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Tag: wedding insurance

  • Wedding Insurance: Is It Worth Having?

    Wedding Insurance: Is It Worth Having?

    Weddings. 

    We love them, right? For many of us, it’s one of the biggest -and possibly happiest- days of our lives. 

    The road to planning a wedding…well, it’s a bumpy road full of headaches, tears, and uncertainty. There’s some joy in there somewhere, but let’s be honest, everything settles after the wedding. The result is a beautiful ceremony celebrating the love of two souls, so it can’t be that bad. 

    As you stroll down this road trying to find the perfect dress, venue, theme, cake, and more- one of the things you may encounter on the highs and lows of this adventure is wedding insurance. Now, if you just read the word ‘insurance’ and your heart made a dip, I genuinely feel for you. It conjures images of never-ending paperwork, bills, and institutes tension. 

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    Wedding insurance is a significant investment that helps protect losses and reimburse expenses on your wedding day that are out of your control. The reasons to get wedding insurance may not seem evident at first, but when you begin to think of all the scenarios that can occur…you begin to see the bigger picture. 

    An example, you ask? As horrible as these sound- and God forbid you encounter any on your special day- they can happen to anyone. A family member gets into a car accident, your ring is suddenly stolen, guests acquire food poisoning, a parent becomes severely ill, the photographer doesn’t show up, the officiant doesn’t show up, a vendor becomes a no-show, the venue unexpectedly shuts down, you or your partner are called away for important business, and the list goes on and on. It sucks to think about, but once again, it can happen to anyone. 

    If you’re lucky, the venue you choose will have its own insurance policy, and save you the trouble of having to look for one. Others may not, but still require you to pay for wedding insurance to cover liquor and personal liabilities, weather, or injuries. If you’re planning the wedding at a friend’s house or your home, homeowner or renter’s insurance will also cover any liabilities. There’s bound to be some drunkards that always inflict some damage. You know who I’m referring to…you know. 

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    Still, it’s best to know what your insurance does and does not cover so you can come prepared for any situation.    

    Types of Wedding Policies

    There are three types of insurance coverages: liability, cancellation/postponement, and additional. 

    The liability policy comes to the rescue when there is significant damage inflicted on the chosen venue. The venue can sue you for any damage caused by your drunk guests (liquor liability), whether it’s destroying equipment or setting something on fire. Fortunately, you won’t be held responsible, and insurance should cover it. This also applies to injuries that may occur during the ceremony, or if a pregnant woman decides to give birth on your dance floor. 

    Yes, and it’s not something we want to imagine happening on our wedding day. Imagine a newborn baby being the talk of your wedding—the nerve. 

    According to The Knot, “liability insurance, which covers up to $1,000,000 for accidents, costs around $185.”

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    The cancellation policy reimburses you for every single penny spent on your wedding. This includes helping you pay for a new ceremony and reception. It also applies when there’s unexpected extreme weather, a medical emergency in the immediate family, or anything out of your control. If a problem arises and you need to postpone your wedding, this is where the policy comes into effect. Keep in mind, a change of heart- or cold feet– does not apply here. If you’re having second thoughts, take it up with your partner, not the insurance company. 

    Additional coverage (sold as a separate policy) covers “other wedding related items such as photography, videography, and gifts.” Also, if you’re planning something extravagant such as fireworks or a theme wedding that holds exotic animals, you will need to pay a handsome fee if you find an insurance company willing to sign you up. It’s risky and insurance companies don’t like that. 

    It’s always best to know what your insurance covers, especially if you’re planning your big day around later seasons, or unpredictable situations. If something goes wrong with the venue you booked, your insurance should cover it. The same goes for extreme weather such as snowstorms or a vendor doesn’t show up. According to Travelers, the most common “claims include bankrupt venues, injury or illness, and disruptive weather. If a vendor goes out of business unexpectedly or does not show up.”

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    For more information on what insurance can cover, click here to see if it’s financially right for you. 

     

  • Need to Postpone a Wedding? 

    Need to Postpone a Wedding? 

    Here’s How

    It’s safe to say so far; this year’s been a bust. The whole world has shut down due to the Coronavirus’s rapid spread. It’s a frightening time for all of us as the majority of us under quarantine sit and wait for a vaccine.

    The outcome of this pandemic has done irreversible damage! Significant events from all over the globe have been canceled or postponed. I know it’s tough to find comfort in this fact, but you are not alone in deciding to postpone your wedding day. 

    It may seem like a small issue to others, but ultimately, it’s an issue worth grieving over. You may have spent weeks, months, or even years planning your big day, and to suddenly have it put on hold is a painful decision. 

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    Postponing a wedding is a process that is done thoroughly, so we’ve gathered all the information you need to get it done and begin the time to heal. Again, it’s not an easy decision, and your feelings of frustrations, impatience, and woe are valid and utterly reasonable. 

    First, contact anyone who’s involved in your wedding planning. This list includes suppliers, wedding vendors, venues, and marriage officiant. 

    In any other situation, you have to go over your contract with this list, but considering they’ve likely been forced to shut down, all agreements are void. They’ll also not know about when they will be opening again, so postponement may be out of the question at the moment. Taking into account that both sides had not much said in this decision, you’ll get your money-back guarantee. If you have a shortlist of calls to make, then you can probably be done with it on your own. If a big wedding is meant to take place and your list is all over the place, then your partner or wedding planner can help you call and explain the situation at hand. 

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    An overseas wedding may be a bit more challenging to deal with due to the time difference and how that country is dealing with the pandemic. Your best option is to shoot them an email- or chat via video call- explaining the reason behind the decision. 

    They will undoubtedly understand and remedy your concern as their own. Mainly because this pandemic has stirred a “we’re all in this together” vibe, and people seem to be more empathic now more than ever. 

    Secondly, it’s time to let all your close family and friends know about the decision. It’s difficult letting loved ones know of your choice, so have your partner near you as you make calls to your inner circle. With the postponement, the deal is to call everyone with a new date, but again, the situation we’re in will not allow it. We don’t know when this global crisis will come to an end. 

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    Your family’s support and reassurance will be much needed, and you’ll have someone to fall back on when you start feeling like the world’s always out of your favor, because honestly, it will feel that way. 

    Thirdly is your guest list. You probably know that calling your guests one by one is impractical and requires too much time and effort. You can use the Zola app to send a mass email or text. Their support team is trained to help you through this difficult time. If you have guests that have come from out of state for this event, then it’d be more considerate to call them and assist them in any way possible. Some people will not be as understanding as others, so try not to stress yourself out. The most you can do is help these guests get back home and thank them for coming nonetheless. 

    Lastly, if you acquired wedding insurance, then this is time to see what it says about a global health crisis.  

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    Everyone’s world has been turned upside down, and several plans you may have had for 2020 have evaporated. In order for us to get through this, we need to be ok with that. Your big day won’t be what you planned, but it should still be unique and spent with the love of your life. Heaven knows you’ll need some time to recover from everything that’s been happening. 

    Take time for self-care, and stay safe!