Planners are on site directing setup, guiding guests and coordinating every other vendor. That puts them in the flow of the event, so venues require liability insurance from them as well.
What venues typically require from planners
| Coverage | Typical requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial general liability | $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate | Baseline |
| Additional insured | Venue named on the GL policy | Always |
| Professional liability (E&O) | Optional | Valuable to the planner |
| Workers' compensation | If they employ staff | Varies |
These are common requirements, not advice — see the full vendor insurance requirements.
General liability vs professional liability
- Commercial general liability covers on-site third-party bodily injury or property damage — the coverage a venue requires, with the venue as additional insured.
- Professional liability (errors and omissions) covers claims that the planner's coordination or advice caused a financial loss — a booking mistake, a missed detail. It protects the planner, and venues don't usually require it, though clients value it.
Planners and vendor COIs
A well-organized planner often helps couples collect certificates from the other vendors — which means they understand the process and usually send a clean certificate themselves. Planners who reliably comply are natural additions to a preferred vendor list.
For the planner: what to send
Ask your insurer for a certificate showing $1M/$2M general liability, naming the venue as additional insured at its address, covering the event date.
What this means for your venue
Hold planners to the same standard as other on-site vendors: general liability and additional insured status, confirmed on the certificate. VenueCOI checks planner certificates automatically alongside every other vendor — or check one free.