If the big day doesn't go according to plan . . .

MOST WEDDINGS these days are planned with military-style precision. Armed with elaborate Excel spreadsheets, brides-to-be choreograph the event down to the tiniest detail.

But even with the best planning in the world, things can and do wrong – the bridal shop where you bought your dress could close down, as happened in Cork in 2006, or your venue could be doublebooked. This is where wedding insurance comes in. At least if things don’t quite go according to plan, you have a financial safety net in place.

Given that the average spend on a wedding is between €30,000 and €35,000, buying wedding insurance (which can cost as little as €75) is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

Wedding venues generally require a non-refundable deposit – usually between €1,000 and €3,000 – to secure a booking. Similarly, bands, car-hire firms, photographers and bakeries often require an irrecoverable down payment.

If the wedding doesn’t go ahead as planned, the couple stands to lose a significant sum, particularly if they have paid the remaining balances to the venue and suppliers.

If they have insurance, though, they will be covered in the event of cancellation or rearrangement due to unforeseen circumstances such as extreme weather conditions or a family member falling ill.

The amount of cover depends on the package. Under Weddinginsurance.ie’s premier package, which costs €199, couples are covered for up to €20,000 in respect of cancellation, and up to 75 per cent of the original wedding cost (up to €15,000) in the event of rearrangement.

Cancellations due to cold feet or being jilted at the altar are not covered, although this is one issue that most customers enquire about, according to a spokeswoman for Weddinginsurance.ie.

Only if the cancellation is due to circumstances outside of the couple’s control will they qualify for compensation.

Other eventualities covered include damage to the wedding attire, a no-show by the car or photographer, and lost or damaged photographs and gifts.

Wedding rings are covered by Weddinginsurance.ie policies for seven days before the wedding and for 24 hours afterwards.