SEATTLE - We've all heard the wedding day horror stories: the caterer drops the wedding cake, or the photographer takes your deposit then disappears.

Because of all the things that can go wrong, more couples are adding special insurance to their wedding plans.

Good idea, or a waste of money?

The average cost for a wedding is now more than $25,000. And lot of that is paid in advance, with deposits for dresses, flowers, the wedding cake.

Wedding insurance is promoted as a safety net if something goes wrong.

"The typical wedding-related things that you would think of as being part of what would make or break the wedding," explains wedding planner Dianne Green. As president of Bellevue-based Distinctive Weddings and Events, Green coordinates up to 15 weddings a year.

Green says wedding and reception venues are increasingly requiring liability coverage in case your guests cause damage or injuries.

"Wedding insurance is double-sided. It's the property and liability side, and then the postponement and cancellation side," she said.

Here's some of what's covered on the property and postponement side:

All non-refundable deposits, damage to special wedding attire, theft of wedding gifts and the cost of rescheduling and retaking photos and video.

But the insurance does not cover every mishap.

"I remember we had a Sunday wedding on the Daylight Savings day change in April," Green recalls. Despite reminders, the judge scheduled to preside over the wedding forgot about the time change. Instead of being at the ceremony he was at home mowing his lawn. The wedding was an hour late. Insurance does not cover that.

And it typically will not cover the bride or groom getting cold feet.

"No, no. They do not cover that! Unfortunately!" laughed Green.

There's at least one exception: Fireman's Fund recently started offering a special "Change of Heart" option for instances when bride or groom gets cold feet during the planning process. The option costs an additional premium over the cost of the wedding insurance policy and can only be purchased by the person financing the event.

So before you purchase wedding insurance, know exactly what's covered. Make sure the company is licensed to operate in your state. Check for deductibles and limits. And check for special conditions, so that along with everything else, you'll know exactly what you're paying for on your wedding day.

The cost ranges from under $100 to several hundred, depending on the insurance company and how much coverage you want.

You're typically protected for unexpected losses leading up to and through the end of your wedding day.

For more information:

www.iii.org

weddings.about.com

www.firemansfund.com

wedsafe.com

www.agentprotectmywedding.com