage. The company offers online quotes and coverage for weddings in some destinations outside of the US.
Pros
- 15% discount for wedding liability and cancellation coverage when bought together (10% discount for Florida residents).
Cons
- Cancellation insurance only available in select states.
- Cancellation policies have a $25 deductible for each area of coverage.
Who's this for? If you want to get married on the beach, Markel could be a great fit — it insures events in Mexico, Bermuda, the Caribbean and more.
Standout benefits: Markel offers a 15% discount for bundling liability and cancellation coverage, as well as a $5,000 event cancellation add-on for those looking for liability policies for just $50.
Cost: Policies begin at $75.
Availability: Markel insures events in all 50 U.S. states and territories, as well as Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, the U.K. and the Caribbean islands (excluding Cuba). Cruises departing from these countries are also eligible.
Liquor liability: Optional add-on at an additional cost
Best for customization: Wedsure
Wedsure Wedding Insurance
Cost
The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote
Maximum coverage
$5 million for liability coverage
Policy highlights
Wedsure's flexible cancellation and liability insurance gives the ability to select the coverage you need and exclude the coverage you don't. Quotes are available online quickly. Wedsure offers coverage backed by Allianz.
Pros
- Flexible coverage allows you to just add what you need
- Coverage for rented property is available
Cons
- Liability coverage not available for many destination weddings outside the US and Canada
Who's this for? If you're having a non-traditional ceremony, you may not need all the benefits of standard wedding insurance. Underwritten by Allianz, Wedsure is tops for customization, allowing you to pick a coverage type, limit and deductible that works for you.
Standout benefits: Add-ons include change-of-heart coverage (in case you get cold feet) and gift protection (if someone walks away with a present.) If your photographer is a no-show, Wedsure will even pay to reunite the wedding party and re-create those special moments.
Cost: Policies begin at $125
Availability: Wedsure issues wedding insurance in all 50 U.S. states
Liquor liability: Included
Best for liability coverage: WedSafe
WedSafe Wedding Insurance
Cost
The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote
Maximum coverage
Up to $5 million liability coverage
Policy highlights
WedSafe's wedding insurance offers affordable coverage that can help with a variety of situations. A 24/7 claims service is available, and WedSafe allows purchasing and quoting online.
Pros
- 15% discounts on liability and cancellation coverage when bought together
Cons
- Surcharge for weddings taking place in the UK, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean Islands (excluding Cuba)
- A $25 deductible for each coverage category may apply for cancellation policies
Who's this for? A liability policy protects you if something (or someone) is damaged at the ceremony. WedSafe offers six liability limit options, all the way up to $5 million (the highest of any provider we've reviewed). Host liquor liability is also included at no extra charge.
Standout benefits: You can get up to 15% off for bundling wedding liability and cancellation coverage, with online coverage available in minutes.
Cost: Not disclosed. Rate quotes are available online.
Availability: WedSafe is available for events in all 50 states and U.S. territories, plus Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Bahamas, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and Caribbean islands (excluding Cuba)
Liquor liability: Included
What does wedding insurance cover?
Wedding insurance has two main components: coverage for cancellation or postponement of the event and liability coverage for injuries or property damage.
Cancellation/postponement
Can help you recoup funds due to cancellation or delay. Each plan will cover different scenarios but common situations include:
- Extreme weather
- A weather event that prevents a majority of guests from traveling
- A sudden illness or injury
- Venue issues
By and large, cancellation coverage is only available for reasons beyond your control. Wedsure, however, does include "change of heart" as an add-on.
Liability coverage
This policy protects you from being held liable for injuries at your event or damages to the venue. Host liquor liability insurance may be included or billed as an add-on, as could medical payments coverage.
Liability policies are typically available with between $500,000 to $5 million in coverage, sometimes with no deductible.
Riders:
You may get additional coverage bundled with your liability and cancellation coverage that protects:
- Wedding dress and tuxedo
- Jewelry
- Travel insurance for the honeymoon
- Gift insurance
- Photography and video
- Counseling
- Loss of deposit
How much does wedding insurance cost?
Wedding insurance is a relatively small expense compared to the cost of the wedding itself: Basic liability and cancellation coverage cost an average of between $75 and $550, according to The Knot, although more elaborate ceremonies may be more expensive to insure.
To find the best rate, compare rate quotes from a least three wedding and event insurance companies that cover your area to see which has the most coverage for the lowest price.
Finding out what kind of insurance your caterers, flower company and other vendors have can also keep costs down by preventing duplicate coverage.
Is wedding insurance worth it?
Your wedding is a big investment, both emotionally and financially. Protecting it can give you peace of mind, which is priceless.
It does add to your budget, of course, and force you to imagine catastrophes on what's supposed to be the happiest day of your life. But a wedding insurance policy is a relatively small investment and, increasing, its being required by venues.
If you're hosting your wedding at home, review your homeowners insurance to make sure you have adequate liability coverage and that there aren't exclusions or limitations regarding large gatherings or events.
But, remember, even the best homeowners policy won't reimburse for costs incurred due to a cancellation or postponement.
Wedding insurance FAQs
Do I need wedding insurance?
Some venues require liability insurance to book your wedding. Additionally, having cancellation insurance can help protect the investments you've already made if something goes wrong on your wedding day or other covered events like the rehearsal dinner.
What does wedding insurance cover?
While each policy is different, wedding insurance usually liability insurance includes things like accidents and property damage that you could be held liable for during your event. Wedding cancellation or postponement coverage can protect you if something goes wrong, like a venue going out of business, a no-show vendor, or a catastrophic storm in your venue's area. However, it's worth noting that a change of heart on the part of the couple generally isn't a covered reason for cancellation.
How much does wedding insurance cost?
Wedding liability insurance policies generally start at around $150, and cancellation coverage generally starts around $125. However, the state you live in, the state where your wedding is taking place, your guest count, whether or not you're serving alcohol and the amount of coverage you need will all influence the price you'll pay for coverage.
How much wedding insurance do I need?
For wedding cancellation insurance, you'll want to select a limit that covers the total amount you've spent on the event. For wedding liability insurance, check with your venue to see what amount is required to be covered.
Does wedding insurance cover destination weddings?
It depends on the company. Several providers on our list will cover ceremonies in U.S. territories, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, the U.K. and on even cruise ships. WedCov and Chambers Insurance insure events in many more foreign countries, or you can try a provider based in the country where the ceremony is being held.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of insurance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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Our methodology
To determine the best wedding insurance companies, CNBC Select analyzed several large wedding insurance companies and compared them based on a variety of factors.
We focused on the cost, coverage limits and types, availability, and National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint indexes. We also considered any discounts available from the insurers and deductibles. To gather sample premiums, we quoted a wedding in New York City zip code 10012 with 110 attendees. We looked for a $100,000 cancellation policy and $1 million per occurrence and $1 million general aggregate coverage.
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
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