The Best Wedding Insurance Policies of 2026

Of all the things you need to purchase for your big day, most wedding professionals will tell you that wedding insurance is at the top of their list, and in 2026 that is more true than it has ever been. The Knot’s 2026 Real Weddings Study put the average U.S. wedding at $34,200, with most of that committed in nonrefundable deposits months before the ceremony. Wedding insurance comes in several forms, but the overall concept is the same across all of them: it protects the host against the financial fallout of the kinds of disasters that actually happen at weddings. Read on to find out whether it is right for you, what the 2026 policies actually cost, and which providers our experts recommend looking at first. For the bigger picture on where wedding budgets are landing this year, our 2026 wedding cost breakdown has the line-item numbers.

So, does every couple need wedding insurance?

To truly have financial peace of mind on your wedding day, insurance is essential, notes Monica Liang-Allen, an independent agent in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut who specializes in event insurance. While she notes that some venues will ask a couple to have their own wedding insurance, it’s not the only deciding factor. “Many couples will take out a wedding insurance policy so they have extra protection if things go wrong,” she explains.

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Having your wedding at home? You should still consider it. Personal liability coverage from a homeowners policy usually isn’t sufficient for large gatherings, notes Liang-Allen. “In some cases, homeowners insurance may have specific exclusions for liability when it comes to having weddings on their property.”

Although wedding insurance has garnered a lot more attention thanks to the pandemic, it’s important to note that most insurance companies still do not cover such circumstances.

“While insurance does not cover pandemic-related cancellations or reschedules, it does cover vendors not showing up, and that has remained one of the most common claims since 2020. We have seen multiple couples deal with a wedding no-show because the vendor closed its doors and never gave a refund or informed the couple to begin with,” says Joshua Gabrielson, wedding videographer and owner of Wedding Photography & Films™ in Roanoke, Virginia.

Wedding insurance cost

Although the cost varies by guest count, venue type, and total wedding spend, wedding insurance remains surprisingly inexpensive in 2026. Markel’s liability policies now start at just $75, with cancellation coverage starting at $130 (as of late 2025). “For a million-dollar liability policy, you can expect to pay under $200,” explains Melanie Musson, a wedding insurance expert with USInsuranceAgents.com. “For a comprehensive cancellation policy that covers vendors, venues, cold feet, sickness, and storms, you can expect to pay about $400.” Most major providers also offer a bundle discount when you buy liability and cancellation together, which brings a typical bundled policy in well under $500 for a mid-size wedding.

The different types of wedding insurance policies 

There is not just one single type of wedding insurance policy. In fact, there are a few no matter the carrier. Here’s a look at each.

Liability insurance

This type of insurance protects you from bearing financial responsibility for accidents that happen at your wedding, such as a guest slipping on the dance floor, explains Musson. “If one of your guests gets angry and starts throwing fine china onto the concrete, liability insurance will pay for the loss to your venue,” she says. Liability insurance, however, does not protect your investment in your wedding. For that you would need cancellation coverage. More on that, below.

Cancellation coverage

This type of wedding insurance will reimburse you for money you’ve already spent if something goes wrong, explains Musson. “For example, if your photographer skips town with your deposit, cancellation coverage will reimburse you for your loss,” she says. “If a major storm makes your wedding impossible, cancelation coverage will reimburse you so you can rebook for a later date.” For more on what your photographer should be contractually obligated to deliver (including backup coverage and what happens if files are lost), our guide on what your wedding photography contract needs to spell out is the companion read for this section.

When deciding whether something’s worth it, a good pros/cons list always helps. Here’s ours:

Wedding Insurance Pros:

It can help you stick to your budget

Even though wedding insurance can feel like just another expense, it can actually help you save in the long run. “If you hired a photographer, paid $5,000 down, and he skipped town with your down payment, you’ll be reimbursed for your loss by your insurance provider and can use that money to secure another (more trustworthy) photographer,” says Musson.

It can give you peace of mind

At the very least, wedding insurance can make you feel at ease as you plan this notoriously expensive event. “Simply knowing that all your money put into your special day won’t be wasted can help you enjoy the experience to a greater extent,” says Musson.

Wedding Insurance Cons:

It can be costly

If you’re tight on your budget, shelling out an extra couple of hundred dollars for “just-in-case” reasons can be hard to grapple with. “It can be difficult to decide between having wedding insurance and purchasing the bouquet of your dreams,” says Musson.

It doesn’t cover everything

Not everything is covered by insurance. Plus, it’s not always easy to decipher the fine print to figure out what is covered, notes Kate Reavey, owner of Chicago Vintage Weddings, in Chicago, Illinois.

Here’s a look at what wedding insurance will generally cover/not cover.

Wedding Insurance May Cover:

• Extreme weather (IE: earthquake, tornado, hurricane, blizzard) that affects members of the wedding party, guests, and/or your venue.
• Injury or unexpected illness of the wedding party or your immediate family. However, an illness or injury from a preexisting condition might not be covered. If you or your partner is called to duty, military absence coverage may cover this.
• If attire for the bride, groom, or wedding party is lost, stolen or incurs damage, insurance may pay to repair or replace them.
• A wedding vendor (such as the venue, planner, photographer, etc.) doesn’t show up or goes out of business. Travelers insurance, for instance, will cover deposits made by the bride/groom and immediate family.
• Ruined or lost photos
• Gift coverage to repair or replace non-monetary gifts that are stolen or damaged (within a certain period of time).
• Wedding cancelled for circumstances beyond your control? Your policy might cover any non-recoverable travel costs associated with your honeymoon.

May not cover:

• Rainy days
• Change of heart (though some policies are starting to offer this)
• Loss of jewelry
• Poor quality wedding photos (IE: you just don’t like them)

Tips for shopping wedding insurance policies 

To score the best wedding insurance policy, follow these expert-approved tips. 

Compare rates

Before you purchase the same wedding insurance policy that your best friend did for her backyard wedding, do your research. “Your individual needs may be a perfect fit for one insurer and not a good fit for another,” says Musson. “Make sure you know what you’re paying for. Coverage is competitive—something you likely won’t know if you go with the first insurer you look into.”

Know the terms

It’s important to understand exactly how you would be protected in the event you need to use your wedding insurance. “If you want an insurance policy for cold feet, make sure that’s covered under their terms.” 

Make sure your vendors are properly insured

“Even something that seems small, like a cake delivery, can become a big issue if they don’t have proper insurance and people get sick,” says Reavey. “Most licensed businesses will have insurance, so checking on business licenses is a good first step.” 

The best wedding insurance policies 

Because the process of shopping for wedding insurance can be overwhelming, we asked experts to share the policies they would recommend. 

WedSafe and WedSure

WedSafe and Wedsure are two of the top wedding insurance providers that offer similar coverage and have competitive rates, according to Musson. For example, “WedSafe offers a 15-percent discount if you purchase both liability and cancellation coverage from them,” says Musson. “If you’re in the market for both, that discount may make their cost lower than the competition. Wedsure also lets customers build policies tailored to their needs.”

USLI (United States Liability Insurance)

USLI’s Wedding Plus product is built specifically for weddings, with general liability limits available up to $1M/$3M (and $5M/$5M for select event classes), liquor liability up to $1M/$3M, and a long list of add-on coverages including lost deposits, damage to attire, gifts, jewelry, and photography/video. As of 2026, Event Cancellation Coverage is back as an available add-on, reimbursing nonrefundable deposits for catering, flowers, photography, entertainment, and honeymoon travel if your wedding has to be canceled or postponed. Wedding Plus is sold through a broker network rather than direct-to-consumer, so you will typically buy it through an independent agent like Liang-Allen rather than at usli.com directly.

Markel Insurance 

Liang-Allen believes Markel is the best on competitive pricing. As of late 2025, their event liability coverage starts at just $75 and cancellation coverage starts at $130, with a 15% bundle discount in most states (10% in Florida) when you buy both together. A typical Markel bundle (liability plus cancellation plus common add-ons) lands somewhere between about $175 at the entry level and $550 for larger weddings, with the exact price depending on your guest count, total wedding spend, and how many optional coverages you select. Cancellation coverage is available for weddings in the U.S., its territories, Canada, the UK, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and most of the Caribbean. Like every other major carrier on the market, Markel’s cancellation policy specifically excludes communicable diseases such as COVID-19. The pandemic exclusion is now standard across the wedding insurance industry, so do not expect to find a policy that covers it.

Philadelphia Insurance 

Philadelphia Insurance’s special event platform still carries a minimum General Liability limit of $1 million per occurrence and $3 million aggregate, with Event Cancellation available as an add-on and most premiums starting at $175. Types of coverage include Liquor Liability, Sexual Abuse and Molestation coverage (relevant if a vendor harasses or is harassed by a wedding guest), and Umbrella Excess Liability if needed. PHLY also offers an online application with an instant quote and proof of coverage in minutes, which makes it one of the faster options to set up. “While they are great for those with larger events, they are not ideal for those with smaller weddings,” notes Liang-Allen.

If you want to see exactly where insurance fits into your full wedding budget and timeline, our Smart Wedding Planner Guide walks through the whole framework with worksheets so you can budget for the policy alongside everything else.

Still wondering if you need wedding insurance? Let us know which plans you’ve checked out in the comments below!

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