Even at a small comparatively casual wedding, things can begin to move very fast so you don't want things to get away for you so here's a few tips.

Have a meeting with the couple and make certain that you have a game plan as to everything that will transpire during the event. Try to work out a bit of time to make a few formal portraits and groups- time between the ceremony and the party. Once the festivities get started it hard to regroup. Get a list of VIPs, a who's who of the guests and bridal party.

Practice your FAST "candid" shooting techniques. If possible, get in some practice. Cover a birthday party or a similar event just to get a few hours in. Dry run your flash fill technique and make sure you have a nice lighting ratio between daylight and the flash.

You can use a second light for portrait effects or to open up dark backgrounds when work indoors or outdoors at night. If, however, you find the multiple light method too cumbersome, unmanageable as to unwanted shadows or the lights getting into your field of view, it's better to opt for a single light method adn concentrated on getting lots of good formal and spontaneous shots. This, of course, is you decision- you know your own level of experience.

If you decide to use multiple flash- do a dry run in advance- perhas in a local church or hall- just to get a feel for the system. With ligh stand or a mobile second ligh on a monopod, you will have to DRAFT an assistant!

Don't forget a spare camera and flash, los of batteries and extra memory cards.SHOOT LOTS!

Good luck and do enjoy the experience!

Thank you so much for those tips- just what I was hoping for! A shot list- I can go over that with them well before the event. Closed eyes- I'll be watching.
Slave flashes- hope not to have to get into that. I did that for real estate pictures- but it has been awhile. I will find out soon what the schedule will be and where events are to take place. Then I will know what to expect.
Batteries and memory cards- check!
I wondered about the guest list myself.

Glad I have 6 months to prepare

I love your optimism for shooting seniors. I have a story to relate.

I wanted to practice shooting portraits, so I announced a free portrait session for any residents of our Del Webb community of seniors. One older (85) couple had their portrait taken, and afterward, I tuned them up to look about 50 in Portrait Pro. Well, I emailed them the pictures and they had a hard time getting them off email, so I emailed the pics to a friend who has a printing lab and told the couple to go over there and pick out the picture they wanted to print. It was also the first portrait taken of them in over 20 years. After they printing was done the lab owner called me to talk about some issues, and his comment on the couple was this.

They asked if I could make them look a little younger in the final picture!

BTW, I took a photo every 4 minutes for almost 4 hours in the session. It really did help with posing, etc. after the lighting was set up.

Just wanted to share with everyone that I was asked to do a wedding and I agreed pending the details. I must be crazy- I shoot birds! Normally I would emphatically say NO but this time I didn't. It will not be a typical wedding.

It's a very special occasion outside of the fact it's a wedding. Two wonderful people getting a second chance at love after each taking care of their spouses during their long respective illnesses and passing. Both the to be groom and bride are in their late 70s/early 80s.

The venue is Colorado Springs probably in front of the chapel on the AF Academy grounds (he is an Academy grad). There is a week long AF Academy reunion prior (which my husband and I will attend)- chance to reconnect to old relationships.

I will be using the Fuji camera with the Nikon as a backup. I plan to use at least one of the film simulations including the new cinema like one with Raw as a backup.

Please only positive replies. I know all the pitfalls to well- Hints are appreciated.

Just wanted to share with everyone that I was asked to do a wedding and I agreed pending the details. I must be crazy- I shoot birds! Normally I would emphatically say NO but this time I didn't. It will not be a typical wedding.

It's a very special occasion outside of the fact it's a wedding. Two wonderful people getting a second chance at love after each taking care of their spouses during their long respective illnesses and passing. Both the to be groom and bride are in their late 70s/early 80s.

The venue is Colorado Springs probably in front of the chapel on the AF Academy grounds (he is an Academy grad). There is a week long AF Academy reunion prior (which my husband and I will attend)- chance to reconnect to old relationships.

I will be using the Fuji camera with the Nikon as a backup. I plan to use at least one of the film simulations including the new cinema like one with Raw as a backup.

Please only positive replies. I know all the pitfalls to well- Hints are appreciated.

Lots of "birds" (get my meaning?) at weddings ! And still 7 mths or so for your "excitement" to build !

You'll do just fine ! As a result of the pics I took at "milongas" (tango social dances) locally I was asked by a couple of tango friends (in their late 40's) to "do their wedding". It was May and sundown wasn't until 20.30. In those days I had X100S (23mm lens, perfect for these occasions) and an X-T1 with my 56mm f1.2. Never needed to use flash at all throughout.

Result ...... I'd have done it for free (they're friends) but they wanted to "at least pay something". When they got their pics (a visit from me with pics on USB stick to transfer to their pc) I was given, and made to accept, an extra £50.

Oh, and I was an "invited guest", and never meant to feel like "the official tog" !

Advice from me? You sure !? Erm ..... get an idea from "the principals" for any specifics, then adopt a "reportage" stance ...... take pics "off the cuff" of anything and everything.

Read my posts and you'll see that I'm "amateur" not trying to be anything else.

Do it for love, for your friends and for fun. Your knowledge and experience will not let you down.

Tips from one of the UK's top wedding photographers with a "reportage" style all of his own ...... and Fuji X-Photographer.

https://www.youtube.com/user/documentaryeye/videos

Oh, and a couple of mine from the one wedding I did ..... !

You'll not get better flash advice for these type of situations than from goofynewfie.