> Re: "Look, Ive been shooting weddings since the 5D Mark II days..." I totally agree with that take on reliability. I've been extremely satisfied with the Godox ecosystem on my 5D Mark IV for years now. If you have $400, your best strategy is definitely going for redundancy over a single brand-name unit. Basically, you should grab the Godox V1-C 76Ws Round Head Flash as your main. To solve the "failing mid-ceremony" worry, pick up a Godox V860III-C TTL Speedlite 2.4G as your backup. Both use those lithium batteries which are honestly life-changing... the recycle speed is instant and they last all day long. Technical reliability has been great for me despite the rumors. Just grab a Godox XPro-C Wireless Flash Trigger too and you can do some killer off-camera work during the reception. Having two lights is way better insurance than one expensive one.

Look, Ive been shooting weddings since the 5D Mark II days and honestly, flash choice comes down to reliability versus features. On my Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, I have used everything under the sun and I get why you are stressed about picking the right one. Here is my take on those units:

• Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT: This thing is an absolute tank. I have dropped mine on concrete and it still fires every time. If you want zero stress about E-TTL communication failing during the ring exchange, this is the gold standard. Only downside besides price is it eats AA batteries like crazy, so youll need a good external pack if you shoot fast.
• Godox V1-C Flash for Canon: The round head gives a slightly nicer falloff, but the real winner is the lithium battery. You can go a whole wedding on just one or two charges. Over the years, I have seen the hot shoe issue too, but the newer V1 units have metal reinforcements that make them way better than the early batches.
• Godox V860III-C Speedlight for Canon: If you dont care about the round head light pattern, get this. It has the same battery as the V1 and it is very reliable for way less than the Canon. Tbh, with your budget, I would grab two of the Godox V1-C Flash for Canon units. Having a backup is way more important than having one expensive Canon flash that could still technically fail. Plus, having two lets you put one on a stand for reception lighting... definitely consider that.

Ugh, picking flash gear is honestly the absolute worst part of wedding prep! I get so fired up just thinking about it because the anxiety of a flash failing during the first kiss or the reception entrance is just the worst feeling ever... I totally feel your pain on this one!! It is so frustrating trying to balance that rock-solid reliability with not spending a total fortune. I have been thinking about your setup for a bit and I gotta ask... are you planning on keeping the flash on your camera the whole time or are you gonna be doing off-camera stuff for the dance floor? Also, does that $400 need to cover triggers and extra batteries too or is that just for the units themselves? I love the 5D Mark IV but man, the flash choice is always such a massive headache!