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Event insurance

Add event insurance to your guest list with policies as low as $75.*

Get a fast, free event insurance quote online today.

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Or call +1.800.236.4252 to speak with an event insurance specialist.

Every detail matters. Help protect them all.

Your special event has taken you months to plan and if everything goes right, it will be the perfect day. But how often does everything go according to plan? Markel’s event insurance can help protect you in case accidents happen (or vendors don’t show up) so you can breathe easier and enjoy your event without worry.

Why do you need event insurance?

Planning a wedding or special event can be expensive. When you are investing high sums of money and time, you want the day to go smoothly. Event insurance can help in two ways: help you protect your financial interests if someone injures themselves or damages property at your event, and help if you need to cancel the event due to unforeseen circumstances like weather or illness.

Still not sure?


Advantages to having event insurance include:


More venues require clients to purchase a one-day event liability policy because they’re unwilling to take on sole responsibility for damage to their property.

Many vendors do not offer refunds regardless of the reason for cancellation or postponement.

If extreme weather causes your venue to be unusable or unreachable, event insurance can help recoup your cancellation costs or expenses moving to a new location. (Extreme weather includes a hurricane, tropical storm or even an epic snowstorm. The average summer thunderstorm would not be covered.)

Event insurance can cover what your homeowners policy doesn’t. Typically, homeowners policies will only cover the event if it’s located at the home of the host and will only cover event liability, not cancellation.

What we offer


We offer coverage for a variety of events, including:


  • Weddings
  • Anniversary parties
  • Baby showers
  • Baptisms
  • Bar or bat mitzvahs
  • Birthday parties
  • Housewarming parties
  • Memorial services
  • Quinceañeras
  • Retirement parties
  • Special achievement receptions
  • And much more

Markel also offers liability coverage for business and corporate events**.

  • Business dinners
  • Business meetings
  • Corporate private parties
  • Fundraiser dinners
  • Non-profit functions

Our coverages can include:

Event liability insurance can help protect you from financial loss if you are held legally responsible for property damage to the venue or bodily injury to someone injured at your event. Coverage highlights include:

  • Bodily injury and property damage liability, with up to $2 million in coverage available
  • Host liquor liability insurance available
  • Venues can be named as “additional insured” on the certificate of insurance for no additional cost
  • Coverage can be purchased up to one day before your event
  • Event cancellation add-on–for only $50, you can add $5,000 of event cancellation coverage

Best of all, our event liability coverage is guaranteed to meet your venue’s insurance requirements or your money back.

Actual claim example: An antique statue at the venue was knocked over and broken while the policyholder was cleaning up after their event. Our event liability policy paid out almost $2,000 to purchase a new statue for the venue.†

Our event cancellation insurance can help reimburse you for non-refundable deposits and expenses if you have to cancel or postpone your event due to unforeseen circumstances, such as:

  • Vendor bankruptcy
  • Extreme weather‡
  • Accident or illness of host, honoree, or immediate family member

It can also provide coverage for damage to special attire, lost/stolen gifts, photographs, lost deposits from no-show vendors, and more. Coverage can be purchased up to 15 days before your event.

Actual claim example: A venue went bankrupt and was padlocked two weeks before the insured's event. Total damages paid out under Markel's event cancellation coverage was just over $27,500.†

  • Frequently asked questions about event insurance

    • General questions

      When should I purchase event insurance?
      It’s a good idea to purchase a policy as soon as you begin to pay deposits. Caterers, photographers and other vendors usually require a significant non-refundable deposit up-front with the remainder due by the day of the event. Our event cancellation coverage can be purchased up to 14 days prior to the event date, and our event liability coverage can be purchased up to one day prior to the event date.

      For our event cancellation policy to cover extreme weather or acts of nature, as defined in the policy, the policy must have been purchased at least 15 days prior to the anticipated or actual extreme weather that causes the cancellation. It's a good idea to purchase your event cancellation policy at the beginning of the event planning process, as it helps ensure you are protected when a hiccup like covered extreme weather event threatens to disrupt your big day.

      Will event insurance cover us if the weather forces us to postpone or cancel our event?
      Coverage may be provided if weather conditions are extreme enough to prevent the honoree, the honoree’s immediate family, an active participant in the event or more than half of the guests from attending your event. However, the event cancellation policy must have been purchased at least 15 days in advance of the anticipated or actual extreme weather or act of nature.

      Will event insurance cover my hair, make-up, and nails expenses if my event is cancelled or postponed?
      Our event cancellation policy may cover the “day of the event” expenses of hair, make-up and nails of the honoree if their event is cancelled or postponed due to a covered circumstance.

      What if someone in my family gets sick before the event? Would that be covered?
      If an accident or illness prevents the guest of honor or an immediate family member from attending the event, we can provide coverage if illness is not due to a pre-existing medical condition.

      Will event insurance cover the gifts I may receive at my event?
      Gifts that are lost or damaged seven days prior to and seven days after the event may be covered up to the applicable limit set forth in your policy. There is a $300 limit on cash, checks and gift cards.

      Does your event insurance cover special attire purchased specifically for my event?
      Our event cancellation insurance can provide coverage for special attire that is lost, stolen or damaged before the event. Some exclusions apply.

      Are events held outside of the United States covered?
      Cancellation coverage is available for events that are scheduled to take place in (or cruise ships departing from) the United States and territories/possessions, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean (excluding Cuba). Liability policies are available for events scheduled to take place in (or cruise ships departing from) the United States and territories/possessions and Canada.

      Does your event insurance provide coverage if military leave is withdrawn?
      Event cancellation insurance may provide coverage for the guest of honor is serving full-time, active duty in the armed forces, police or fire department and must postpone the event due to withdrawal of a previously granted leave or unforeseen deployment.

      What happens if my photographer loses my photos? Is that covered?
      Our event cancellation policy may provide coverage if your film or digital files are lost or damaged before you take possession of them. The policy does not cover photographer errors such as under or overexposure.

      Is there a deductible on event insurance?
      Yes. Event cancellation policies have a $25 deductible for each area of coverage. Event liability policies have a $1,000 deductible for property damage.

    • Claims questions

      How do I file a claim?
      Report your event insurance claim immediately by calling our office at +1.800.236.2453, or completing the online claim form.

      How do you determine the value of my claim?
      Each individual claim is different and evaluated as such. The value of your event insurance claim depends on the coverage you purchased, and the damages sustained.

      How long will it take for my claim to be processed?
      Each claim is different, so there is not a concrete answer. But if we receive all the necessary documentation (i.e., estimate of damage, photos, receipts, etc.) and have completed our investigation, the claim is processed in a timely manner (usually within 7-10 business days).

      Is there anything I can do to help speed up the claim process?
      Yes, you can help streamline the claims process by providing the following information when you file your claim:

      • Policy number
      • Date, time, and location of loss or damage
      • Description of loss or damage
      • Photos of the damage or where your items were stolen
      • Receipts for your event and goods/services related to your event
      • Other items will likely be necessary and will be outlined by your Markel claims examiner upon receipt of the claim

Get total protection for your event and save.

Save up to 15% by purchasing both event liability and cancellation coverage.§

Get a quote


Or call +1.800.236.4252 to speak with an event insurance specialist.

Additional resources

*As of December 2023, the minimum premium is $75 and rates could exceed $75 depending on the coverage options selected.
**Business and corporate events must have less than 500 attendees and are subject to underwriting approval. Event liability coverage for business and corporate events is not available in FL.
†Event cancellation policy must have been purchased at least 15 days prior to the prediction of the threat of extreme weather.
‡These examples are provided for illustrative purposes only. Any claim submitted under the policy would be evaluated on its own merits and facts compared to the terms of the policy.
§Up to 10% for residents of FL.