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"All right, everybody out on the dance floor! No exceptions!" So began the 1998 film The Wedding Singer, a movie about a lovelorn entertainer who specialises in belting out renditions of 1980s songs at wedding receptions. For many people, singers are still the epitome of wedding entertainers. After all, what marriage is complete without Auntie Lou and Uncle Pete hitting the dance floor for a few choice moves a la MC Hammer?

But today, heightened expectations and the much greater range of entertainment options on offer mean that, as far as modern weddings are concerned, the sky's pretty much the limit when it comes to wedding entertainment. Singers and DJs are perfectly acceptable, but for many brides and grooms, these represent a default option which doesn't necessarily demonstrate the right degree of imagination and creativity. With the entire world of show business virtually on offer, why just settle for a bloke with a turntable and some flashing lights? But there's one thing to bear in mind: whether you've booked a singer or a snake charmer, wedding entertainment doesn't always go according to plan.

Entertainment as a statement of individuality

Dave Simms is a man who knows a thing or two about wedding entertainment. As the head of wedding insurance for specialist insurer Ecclesiastical, Dave had been involved with thousands of weddings across the UK over the last decade. He's seen pretty much every type of entertainment you can have at a wedding - and knows the problems that go along with each one. "We've insured weddings with magicians, tribute bands, choirs, bouncy castles, orchestras, even casinos," Dave recalls. "But what's clear is that over the last ten years we've seen a definite trend towards hiring more and more varied acts. Many of the brides and grooms we work with find the idea of hiring a DJ a little bit passe. They want entertainment that their guests will really remember - a statement of their individuality. I think people are also very influenced by the types of entertainers they see at conferences or other weddings they attend."

The show must go on...mustn't it?

As far as wedding insurance companies are concerned, whether they're an old-time jazz band or a state-of-the-art drum and bass combo, the biggest single risk posed by any entertainer is that they go out of business ahead of your wedding. "Insurers call it supplier failure," says Dave. "It's the most common type of claim we get on our wedding insurance policies. You pay your deposit to the entertainer - perhaps as much as 20% of the total cost - and they close down or their business goes into liquidation, taking your deposit with them. It's a dreadful situation for a couple to find themselves in, particularly when they're having to pay out money left, right and centre to venues, contractors and caterers."

Ecclesiastical's wedding insurance cover can offer protection against precisely this sort of problem. Insurance starts at just 19 and you can add the 'failure of suppliers' option to cover entertainment costs. If your entertainer goes out of business after you've booked them, simply click the next site insurance policy will pay out the amount you paid as a deposit, allowing you to hire a replacement act in time for your big day. However, it's vital to remember that, for the insurance to take effect, there must be a proper written legal contract between you and the entertainer.

Accidents can happen

The other issue that couples need to be aware of when booking entertainers, and for which wedding insurance provides help, is what's known as liability - essentially what happens if your entertainer accidentally hurts one of your guests or damages the wedding venue. For example, a lighting rig explodes or the entertainer's vehicle hits and damages the property.

"The key," says Dave, "is to check that the entertainer you book has their own liability insurance cover. This should offer protection of somewhere between 2 million-5 million. Liability insurance means that, should your entertainer hurt or damage something or someone, they can pay."

But what if one of your guests decided to sue you because of something the entertainer you hired has done? "That's not something we've ever had happen to one of our couples," says Dave, "but if it did, Ecclesiastical's wedding insurance provides liability cover for the bride and groom personally. That means the couple are very well protected and can sleep easy."

So if you're thinking about what type of entertainer to have at your wedding ceremony, take a moment to think about what type of insurance they have - and what cover you might need to buy personally. "It just takes all of the worry out of the event," says Dave. "Makes everything easier and lets the bride and groom just get on with having some serious fun."

And let's face it; if you're going to be hiring a chainsaw juggling circus act or a fire-breathing heavy metal band, you're going to need all the protection you can get. Still, it'll make one hell of a memorable wedding photograph!