What is event insurance & why is it important?
Event Insurance is a General Liability policy designed to protect the event holder (you) from most claims of guest or spectator injury or property damage arising from the event. If a guest slips and falls while attending your event, there is a risk that you may be held financially responsible. Without Event Liability Insurance, you could have to pay their medical expenses out of your own pocket.
How does event insurance work?
Event Liability Insurance works to protect you (as the event host) and us (the event venue) from claims made against you/us due to injury to guests and/or damage to the venue. An injury to an attendee could cost an event host thousands without insurance protection.
Rockledge Gardens does have our own business liability insurance, however, our insurance will only provide coverage to our property and our insured employees in instances that involve our own actions. Therefore, our insurance does not cover the renter, should they be responsible for injury or property damage during any private event while on Rockledge Gardens property.
What is my special event insurance required to cover?
Per our venue rental contract: The insurance must, at the client’s sole expense, provide and maintain public liability and personal property damage insurance, insuring Rockledge Gardens and Rockledge Gardens employees, contractors, and contracted vendors against all bodily injury, property damage, personal injury, and other loss arising out of client’s use and occupancy of the premises, or any other occupant on the premises, including appurtenances to the premises and sidewalks.
The insurance required hereunder shall have a single limit liability of not less than $1 million and a general aggregate liability of not less than $2 million. Sea Flower Gardens, Inc. d/b/a Rockledge Gardens shall be named as an additional insured of said policy. If alcohol is to be served please make sure that the policy includes Host Liquor Liability coverage to protect you against alcohol-related accidents, as you are ultimately liable for the safety of your guests. Established catering services may use their license and insurance to cover this.
How do I choose the correct Event Type and/or calculate the number of attending guests?
Use your best judgment, however, please note that if you misrepresent your event (for instance, calling it a Wedding when it is actually a Bridal Shower), should there be a claim, your coverage will be void and you’ll likely be personally liable for the claim. If you have any questions regarding the type of event or calculating the number of attending guests when filling out your policy application, please reach out to your insurance provider for full details.
Will my policy cover vendors if they cause damage or injury?
No. Any vendor or independent contractor should have their own insurance since they are their own separate business. Vendors need their own coverage in case they cause damage/injury at your event. Since our venue rental agreement holds you responsible for your vendor’s activity, you will want to make sure your vendors have the appropriate General Liability insurance coverage (and Liquor Liability if they are a caterer/bartender) and have valid state-issued business licensure.
For additional, in-depth information and definitions, click here to visit Event Helper’s website for more special event liability insurance explanations.
To purchase day-of special event liability insurance for your event, click this link to our partnered insurance company, Event Helper, which is prefilled with all of Rockledge Garden’s information and our coverage requirements. OR you may obtain special event liability insurance through any qualified insurance company that meets our coverage requirements.