How Come You Should Invest in Wedding Insurance?

Recently, WDBJ Channel 7 did a report about the Nesselrod Bed & Breakfast Wedding Venue had suddenly shutdown and several brides were out thousands of dollars in deposits. That was right up the road in Southwestern Virginia but all across the nation, it happens far too often that people tend to realize, wedding vendors suddenly close down and couples are out large sums of money.

Today, I want to share with you just a few examples during the year where couples were out their money and why it’s a smart idea to have wedding insurance (also a good idea for the vendors to have it too and I’ll explain that too).

Wedding Couple Out Their Photos

Back in September of 2019 and right here in Virginia, a wedding couple from Hampton Roads said their wedding photographer still had their wedding photos from a year after the wedding. The company, Fantastic Photography was listed in the report where the couple found him on theKnot’s website and at the time the reviews were very positive.

The contract said the couple would get their images back within 20 weeks and after that time frame, they still had nothing from him, so they went to court. At least five other couples are in the same boat, most with the only photos of the weddings were from wedding guests.

I suggest that you watch the report on the WAVY 10 website and learn more about it if you want too.

Wedding Photographer Didn’t Show Up

Here’s another article I found where a wedding photographer in Wisconsin stood up wedding couples at least two time earlier this year after they gave deposits. The professional company, Maelynn Anne Photography (offered photos and video, although I could only find a cheap wedding video) offered the brides an extremely great deal to the ladies but never showed up, never gave notice and never connected back with them at all.

While the deposit’s were small in nature, $200 and $300, they never saw their money back. Also, if you watch the video from CBS 58, they reached out to the BBB and they gave great advice that I tell my couples too, always pay with a debit or credit card and have a contract in writing, signed.

I actually go a step further and tell clients of mine not to pay more than 50% to me, even if they have 100% of the money up front.

Why?

Simple. The truth is that you don’t really know me, and I don’t really know you. While I’ve never had an issue before, paying a deposit simply locks you in for the date that you want to hire the professional. The remaining funds are for the services. It’s also to protect you as a client. What if the ladies here paid 100% down and never saw the vendor, they’d be out 100% of their money instead of a deposit?

It’s just common sense thinking here.

Ohio Wedding Photographer Scammed Couples

Roughly 20 couples created a Facebook group to come together and try to figure out what do to after they were scammed by Kelsea Hopkins of Dear Tomasine Stills and Films. After she showed up to cover the weddings, she never got the images until a year later in August 2018 although she’s still waiting on her wedding video according to the report.

From the BBB, they have an F rating and several complaints too.  From various court documents there are apparently at least 4 other judgements against her and one for theft. Check out the Video here.

Wedding Insurance Is Important

As a vendor, I understand insurance, in fact I myself have wedding insurance in case something happens to my gear, if someone trips over a tripod or if something in general just happens. From the couple’s side of things, I highly recommend that they take out insurance as a precaution.

Sure, you’re spending more money, I get that.

But think of it this way.

You’re going to spend literally thousands of dollars on various things to have a wedding, why not spend a few hundred bucks on insurance to make sure that the day is covered or if a vendor is a no show, etc.

I’d looking into your local insurance provider or if you want to find one online, try WedSafe. It’s a company that offers just wedding insurance for both liability as well as cancellation insurance too.

I truly feel bad for the couple that got suckered out $6,000 at Nesslerod, now they’re out a venue and have to re-plan everything perhaps for a different date and spend even MORE money.

DO yourself a favor and make sure the vendors have insurance and also carry it for your wedding day.