You’ve been planning your big day for months, and now it’s finally here. The caterers are setting up, the flowers are being delivered, and the guests are starting to arrive. But then you realize…you forgot to get event insurance.
Don’t worry. You’re not alone. Event insurance is one of those things that’s often overlooked in the excitement of planning a big day. But it’s important to know what your event insurance policy covers—and what it doesn’t. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the most common events that are not covered by event insurance:
Paid attendance events: If you’re charging people to attend your event, chances are your event insurance policy won’t cover you. That includes things like concerts, festivals, and other paid-ticketed events.
Events with animals: Many event insurance policies will exclude coverage for events that involve animals, so if you’re planning on having ponies at your child’s birthday party or dogs at your wedding, you may want to check with your insurer first.
Sporting events: Most event insurance policies will also exclude coverage for sporting events, so if you’re planning on having a football game or a soccer match as part of your event, you’ll need to purchase a separate policy.
Bachelor/bachelorette parties: Bachelor and bachelorette parties are also typically excluded from event insurance policies. So if you’re planning on doing something wild and crazy to celebrate your last night of freedom, be sure to check with your insurer first.
Another common exclusion from event insurance policies is intentional acts. If you or someone working on behalf of your event does something on purpose that causes injury or damage, your event insurance policy will not cover it. For example, if you stage a fake fight as part of your entertainment and someone gets hurt, your insurer will not pay for their medical bills.
Finally, most event insurance policies exclude dangerous activities. If your event includes activities like bungee jumping or rock climbing, you need to make sure that you have a policy that explicitly covers those activities. Otherwise, any accidents that occur during those activities will not be covered by your event insurance.
Event insurance is essential for any big day, but knowing what your policy covers (and doesn’t) is critical. Paid attendance events, events with animals, sporting events, and bachelor/bachelorette parties are all standard exclusions from event insurance policies. So if you’re planning something outside the box, be sure to check with your insurer first to see if you’re covered.