Why You Need Wedding Insurance

If you were buying a $30,000 car, or spending that amount on a piece of diamond jewelry, chances are you’d probably buy insurance on it. So now that the average wedding costs about $27,852, more and more couples are choosing to buy wedding insurance to help insure that the most important day of their lives goes off without a hitch. Wedding insurance, which can be purchased as on add-on to your regular insurance or obtained separately from a specialized insurance provider, is quickly gaining in popularity as frugal brides and grooms try to plan the perfect wedding without risking major financial burdens.

No matter how carefully you plan, there is always the chance that something will go wrong on the big day. Bad weather can force you to find an indoor location at the last minute, your engagement ring can go missing days before, and your caterer can go out of business a week before the big day. If any of these mishaps occur, wedding insurance can step in and cover the cost of replacing any of these crucial wedding services at the last minute.

Although the recent global recession has sent some couples to City Hall for a no-frills ceremony, most brides and grooms still want some version of the Disney fairy-tale wedding, albeit on a budget. So savvy grooms are trying to buy loose diamond online for a better engagement ring deal, frugal brides are choosing off-the-rack or even rental bridal gowns, and couples are choosing buffet or cocktail dinners instead of sit-down multi-course affairs. Still, wedding costs are rising, and Conde Nast reports that 36% of couples end up spending more than they had originally budgeted. When you are spending close to $30,000 on a wedding, a wedding insurance premium that costs between $100 and $1000 can be a sound investment into a worry-free engagement and wedding.

Although individual plans can vary widely, here are some of the common events and situations that wedding insurance can cover:

• Illness and injury. If the bride or groom, or a close family member, falls ill or gets injured, wedding insurance can help cover the cost of postponing the wedding ceremony. Wedding insurance can also provide liability coverage if someone gets injured at the wedding itself—a good option to consider if you’re planning on throwing the bouquet like a World Series fastball.
• Lost or damaged wedding ensemble. If the seamstress botches your dress the night before, if the men’s formalwear rental files for bankruptcy at the last minute, or if your wedding bands never show up, wedding insurance can help make up for the financial loss (the emotional cost is hard to cover with insurance) In fact, one wedding insurance company reports that lost or damage bridal gowns are their most common insurance claim.
• Bad weather. If a sudden rainstorm forces you to find an indoor venue at the last minute, or if a hurricane at your tropical vacation paradise forces you to book the local Holiday Inn instead, wedding insurance can help pay for the forfeited deposit and make up the difference for the new location.

However, as helpful as wedding insurance may be, it won’t cover every possibly wedding mishap. Most insurance companies will not provide coverage in the case of a runaway bride or groom, and many will not compensate for the cost of lost or stolen wedding gifts. Illness coverage may often be withheld if a member of the wedding party has a pre-existing medical condition. Before choosing a wedding insurance provider, ask detailed questions about what circumstances will and will not be covered—and try to tailor your insurance to the specific risks of your wedding ceremony.

Music Monday – Wedding Edition

Inspired by #musicmonday (or #MM) on twitter I thought it would be cool to bring that over to TRB. I’ve come across some really great music thanks to Music Monday. Old songs that I completely forgot about, or new ones that I probably would have never downloaded but ended up loving. For our wedding, the hubs and I put together some of our favorite music and created a CD favor for guests. Every time I look back at the CD, there are always songs that I wish I had included. Hopefully this monthly miniseries will provide some inspiration for your reception, ceremony, or CD if you’re doing one. There’s a lot of music that at first listen may not seem like typical “wedding music” but lyrically, couldn’t be more fitting. I always think back to that funky couple that walked danced down the aisle to Chris Brown’s “Forever”. If you missed it, you clearly don’t spend enough time on the internet, but you can check it out here

This week I’m starting out with Rascal Flatts – “Bless the Broken Road”. I absolutely LOVE this song. Don’t know when/where I first heard it, but never knew who sang it. Found out thanks to #MM that it was Rascal Flatts so I downloaded their greatest hits – – love all their music!

What are some of your favorite “wedding” songs? Traditional or not. Share.

You can find these lyrics and listen to the song here

“Bless The Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts

I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn’t see how every sign pointed straight to you

That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you.

Detailed Planning Checklist

Here’s a very useful, detailed checklist from Little Wedding Guide (www.littleweddingguide.com). They didn’t seem to miss a thing. If you’ve already set a date, adjust this schedule as needed, to fit with the amount of time you’re working with. Planning is key to avoiding stress.

Wedding Checklist

12 Months Before

• Announce your engagement to family and friends and plan an engagement party
• Place an engagement announcement in your local newspaper
• Sign up for a wedding website to keep your guests informed about event details, area information, etc.
• Choose a wedding date
• Work on the budget
• Consider purchasing wedding planning software to organize everything, or hire a wedding consultant to help secure contracts, etc.
• Choose a location and reserve your ceremony and reception site(s)
• Begin a rough guest list and compile current addresses
• Decide on who you’d like to have as your attendants, including your maid of honor and best man
• Begin shopping for your wedding gown
• Purchase a wedding planning book/journal, or a simple calendar to keep track of important dates and appointments (fittings, showers, etc.)

6-9 Months Before

• Research and choose one or more bridal gift registry
• Order your wedding gown and buy undergarments that you will wear with it (bring these to all fittings)
• Order other bridal accessories – shoes, gloves and veil
• Begin shopping for bridesmaids dresses
• Find an officiant who will perform your ceremony
• Choose and book ceremony musicians, a wedding band/ DJ, photographer/videographer, caterer and florist

4-6 Months Before

• Select and order your wedding invitations, envelopes and thank-you cards
• Hire a calligrapher, if desired
• Select and purchase wedding favors
• Start researching wedding cake pictures and local bakeries for ideas
• Book your honeymoon and verify that you have any necessary travel documents including passports and visas
• Book a room for your wedding night, if you will be leaving for your honeymoon the next morning
• Book accommodations for out-of-town guests
• Finalize your guest list and send out save-the-date cards, if using
• Print out directions to the ceremony, reception, rehearsal dinner and hotel(s) for guests
• Compile a list of area information and things to do for out-of-town guests
• Reserve transportation for you and your wedding party to and from the wedding, as well as a bus or trolley for your guests (if necessary)

2-4 Months Before

• Find out what your state’s requirements are for obtaining a marriage license and get blood tests done, if required
• Order tuxedos for the groom and groomsmen
• Meet with your caterer to discuss the menu and wine list
• Meet with your officiant to discuss ceremony details, wording and wedding vows
• Select wedding readings
• Order your wedding cake
• Buy thank-you gifts for your attendants
• Shop for a gift for your new spouse-to-be
• Select and purchase wedding bands, and have them engraved if desired – check out Mondera.com’s Top Ten wedding Bands
• Coordinate and choose a location for the rehearsal dinner
• Contact party-rental companies for tables, chairs, tents, etc. if necessary
• Purchase luggage and other travel necessities and attire for your honeymoon
• Order or renew passports if necessary
• Schedule an appointment with your dentist if you’d like to have your teeth whitened or cleaned before the wedding

4-8 Weeks Before

• Mail invitations out eight weeks prior to the wedding date and send accommodation info to your out-of-town guests
• Compile and complete name change documents or purchase a bridal name change kit online which contains all of the necessary forms to file
• Fill out a change of address form at the post office, if necessary
• Pick up your marriage license
• Have ceremony programs printed
• Purchase a guest book and other wedding accessories including toasting glasses, cake knife, ring pillow, etc.
• Keep your wedding website updated with directions and event details
• Choose your hair and make-up stylists and schedule a trial for both; also book appointments to have your hair, make-up and nails done on the day of the wedding
• Review insurance information with your fiancé to see if any updates need to be made prior to the wedding (car, home, medical, etc.)
• Plan a bridal luncheon or dinner with your bridesmaids

2-4 Weeks Before

• Create a seating chart for the reception and make place cards (or have your calligrapher work on these, if you have hired one)
• Contact your caterer with a final guest count
• Print out a timeline of events for your wedding party and vendors – include contact information and cell phone numbers
• Meet with your photographer and florist to finalize details
• Finalize your ceremony and reception music and song list for your wedding band or DJ
• Confirm lodging reservations for out-of-town guests
• Place a wedding announcement in your local newspaper
• Pick up wedding bands and make sure the fit is good
• Schedule a final dress fitting
• Write rehearsal dinner toasts

1 Week Before

• Write out final checks for your minister, organist, DJ or musicians, etc. and organize in envelopes for your wedding coordinator or one of your attendants to distribute at the wedding
• Pick up your wedding gown
• Confirm limo or other transportation reservations
• Pack for your honeymoon and confirm travel arrangements
• Have your local post office hold your mail, if necessary, while you are away on your honeymoon
• Treat yourself to a spa day — you deserve it! Check out Spa Finder to find services in your area.

The Day Before

• Welcome out-of-town guests as they arrive
• Take a yoga class or go for a walk during the day
• Schedule a hair appointment for prior to the rehearsal dinner
• Attend the rehearsal and enjoy the rehearsal dinner!
The Wedding Day
• Wake up early and do some light exercise, or just go for a peaceful walk outdoors and soak up the beauty of the day
• Set aside some time before the festivities to exchange gifts with your bridesmaids or close family members
• Eat a healthy breakfast – you’ll need your energy for the big day ahead!
• Enjoy it; it’s finally here and everything will be wonderful… Congratulations!!