You're going to be a dazzling December bride and, whether you've planned an elegant wedding costing tens of thousands or a more reasonable $20K, you want everything to go smoothly. The big day arrives, and you wake up that morning to the blizzard of the century. Streets are impassable, airports are closed, and according to weather reports, the snow won't stop for days.

WWWAAAAHHHH!

"I didn't get wedding insurance!"

Big mistake. For two- or three-hundred dollars, she could have had one less thing to cry about--the money she and/or her parents are out thanks to Mother Nature. If you haven't heard of it, ask. Wedding insurance has been protecting wedding expenses in the US for about the last decade and, no matter how much you're spending on your wedding, it's a good idea. This is truly one time you'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it--especially when you consider all the things that can go wrong besides the weather.

The limos don't show. Your gown catches fire from Uncle Ozwald's smelly cigar. Your caterer's facility floods, and she can't feed your guests. The groom has a skiing accident two days before and is stuck in traction for a month. Your bridesmaids get into a fight trying to catch the bouquet, and they fall on the DJ's equipment, demolishing it. Your wedding favors get lost in the mail. Face it. Anything can happen. When you think about it--a blizzard may not be so bad.

Now that wedding insurance is in your future, begin by checking to see how well your vendors are covered so you don't duplicate coverage. Ask for a copy of their policy to see where you aren't fully insured. So what's covered by wedding insurance? Problems with the site, weather, vendors, key people, sickness or injury are top concerns and can be protected. Even a soldier groom can be covered if he gets shipped out two days before the wedding and you have to postpone. You can also get supplemental policies that cover damages incurred by other wedding-related items like photography and video if they fail to show or the images get destroyed. Gifts that are stolen or lost in the mail can be covered, as well as wedding attire, bodily injury (your maid of honor trips on a step and falls into the lit unity candles), and of course, your honeymoon--hurricane in the Bahamas? On the flip side, wedding insurance won't protect against a change of heart, and jewelry--including engagement and wedding rings may not be covered.

The fact is, many venues won't host your event without liability coverage. Experts suggest you start looking into wedding insurance as soon as you start planning your wedding. Chances are, your big day will come off without a hitch. OK, bad choice of words--but wedding insurance is still a good thing for you to have!