The Fireman's policy offers "change of heart" coverage in cases where the bride or groom calls off the wedding more than six months beforehand and someone else, like a parent, is paying for it.

Another company, WedSafe, backed by Aon, says policy sales are up 50 percent this year, in part because of the economy.

WedSafe and Travelers, both of which began selling wedding insurance in 2007, said most claims come from problems with caterers, photographers, halls and other wedding businesses.

"This indicates some wedding venues and vendors are facing the same financial challenges as other businesses," said Alan Tuvin, vice president of product management for Travelers.

A wedding policy can reimburse you for money you can't get back if the big day is canceled because a storm shuts down airports or a burst pipe floods a hotel kitchen. There's coverage for lost or stolen wedding jewelry, and damaged or missing gowns. If the photographer doesn't show up or the pictures are damaged, policies may pay to reassemble the wedding party and restage the ceremony so new photos can be taken. There's also coverage for military deployment and liability, which some venues require in case someone gets hurt.

Policies can be bought for as little as $95, depending on how much is being spent on the wedding. Nuccio says $250 would buy good coverage for a $30,000 wedding; about $2,400 for a $250,000 event.

WedSafe says fewer than 10 percent of weddings are insured. The Wedding Report, a market research company, estimates that 11 percent of the 2.1 million weddings in the United States last year were insured.

For some wedding planners, insurance is a must, and they see more couples at least asking about it.

"When I first heard of wedding insurance I was doubtful of its practicality," said New York City planner Stella Inserra, who began recommending insurance in January. "Nowadays, it is a necessity."

Melissa Wagner, a planner in Allen, Texas, bought a policy for her own wedding, coming up in October. "I am a very cautious person who does not like bad surprises," Wagner said. "I've seen vendor issues no one could have predicted."

While not everyone is sold, Nuccio says couples without insurance whose weddings get canceled usually end up eloping, not recreating their bridal banquet.

"Who should buy wedding insurance?" Nuccio said. "Whoever can't afford to put on the same event twice."