Wedding Insurance - When Wedding Greater Than 2 Years Away

Noc0de

Hi There

First post - I'm after a bit of advice here, so hopefully I've come to the right place.

I'm planning on getting married in July 2011. The venue is after a fairly sizeable deposit (50% of total venue fee - payable by cheque) and so are the caterers. In total we're looking at ~ £3500 combined. This fee allows us to have the wedding date we want and lock-down the caterers prices.

The issue is, that before I pay such a large amount of money I'd like to be covered by wedding insurance - especially given the current economic climate - either supplier could go into liquidation. However, it seems that no insurance companies will allow you to take-out a policy when your wedding is more than 2 years away.

I've spoken to the venue, and they won't accept a smaller deposit to hold the date until we can pay the rest once we have wedding insurance. So, basically I'm looking to have to pay the deposits now and be unprotected until later this year when I can take out insurance. So it's ~3 months without protection....

Has anyone else been in this scenario, or have any advice? Is it just a case of stomaching the risk for 3 months and hoping nothing happens to either supplier?

Thanks.

dacouch

I think if you pay the deposit or part of it on your credit card you section 75 protection (There is loads of info on the MSE site about the protection paying by credit card gives).

P.S Don't take the wedding policy out with E&L...

Noc0de

Thanks for that.

I guess the only issue I've got is that 1) I don't actually own a credit card at the moment and 2) the venue is after a cheque as opposed to a credit card transfer.

Thanks for the heads-up about E&L. I've heard bad things about them too. I was personally looking at M&S/Ecclesiastical.

dacouch

Ecclesiastical are good or Country Mutual

dollywops

Noc0de wrote: »

Thanks for that.

I guess the only issue I've got is that 1) I don't actually own a credit card at the moment and 2) the venue is after a cheque as opposed to a credit card transfer.

Thanks for the heads-up about E&L. I've heard bad things about them too. I was personally looking at M&S/Ecclesiastical.

If you have to pay by cheque, please make sure any insurance you take covers the possibility of the venue closing before your Happy Day.

We have previously used Cornhill.

Noc0de

dollywops wrote: »

If you have to pay by cheque, please make sure any insurance you take covers the possibility of the venue closing before your Happy Day.

We have previously used Cornhill.

Hi Dolly,

Yeah - this is the problem I've got. The venue wants payment now to secure the date, but as the date is July 2011, no insurance companies allow you to take out a policy greater than 2 years in advance.

So, the earliest I can take out a policy is July 2009, 3 months away. I'm just concerned handing over a cheque as I'm effectively unprotected for 3 months.

Noc0de

dacouch wrote: »

Ecclesiastical are good or Country Mutual

Thanks. I tend to think that if M&S use Ecclesiastical as their underwriters then they must be ok.

I had a quick search for Country Mutual and couldn't find a website. Looks like they've been taken over by Tower Gate Risk Solutions. Can't find any wedding insurance on their site.

Same with Cornhill, can't see wedding insurance on their site.

dacouch

Country Mutual have indeed been taken over by Towergate who have taken over most brokers with niche schemes. Here is the link to their website.

This in my opinion is the daddy of wedding policies and the one I always recommend. They will not be the cheapest but if anything goes wrong you will appreciate it. They were the only company I know of that paid out when we had the Foot and Mouth outbreak a few years ago and weddings were being cancelled due to the exclusion zones.

http://www.weddingsurance.co.uk/aboutus.htm

P.S Cornhill changed their name to Allianz and they still underwrite this policy, it might be worth giving them a ring and explaining your situation as they might be able to bend the rules for you

Noc0de

dacouch wrote: »

Country Mutual have indeed been taken over by Towergate who have taken over most brokers with niche schemes. Here is the link to their website.

This in my opinion is the daddy of wedding policies and the one I always recommend. They will not be the cheapest but if anything goes wrong you will appreciate it. They were the only company I know of that paid out when we had the Foot and Mouth outbreak a few years ago and weddings were being cancelled due to the exclusion zones.

P.S Cornhill changed their name to Allianz and they still underwrite this policy, it might be worth giving them a ring and explaining your situation as they might be able to bend the rules for you

Thanks dacouch - your a star (+1).

Indeed, the above policy is a bit more expensive but I've spoken to them and they are happy to cover our wedding even though it's greater than 2 years away.

dacouch

I thought they might, it a really great policy so if anything does go wrong thats covered on the policy they will sort it out with the minimum fuss which is exactly what you need with a Wedding.

I hope it all goes well for you