Event Liability Insurance

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Event Liability & Property Damage Insurance

The Special Event Liability Insurance Policy is a specialty insurance policy designed to protect the wedding couple from liability related to certain types of accidents that might occur during the wedding or reception and result in bodily injury or property damage.

Many reception locations now require couples to carry this type of protection. This policy includes the option to name your Ceremony and your Reception venue as additional insureds, beyond the Bride and Groom, at no extra cost.

Coverage Level	Level 1
General Aggregate	$ 1,000,000

Per Person Limit	$ 1,000,000

Third Party Property Damage	$ 250,000
One-time Premium	$195
The Special Event Liability Insurance Policy has no deductible for general liability coverage, but there is a $1,000.00 deductible applicable to third-party property damage claims.

When Should you get it?

The Special Event Liability Insurance Policy can be purchased as early as 12 months prior to your wedding day, but not later than 24 hours before the date of your big day.* However, it is advised that you order coverage at least 10 days prior to your event in order to provide sufficient time to look over your coverage documents and deliver insurance certificates to any additional insured parties you have listed.

It is recommended that you carefully review the rental contract for your venue location(s) to determine if you are required to furnish a certificate of insurance naming your site as an additional insured.

*NOTE: The ordering system will not accept an order for the Special Event Liability Insurance Policy that is placed later than 15 days prior to the event, if it is combined with the purchase of the Event Cancellation Policy (which requires a 15-day advance purchase). In such case, you will need to deselect the Event Cancellation Policy level option (and choose "None"), to allow the system to process your order for only the Special Event Liability Insurance Policy.

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What Does it cover?

Alcohol-related accidents, property damage, and personal injuries are the top concerns come wedding day. Your Special Event Liability Insurance Policy is designed to protect you against liability arising from these situations, subject to policy conditions and exclusions. There is usually a specified maximum amount, which can be claimed under each section, and a deductible amount also applies. Be sure to carefully read the policy.

Alcohol-related accidents, A car accident caused by an intoxicated wedding guest leaving the wedding site may result in liability for the Bride and Groom. The Special Event Liability Insurance Policy responds to your social host liability.
Vendor, Although most reputable vendors (e.g., florists, photographers, caterers) carry their own liability insurance coverage, you are generally not protected by such coverage if your vendor causes damage to the reception site. The WedSafe Liability & Property Damage Policy will provide protection up to the specified limits of the policy if you are held liable for damage to the reception site caused by one of your vendors.
Bodily Injury, Your best man trips and falls on his way up to toast you and breaks his leg. Liability insurance covers bodily injury caused by an accident that occurs during the course of the wedding.
Additional Coverage, The WedSafe Liability & Property Damage provides coverage in the amount up to $250,000 for third party property damage at the wedding or reception site for which the Bride and Groom may become contractually liable.

Additional Insureds: The policy also allows you to name your ceremony and/or reception venue(s) as additional insured(s) without additional charge. At your request, a separate certificate of insurance evidencing the additional insureds can be issued for forwarding to the appropriate recipient.

Note: Make sure that the aggregate and pre-occurrence limits required by your venue fall within those provided by Special Event Liability Insurance Policy.

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What Doesn't it cover?

A Special Event Liability Insurance Policy, does not cover the same items and risks covered by a Event Cancellation Insurance Policy, clients are strongly encouraged to purchase both types of protection and, indeed, many of our clients choose to do so. Intended acts, breach of contract and coverage for vendors are not covered. Please read the policy carefully for other conditions and exclusions.

Do I really need to buy additional Liability Coverage for my Event?

If you are serving liquor to your guests most venues require insurance for the event. Your Homeowners Insurance may or may not cover your event's liability, depending on numerous factors. But consider this, if you have a claim your homeowners will go up for a long time.

If you are renting premises that will be used to sell, serve or furnish alcoholic beverages to guests you need to ask yourself:

What are my exposures to legal liability from the alcoholic beverages served?
How can I transfer this risk to an insurance company?
Do you need to purchase a special event/host liquor liability policy?

You are undoubtedly confused about the need to purchase a separate insurance policy just because you plan to serve alcoholic beverages at your event. We believe you need to know the facts so you can make an informed decision.

A lot of states have an established statute that imposes liability on the seller or giver of alcoholic beverages.

Depending on what state you live in, unfortunately, you, at a minimum, have an exposure for defense costs to defend yourself from claims or suits that arise out of your activities as a host.

Now that you know your potential exposures to loss, how do you protect yourself? Your question may very well be - "Don't I already have insurance protection for this activity?" The answer is maybe!

HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE

Discussions concerning the insurance protection afforded by homeowners insurance policies for the serving or furnishing of alcoholic beverages center on the single fact that there is no liquor liability exclusion. While in most cases this is true, there are other issues worthy of consideration.

• First, the limits of insurance for the liability insurance protection may be insufficient to meet the requirements of the facility where the event involving alcoholic beverages is being held. For example, the facility may require a $1,000,000 limit of insurance, but your policy only provides $100,000 liability coverage.

• Second, the facility often (or at least should) wants to be named as an additional insured on your homeowners policy. While individual insurers may develop insurer specific endorsements, there is no standard industry endorsement to name a person or organization as an additional insured for any activities exposures. And will the insurer specific endorsement apply to the liability and/or defense of the facility as respects the facility's own direct liability or will the insurance protection be limited to the vicarious liability exposure of the facility for your acts. The insurance protection needed or wanted by the facility may not be provided by your homeowners policy!

Finally, the homeowners policy is not written specifically to address the exposures created. The terms and conditions of the homeowners policy may not respond to the injuries sustained.