I was in your shoes a few months back and honestly, I was pretty disappointed with the whole Canon digital shoe situation. I tried the Canon DM-E1D Stereo Directional Microphone hoping for a cleaner signal, but it just felt like a cheap plastic toy that didn't handle vibration well at all. Definitely not worth the premium price tag in my book. Here is what I learned the hard way after a windy shoot at Grant Park:

• The R6 Mark II preamps are actually quite clean. You just gotta set the camera gain to like 1 or 2 clicks above zero and let the mic do the heavy lifting.
• Unfortunately, proprietary gear often lets you down. I moved to the Deity V-Mic D3 Pro Shotgun Microphone and it's been way more reliable for half the cost. It has a physical gain knob which is a lifesaver during a loud reception when things get rowdy.
• If you are in Chicago, skip the big chains and hit up Helix Camera or Central Camera. They usually have floor models you can actually test to see if the hiss bothers you before you drop the cash. I wasted so much money on the brand name stuff before realizing that a good $200 mic beats a $400 one if the interface is clunky. Definitely check out Curtis Judd's YouTube channel for the exact gain settings for the R6 series... his technical tests saved my audio more than once.

honestly dont stress too much about that multi-function shoe thing. i've been using the Rode VideoMic Pro+ On-Camera Shotgun Microphone for a while now and i'm just so happy with how reliable it is. i had a similar situation last year where i was worried about electronic noise, but as long as you set the camera gain manually to one or two clicks above zero, it sounds clean as a whistle. here is why i usually stick to the rode:

• the safety track feature is a huge deal for weddings when people suddenly shout.
• it uses a rechargeable battery but takes AAs in a pinch which has saved me more than once.
• that auto-on function means i never forget to hit the power switch. you really dont need that specialized canon digital mic. i've been very satisfied with the standard 3.5mm setup and it's never let me down even in busy environments.

Just saw this and unfortunately your timeline is giving me flashbacks to a very disappointing gig I had. I tried to be very cautious with my budget for a similar outdoor ceremony and it backfired completely. My assistant insisted on using some legacy equipment to save a few hundred bucks and it turned into a massive ordeal.

• the connection was crackling every time he moved
• he didnt realize the phantom power requirements
• the wind muff was actually for a different model and kept falling off He was frantically checking his phone for troubleshooting tips while the wedding party was already lining up. Honestly it was incredibly unprofessional and the couple was clearly annoyed by the distraction. It ended up being a total waste of time because we had to use the scratch audio from the camera anyway... really hope your local shop in Chicago has what you need.

Yep been there done that. Can confirm everything said above is spot on.

Great info, saved!