Do I Need Cancellation Insurance for My Wedding? What Engaged Couples Should Know

Photo courtesy of Dreamlove Photography

Planning a wedding? Before you finalize your vendor contracts, here's why wedding cancellation insurance deserves a spot on your planning checklist.

You've booked your dream venue, chosen your florist, and signed contracts with your caterer and photographer. Everything is falling into place for your wedding. But have you thought about what happens if something goes wrong?

Wedding cancellation insurance isn't the most romantic topic, but it might be one of the smartest investments you make in the entire planning process. Here's what it covers, why it matters, and why you might need it.

What Is Wedding Cancellation Insurance?
Wedding cancellation insurance is a policy that reimburses you for non-recoverable deposits and expenses if your wedding has to be canceled or postponed due to circumstances beyond your control. Covered events typically include severe weather, sudden illness or injury, a vendor going out of business, military deployment, or venue damage.

Cancellation insurance can also provide financial reimbursement even if the wedding does not cancel, for a variety of things like: vendor no-shows, last minute disaster-prevention costs, and loss/damage to dress, rings, and even gifts. 

Some policies also include liability coverage, which protects you if a guest is injured at your event or if property is damaged during your celebration.

Why It's Worth Considering 
Couples planning a New England wedding are choosing one of the most gorgeous areas in the U.S. — and also one of the most weather-volatile. Nor'easters, early-season snowstorms, hurricanes, and tropical storms can all make an appearance during wedding season.

And while the Barn at Bradstreet Farm is a professionally managed venue with strong vendor relationships, no venue — historic or otherwise — can fully control for extreme weather or other last-minute disruptions. When you consider that the average wedding in Massachusetts costs well over $40,000, protecting that investment with a relatively modest insurance policy starts to make a lot of sense.

Wedding cancellation insurance is generally quite affordable relative to the coverage it provides. Most policies range from a few hundred dollars to around $1,000 depending on your total wedding budget and the level of coverage you choose. For a wedding where you've put five-figure deposits on the line, that's a small price for significant peace of mind.

What to Look for in a Policy
​Not all wedding insurance policies are created equal. When shopping for coverage for your Bradstreet Farm wedding, pay attention to these key factors:

Coverage limits: Make sure the policy maximum reflects your actual wedding budget, not just a rough estimate.
Covered causes: Read the fine print carefully. Virtually all policies exclude pre-existing conditions and pandemics, but most do cover vendor cancellations —  one of the more common incidents we see. 
Liability and Liquor Liability coverage: Most venues, including the Barn at Bradstreet Farm, require couples to carry liability and liquor liability insurance. Check your venue contract to see if this is a requirement before selecting a policy.
Purchase timing: Its best to purchase policies well in advance of your event as they cannot be bought once a known threat — like an approaching storm — is already in the forecast.

The Bottom Line
Wedding cancellation insurance won't prevent unexpected things from happening, but it can make sure that a bad situation doesn't also become a financial catastrophe. For couples investing in a once-in-a-lifetime celebration, it's a practical, low-cost safeguard that experienced wedding planners almost universally recommend.

Before you sign your final vendor contracts, take a few minutes to research policies from providers like EventGuard, Eventsured, or eWedinsurance. Your future self will thank you.