Short-Term Event & Wedding Drone Insurance: How to Buy for One Day

Quick TL;DR

• One-day drone insurance exists and is perfect for weddings and short events. Expect hourly policies from about $10 to $40 per hour for basic liability, and one-day packages from roughly $75 to $300 depending on limits and location.

• Before you accept a job confirm the venue permit and exact COI wording, schedule expensive payloads if needed, and export telemetry after the flight.

• Buy from a specialty provider or broker that understands event risk and can issue a certificate of insurance fast.

Short-Term Event & Wedding Drone Insurance: How to Buy for One Day

Executive summary

If you fly for weddings or events, short-term insurance is often the cheapest and simplest way to be protected without an annual policy. Short-term options include hourly liability, one-day liability plus hull, and event-specific packages that meet venue rules. 

The critical tasks are: confirm venue/permit insurance requirements in writing, match the COI wording exactly, schedule high-value cameras if the insurer requires it, and maintain a robust evidence file for each job. 

This guide gives the step-by-step buying process, realistic cost expectations, sample COI text, and a short preflight checklist you can copy into your job folder.

Why short-term insurance makes sense for event pilots

• Cost efficient for occasional gigs. If you fly only a few hours per month, hourly or single-day coverage often costs less than an annual plan.

• Venue-friendly. Parks, hotels, and event coordinators commonly accept one-day COIs if the wording and limits meet their rules.

• Flexible. You can match the exact coverage to the job and client contract.

Short-term insurance is not a free pass. Event operations have unique exposures: people on the ground, crowds, and unpredictable environments. Make sure the policy you buy actually covers flights over people and short-range takeoff and landing risks if you plan to fly near guests.

Step-by-step: How to buy one-day event or wedding insurance

Step 1 - Ask the venue for exact insurance requirements

Before you quote:

• Get the venue or event manager to email the exact COI wording they require. This should include the minimum liability limit, any additional insured wording, and the required policy period.

• Typical venue requirements: $1,000,000 per occurrence liability, naming the venue as additional insured, and a 30-day cancellation notice clause. Some high-end venues ask for $2,000,000. Always get the wording in writing.

Step 2 - Decide the cover you need

Common short-term options:

• Hourly liability only - basic third-party liability for bodily injury and property damage. Good for quick, low-risk outdoor ceremonies.

• One-day liability + hull - includes coverage for physical damage to your drone and possibly payload for the day. Useful if you bring expensive gear.

• Event packages - built for weddings, include higher limits and additional insured language. Some packages also add limited professional liability for missed deliverables. Check the exclusions.

When in doubt, choose liability plus hull for expensive drones.

Step 3 - Get quotes from specialty providers

• Use specialty drone insurers or marketplaces that offer on-demand policies. They can issue COIs fast. Generalist insurers typically cannot turn around same-day certificates.

• Provide exact job details: date, start and end time, full venue name and address, operation area on site, pilot name and certificate, drone make/model and payload value, and whether flights will occur over people. The more precise you are, the fewer surprises in the COI.

Step 4 - Match COI wording exactly

• Request the certificate wording from the insurer and compare it to the venue requirement line by line. If the venue needs specific language, have your broker insert that exact text on the COI.

• Common required items: additional insured wording, waiver of subrogation in favor of the venue, policy number, effective and expiration times with exact hours, and insurer contact details.

Step 5 - Buy the policy and get the COI

• Confirm the effective start time at least 30 minutes before your first takeoff and an end time after your last landing. On-demand insurers often allow flexible start times.

• Get the COI as both PDF and emailed copy to the venue contact. Save a copy in your job folder.

Step 6 - Fly and document

• Follow the normal evidence process: export raw telemetry, remove and secure SD cards, photograph launch and landing zones, gather witness names if needed, and keep client releases signed. Immediate documentation matters far more than you expect.

Read: Insurance for Real Estate Drone Photographers - Hidden Risks

Realistic costs and what affects price

Short-term pricing varies with geography, event size, and exposure. Typical ranges you can expect:

• Hourly liability only: $10 to $40 per hour for basic liability limits and low-risk venues.

• One-day liability (basic): $75 to $300 for $1,000,000 limit depending on location and crowd risk.

• One-day liability + hull: $150 to $600 if payload is modest and risk is average. Higher for expensive cameras or city venues.

• Event package (high-end venues): $300 to $1,200 if venue demands $2,000,000 liability or special endorsements.

Cost drivers:

• Liability limit required by venue. Higher limits = higher price.

• Flights over people or near crowds. Policies for flights over people cost more and may have extra conditions.

• Payload value. High-value cameras increase hull pricing or may require scheduling.

• Urban vs rural. City venues often cost more due to higher third-party exposure and permit complexity.

These are market ranges. Always get firm quotes.

Sample COI wording you can present to venues

Give this to your insurer or broker to speed the COI process. Adjust names and dates.

Certificate Holder: [Venue Name and Address]

This is to certify that the policy(ies) of insurance listed below have been issued to the insured named below and are in effect for the policy period shown.

Insured: [Your Company Name]

Policy Type: Commercial General Liability - Aircraft Liability

Policy Number: [policy number]

Coverage: Commercial General Liability including Unmanned Aircraft Liability

Limit: $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate

Policy Effective: [mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm local time] to [mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm local time]

Venue listed as Additional Insured: [Venue Name]

Waiver of Subrogation: [Yes/No as required]

Insurer Contact: [Insurer name, phone, email]

Important: If the venue requires specific language, paste their exact sentence into the COI request. Do not paraphrase.

Payload, scheduling, and camera tips for short-term flights

• If your camera is worth more than $2,000, consider scheduling it on the hull or buying a short-term payload endorsement. Without scheduling the payload you risk receiving little to no payout for camera loss.

• Bring invoice or serial number for the payload; some insurers ask for this before issuing a hull endorsement.

• If you frequently rent high-value cameras, ask your broker about short-term payload insurance or monthly payload riders.

Short-term contract clause you can use (copy-paste)

"Client authorizes operator to conduct aerial imaging at [venue name] on [date]. Client confirms they have authority to permit flights at the property and will provide operator with a written copy of venue insurance requirements. Operator will provide a certificate of insurance naming the venue as additional insured for the event period."

Put this in your booking confirmation email and get the client to initial or sign.

Pre-flight job folder - the quick checklist

• Signed client booking and the contract clause above.

• Venue permit and the COI (PDF). Confirm the COI has exact venue wording.

• Pilot Part 107 certificate or recreational proof if applicable.

• Drone and payload serial numbers and value.

• Preflight checklist and proof of client permission for launch/landing points.

• Telemetry export plan: where files will be stored after flight.

Keep this folder on your phone and in cloud backup for 12 months.

What to avoid on event jobs

• Flying over large crowds without a specific endorsement or waiver. Many short-term policies exclude flights over people.

• Leaving COI wording vague. Venues will reject generic certificates. Match their text.

• Assuming a homeowner policy covers a commercial event. It rarely does. Buy short-term commercial cover.

• Postponing purchase until the day of the flight if the venue requires a formal COI in advance. Many venues want the COI days before the event.

After the job - a short wrap process

• Export and back up telemetry and original video files immediately.

• Send the venue confirmation that the job completed and attach telemetry summary if requested.

• Archive the COI, contract, SD cards, and photos in your job folder.

If a claim later appears, this folder is how you win.

FAQs - quick answers

Q: Can I get same-day COI?
A: Often yes with specialty on-demand insurers, but confirm this 24 to 48 hours before the event to avoid surprises.

Q: Will a one-day policy cover wedding guests if someone is injured?
A: Yes, liability covers third-party bodily injury if the policy covers flights over people or the incident occurred during covered operations. Always confirm the policy scope.

Q: Do I need hull for a one-day gig?
A: If your gear is cheap and you can absorb replacement cost, maybe not. For expensive drones or payloads you should add hull for the day.

Read: Agriculture Drones and Insurance: Parametric & Traditional Options

Author

Svetlana - I am a Drone Insurance Writer and Researcher. I write about drone risk management and insurance for US pilots. Not a licensed broker. For policy advices contact a licensed insurance professional.