Media Contact: Janet C. Hart (704) 927-8617
CHARLOTTE, N.C.
– The wedding of your dreams can come with a hefty price tag – most of which is
paid in advance. With business bankruptcies up by 47% in February, brides are getting
burned by bankrupt vendors. If you are
getting married, the BBB suggests you consider buying wedding insurance so that
your dream day doesn’t turn into a nightmare.
“With the
average wedding costing more than $28,000, couples have a significant amount of
money invested before the bride even walks down the aisle,” said Tom Bartholomy, BBB
President. “Wedding insurance can provide peace of mind that money paid in
advance will be recovered if a vendor files for bankruptcy.”
According to Travelers Insurance, more than 40 percent of all Travelers'
wedding insurance claims filed during the past two years involved unforeseen
problems with vendors and venues. Wedding insurance can also provide coverage
for other wedding problems including vendor no-shows, inclement weather,
military deployment, and medical issues.
When Charlotte bridal
salon La Bella Sposa abruptly closed last summer, it created a crisis for dozens
of brides who had ordered and paid in full for expensive wedding gowns and
bridesmaid dresses. As the scope of La Bella Sposa’s questionable business
practices became apparent, the BBB received complaints from 46 brides who
alleged that La Bella Sposa’s owners deceived them. According to complaints,
the bridal salon took orders for dresses but did not pay the dress designers,
so the dresses were not shipped. La Bella Sposa also allegedly passed off floor
samples as new dresses. One bride paid La Bella Sposa more than $10,000 for her
wedding gown and 13 bridesmaid dresses, only to find out that she lost her
money when the shop closed.
If you are
considering wedding insurance, the BBB offers the following advice:
- Do your research. Get a free BBB
Reliability Report at www.bbb.org.
- Shop for wedding insurance before
paying deposits on any wedding services to make sure all expenses are
covered.
- Read the fine print so that you know
what is and is not covered. Wedding insurance usually costs between $125
and $400, depending on the amount of coverage and there are claim limits and
deductibles.
- Avoid purchasing overlapping
coverage. Some of your wedding day expenses may be covered by buyer
protection plans on your credit cards.
- Keep good records and save your
receipts in case you have to file a claim.
For more advice
on planning a consumer-savvy wedding, go to www.bbb.org.
You can also call the BBB at 1-877-317-7236 toll-free in N.C. and S.C.
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