Every venue wants a certificate.
General liability, professional liability, hired and non-owned auto, and liquor liability for event planners, wedding planners and day-of coordinators.
By Sam Alishahi · CA Insurance License #4348151 · Reviewed October 2026 · How this page is researched
Venues, vendors and the big day
Event planners are the ones the venue calls first. Most venues ask for a certificate naming them as additional insured before you can load in, and a guest who trips over a cable or a vendor who damages a ballroom floor can lead back to you.
The other risk is the plan itself: a missed booking, a wrong date on a contract, a vendor who never shows. Clients who lose deposits or a wedding day sometimes sue the planner. I pair general liability with professional liability, then add hired auto if you run errands in your car and liquor liability if alcohol is part of what you arrange.
- General liabilityGuest injuries and venue damage.
- Professional liabilityPlanning errors and vendor mix-ups.
- Hired and non-owned autoDriving your own car for the business.
- Liquor liabilityWhen you arrange or serve alcohol.
What underwriters will ask
Having these ready means I can go to market on the first call. The quote form asks for the same things, and anything you don’t know yet can wait.
- Services: full planning, day-of, corporate, destination.
- Events: how many a year and largest guest count.
- Alcohol: do you buy, serve or only book a bartender?
- Vendors: do you hire them or does the client?
- Revenue and staff: annual figures.
- Certificates: venues that need to be named.
Event planner insurance, answered
Is this the same as special event insurance?
No. Special event insurance covers a host for one event. Planner insurance is an annual policy for your business, covering every event you work.
Does my liability cover a vendor's mistake?
Usually the vendor's own policy should respond first. That's why I suggest asking caterers, DJs and rental companies for their certificates too.
What if the couple says I ruined their wedding?
That's a professional liability claim. It often pays defense costs and covered damages, subject to the policy terms. General liability alone usually won't respond to it.
Can I add a venue as additional insured right away?
Yes, once the policy is in force I issue certificates as venues ask for them, often the same day.
Do you offer event planner insurance outside California?
Yes. Clients across the country send the same quote form. Sam Alishahi is licensed in 48 states and Washington, DC and places policies there directly. In Florida and Washington, where Sam's licenses are still being issued, a partner agency in your state helps in the meantime. The shopping across carriers works the same way. Rules, minimums and markets differ by state — see insurance requirements by state.
Official sources
Get your planning business covered.
Tell me how many events you run and what you handle, and I'll quote an annual planner policy.
Alishahi Insurance · Saman Alishahi, independent insurance broker, California License #4348151. General information, not a quote or a promise of coverage; coverage depends on underwriting and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy actually issued.
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(877) 711-4545Answered 24/7 · CA License #4348151
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