Olli Insurance

Wedding planner insurance

A wedding planner typically needs general liability, since venues almost always require proof of coverage before you can set up on-site, and professional liability, for claims that a coordination mistake, like a double-booked vendor or a missed contract detail, cost a couple money on the one day they can't redo. Most planners carry both.

Get a quote
Wedding planner arranging floral centerpieces on a reception table before the ceremony

What insurance does a wedding planner need?

There's no one-size answer. The right mix depends on how you work, who you work for, and what your contracts ask for. These are the coverages a wedding planner typically looks at first:

General liability

The coverage venues ask for first. Covers third-party injuries and property damage during setup, the event, and teardown, with the $1,000,000 per-occurrence limit venues typically require before signing your vendor agreement.

Professional liability

For claims that your coordination itself fell short, like a vendor mismanagement issue or a contract detail you missed that cost the couple money on a day that can't be rescheduled.

Coverage always depends on your specific situation. The fastest way to see what fits is to get a quote and review your options.

What does it protect against?

The risks that matter aren't abstract. They're the everyday accidents of the work. A few scenarios that turn into real claims:

A guest is injured during setup or the event

A centerpiece candle tips and burns a guest's arm, or a strand of string lights you hung comes loose and hits someone below. Physical accidents from decor and setup you arranged are general liability claims, and venues expect your policy, not theirs, to respond first.

You damage the venue during load-in or teardown

A rented arch scrapes a ballroom's hardwood floor, or a truck backing in for load-out cracks a section of a stone patio. Venues routinely name themselves as an additional insured specifically because of damage like this.

A vendor mistake gets blamed on your coordination

The florist no-shows, the caterer runs two hours late, or the DJ never gets the final timeline you sent, and the couple says your job was to prevent exactly that. Claims that your planning and vendor management failed are professional liability territory, since the harm is financial and reputational, not physical.

A contract or budget error costs the couple money

A headcount miscount leaves guests without seats, or a deposit deadline you tracked gets missed and the couple loses a nonrefundable venue hold. Errors in the coordination itself, not a physical accident, are what professional liability is built to address.

Certificates of insurance

For a wedding planner, the certificate-of-insurance request comes from the venue before the vendor contract is signed: most venues require an outside planner or day-of coordinator to show a COI, often naming the venue as additional insured, before setup begins. Some vendors and rental companies ask for the same when you're managing their equipment on-site. Olli's general liability policies include instant certificates, so a signed venue contract doesn't stall on paperwork.

New to certificates? Start with our guide to the certificate of insurance: what's on one, who asks for it, and how to provide yours.

Common questions

Why do venues require wedding planners to carry insurance?

If a guest is hurt or the venue is damaged during setup or the event, the venue doesn't want that claim landing on its own policy. Requiring a certificate of insurance, often naming the venue as additional insured, keeps that risk on the planner's coverage instead.

What's the difference between general and professional liability for a wedding planner?

General liability covers physical accidents: a guest injury, damage to the venue during load-in. Professional liability covers claims about the planning itself, meaning a vendor you managed fell through or a coordination mistake cost the couple money. Planners face both kinds of claims, which is why many carry the pair.

Am I covered if a vendor I hired causes a problem?

It depends on whether the claim is about physical harm the vendor caused or about your coordination and selection of that vendor. Describe how you contract with vendors when you quote, since that shapes which coverage responds and how.

Do I need coverage for outdoor or destination weddings?

Liability coverage follows your business operations rather than one venue, which matters for planners doing outdoor tents, destination events, and multi-day weekends. Where and how you work is part of your quote, so describe your actual setup to see options that fit it.

Does my contract's liability language protect me instead of insurance?

Contract language can help limit some exposure, but it doesn't reliably stop a couple or a venue from pursuing a claim, and you'd still face defense costs even if the contract helps your case. Think of the contract and the policy as layers, not substitutes.

How do I get proof of insurance for a venue?

Get a quote, and once your policy is active, download a certificate of insurance from your account. Olli's general liability policies include instant certificates. Most venues want to be shown as an additional insured or certificate holder, which you can set when you request it.

See your options in minutes

Answer a few questions about your wedding planner business and get a quote. No phone calls, no waiting on callbacks.

Get covered
Need proof of insurance for a job?