Honestly, for that budget, Godox V860III-C TTL Li-ion Flash for Canon is your best bet because that 7.2V/2600mAh lithium battery is a total lifesaver during long events. You get roughly 480 full-power flashes and a 1.5s recycle time, which easily beats the Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT and its reliance on slower AA cells. The sync issues people talk about are mostly fixed via firmware updates, so its pretty stable now on the 90D. Heres how I would break down your budget options:

• Godox TT685II-C TTL Flash for Canon - same GN60 power as the V860 but uses 4 AA batteries for about half the price.
• Godox V1-C Round Head Flash for Canon - has a 76Ws output and smoother light falloff, usually sits right at your 250 limit.
• Godox X2T-C TTL Wireless Flash Trigger - if you have leftover cash, this lets you move the flash off-camera for better shadows. The 90D handles third-party TTL protocols quite well. Just practice bouncing the light off the ceiling to avoid that ghost look... it makes a massive difference. You got this.

Unfortunately, gear costs are getting out of hand. I had issues with expensive brand-name units failing mid-shoot and its just not worth it anymore. Grab these:

• Yongnuo YN600EX-RT II TTL Speedlite for Canon
• Its a solid workhorse for under 150 bucks.
• Panasonic Eneloop Pro 4-Pack AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries
• Mandatory if you want fast recycling. Dont overpay for that Canon logo.

Coming back to this because I remember being in your shoes a few years back shooting a family reunion and feeling that same panic when my shots came out looking like a horror movie. Like someone mentioned, the ghosting is usually just because the light is hitting them directly from the camera. I eventually picked up a Godox TT685II-C Flash for Canon and it basically solved my issues. Its a bit more traditional than the lithium ones but its a total workhorse. I once shot an entire eight hour event with two sets of batteries and it never missed a beat. The reliability is honestly better than some of the more expensive units I've tried. If you want to avoid that harsh look, just tilt the head up and bounce it off the ceiling. It is way under your $250 budget which is nice. You might even have enough left over for a Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce Flash Diffuser to help soften things up even more. Just make sure you get some decent rechargeables and you'll be fine for the wedding. One thing tho, dont forget to practice bouncing the light before the actual wedding day... it takes a bit of getting used to. But honestly, it is a lifesaver.

Building on the earlier suggestion about sticking to the official ecosystem, I find that reliability usually outweighs flashy features when youre under pressure. I learned this the hard way at a gala a few years back. My setup at the time was a mix of various brands, and while it worked in my living room, it started misfiring the moment the venue got busy. It was incredibly stressful trying to troubleshoot while the event was moving forward without me. From my experience, sticking with the camera brand offers a few key advantages:

• Seamless communication with the cameras E-TTL system for more accurate exposures.
• More predictable recycle times when using standard high-quality batteries.
• Generally better long-term durability in the hot shoe connection. It boils down to whether you prefer extra features or absolute consistency. For a wedding where there are no do-overs, playing it safe is often the most professional choice.

Unfortunately, I had a disaster using off-brand gear at a friends ceremony. The sync failed constantly and I ended up with a bunch of black frames. It was so frustrating. Just stick to the official Canon gear for your 90D. You really cant go wrong with staying in the same ecosystem. Third-party stuff always sounds great on paper until it glitches out during the most important shots.

> that built-in flash makes everyone look like ghosts. I was looking at the Canon 430EX III-RT since it seems official but then I saw people saying Godox V860III is better Adding my two cents here as someone who has shot more weddings than I can count... the brand of the flash is way less important than where you point the thing. You might want to consider just getting any reliable Godox unit for your Canon. Honestly, just go with Godox and you wont regret it. They are basically the industry standard for value now. But be careful, a flash is just a tool. If you keep pointing it straight at people, theyll still look like ghosts no matter how much you spend. Make sure to learn how to bounce light off the ceiling or walls. I actually suggest keeping a simple white business card and a rubber band in your bag. Its a classic DIY trick to bounce light while still throwing a little bit forward to catch the eyes. Just get the third party gear and spend the leftover money on extra batteries. You really dont need the expensive Canon logo for a wedding. Just make sure to practice before the day starts so you arent fiddling with settings during the ceremony.