Wedding accidents on the rise

The promise to stand by your partner through sickness and health truly begins on your wedding day.

Figures released by ACC show claims for injuries suffered at weddings - whether guests, bride or groom - are on the rise.


ACC is warning people to avoid any heavy lifting on their big day.

During the past three years, there has been a steady rise in claims, peaking at 256 in 2014.

While it might be polite to help prepare for a wedding, heavy lifting should be avoided.

Carrying chairs for the big day has resulted in injury, while another claimant hurt their back while lifting a three-tier wedding cake.

This year, there's already been 238 claims, with the perilous summer wedding season not quite upon us.

Singletons have more to fear than a lifetime alone, one Kiwi fell over and injured themselves while trying to catch the bride's bouquet.

While often fantastic place to attract a partner your sweet moves, dance floors can also prove dangerous at weddings.

ACC has recorded claims related to slipping over on the dance floor, and rolling feet on uneven ground.

So far this year, wedding related injuries have cost ACC $155,247, with the bill only expect to rise.

In 2014, ACC forked out nearly a quarter million dollars on injuries suffered on that very special day, the most expensive wedding season for ACC in recent history.

Queer Eye Wedding co-owner Francesca Jago says she wasn't surprised by the figures.

'People do get a bit intoxicated and lose their inhibitions, and their balance.”

Brides' biggest fears seemed to be falling over in their frocks.

'People are worried about tripping down the aisle, but I've never seen it happen.”

Pure NZ Weddings owner Jan Edge says the number of accidents was 'quite understandable”.

'Everybody sees those blooper videos from people's weddings where people have too much to drink, and they're not wearing appropriate footwear, and there are slippery floors and enthusiastic uncles.”

She says there was a trend in people doing heli-weddings: taking helicopters to the tops of mountains, which added another level of risk.

Her advice to wedding parties: just don't drink too much before the photos.

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