Though you have likely been working tirelessly to ensure that the numerous details you have set into motion all come together at the right time to realize the wedding day of your dreams, there are many factors outside of your control that can profoundly affect or even postpone your special day.

Wedding insurance can safeguard the investment you are making in your wedding and give you the confidence (and peace of mind) in knowing that you big day is covered.

WHAT IS WEDDING INSURANCE?

A wedding insurance policy is designed to:

· Protect you from financial loss in the event one of the major elements of your wedding is lost or damaged prior to your event,

· Reimburse you for a deposit made to a vendor who goes out of business before performing the contracted services, and to

· Cover rescheduling costs if your wedding must be cancelled or postponed due to various circumstances beyond your control.

Wedding insurance includes specific coverage for your wedding photography and video, bridal gown and attendant clothing, wedding rings and gifts, and will respond for a cancellation or postponement resulting from causes ranging from such common concerns as adverse weather and illness to lesser thought of events such as unemployment, damage to your chosen venue, military deployment and, in many cases, terrorist acts.

Whatever your situation, there is a wedding insurance policy that is suitable for your needs.

WHAT IS USUALLY COVERED?

Not all wedding insurance policies are alike and the cost for a policy naturally depends on the coverage limits you need. Some of the areas covered in a typical policy include:

· WEATHER. Generally, if the policy is purchased more than 14 days before the wedding and extremely bad weather prevents the celebration from taking place, the cost of rescheduling the event is covered. Be aware that dark skies and light rainfall alone won't qualify as reason enough to cancel your wedding.

· KEY PEOPLE. If people crucial to the wedding are unable to attend due to illness or injury, the cost of postponing the event is covered. This also holds true if the officiant fails to appear on your wedding day.

· MILITARY OR JOB. If the wedding must be postponed due to the groom being unexpectedly deployed to military duty, or a last minute corporate move suddenly relocates the bride to another city, you are covered for the costs of rescheduling your wedding and reception.

· SERVICE PROVIDERS. If your caterer doesn't arrive with the food, or the ceremony or reception site burns down or goes out of business, you're covered for the cost of your non-refundable deposits paid and expenses incurred so that you can reschedule your special day. Some policies will also include coverage for the increased cost of replacement items or services, if they are available, to avoid a postponement of your event.

· PHOTOGRAPHS & VIDEO. If your photographer fails to show, if the film used for your photos is defective, or if the negatives are lost, destroyed, or improperly developed, this coverage allows you to reunite the wedding party for a re-shoot to capture your wedding memories.

· GIFTS. This coverage is designed to protect you against the theft, damage or loss of your wedding gifts.

· WEDDING ATTIRE. If your wedding gown or the attire of the groom or one of your attendants is lost or damaged, this coverage will provide for repair or replacement.

· RINGS. This coverage is designed to replace a wedding ring (not engagement ring) that is lost or stolen prior to your wedding day.

· LOSS OF DEPOSITS. If one of your vendors goes bankrupt or ceases doing business, this coverage will respond to reimburse you for any deposits you may lose as a result.

· PERSONAL LIABILITY. More and more, wedding couples are expected to carry their own liability insurance to protect their ceremony and reception sites against damage to property and injury to guests. Without such coverage, you may be left vulnerable to expensive bills and/or lawsuits.

· RENTED PROPERTY. If you are renting a tent, tables or chairs for the wedding, this coverage will pay for repair or replacement of the rented property.

COST AND PURCHASING

The cost of wedding insurance starts at only $185 for $7,500 of cancellation/ postponement coverage, with higher limits and additional coverages are available with only moderate increases in the premium. The policy premium is a one-time only payment.

*** ONE LAST THING ***

Wedding insurance does not cover you for "change of heart." So, if either the bride or groom voluntarily decides not to go through with the wedding, the people footing the bill will be out of pocket.

SOME "REAL LIFE COUPLES" HELPED BY WEDDING INSURANCE:

* The couple's wedding that was postponed to a future date because the groom was rushed to the hospital with appendicitis.

* The bride who arrived to pick up her dress at the bridal salon only to find a "Bankruptcy" sign plastered across the window.

* The couple whose garden wedding was canceled when a September hurricane blew in.

* The couple whose caterer went to a tropical island with the deposit money and never returned.

* The couple whose wedding gifts were stolen from the reception hall while the wedding ceremony was taking place.

* The couple who had to postpone their wedding due to the unexpected military deployment of the groom.

As you prepare for your wedding, you've no doubt made non-refundable deposits and signed contracts with service providers for such things as the reception location, the flowers, the catering and so on. These contracts protect your vendors, so it is important that you learn how you can protect yourself.

With proper wedding insurance coverage you can safeguard your wedding investment and ensure your dream wedding is realized.

LIABILITY INSURANCE

This protects you from liability for injury and property damage, and may even be required by your venue.

Many venues require the wedding couple to provide a Certificate of Insurance evidencing coverage prior to the wedding/reception date. If your venue has this requirement, you can go to www.wedsafe.com to view and print a sample WedSafe Certificate of Insurance to share with your venue representative to ensure it meets their requirements.

The WedSafe Liability & Property Damage Policy is a specialty insurance policy designed to protect the wedding couple from liability related to certain types of accidents that might occur during the wedding or reception and result in bodily injury or property damage."

Many reception locations now require couples to carry this type of protection. This policy includes the option to name up to three additional insureds beyond the Bride and Groom at no extra cost. Here's a look at some potential accidents:

INJURY TO GUESTS OR STAFF

Your uncle's date is knocked over on the dance floor and breaks her ankle, or the band's speaker tower falls on a banquet waiter. This policy protects you against financial responsibility in the event of personal injury.

The WedSafe Liability & Property Damage Policy will cover you and not holding you liable for the injury.

FACILITY DAMAGE

The caterer forgets to turn off the gas burners and causes a fire in the kitchen at your site, or your bouquet toss gets a little out of hand and breaks a stained-glass window. This policy protects the wedding couple from costs relating to extensive damage to the site caused by a vendor or guest.

The WedSafe Liability & Property Damage Policy provides coverage to the reception site you are renting.

PROPERTY DAMAGE

The groomsmen pose for a photo atop a vintage piano at the reception and its legs give way, or a guest drops a cigarette and burns a hole through an antique rug in the lobby. This policy protects against costs of repairing or replacing décor or equipment at the reception site.

The WedSafe Liability & Property Damage Policy covers third-party property damage at the wedding or reception site for which the Bride and Groom may become liable.

ALCOHOL-RELATED ACCIDENTS

A guest indulges in too many glasses of the champagne served by your caterer (who carries full liquor liability coverage) during the reception and causes a serious auto accident when leaving the parking lot. This policy protects against liability of the wedding couple as the hosts of the event at which the alcohol was served.

The WedSafe Liability & Property Damage Policy will indemnify the Bride and Groom up to the limits of the policy for this type of liability, provided the server of the alcohol is properly licensed to do so and carries independent liquor liability coverage (most professional catering companies carry this type of protection for their business, but the Bride and Groom are generally not protected under such coverage).

As the exclusive broker of the WedSafe Program, Robertson Taylor (North America) Inc. would like to hear from you. We invite you to contact us by phone at (877) 723-3933 (Toll Free), or email us with any questions or needs you may have on our web site at at www.wedsafe.com .

Photo By Chuck Billiot

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