Guides
Plain-language answers on vendor certificates of insurance, written for wedding and event venues.
COI basics
- Additional Insured: What It Means for Your Venue
Additional insured means another party is added to a policy so it's protected too. Here's what it means on a COI, and why venues require it from vendors.
- Certificate Holder vs Additional Insured
Certificate holder just means who received the COI. Additional insured means you're covered. Here's the difference and why it matters for your venue.
- How to Read a Certificate of Insurance (ACORD 25)
A venue's field-by-field guide to reading an ACORD 25 certificate of insurance: coverages, limits, dates, additional insured and the boxes that actually matter.
- How to Request a COI from Vendors (+ Email Template)
How to request a certificate of insurance from vendors: what to ask for, a copy-paste email and text template, deadlines, and what to do when a COI is wrong.
- Liquor Liability for Weddings and Events
Who needs liquor liability coverage at a wedding — the bartender, caterer, or the couple? A plain guide for venues on liquor liability vs host liquor liability.
- How to Build a Preferred Vendor List for Your Venue
A preferred vendor list saves couples time and protects your venue. Here's how to build one, what to require, and how insurance fits in.
- Primary and Noncontributory: What It Means
Primary and noncontributory means a vendor's policy pays first and doesn't ask your venue's insurance to chip in. Here's what it means and how to confirm it.
- Sample Certificate of Insurance (with Free Download)
A free sample certificate of insurance (ACORD 25) you can download, plus a good-COI-vs-bad-COI comparison so you know exactly what to check.
- Vendor Insurance Requirements for Venues
What insurance to require from wedding and event vendors: general liability limits, liquor liability, workers' comp and additional insured, by vendor type.
- Waiver of Subrogation: What It Means for Venues
A waiver of subrogation stops a vendor's insurer from coming after your venue to recover a claim. Here's what it means and how to confirm it on a COI.
- What Is a COI (Certificate of Insurance)?
A COI is a one-page document that proves a business has active insurance. Here's what a certificate of insurance shows and why venues ask every vendor for one.
Vendor insurance requirements
- Bartender Insurance: What Venues Require
What insurance a bartender needs to work at a venue: general liability, liquor liability, and one-day bartender insurance for a single event.
- Catering Liability Insurance: What Venues Require
What insurance a caterer needs to work at a venue: general liability limits, liquor liability, workers' comp, and how to get a COI in the right format.
- DJ Insurance: What Venues Require
What insurance a DJ needs to work at a venue: general liability limits, additional insured, equipment coverage, and DJ insurance for one day.
- Event & Wedding Planner Insurance for Venues
What insurance an event or wedding planner needs to work at a venue: general liability, additional insured, and professional liability explained.
- Florist Insurance: What Venues Require
What insurance a wedding florist needs to work at a venue: general liability limits, additional insured, and why installations create real risk.
- Food Truck Insurance: What Venues Require
What insurance a food truck needs to work at a venue: general liability, commercial auto, liquor liability if serving alcohol, and workers' comp.
- Photographer & Videographer Insurance for Venues
What insurance a wedding photographer or videographer needs to work at a venue: general liability, additional insured, and equipment coverage explained.
- Party Rental & Tent Company Insurance for Venues
What insurance a rental or tent company needs to work at a venue: general liability, additional insured, installation risk and delivery auto coverage.
Templates
- COI Tracking Spreadsheet Template (Free Download)
A free COI tracking spreadsheet template for venues. Track each vendor's certificate, limits, additional insured and expiration in Google Sheets or Excel.
- Venue Vendor Agreement Template (Free Download)
A free venue vendor agreement template covering insurance, COI deadlines, alcohol, load-in/out, cleanup and indemnity. Download and adapt with your attorney.
Compare
- A Jones Alternative for Wedding & Event Venues
Looking for a Jones alternative? VenueCOI is COI tracking built for venues — no-login vendor upload links, per-event tracking and liquor liability checks.
- A myCOI Alternative Built for Venues
Looking for a myCOI alternative? VenueCOI is COI tracking built for wedding and event venues — per-event tracking, no-login vendor uploads and liquor liability checks.
- A TrustLayer Alternative Built for Venues
Looking for a TrustLayer alternative? VenueCOI is COI tracking built for wedding and event venues, not construction — with vendor upload links and per-event tracking.