Looking for Special Event Insurance?
Protect your special event from liability claims, cancellations, vendor failures, and property damage. Get coverage for weddings, festivals, corporate events, and special occasion gatherings.
What is Special Event Insurance?
Special event insurance protects gatherings from liability claims, event cancellations, vendor failures, and accidents. Coverage includes event liability, cancellation coverage, and liquor liability. Venues, vendors, and municipalities require proof of insurance before events or permits.
Event Liability
Coverage for guest injuries, property damage, and accidents during special events.
Cancellation Protection
Protects against financial losses from cancelled or postponed events.
Liquor Liability
Covers alcohol-related incidents if serving beer, wine, or spirits at events.
Certificates
Fast proof for venues, vendors, and municipalities.
Who Needs Special Event Insurance?
- Wedding Hosts : Businesses requiring specialized insurance coverage
- Event Organizers : Businesses requiring specialized insurance coverage
- Festival Producers : Businesses requiring specialized insurance coverage
- Corporate Event Planners : Businesses requiring specialized insurance coverage
Why Harper?
Special Event Expertise
We understand event risks—guest injuries, vendor failures, weather cancellations, and venue liability. Get coverage for weddings, parties, festivals, or corporate gatherings.
Fast Proof for Venues
Event venues require insurance before allowing gatherings. We deliver certificates quickly for venue compliance.
Clear Simple Guidance
We explain event liability, cancellation coverage, and vendor insurance clearly.
Tailored to Your Event
Match coverage to your gathering—weddings, corporate events, festivals, fundraisers, or private celebrations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What insurance do special events need?
Special events need general liability covering guest injuries, property damage to venues, and accidents during the event, cancellation/postponement coverage protecting non-refundable deposits and expenses if events can't proceed, and liquor liability if alcohol is served (even if provided by caterers or venues in some cases). Weather coverage protects outdoor events from rain, wind, or extreme conditions. Vendor failure insurance reimburses losses when contracted vendors fail to perform.
Is special event insurance required?
Wedding venues, event spaces, hotels, and public facilities almost universally require event hosts to carry general liability insurance (typically $1-2 million) and add the venue as additional insured before allowing events. Municipalities require liability coverage for special event permits, particularly for outdoor festivals or gatherings on public property. Liquor liability is required when obtaining temporary alcohol permits. While not legally mandated for private events, venues make it practically required.
How much does special event insurance cost?
One-day special event policies for small private gatherings or weddings typically cost $75–$300, depending on guest count, alcohol service, and venue requirements. Medium-sized events with 100-300 guests cost $200–$600. Large festivals, corporate events, or multi-day gatherings cost $1,000 to $10,000+, depending on attendance, activities, vendors, and risk factors. Event cancellation insurance adds $100–$500+, depending on the event costs being insured.
Does insurance cover event cancellations?
Event cancellation insurance reimburses non-refundable deposits, vendor payments, and other expenses if events must be cancelled or postponed due to covered perils, including severe weather, venue damage, illness of key participants (like bride/groom), vendor bankruptcy, or military deployment. Coverage must typically be purchased soon after first deposits are made and has specific exclusions. Pandemics, government shutdowns, and "cold feet" are commonly excluded unless special coverage is purchased.
Does insurance cover vendor failures?
Vendor failure or non-appearance coverage reimburses losses when contracted vendors fail to perform as agreed, such as caterers not showing up, photographers canceling at the last minute, or entertainment backing out. Coverage typically requires proof of vendor contracts and may have limitations on claim amounts. This coverage helps recover deposits and costs to secure replacement vendors on short notice.
Can venues require event insurance?
Yes, virtually all commercial event venues, hotels, country clubs, and public facilities require event hosts to provide proof of general liability insurance (typically $1-2 million minimum) and add the venue as additional insured before events. Venues often provide insurance requirement forms specifying exact coverage needed, certificate delivery deadlines (often 2-4 weeks before events), and specific endorsements required. Some high-end venues require even higher limits for large weddings or corporate events.