Jenna and Marcus had spent over a year planning their outdoor wedding on the coast of North Carolina. With deposits paid to a venue, caterer, photographer, and live band, everything was set for their dream day-until Hurricane Isaac formed off the coast just days before the ceremony.
Forced to cancel due to mandatory evacuations, the couple was devastated. Without event insurance, they would have lost over $15,000 in non-refundable costs. But fortunately, they had purchased both liability and cancellation coverage. Their policy reimbursed most of their losses, allowing them to reschedule the wedding months later without starting from scratch. “It was heartbreaking to call off the wedding,” Jenna said, “but knowing we had insurance gave us a huge sense of relief. We won't have to go into debt to reschedule.”
Protecting Your Big Day from Unexpected Surprises
Whether you're planning a wedding, trade show, concert, or community fundraiser, events take time, money, and effort to bring to life. Unfortunately, they also come with risks-many of which are completely outside your control. That's where event insurance comes in. Event insurance is a specialized type of coverage designed to protect individuals and organizations from financial loss related to a planned event. It typically covers costs arising from cancellations, accidents, property damage, or injuries that occur during the event. Event insurance is relatively affordable, especially compared to the potential losses it protects against.
There are Two Primary Types of Event Insurance:
Event Liability Insurance
Covers bodily injury and property damage that might occur during your event. If someone slips and falls, or if a guest damages the venue, this type of insurance helps protect you from associated legal and medical expenses.
Event Cancellation Insurance
Reimburses non-refundable deposits and other costs if your event is unexpectedly canceled or postponed due to weather, illness, vendor no-shows, or other covered disruptions.
Who Needs Event Insurance?
Event insurance is useful for:
- Individuals: Planning weddings, milestone birthdays, family reunions, or other personal celebrations.
- Organizations & Nonprofits: Hosting fundraisers, charity galas, or community outreach events.
- Businesses: Organizing trade shows, product launches, or large meetings.
Some venues even require hosts to show proof of liability coverage before signing a contract.
What Does Event Insurance Typically Cover?
Coverage varies by provider, but common inclusions are:
- Venue/property damage
- Vendor no-shows
- Extreme weather events
- Injuries to guests
- Lost deposits
- Liquor liability (when alcohol is served)