TORONTO — While hundreds of Canadian brides and grooms laboured over tiny wedding details like the attributes of roses versus lilies, Nicole D’Amato was helping her former fiance move out.
In January, the two mutually agreed to call off their wedding, less than four months before the scheduled big day.
“I had to basically un-plan everything we had planned,” says D’Amato, 29, who lives in Milton, Ont.
Couples who cancel their nuptials and are left emotionally and financially hurt have few places to turn for help.
D’Amato says that’s why she’s launching a business this month called Alternate Ending, with the goal of providing emotional support while taking care of the dirty work like cancelling vendors, notifying guests, and tying up other loose ends.
Because she has gone through the experience herself, she says she can act as a sounding board for any concerns someone who cancels their wedding may have.
But when a wedding is cancelled for a death or illness in the family, extreme weather, venue bankruptcies or double bookings, insurance may help cover the costs.
Nancy Wells launched the company Wedensure in Vancouver a few weeks ago and says couples should protect their investment, considering the average Canadian wedding costs $30,000.
Insurance packages with either company typically cost between $100 and $500 and cover up to $50,000, including lost deposits, damage to clothes, lost gifts, or no-show vendors.
Although they give couples a backup plan in case of extenuating circumstances, one thing they won’t cover is a change of heart.