gray_ghost2 Loc: Antelope, (Sac) Ca.

As a novice photographer, I shot my daughters wedding. What a mistake. I wasn't able to relax and enjoy her wedding because I was always behind the camera trying to catch their special moments. The photos came out fine but I think they would of been better served by using a professional and I could of played the part of the bride's father in a more relaxed mood. They've been married for 20yrs now.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Assuming you have no wish to compete with the pros, my preference in this case would be one lens for everything with no flash. My choice would be an 85 f/1.8 or better yet the 1.4. Rokinon makes one for a very reasonable price. Make sure you get the newer version. I think that those made for Nikon will have AF, but I am not sure, not being a Nikon user. You can always stop down faster lenses. For taking casual shots there it takes the same effort using a cell phone or a camera. Have fun, and bring home some good memories.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

👍👍 Been there, done that, and I agree.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I shot pictures at each of my daughters's weddings - both within the past two years - and enjoyed each of them immensely.

In both cases, I used a 18-135mm on my Pentax KP to take 'natural light' photographs.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

My wife would have shot me if I did that...and not with a camera!

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Obviously our cases were different.
Both daughters did have a "pro" to make a traditional album,
but my wife sat happily next to me as I took our version also.

Hip Coyote

CHG_CANON is correct. Go and have fun. Leave the photos up to the pro. And, in some instances, pro contracts strictly forbids allowing others to take photos (with dslrs, etc.) because they are a nusance. Out of the 1000 photos they take, you will not likely get a better one. BE in the moment and forget the photography. At our son's wedding / reception, I was in the moment...and it was great.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I will not encourage you to photograph the wedding, although there really are some of us that experience life better that way.

What I will do is encourage you to keep considering the 17-55 mm f/2.8 lens if you see a use for it beyond the wedding. I'm guessing most folks have never seen one, and fewer have used one. I've had mine for about 13 years and it still compares very favorably to other lenses in actual use. Even though it is not quite as wide on a full frame equivalent basis as a 24 - 70mm zoom, its zoom range is slightly greater...almost to 80mm at the long end. I have never missed VR, and I doubt that you will either.

I looked at and tested a 16-80mm DX zoom, but was not impressed at all. It is a 5:1 zoom instead of 3:1, but the one I used was actually f/4 over almost its entire range...from about 21 or 22 mm all the way up. It is functionally equivalent to a 24-120 mm f/4. I just bought a nice used one of those for $425 and use it mostly on my D500. The 17-55 is a better lens than either of those other two.

Have fun deciding and at the wedding.