Does wedding insurance cover my dress or suit?

Most wedding insurance policies include cover for your wedding attire, including the dress, suit, shoes, and accessories. This usually protects you if the outfit is damaged, lost, or stolen before the wedding. For example, if a dry cleaner ruins your dress, or your suitcase goes missing on the way to the venue, you may be able to claim.

Cover typically starts from the date you buy the outfit, or from when you take out the policy, and continues through the wedding day. Some policies also cover damage that happens during the ceremony or reception, such as a red wine spill or a tear from a dance move.

However, there are limits. Policies do not cover normal wear and tear, or damage caused by your own carelessness, like leaving the dress on a hot radiator. They also may not cover alterations that go wrong, so keep receipts and check if your insurer covers that.

If your outfit is very expensive, you may need to declare its value to the insurer when you buy the policy. If you do not, the insurer may only pay a lower amount. Always keep your receipts and take photos of the outfit before the wedding, so you have proof of its condition and value.