Ugh, I totally feel your frustration! Canon really pulled a fast one with that hot shoe design and it caught so many of us off guard. I remember being in a total panic before a graduation shoot in a dim auditorium because my old trigger wouldnt fire. I almost cried right there lol. But honestly, the Godox stuff is fantastic and they actually stepped up to fix this while other brands just ignored it. Here are the two I have used that 100% work with that specific T7 shoe:

• Godox TT685II-C TTL Flash for Canon is amazing because it is super reliable and fits right in your budget. I love how fast the recycle time is even on AA batteries!
• Godox V860III-C TTL Li-ion Flash is a bit pricier but that lithium battery is a total game changer for events like your sisters party. You wont have to worry about swapping batteries mid-dance floor. I would grab the TT685II-C today so you have time to practice before next Friday. It handles the TTL metering perfectly so you dont have to fiddle with settings while everyone is trying to celebrate. Just pop it on, point it at the ceiling to bounce the light, and you are gonna get some killer shots... Chicago venues can be so dark but these flashes have plenty of power to light up a whole room. You got this!

Coming back to this, its unfortunately a real headache with that pinless shoe. Ive had issues with gear failing during live shoots and its just disappointing when things dont work as expected. To keep things reliable for the party:

• Godox TT685II-C TTL Flash for Canon is the safest choice under $150.
• Godox TT350C Mini TTL Flash for Canon works too but isnt as powerful for larger rooms. Both definitely support that weird shoe.

Regarding what #4 said about "Nice, didn't know that" - yeah, it was a real shock for a lot of us when Canon pulled that stunt. I remember grabbing a T7 as a backup for a quick event and realizing none of my manual triggers worked. It's honestly so disappointing when companies make things harder for beginners just to save a few cents on a pin. I've had issues with gear failing before but this was just annoying. Since you're on a tight schedule for that Chicago party, here's what I've found works through trial and error:

• Godox TT685II-C TTL Flash for Canon: This is probably your most solid choice. It's powerful enough to bounce off high ceilings, though honestly, it feels a bit bulky on the tiny T7 body. The menu is a bit clunky but it definitely talks to the pinless shoe.
• Godox TT350C Mini TTL Flash for Canon: I've used this for travel. It's way smaller and fits the T7 better, but the power is kinda weak. If the party venue has high dark ceilings, you're gonna struggle to get enough light.
• Canon Speedlite 270EX II: If you find one used, it's native so it works perfectly. But it doesnt rotate sideways for vertical shots which is a huge pain for portraits... really not as good as expected for the price. I'd go with the TT685II. Just bring extra batteries because it eats them up way faster than you'd think... good luck with the sister's party!

@Reply #1 - good point! Honestly, that center pin removal was a total disaster for technical workflows. I've spent years analyzing strobe synchronization and Canon really messed with the voltage signaling on these entry-level boards. In my experience, it's all about the digital handshake now since the physical trigger loop is gone. Basically, you need a unit that communicates entirely through the side pins using the E-TTL protocol. Here is what you need to look for:

• Units with firmware specifically for the T7 or 2000D series.
• Full digital communication support rather than simple manual triggering.
• A brand that actually updates their hardware logic for these weird changes. Just go with Godox. They are super reliable and they actually fixed their chips to bypass the missing pin issue. You'll definitely be able to handle that engagement party in Chicago if you stick with them.

Nice, didn't know that