Like someone mentioned, the jump to lithium batteries is literally life changing for wedding work! I totally get being nervous about third-party gear for a big gig tho. Reliability is the number one priority when you only get one shot at the first kiss and dont want to let the lead down! If the V1 feels a bit too experimental with that round head, you should definitely look at the Godox V860III-C TTL Li-ion Flash for Canon. It is an amazing workhorse and fits your budget perfectly! The best part is the physical TTL switch on the side. It is so fast when you need to swap settings during a chaotic reception. Honestly, the build quality on this specific model feels very robust and safe. You get that same incredible battery life as the V1 but with a traditional fresnel head... it plays so nice with the 90D. You are gonna love it!

@Reply #2 good point! I disagree tho. The Godox V860III-C TTL Li-ion Flash offers a GN60 rating and 1.5s recycle, while the Godox TT685II-C TTL Flash matches that power for less.

@Reply #3 - good point! I totally agree that reliability is everything when you only get one shot at the first kiss. I've been really happy sticking with the official brand gear myself. It works well and I've had no complaints about how it integrates with my 90D. I'm not 100% sure about the specific model names, but I think looking at the used market for a higher-end official flash might be a good alternative. IIRC, some of the older flagship models are absolute tanks and still work perfectly with the newer cameras.

• Build quality is usually a step up
• You wont have to worry about compatibility issues
• Weather sealing is often better on the pro ones Ngl, I'd rather have a used pro unit from the main brand than a brand new third-party one. I just dont like the idea of a sync error happening during a big moment. Sticking with the native stuff gives me way more confidence when I'm shooting.

Honestly, Ive been using the Godox system for years now and I am very satisfied with how it handles wedding environments. For your budget, the Godox V1-C Flash for Canon is the clear winner over the Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT primarily because of the power management.

• The li-ion battery is a total game changer. You wont be fumbling with AA batteries in the dark.
• Recycle times are incredibly consistent even when the battery starts getting low.
• The round head provides a much more natural light falloff for portraits. It works well with the 90D and I have no complaints about the build quality or reliability. You basically get way more features for the price point compared to the native Canon gear. The Godox ecosystem also makes it super easy to add more lights later if you keep doing wedding work.