Wedding insurance
buying guide

Decide when to buy

Buy as soon as you’ve booked your venue and started paying deposits. Some cover, like supplier financial failure, only starts a set time after you buy (45 days with Wedprotect), so buying early means you’re protected sooner. Wedprotect can be bought up to 24 months ahead and must be bought at least 1 month before the wedding.

Work out how much cover you need

Add up the total cost of your wedding, including money paid by family. Choose a cancellation limit at least that high. Remember to increase your cover if your budget grows.

Check you’re eligible

Policies have rules about who can buy. With Wedprotect, at least one of you must be a British citizen or permanent UK resident for a UK wedding, and a permanent UK resident for a wedding abroad.

Civil partnerships & same-sex weddings →Vow renewals & blessings →

Understand what’s covered and what isn’t

Wedding insurance covers specific, unexpected events. It isn’t a guarantee that you’ll get money back whatever happens. Things to look for:

• Cancellation reasons: which events are covered, such as serious illness, venue damage, adverse weather or a key supplier not turning up.
• Common exclusions: changing your mind, pandemics and government restrictions, and some pre-existing medical conditions.
• Medical exclusions: read these carefully if you or a close relative has an ongoing condition, tests or treatment planned.
• Item cover periods: attire, rings and gifts are usually only covered for set periods around the wedding.

Look closely at supplier failure cover

Check the waiting period, whether sole traders are covered, and what happens to deposits paid before you buy.

Check what your venue asks for

Many venues ask for liability cover. Find out whether they need you, your guests or both covered, and at what limit.

Think about extras you might need

• Hiring a marquee or tipi? Marquee insurance →
• Booked a honeymoon? Honeymoon cover →
• Want no excess to pay on a claim? The Excess Waiver costs £10.

Getting married abroad?

Some sections may not apply abroad, and travel isn’t covered. Check FCDO advice for your destination.

Know the excesses

The excess is the amount you pay towards a claim. With Wedprotect, there’s no excess on cancellation or Honeymoon Cover, £100 on most other sections, and £250 on Personal Liability, Public Liability and the Marquee Extension.

Read the documents before you buy

Read the Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) for a summary, and the policy wording for full details. Check your policy schedule as soon as you receive it. If anything’s wrong, tell us straight away. You have 14 days to cancel for a full refund if the policy isn’t right for you, as long as no claim has been made or is pending.