The answer is Wedding Insurance. Here are some of the concerns that are handled by Wedding Insurance:
No Dress – You can get repair or replacement cost if the bride’s wedding gown or groom’s tuxedo is lost or damaged.
Lost Deposits – We can reimburse your deposit if a vendor goes out of business, declares bankruptcy before your wedding, or fails to show up.
Lost Rings – You can receive repair or replacement cost if the bride’s or groom’s wedding band is lost or damaged.
Severe Weather – If severe weather forces you to postpone your wedding, we can provide reimbursement for non-recoverable expenses.
Transportation Shutdown – If you have to postpone your wedding because a commercial transportation shutdown prevents the bride or groom or their parents from getting there, you can receive reimbursement for non-recoverable expenses.
Ruined Photos – If your photographer’s film is defective, or negatives are lost or damaged, we can help reconvene your wedding party to take new photos or video.
Call to Duty – If the bride or groom is unexpectedly called up to duty, or her or his military or service leave is revoked, forcing you to postpone the event, we can provide reimbursement for non-recoverable expenses.
Damaged Gifts – You can get repair or replacement cost if your wedding gifts are damaged.
Sudden Illness – If the wedding needs to be postponed because sudden illness prevents the bride, groom or their parents from attending, you can receive reimbursement for non-recoverable expenses.
Venue Requires Insurance – As an additional option to your policy, you can add liability coverage to protect yourself in case a guest is injured or causes damage to property.
Additional Expense – If a vendor suddenly becomes unavailable for your event but you can find a last minute replacement, we can reimburse you for the difference in cost.

However one of the things the policy does not cover is change of heart or cold feet! The policy can be tailored to fit your own personal needs. Premiums can range from $95 to $300 depending on the size of your bridal party and the level of coverage you would like to purchase.

This coverage can easily be quoted online via are website by clicking HERE, or give me a call today!

For the second consecutive year, vendor and venue bankruptcies and service issues remain the most frequent causes of wedding day mishaps for couples, according to an analysis of 2009 wedding insurance claims by Travelers (NYSE: TRV).

A total of 62 percent of all wedding insurance claims from 2009 were the result of vendor and venue problems, a 19 percent increase in this category in comparison to a similar study Travelers released last year.  

Travelers’ 2009 claim data showed mishaps with banquet facilities, caterers, photographers and flower shops left some newlyweds without important wedding day details.  The most common vendor and venue related problems include the facility or vendor going out of business, flowers and photos not being delivered, DJs not showing up and caterers not delivering what was promised.

“With this and a recent report announcing a 63 percent* increase in business bankruptcies in the past 12 months compared to 2008, it makes sense for couples to seriously consider the risk of vendor or venue bankruptcy when planning their wedding,” said Chantal Cyr, vice president for Travelers Wedding Insurance.  “Wedding related businesses are as vulnerable as any other in today’s economic environment.”

Travelers is urging couples to consider insurance options when the wedding planning begins.  The no-deductible Wedding Protector Plan^SM, is helping a growing number of couples protect their budget for as little as $160 by covering items like lost deposits, unavoidable cancellation due to weather or military leave, lost or damaged photographs, gift breakage, host liability concerns and more.  

Travelers’ 2009 wedding claim information also included weather-related problems, such as the cancellation of the event or closing of a venue as a result of inclement weather, which made up 15 percent of claims.  Issues with the wedding attire, such as dress and tuxedo alteration problems, generated another 15 percent of wedding insurance claims.  Other problems such as the absence of key family members (parents or grandparents) as a result of sickness, untimely death, and travel delays yielded the final 8 percent of the wedding claims.

“Protecting the wedding day budget from some common problems gives couples peace of mind in an investment that’s likely costing them $20,000 or more,” added Cyr.

Wedding insurance is easy to quote and inexpensive!  Just click here to get a quote and issue your own policy.  And of course you can contact us with any questions.

“Seely & Durland has attended all three Expo’s and each year the show gets better, and so does our exhibit booth!”, states Garrett W. Durland, CIC, president of the S&D and president of the Warwick Chamber of Commerce.   States Durland, “the ability to bring so many local businesses into one building to meet and greet the Warwick residents is an outstanding opportunity for both parties”. 

Stuart S. Durland, AAI, VP was there for the entire day and made the following observation.  He said “each year our employees get really excited to attend.  We start planning 3 months out, and everyone has a responsibility.  On the day of the show, all employees spend a minimum of 2 hours working the booth, meeting people, and just enjoying the camaraderie.  Garrett Durland, who was an Expo Committee member and responsible for overall coordination throughout the day said “I’ve heard nothing by wonderful comments about the show all day long!”

Seely & Durland was also celebrating their 75thanniversary!  Over 300 clients that have been with S&D for over 20 years were invited to share in a birthday cake.  Many attended and shared their experiences.  Stuart Durland stated that “we believe that our longest tenured client attended, Mr. John Slesinski.  Mr. Slesinski told us that he’s been with our office since he was 16, when his parents told him to see our grandfather, and he is 79 now.  That’s a 63 yr client!”

Seely & Durland, Inc. has been a trusted part of the community for over 75 years.  As a Trusted Choice Independent Insurance Agency they represent dozens of the world’s finest insurance companies. This gives their licensed and professional staff the best competitive opportunity to properly meet the specific coverage needs of their clients at an affordable price. S&D is also a member of DCS Risk Management Group, LLC, and alliance of Independent Agents throughout the Hudson Valley.

We Ask.  We Listen.  We Find Solutions!

For more information, visit www.seely-durland.com or call 800-562-2771.

One other important consideration … make sure you put into your rental agreement a requirement that your tenant obtain Renters insurance.  They should be required to obtain at least $500,000 liability. This is protection for both of you in the event that the tenant is responsible for a claim situation.  A tenants policy is usually under $200 per year!

So what can you do to prevent a loss and, if a loss occurs, will your homeowner’s insurance policy cover these items?  Here are a few steps that will help reduce the risk of a crime being committed:

• Lock dorm room doors and secure valuables
• Keep receipts and records of valuables
• Don’t leave valuables unattended in study areas, cafeterias, libraries or other public places
• Take pictures or mark valuables so they can be easily identified later
• Report suspicious activity and suspicious people to police immediately

From an insurance standpoint, typically if your child lives in a dorm or other type of on campus housing, their possessions would be covered under your standard homeowners insurance policy.  There are variables to consider including the deductible on your policy. 

On the other hand, if your child is living off campus at a house, condo, or apartment complex, they are usually no longer covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy.    In this case your college student should consider purchasing a renter’s insurance policy that will cover their possessions AND provide them with important liability insurance in the event of a 3^rd party claim.

 It’s always a good idea to call or visit your local Trusted Choice, Independent Insurance agent to discuss your specific situation and coverage needs!

So the moral is, for the safety of all involved, to take the extra 15-20 minutes after a snow storm to clean off your entire vehicle.  Some states have actually passed laws making it mandatory that the vehicles be cleared off.  In NY State that legislation is currently pending.  If passed, you can be ticketed!

“Last year’s historic agreement set the framework for workers’ compensation reform, but the savings are actually produced through the difficult work of developing and implementing the proposals. We will continue to work hard to cut costs for New York businesses and improve benefits for injured workers,” said Governor Paterson. “We have made progress. Two years ago, New York had one of the most expensive workers compensation programs in the country. Now, we have one of the least expensive. We still need to do more and I am committed to ensuring that this reform program makes New York a better place to do business and a safe and secure place to work.”

The lower rate can be credited to the successful implementation of reform legislation, which is being led by Governor Paterson. More broadly, the reform efforts are designed to reduce costs to New York businesses while increasing weekly benefits and improving medical care for injured workers. They include:

• increases in maximum weekly benefits from $400 to $500 in 2007, to $550 in 2008, $600 in 2009, and two-thirds of the statewide average weekly wage in 2010, where it will then be indexed annually;
• a streamlined system for resolving contested claims and promptly delivering benefits to injured workers, while reducing administration costs;
• increased fraud and compliance actions, including stiffer penalties, to make sure everyone plays by the same rules;
• medical treatment guidelines that will improve care at a more effective cost;
• a fair and even-handed set of guidelines for determining impairment and loss of wage earning capacity;
• fee schedules and supplier networks for pharmaceuticals, diagnostic services and medical equipment that contain medical costs.

The related reform proposals are being developed by the Workers’ Compensation Board, the Department of Labor and the New York Insurance Department, which also approves the rates for workers’ compensation insurance. These rates take effect on October 1 each year.

The 2009 rate decline is due to a new rate approval system that encourages competition among insurance companies to lower rates. The actual cost of paying claims for injured workers and the cost of a state assessment declined by 8.1 percent, according to data filed by the New York State Compensation Insurance Ratings Bureau (NYCIRB). Claims and assessments equal about 75 percent of the overall employer cost of workers compensation insurance.

Insurance Superintendent Eric R. Dinallo said: “We are determined to be creative in finding ways to reduce costs for business, while protecting workers. Encouraging insurance companies to compete by being more efficient is just one of the reforms we are implementing. We continue to work jointly with business, labor, insurers and the Legislature on making these reforms real and effective.”

Kenneth Adams, President & CEO of The Business Council of New York State, said: “Lowering the cost of workers compensation insurance is important to making our economy more competitive, especially in Upstate New York. These rate reductions reflect the legislative reforms adopted in 2007. We look forward to working with Governor Paterson, his agencies and the legislature in completing implementation of the 2007 reform package, to assure long term affordability of the State’s workers compensation system.”

Denis Hughes, President of the New York State AFL-CIO, said: “The New York State AFL-CIO is proud to have played a role in the historic agreement reached last year. We will continue to work with all interested parties to ensure a more efficient system that speeds the process for injured workers and continues to reform the system in a meaningful way. We applaud Governor Paterson for his commitment to this most important initiative.”

Warwick, NY – Seely & Durland of Warwick, a third generation family owned and operated independent insurance agency would like to congratulate Supervisor Tammy Artusa for her recent graduation from Leadership Orange.

Artusa is a graduate of 2007 – which the class has affectionately crowned themselves “The Superior Cass” this is in response to the friendly and ongoing competition from year to year as to which class is truly the “The Best Class Ever.” Attend any Leadership Orange event and you will no doubt hear about this ongoing battle for the title. Needless to say, all graduates from the program attest to the value and enjoyment that they get out of the program “This program was absolutely amazing. Being a County resident my whole life I still learned new things and gained different perspectives and met so many dynamic and dedicated people. I had a great time learning and getting to know all of the wonderful and dedicated present and future leaders of Orange County!” says Artusa.

For those unfamiliar with the program, Leadership Orange educates a group of Orange County individuals from a variety of backgrounds in a 10-month leadership training program. Class participants receive training on topics important to Orange County residents and businesses including education, health and human services, communications, government and politics, the environment, culture and recreation, economic development, leadership development and the judicial system. Since its inception in 1993 it has graduated over 330 men and women from the program. This year’s class all vowed to take a position on a board or committee to serve the non-profit sector. This class was truly committed to leading by example. Ms. Artusa has committed to joining the Warwick Community Center.

Seely & Durland, Inc. has been a trusted part of the community for over 70 years. As a trusted choice independent agency they represent dozens of the world’s finest insurance companies. This gives their licensed and professional staff the best competitive opportunity to properly meet the specific coverage needs of their clients.

For more information, visit www.seely-durland.com or call 800-562-2771.

Warwick, NY – Seely & Durland of Warwick, a third generation family owned and operated independent insurance agency would like to announce the certification of two valued employees. Supervisor Tammy L. Artusa and Personal Lines Customer Service Representative Michelle L. Dixon recently completed their 40-hour pre- licensing course and subsequently were awarded their New York State Life/Health Licenses.

Artusa has a wealth of insurance industry experience having spent over sixteen years working in all aspects of property casualty. Having grown up in the business, Artusa’s first job in high school was at a local insurance agency where she started as a file clerk and worked her way into a customer service role handling personal auto and homeowners insurance. At the age of 21 she received her property casualty license which she maintains to this day.

Thirteen of those sixteen years in the industry have been spent with Seely & Durland. Tammy started in the personal lines department and was promoted in 1999 to the commercial business line. After 4 years of hard work and dedication to the firm she was promoted to the position of Supervisor. One of the things that Artusa loves about her position is the chance to meet new people and learn about different businesses.

Dixon has been with Seely & Durland for 8 years and property casualty licensed for 7 years. Dixon also started her career for a local agent before starting with Seely & Durland in 1998 giving her over 11 years of insurance experience. She currently services personal policies for individuals such as homeowners, auto, umbrella, recreational vehicles, etc.

Above all, it is both Artusa and Dixon’s passion for protecting their client’s interests that keeps them burning the midnight oil to expand their skills and keep abreast of this challenging industry.

“We are very proud of both Tammy and Michelle for taking the initiative to pursue this additional licensing. It has affected the office by raising the bar for other staffers who have since decided to pursue their licensing as well.” says Seely & Durland president Garrett Durland.

Seely & Durland, Inc. has been a trusted part of the community for over 70 years. As a trusted choice independent agency they represent dozens of the world’s finest insurance companies. This gives their licensed and professional staff the best competitive opportunity to properly meet the specific coverage needs of their clients.

For more information, visit www.seely-durland.com or call 800-562-2771.