Of all the things a couple hopes go perfectly on their wedding day, there’s bound to be some sort of mishap on one of the biggest days of their lives.

The clumsy best man could trip and fall, causing the bride to fall into a pool. Someone could fall on the dance floor. Or a wedding cake could crash to the ground.

Not all mishaps have to do with gravity. Some could be more costly, such as the country club hosting the reception going out of business a month before the wedding and the deposit being lost, or bad weather forcing the cancellation of an outdoor wedding.

While some problems, such as the best man accidentally knocking the bride into a pool, won’t be fixed with cash, some such as the closed venue and the lost deposit money can be replaced if a couple has wedding insurance.

 

What wedding insurance covers

Also called special event insurance, this type of insurance can cover an anniversary party, bar mitzvah, graduation party or any special occasion you’re planning. It’s meant to provide financial protection in case you have to cancel or postpone an event because of bad weather, natural disasters, death, illness or serious injury to key participants.

If an officiant, such as a minister, or a key vendor such as the caterer, doesn’t show up, you’re also covered.

Those are the main issues that special event insurance covers. Policies usually have a specified maximum amount for each section, and a deductible applies.

Postponing a wedding can happen for any of the reasons listed above, when some of the costs would be covered by insurance. Other factors could be a job, such as a groom’s company suddenly moving to another city, or a bride or groom suddenly being called to military duty just days before a wedding.

 

When to buy riders

If you’re worried that wedding insurance won’t cover everything, you can buy additional insurance, called riders. These can include coverage for:

•   Attire: If the store that sold or rented your wedding dress or tuxedo goes out of business, or the clothing is damaged.

•   Honeymoon: In case you need to cancel the trip due to illness, bad weather or for another reason. Trip insurance can also cover this.

•   Gifts: Damaged or stolen wedding gifts may be covered by your homeowners’ or renter’s insurance, depending on where they’re stored. If not, a wedding insurance rider could cover them. A police report is usually required for stolen gifts.

•   Photography: If the photographer fails to appear or the original negatives are lost, damaged or stolen, some policies will pay to re-stage the event so photos can be retaken. The same goes for a videographer.

•   Personal liability: This extra insurance can cover bodily injury or property damage caused by an accident during the wedding.

•   Medical coverage: Medical expenses for each person injured during an event, as part of any personal liability coverage.

 

You may already be covered

Some of these problems may be covered by insurance. Event sites often have their own liability insurance, though they may require couples to have additional insurance.

Your homeowner’s insurance may cover you for liability if the wedding is taking place at your home, and it may cover losses away from home if you buy a rider.

Credit cards used to buy food for the reception, for example, may reimburse you if the food doesn’t arrive. Auto insurance should cover any wedding day accidents.

 

How much does it cost?

Wedding insurance prices range from $125 to $550 or so, depending on coverage.

You can buy different levels of coverage, depending on your wedding budget. There are also limits for how much coverage is provided for different mishaps. The company WedSafe offers minimal coverage of $7,500, providing up to $1,000 for problems with photos, and $500 for professional counseling.

Be sure to check that the insurance company is licensed to do business in the state where you live. Ask the insurer how much you’ll be reimbursed for a loss, and how much the deductible is, if any. You should first ask your current insurance agent who offers homeowners or renters insurance about what they may cover.

 

What it won’t cover

Wedding rings may be covered, but an engagement ring probably won’t be covered by insurance. However, if you already have homeowners or renters insurance, both rings can be insured by setting it beforehand (and they’d be covered through the life of the policy, not just the wedding).

Wedding insurance also doesn’t cover a change of heart by the bride or groom. If either person gets cold feet, you’re both out of luck — financially and otherwise.

 

Aaron Crowe is a freelance journalist who covers insurance and personal finance for a variety of websites, including at his website CashSmarter.com.