Should I Buy Event Liability Insurance for a Wedding or Party at My Home or a Friend’s Home?

Updated September 22, 2025

If you’re planning a wedding, birthday party, or large gathering at your home or a friend’s / family member’s home, you may be wondering:

“What protection do I get and what protection does the homeowner get from Event Liability Insurance?”

The short answer: In most cases, limited. Here's why.

Understanding What Policies Cover When it’s Your Home

Special Event Liability Insurance is designed primarily for events held at venues or private homes you are renting from a third party.

While some coverage may be available — such as host liquor liability if you hire a properly insured bartender — these policies generally exclude:

  • First-party property damage (damage your home)
  • Claims due to a defective property conditions or negligence on behalf of the homeowner, such as a guest being injured from a broken step or loose paver

Both types of claims should be handled by the homeowner’s insurance policy.

Here’s the rub, you will have a conflict if a homeowner’s policy and an event liability policy are both involved in the same claim. Two policies covering the same thing will create confusion about which policy should respond first. Your event insurance and your homeowner’s insurance providers will each point to the other as the primary policy, this will present a conflict which can delay claims resolution.

If you're hosting a large gathering at your home, here are a few key steps you can take to protect yourself:

  • Contact your homeowner’s insurance company. Ask if your policy covers special events at your home. Don’t forget to also ask if your policy also covers alcohol related incidents.
  • Only work with insured vendors. Your caterer, bartender, florist, photographer, DJ/band, rental company, etc. should all carry their own liability insurance naming you as an Additional Insured on their policy.
  • If a vendor makes you responsible for damage to their equipment, ask the vendor about buying a damage waiver form them. Many companies offer this, so you are not financially responsible for any damage to their equipment (e.g. tents, speakers, linens, etc.).

Hosting at a Friend’s or Family Member’s Home?

This scenario adds extra complexity, especially if there is no written contract for the use of the home. Many couples hosting their event at a friend or family member’s home don’t have a contract  that clarifies:

  1. Who is responsible for any damage to the property or injuries caused by the couple or their guests?
  2. Is insurance required to cover any damages or injuries?
  3. Are vendors required to carry liability insurance and name the homeowner as an additional insured?

How would a written contract help in these cases:

  1. The contract would clearly spell out if the couple is responsible for any damage to the property or injuries caused by the couple or their guests. This is where indemnification language becomes important.
  2. The contract would include a provision requiring insurance from the couple and the limits of insurance required.
  3. The contact would also require all vendors to carry liability insurance and name the homeowner as an additional insured on their policy. In addition, it would specify that anyone serving alcohol would be required to have Liquor Liability insurance.

One question we often hear is “why do I need a contract if I am not being charged for use of the home?” The simple answer is the cost of using the home is not relevant to roles and responsibilities for the use of the home. When creating the home rental contract, most people simply use $1 as the rental fee for the use of the home.

Without clearly defining roles and responsibilities in a written contact, liability for an incident may fall on the homeowner. This can happen even if they were not involved in the planning or execution of the event.

Learn More

We’ve written helpful resources to explain these topics in more detail:

At eWed, we’re here to help you plan wisely, even when our policy may not be the right fit for your situation. If you're unsure whether your event qualifies or need help figuring out your coverage, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re happy to help guide you in the right direction.

Other Resources