As the wedding season approaches, the excitement and happiness surrounding these significant events are tangible. The celebration of love and unity among cherished friends and family creates indelible moments. However, the opulence and complexities associated with weddings also involve a considerable financial commitment, underscoring the importance of safeguarding against unforeseen uncertainties that could potentially disrupt these joyous occasions.
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This is where the necessity for wedding insurance becomes apparent—a protective measure against financial losses arising from disruptions, cancellations, or postponements of the special day.
Weddings are susceptible to various natural and man-made risks, making it imperative to address these potential challenges. A wedding insurance policy functions as a safety net, providing coverage across a spectrum of potential threats.
According to Policybazaar, an insurance aggregator, the typical policy period spans seven days from the wedding, offering a comprehensive solution to ensure the smooth flow of events during this crucial time.
Understanding the essence of wedding insurance
The significance of wedding insurance lies in its ability to cover major risks that could significantly impact one's wedding plans. It extends protection against:
Cancellation or postponement: Whether due to natural calamities, property damage, or unforeseen circumstances like theft or burglary, this coverage reimburses expenses incurred from printed cards, advance payments to vendors, travel reservations, and more, according to Bankbazaar.
Property damage: From earthquakes and fires to theft and burglary, coverage extends to decorations, jewellery, appliances, and other specified items.
Liability coverage: The policy also shields against damage or loss to third parties during the event due to accidents or injury.
Personal accident: Wedding insurance covers hospitalisation expenses resulting from accidents during the event.
Understanding exclusions and timelines
While wedding insurance covers a range of risks, there are exclusions:
Terrorism, civil unrest, or bride/groom kidnapping aren't covered.
Delays due to flight issues or sudden unavailability of the venue may not qualify.
Property damage due to negligence or wear and tear might be excluded.
'Cold Feet' scenarios aren't covered.
A look at available wedding insurance policies
| Provider | ICICI Lombard General Insurance | Future Generali |
| Policy name | Wedding Insurance Policy | Vivah Suraksha |
| Covered events | - Wedding cancellation due to specified contingencies | - Wedding cancellations, accidents, loss of valuables, burglary |
| Cancellation Coverage | - Covering various expenses like venue booking, catering, decorations, travel bookings | - Covers rearrangement expenses, printing costs, advances to vendors, accommodation costs due to cancellations |
| Property damage coverage | - Protects against fire, allied perils, burglary and theft | - Safeguards property at residence and venue, decorations, sets erected |
| Valuables coverage | - Covers jewellery, ornaments, precious stones, and appliances as wedding gifts | - Protection against loss or damage to jewellery, and appliances gifted by guests |
| Accident coverage | - Covers disability (partial, total), death due to accidents | - Protection against permanent partial/total disability, temporary total disability, death due to accidents |
| Burglary coverage | - Covers loss of money from safe or strong room | - Provides coverage against the loss of money from a safe or strong room |
| Exclusions | - Bandh/civil unrest, terrorism, kidnappings, transportation breakdowns | - Exclusions: Congenital diseases, injuries due to alcohol/drugs, war-related injuries, hormone-related treatments, non-prescribed drugs/medicines |
| Discounts/benefits | - Flexible premium payments, family discounts, voluntary deductible plan | - Benefits: 10% family discount, premium discounts based on voluntary deductibles, floater discounts, one-time premium payment discount, website purchase discount |
(Source: ICICI Lombard plus Future Generali)
The premium of these policies will depend on the size and type of cover opted for and will typically be 0.2-0.4% of the sum insured.
Documents required for the claim process
Essential documents for filing a wedding insurance claim include:
Claim form
Policy details
Details of damaged property
Invoices or receipts of valuables
FIR copy (in case of theft)
Relevant purchase and location details
Confirmation from an expert for irreparable damage
Wedding insurance claim process
In the unfortunate instance of an incident during the ceremony, the claim process involves:
Promptly informing the insurance company.
Fill out the claim form and submit it with the required documents.
The insurer then assesses the loss or damage.
If the claim is genuine, compensation is paid out. In case one is dissatisfied with the resolution, legal recourse is an option.
Tips to optimise the insurance policy
According to Policybazaar, customers should ensure that the sum insured aligns with their expenses. They should understand policy limitations on specific items like jewellery or vendor engagements.
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(Edited by : Akanksha Upadhyay)
First Published:Nov 23, 2023 2:38 PM IST