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Wedding insurance

Wedding insurance policies to help protect your big day as low as $75.*

Get a fast, free wedding insurance quote online today.

Get a quote


Or call +1.800.236.2453 to speak with a wedding insurance specialist.

Because peace of mind should always be on the guest list.

Weddings are a fun celebration for you and your guests, but can also be a stressful and expensive undertaking that don’t always go as planned. What if you need to cancel your wedding due to unforeseen circumstances, like a hurricane or if your venue suddenly goes bankrupt? What if one of your guests gets seriously injured at your wedding and you are liable?

Thankfully, Markel offers wedding insurance to help you recover from many of those situations.

For more than 15 years, we’ve offered specialized event insurance with policies starting as low as $75.*

Why do you need wedding insurance?

Lost wedding rings, damaged photography, vendor bankruptcy, hurricanes—what if a guest damages the venue’s property? Or worse, injures themselves or others? Things don’t always go as planned, even at your wedding, but life’s special events still deserve to be protected.

Still not sure?


Advantages to having wedding insurance include:


More venues require clients to purchase a one-day event liability policy because they’re unwilling to take on sole responsibility for damage to their property.

Many wedding vendors do not offer refunds regardless of the reason for cancellation or postponement.

If extreme weather causes your venue to be unusable or unreachable, wedding insurance can help recoup your cancellation costs or expenses moving to a new location. (Extreme weather includes a hurricane, tropical storm or even an epic snowstorm. The average summer thunderstorm would not be covered.)

Homeowners insurance often doesn't provide enough coverage. Typically, homeowners policies will only cover the wedding if it’s located at the home of the bride or groom and will only cover wedding liability, not cancellation.

What we offer


We want you to relax and enjoy your big day.


That’s why we help you safeguard your investment with affordable wedding insurance. Our wedding insurance policies can cover non-refundable deposits, lost or stolen gifts, cancellation costs and even injuries or damage during your wedding.

Our policies can cover your ceremony, reception, rehearsal dinner (within 48 hours of your event) and set-up and removal (within 24 hours of the event).


Our coverages can include:

Event liability insurance can help protect you from financial loss if you are held legally responsible for property damage to the venue or bodily injury to someone injured at your wedding. Coverage highlights include:

  • Bodily injury and property damage liability–up to $2 million in coverage available
  • Host liquor liability insurance available
  • Venues can be named as “additional insured” on the certificate of insurance for no additional cost
  • Liability coverage can be purchased up to one day before your wedding
  • Wedding cancellation add-on–for only $50, you can add $5,000 of wedding cancellation coverage

Best of all, Markel event liability coverage is guaranteed to meet your venue’s insurance requirements or your money back.

Actual claim example: A confetti cannon left stains on the venue’s dance floor. Our event liability insurance policy paid out almost $3,000.**

Our event cancellation insurance can reimburse you for non-refundable deposits and expenses if you must cancel or postpone your wedding due to unforeseen circumstances, such as:

  • Vendor bankruptcy
  • Extreme weather†
  • Military deployment

It can also provide coverage for damage to your wedding attire and jewelry, lost/stolen gifts, photographs, lost deposits from no-show vendors and more. Coverage can be purchased up to 15 days before your event.

Actual claim example: California wildfires destroyed a winery where an insured was hosting their wedding. Our event cancellation policy paid out almost $37,000, which allowed the bride and groom to proceed with their wedding at a new location.**

  • Frequently asked questions about wedding insurance

    • General questions

      When should I purchase insurance for my wedding?
      It’s a good idea to purchase a policy as soon as you begin to pay deposits. Caterers, photographers and other vendors usually require a significant non-refundable deposit up front with the remainder due by the day of the event. Our event cancellation coverage can be purchased up to 14 days prior to the event date, and our event liability coverage can be purchased up to 1 day prior to the event date.

      Will event insurance cover us if the weather forces us to postpone or cancel our wedding?
      Coverage may be provided if weather conditions are extreme enough to prevent the honoree or majority of guests from attending your wedding. Examples of extreme weather include hurricanes and tropical named storms (the average summer thunderstorm would not be covered).

      Is there a deductible on event insurance?
      Event cancellation policies have a $25 deductible for each area of coverage. Event liability policies have a $1,000 deductible for property damage.

      What if someone in my family gets sick before the wedding? Would that be covered?
      If an accident or illness prevents the guest of honor or an immediate family member from attending the wedding, we can provide coverage if illness is not due to a pre-existing medical condition.

      Will the gifts I may receive at my wedding be covered?
      Gifts that are lost or damaged seven days prior to and seven days after the wedding may be covered up to the applicable limit set forth in your policy. There is a $300 limit on cash, checks and gift cards.

      Is my wedding dress or special attire purchased specifically for my wedding covered?
      Our event cancellation insurance coverage can provide insurance protection for special attire that is lost, stolen or damaged before the wedding. Some exclusions apply.

      I'm getting married in Mexico. Are weddings held outside of the United States covered?
      Event cancellation coverage is available for weddings that are scheduled to take place in (or cruise ships departing from) the United States and territories/possessions, Canada, United Kingdom, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the Caribbean (excluding Cuba). Liability policies are available for weddings scheduled to take place in (or cruise ships departing from) the United States and territories/possessions and Canada.

      Does event insurance provide coverage if military leave is withdrawn during my wedding?
      Our event cancellation can provide coverage for the guest of honor is serving full-time, active duty in the armed forces, police, or fire department and must postpone the wedding due to withdrawal of a previously granted leave or unforeseen deployment.

      What happens if my photographer loses my photos? Is that covered?
      Our event cancellation policy can provide insurance protection if your film or digital files are lost or damaged before you take possession of them. The policy does not cover photographer error such as under or overexposure.

    • Claims questions

      How do I file a claim?
      Report your event insurance claim immediately by calling our office at +1.800.236.2453, or completing the online claim form.

      How do you determine the value of my claim?
      Each individual claim is different and evaluated as such. The value of your event insurance claim depends on the coverage you purchased and the damages sustained.

      How long will it take for my claim to be processed?
      Each claim is different, so there is not a concrete answer. But if we receive all of the necessary documentation (i.e. estimate of damage, photos, receipts, etc.) and have completed our investigation, the claim is processed timely (usually within 7-10 business days).

      Is there anything I can do to help speed up the claim process?
      Yes, you can help streamline the claims process by providing the following information when you file your claim:

      • Policy number
      • Date, time, and location of loss or damage
      • Description of loss or damage
      • Photos of the damage or where your special wedding attire or gifts were stolen
      • Receipts for your event and goods/services related to your event
      • Other items will likely be necessary and will be outlined by your Markel claims examiner upon receipt of the claim

Get total protection for your wedding and save.

Save up to 15% by purchasing both event liability and cancellation coverage.‡

Get a quote


Or call +1.800.236.2453 to speak with a wedding insurance specialist.

Additional resources

*As of December 2023, the minimum premium is $75 and rates could exceed $75 depending on the coverage options selected.
**These examples are provided for illustrative purposes only. Any claim submitted under the policy would be evaluated on its own merits and facts compared to the terms of the policy.
†Event cancellation policy must have been purchased at least 15 days prior to the prediction of the threat of extreme weather.
‡10% for residents of FL.