In my experience, sticking with the Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip is the way to go for pro work. The weather sealing alone makes it worth the price tag since third-party options like the Vello BG-C14 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV just dont have the same gasket quality. You also get that tactile 'click' on the shutter button... no mushiness at all. If youre doing 8-hour weddings, you really dont want gear failure mid-ceremony!! gl!

sooo, for your situation, I would suggest maybe checking out the used market before going with a cheap third-party one. I totally get the price tag struggle, but I actually had a really wierd experience with a super budget grip once where it kept losing connection to the body right during a shoot. talk about stress!! tbh if you're doing professional wedding work, that weather sealing is pretty important. have you thought about grabbing a used Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip for EOS 5D Mark IV? i check sites like KEH or MPB all the time and you can usually find them in great shape for like half the retail price. it's basically the best way to get that OEM quality without the "new" tax. if you really wanna buy new and keep it cheap tho, maybe look at the Meike MK-5D4 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV. it's a solid value play but just be careful... it definitely wont handle a downpour like the official Canon one. honestly, for pro work, just make sure to test whatever you buy at a low-stakes session first. gl! 👍

Unfortunately, I have had some pretty frustrating experiences trying to go the budget route with my 5D Mark IV. When you are shooting a long wedding day, the last thing you want to worry about is your grip losing connection or failing. Most third-party stuff just isnt as good as expected once you really put it to work under pressure.

• Meike MK-5D4 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV: I was initially excited about this because of the wireless remote, but it was a total disappointment. The electronics are poorly shielded and I had constant issues with battery drain. It would literally kill my batteries. Just sitting there. Overnight in the bag. Not something you want to deal with on a double-header weekend.
• Vivitar Pro Series Multi-Power Battery Grip for Canon EOS 5D Mark IV: This one was also a letdown. The build quality feels very hollow and plasticky compared to the solid magnesium of the 5D body. Plus, the rubber coating started peeling off after only a few months of use, which looks really unprofessional when you are working with high-end clients. The shutter button also lacked that two-stage feel, making focus a total guessing game.
• Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip for EOS 5D Mark IV: I eventually gave up and bought the official Canon version. Honestly, it is way too expensive for what it is, but it is the only one that actually feels reliable. The buttons have the correct tactile feel and the weather sealing is actually there... something the cheaper brands always seem to skimp on.

> "In my experience, sticking with the Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip is the way to go for pro work." Actually, I have to push back a little on the idea that weather sealing is the only dealbreaker here. Having done a fair bit of market research on these, the real kicker for the 5D IV is the battery telemetry and internal data communication. If you look at the Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip, the main draw isn't just the rubber gaskets; it’s the way it handles the LP-E6N authentication. I’ve seen Meike MK-5D4 Battery Grip units and even some Vello BG-C14 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV copies trigger "cannot communicate with battery" errors mid-shoot because the PCB inside isn't quite up to spec. Honestly, for weddings, you need that precise percentage reading for both cells in your menu, right? Some third-party grips drain them unevenly or give "full" readings until they just die. If the OEM is too pricey, the Phottix Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV is probably the closest in build, but even then, the shutter button's tactile feedback is never realy 1:1 with the body. For pro work, the risk of a data error is just too high. Just my two cents!

yo, I totally feel u on those hand cramps!! Wedding days are BRUTAL on the wrists, honestly. For your situation, I've actually tried both the expensive route and the cheap one, and here's my take: * Go with Vello if you want that better shutter feel without the Canon price tag. * Just get a Neewer one if you basically just care about the extra battery and don't mind a slightly plasticky grip.
* Check the used market for the official ones because sometimes they're SO much cheaper than buying new! tbh, the weather sealing on the third-party stuff is kinda sketchy compared to the main body, but for most wedding venues, it's totally fine. I mean, I've used my Vello grip in light drizzle and it didn't die or anything... wait no, actually it was fine! It's SO worth the investment for the ergonomics alone. Good luck! 👍