Ok, this is my email response to the insurer. Anyone care to take a look?
Venue – whilst we note the primary reason for yourwedding’s cancellation is self-isolation of keyweddingguests, we regret to advise this cannot be considered under your policy as only thedeath, injury, or sickness of the marrying couple orweddingpartyis an insured event. However, if you can evidence your venue’s cancellation of yourwedding, or otherwise that your venue was closed on your plannedweddingdate of 21/03/2020, we may be able to proceed further with your claim.
The venue was open on 21/03/2020. Proof of cancellation of our event, was previously included with our claim. I have also attached further evidence of the circumstances leading to the unavoidable cancellation of our wedding:
a) File name: 16-Mar - WedInsure self-isolating. This is a screenshot taken from our insurer's website prior to cancelling our event. The text says: 'If any key people were unable to attend due to being quarantined or self-isolating due to the coronavirus would I be covered for cancellation?... We would notcover a close relative if they self-isolate unless they have a valid medical certificate certified by a GP or hospital.' This strongly implies that the insurer does cover cancellation for coronavirus self-isolation if the bride, groom and/or close relatives have a valid medical certificate certified by a GP or hospital. A valid medical certificate certified by my GP was enclosed with the original claim documentation.
b) File name: 16-Mar - .Gov website. This is a print-out taken from the government website prior to cancelling our event. The government acted to issue guidance which 'advised against' social mixing in the community for all people aged 0-69 (9 close relatives due to attend the wedding, as defined by the insurer in file (a)) and 'strongly advised against' social mixing in the community for those aged 70+ (2 close relatives as defined above), those of any age with an underlying health condition (1 close relative as defined above), pregnant women (2 further guests) and those with serious underlying health conditions (the bride, as certified by her GP).
The section titled 'What is social distancing?' gives measures that '[E]veryone should be trying to follow... as much as is pragmatic' and 'For those who are over 70, have an underlying health condition or are pregnant, we strongly advise you to follow theabove measures as much as you can, and to significantly limit your face-to-face interaction with friends and family if possible. This advice is likely to be in place for some weeks'. Two of those measures are applicable to our event: '(3) Avoid large gatherings, and gatherings in smaller public places such as pubs, cinemas, restaurants, theatres, bars clubs', and '(4) Avoid gatherings with friends and family. Keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet, and social media'. That these criteria are applicable to our event and in particular to me as the bride is evidenced by the valid medical certificate and shielding letters enclosed with the original claim documentation.