• Disastrous wedding mishaps have long been a comedy staple, probably because so many of us can relate. What bride- or groom-to-be hasn't had nightmares about hurricane-force winds blowing over the reception tent or a drunken cousin falling into the wedding cake?
• Besides the potential for embarrassing memories, there's a lot of money at stake: The average wedding in 2012 will cost nearly $27,000, not including the honeymoon - about what you'd pay for a well-appointed new car.
• Just as you wouldn't drive off the lot without car insurance, so you might want to consider buying wedding insurance. It usually costs only a few hundred dollars but could save you tens of thousands if horrendous weather, sudden illness or a bankrupt vendor ruins your day.
• Many insurance companies now offer wedding insurance. Typically, policies will reimburse you for deposits and charges you've paid to wedding vendors, as well as travel costs and other expenses incurred, if you need to cancel or postpone the wedding for a covered reason.
• Coverage options, costs and limitations vary widely, so read the fine print carefully. When comparing policies, pay attention to deductibles, maximum coverage limits, exclusions and deadlines for purchasing various options.
• Probably the most important coverage is personal liability insurance. Many venues require liability insurance and either include it in the rental cost or require you to submit a certificate of insurance from your own policy.
• Before buying additional liability coverage, check how much coverage your homeowner's insurance provides and whether it applies to wedding events - you may need a special rider or want to buy additional coverage through an umbrella policy.
• Make sure all major wedding suppliers maintain their own liability insurance. In addition, any venue providing alcoholic beverages should carry liquor liability insurance. To be safe, you may want to buy your own host liquor liability coverage as well.
• Other common options include:
• • Extreme weather. If wedding party members or the majority of guests cannot reach the wedding because of severe weather conditions (snowstorm, earthquake, hurricane), rescheduling costs will be covered. Note: Gloomy skies or drizzle don't qualify.

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