<p>Did anyone purchase this type of insurance for his/her son or daughter’s wedding in the instance where the hosts were permitted to bring in the alcohol for the wedding? Our son is getting married in August and although the bride’s family will not permit alcohol to be served during the actual reception, as opposed to the cocktail hour, they are allowing us, the groom’s family, to bring wine to be served during the one hour cocktail hour. My son mentioned this type of Special Event Insurance to me. I wish I knew where he was coming up with all these ideas of how we can spend more money.</p>
<p>Is this actually necessary? We are talking about guests having the opportunity to drink a glass or two of wine during the cocktail hour, which will then be followed by the actual reception, which is scheduled for four hours.</p>
<p>Actually MANY venues require this or a very hefty deposit vs. non-alcohol events. When we were looking at venues for H’s milestone birthday, some of the deposits were double the rental fee. We ended up having the party at home for this very reason, even though there wasn’t much drinking. It’s not a matter of HOW MUCH but that you serve it at all. The possibility of damages goes up with alcohol. They want to ensure their costs are covered. It’s not a scam.</p>
<p>I thought you were referring to needing insurance for cancelling the wedding after the groom or bride seriously consider the consequences of legally entering into a contract that is very difficult to undo.</p>
<p>Me too golden pooch.
Although I was thinking more as insurance for the deposits for the various venues, photographer, caterer, dressmaker, etc, in the instance that the couple changes their mind and doesn’t go through with it.</p>
<p>^^^ That’s called “Wedding Cancellation Insurance.” That’s why I specified Liability Insurance. 8-| I guess that was your attempt at humor, goldenpooch.
sseamom-I think I’ll call the venue directly and ask the question, but I honestly think that my son invented this potential “need” since when I asked him whether it was the caterer or the venue that requested this, he said that neither one did.</p>
<p>I mean, I thought the same thing as GP and EK… </p>
<p>We’ve started talking to hotels about this and no one has mentioned any of those in their fees. I guess it’s something else to keep in mind to ask about. </p>
<p>So does this insurance cover you if the guests hit and kill someone after they leave the reception (DUI) or is this just coverage if they damage the venue’s property?</p>
<p>MichiganGeorgia,
I think it does cover you if a guest damages property but I can’t imagine it would apply post-wedding unless you negligently served a visibly intoxicated person. I’m not worried about anyone being intoxicated at this wedding. Only wine will be available and only for the first hour. Then there’s a four hour dinner/dancing reception with no alcohol. Hard to imagine how anyone could be DUI in that instance. The majority of the guests are being bused to and from the reception.</p>
<p>The hotel where we had S’s wedding did not require liability insurance, but a town ordinance required that a police officer be on the premises for gatherings of 75 or more where alcohol was served at a charge of $300.</p>
<p>I wonder if this idea is coming from the bride’s family since their desire would be for a dry wedding and they want to distance and protect themselves from anything to do with the alcohol. I could understand if the venue or caterer required this anytime alcohol supplied by a third party (you) is consumed on their premises. But in the absence of a caterer or venue mandate, I would think it unnecessary. It would seem to me that the risk of problems arising from one hour of wine service at the beginning of a five hour affair would be pretty small.</p>
<p>my-3-sons, I did a bit of an Internet search and a minimum policy might be around $150. Our insurance agent said that it might be covered under a homeowner’s policy, but since the bride’s family signed the contract for the venue, it would have to be covered by their insurance policy. I don’t even want to go there. I don’t think it’s coming from her family. I think this is from the brain of my S and his law student bride-to-be.</p>
<p>We looked at places that were NOT hotels or restaurants that already served alcohol. As far as I recall, it was for covering damages to the property itself, not drunk driving, etc. Most did charge less if it was wine or beer only. </p>
<p>Back in the dark ages when we were married, there was no liability coverage required for having alcohol (scotch) on each table at the wedding reception. Mostly folks just added a splash of it to their soup (the 1st course of the dinner). Ugh, we STILL have many bottles of that scotch, as we don’t drink and you can only cook with so much at one time. ;)</p>
<p>When we had fairs at the school, someone bought our school liability event insurance. When we have health fairs at the mall, we also need to prove we have liability insurance for the event and produce a policy with the term limits they require.</p>
<p>The parties we host are all at restaurants or hotels and we haven’t had to get any event liability insurance for them, even though alcohol is served. YMMV</p>
<p>Clearly the bride’s people are happy with a dry wedding reception, or they would not have planned it that way. If feel that you must provide some wine or you/your guests won’t think it’s really a wedding, then shell out the $150 or what ever it is for the liability insurance to keep whoever it is who needs to be happy about that happy, and move on. This really isn’t that big a deal.</p>
<p>I think you should know the terms of the insurance contract. Does it cover damages to the venue, injury to the guests or others as a result of alcohol. Does it limit your liability for legal damages brought on by guests or the venue, or bride’s family if they are sued and then go after you, etc. Exactly what does your homeowner’s policy cover in these examples? </p>
<p>“The majority of the guests are being bused to and from the reception.”</p>
<p>If they signed the contract for the venue then I would think only the bride’s family could buy the wedding liability insurance. Have you checked about the insurance coverage on the bus? Is there anyway that if there is an accident you could be liable or would your current insurance cover it? </p>
I don’t think it’s coming from her family. I think this is from the brain of my S and his law student bride-to-be.</p>