Wedding insurance keeps couples covered
No happily married couple wants to start life together with a lawsuit, said David Paule, owner of The Barn at Ever Thine.
Since its opening three seasons ago, the wedding site at 200 Pine Haven Drive in Fenelton has required couples to attain wedding insurance through a third party.
Wedding insurance protects a couple's investment from circumstances beyond their control, and reimburses expenses incurred, according to The Knot, a leading all-in-one wedding-planning resource.
A basic insurance policy that covers loss of photos, videos, attire, presents, rings and deposits usually costs anywhere between $155 and $550, depending on the amount of coverage.
General liability insurance, which covers up to $1,000,000 for accidents, costs around $185, according to The Knot.
The No. 1 cause for claims was “vendor issues,” followed by “illness or injury,” according to data from a study by The Travelers Companies that looked into which type of wedding insurance claims were filed between 2011 and 2015.
In terms of protection from worst-case scenarios where the couple or venue could be sued, wedding insurance is a must, said Matt Kirschner, a licensed broker who handles special event insurance for Mikolajcik-Schultz and Associates Insurance Agency's North Pittsburgh location at 527 S. Main St., Zelienople.
“For a few hundred dollars you're preventing your assets from being contested,” Kirschner said.
Special event insurance runs the gamut of weddings to charity golf outings and 5Ks, he said.
Kirschner, who has been with the agency for five years, asks what coverage the bride and bridegroom desire depending on what is offered by the venue, which can have its own liability policy.
Couples who seek wedding insurance can consult a broker like Kirschner, who works for an independent firm that represents about 20 companies, to look at all the options for policies, he said.
Every policy is different and every company has guidelines about what they will and will not cover, he said.Wedding insurance covers more wedding-oriented details such as flowers, jewelry and cancellations for inclement weather, he said. Costs range from $190 to $800 to $900 depending on what is covered.The primary reason for the requirement at The Barn at Ever Thine is the alcohol and liquor coverage, Paule said, adding most venues typically require third party insurance.When they go through a third party, the coverage not only covers the couple, but can extend to the venue, he said.Most policies the bride and bridegroom get cover general liability, Paule said about clients.The overall pro is protection, while the only con is the extra cost, he said.“God forbid something happens,” he said.Paule recommends couples start with their homeowners insurance because there are times when same day event insurance is covered in their policy, he said.Check with your local agent or go online, he said.The sooner a couple chooses wedding insurance the better because of unforeseen circumstances that arise, Kirschner said.“Give yourself time to make necessary changes,” he said about buying additional coverage or removing coverage.As Kirschner considers the worst case scenarios, he said it is better to be overinsured than underinsured.Kirschner recommends couples talk with an insurance professional about special event and wedding coverage during the planning stages.“The way the industry works, (it) is no cost to work with someone like me,” he said. “Ask questions, figure out what you need and go from there.”
