Wedding Insurance Abroad: What Do I Need?

An ever-increasing number of couples are planning to get married abroad. While this can be a great way to exchange your vows, it's important to remember that organising a wedding overseas is much more complicated.

With so much more that could go wrong and so much at stake, you need to have an excellent wedding insurance policy.

With that in mind, here's what you need to know about wedding insurance for getting married abroad.

What Does Wedding Insurance Abroad Cover?

Overseas wedding insurance covers a broad spectrum of eventualities that could cause your wedding to be cancelled, postponed, cut short, or leave you facing financial losses. It also provides a degree of public liability cover, which is vital if you're getting married in a country with different laws from your own.

Expect your policy to cover:

• Loss or Damage – to wedding clothes, rings, gifts, flowers, and cake.
• Cancellation or Postponement – if somebody important is taken ill or there's another major unforeseeable problem.
• Supplier Failure – if your caterers, photographer, or transport company let you down.
• Abrupt End to Ceremony or Reception – if the venue has to close early due to an accident or emergency.
• Loss of Deposit – if you have to cancel due to an unforeseen circumstance.
• Legal Expenses – if you need to take legal action due to an accident at your wedding or defend yourself against a claim made by a third party.
• Public Liability – if somebody is injured or their property is damaged as a result of your wedding.

What Isn't Covered by Wedding Insurance Abroad?

Wedding insurance won't cover you for every eventuality, so it's essential to understand the limitations of your policy.

Most policies won't cover:

• Cancellation due to a change of heart.
• Cancellation due to pregnancy.
• Cancellation due to a failure to obtain a visa or other required documentation.
• Disruption caused by political unrest or terrorism.
• Cancellation or postponement due to COVID-19.

How Much Does Wedding Insurance Abroad Cost?

The cost of your wedding insurance will depend on several factors, including the value of your wedding, the country in which you're getting married, and the level of cover you need. Today, most providers have specific tiers of cover, and you merely select the one most appropriate for your needs.

As a general guide, you can expect to pay around £300 for comprehensive cover for an overseas wedding with around 100 guests. You can get away with paying less (around £100) if you're getting married in Europe and have a smaller guest list.

Given the average cost of an overseas wedding is now over £20,000, these figures represent excellent value for money.

Does Wedding Insurance Cover the Honeymoon?

No, your wedding insurance will only cover the events leading up to and including your wedding day. If you want to be covered for your honeymoon, you'll need to take out a separate travel insurance policy or add it to your wedding policy if your provider also offers this option. 

Remember high-risk activities such as skiing or water sports require specialist cover, and you'll need to declare these when taking out your policy.

Do I Need Wedding Insurance Abroad?

While it's not legally required to have wedding insurance, it's certainly something worth having in place.

With so much at stake and so many potential problems that could occur, it makes sense to have a safety net in place. It's also worth noting that many overseas venues insist you have wedding insurance before they allow you to book.

So, there you have it – everything you need to know about wedding insurance for getting married abroad. Be sure to shop around and compare policies to find the right one for you and your wedding.