You’ve done it! Your wedding business is up and running. The branding looks beautiful, your Instagram grid is giving major inspiration, the website’s live, and enquiries are starting to roll in. You’ve poured your time, money and creativity into bringing your vision to life.
Before you dive headfirst into styled shoots, mood boards or client timelines, there’s one last thing to tick off the list: business insurance.
It might not be the most glamorous part of running a wedding business, but it’s one of the most important. Whether you’re a florist, photographer, DJ, venue stylist or photo booth operator, the right insurance helps protect everything you’ve worked so hard to build.
If this is your first time looking into commercial cover, it can all sound a bit confusing. There’s a lot of jargon to navigate and so many types of cover to choose from. That’s where we come in.
Laura, from the Wedding Insurance Group has put together this quick, no-nonsense guide to help you understand what wedding supplier business insurance is, why you need it, and how to make sure you’re properly protected.
What is business insurance for wedding suppliers?
Wedding supplier insurance helps florists, bridal retailers, venue dressers, wedding planners, photographers and other suppliers protect themselves if the unexpected happens whilst you’re working. That could be a guest who trips over your kit, a member of staff injuring themselves whilst at work or your equipment being stolen from your van the night before a wedding.
Accidents happen that you can’t plan for and that’s where having the right insurance comes in to protect your finances and reputation.
Key covers you should know about
1. Public liability insurance
This is the big one. Most venues will request a copy of your public liability certificate before you can start working on their premises and they may even stipulate that you must hold a certain limit of indemnity, such as £5,000,000.
Public liability insurance protects you if someone (like a guest, venue staff, or even the couple) is injured due to your negligence or their property is damaged because of an incident related to your business.
Example: You’re setting up a floral arch and it accidentally topples over onto a guest who gets hurt, or you’re DJ and a speaker falls and hurts a guest.
2. Employers’ liability insurance
If you’ve brought someone in to help, even if they’re part-time, unpaid or just helping out at weekends, you’re legally required to have employer’s liability cover. This protects you if they get injured because of their work and you have been negligent.
Example: Your co-worker hurts their back lifting heavy equipment and you haven’t provided correct training and advice around heavy lifting. They could make a claim against you for being injured whilst at work and seek financial compensation.
3. Business equipment cover – cameras, dresses, props, flowers & more
Your business equipment is likely to be your biggest investment. Whether it’s cameras, props, wedding dresses, speakers or flowers. This cover protects your tools of the trade against theft, loss or damage.
Example: For a photographer this might mean you accidentally drop your camera and damage the lens on a shoot. The cost of replacement would put a financial strain on your business. Business equipment cover insurance can cover new for old, so you’ll be rest assured you’ll be covered to replace your equipment.
4. Professional indemnity insurance
This protects you if the bride and groom claims that you gave poor advice or didn’t deliver what was promised in your service.
Example: A client says the styling didn’t match the agreed theme or you accidentally delete all the photos from the memory card meaning you can’t deliver the service your client has paid for. This cover helps with legal costs to defend the claim and compensation if needed.
Cover also includes breach of copyright; a rising claims scenario where suppliers have used images they don’t own or have the correct licensing permissions to use them on their social media pages and websites leading to solicitors’ letters demanding payment. Learn how to use images safely with our Safe Image Use Guide.
5. Commercial vehicle insurance
If you’re using a van or car for business use to deliver cakes, flowers, props or equipment then you will need a commercial vehicle policy. If your vehicle is doing more than just the school run or weekly shop and it’s an essential part of your business operation, then a standard car insurance policy probably won’t cover you.
6. Business interruption
Business interruption is all about protecting your income if something unexpected stops you from trading as usual. For example, if a fire, flood, or accident damages your shop, studio, or equipment, it could prevent you from taking bookings or fulfilling orders. Business interruption cover helps replace the income you’d lose while you repair, restock, or get back up and running, so your business stays protected even when the unexpected happens.
Example:
Bridal retailer: If your bridal shop suffers an ingress of water from the flat above your premises and floods, cover can help replace any loss of gross profits that you lose whilst you can’t open.
Florist: If a fire damages your shop, business interruption cover can help replace the gross profits you lose whilst you restock and reopen.
When should I get wedding business insurance?
As soon as you start trading! Whether you’re a florist providing bouquets, a planner organising timelines or a stylist dressing a venue – insurance helps you trade with confidence. Some venues ask to see your insurance certificate in advance and if something does go wrong, you’ll thank yourself for being prepared.
Most importantly, insurance gives you and your clients confidence. You can focus on delivering amazing results for your clients, knowing that if something unexpected crops up, you’re covered.
FAQs about wedding supplier business insurance
What if I don’t know my turnover yet?
As it’s your first year of trading, you’re unlikely to know exactly how much your business will turnover in the first year. You can declare your estimated turnover instead based on your business plan.
Can I add services for a different trade or business activities mid-way through my policy?
Yes. It’s quite common for our clients to diversify and start offering more than one service, such as a wedding planner who also does some venue styling. It’s important to give us a call on 0121 550 2380 to update your policy before you take on this new work. If you don’t have the correct cover in place for the work you do, you may be unable to make a claim under your policy if something goes wrong.
How do I get wedding supplier insurance for my start-up?
You can call our experienced team at Wedding Insurance Group on 0121 550 2380 who will guide you through the different insurance covers and options based on your business needs. We’re available Monday- Friday 9 am-5pm.
Alternatively, you can get a quote online here. If you need any assistance, you can call our team who will happily help you.
You can also email us any questions at [email protected]
Who we cover:
We protect a wide range of businesses in the wedding industry including florists, bridal retailers, photographers, photo booths, cake makers, venue stylists, wedding planners and more. We are the only UK insurance broker dedicated to providing insurance for the whole of the wedding industry.
Why choose Wedding Insurance Group?
With over 35 years of insurance experience, we understand the unique risks and challenges wedding suppliers face. Our team specialises in tailoring cover to suit the specific needs of businesses within the wedding industry.
As a proud member of the UK Wedding Association, we’re committed to supporting and protecting your business by sharing our expertise, insights and real claim trends from across the industry.
When you need us, you can reach us directly, no long waits or automated menus, just a friendly voice ready to help.
