rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Among all the considerations you're currently pondering, keep in mind weather. What happens if it rains. Be prepared for that.
--Bob

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

Take both cameras. A wide to medium tele (24-105sh), should be sufficient to cover the entire event. Become proficient in the use of flash as your main lighting source, and as outdoor fill-flash. Know when and how to drag the shutter when indoors. Get a decent flash, and start practicing now.

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

Also, bounce your flash whenever possible.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

If you do it (you said you will) have a written list of shots you need IN ORDER with you and handy.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

--Bob

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

You have received such great advice aside from run, hang yourself, break a leg, etc., so I will add just a few things:
1. Prior to the wedding visit each venue and take test available light/flash exposures, with a model if possible, with the lights on the same way they will be on the day of the event. Then go home and process the pics to see what you are able to do with the bright/dim/mixed lighting sources of each location.
2. Take as many "staged pics" as you can of the Bible/rings, veil/high heels, Mother helping the bride with dressing/makeup, Mother/Father/Bride. Get these pics out of the way and processed (if possible) BEFORE the big day. You do not need the stress of managing a "shot-list" on the day of the wedding.
3. Also, someone already recommended having a "helper" for managing the shot list and posing groups. This is VERY Important! Please try to remember to . . . .
Smile,
JimmyT Sends
Best Wishes

rcarol

There is another reason to take a secomd camera - backup. The last thing you need is a camera/flash failure during the wedding. Even though your second camera has a fixed local length lens, it will allow you to at least salvage the day should your main camera fail.

n4jee Loc: New Bern, NC

My normal lens for a wedding was a 35-70 it was used for just about everything. I had a second body with an 80-200 that usually only got used for available light shots on a tripod from the back of the church during the ceremony. Your short range zoom will do nicely. You probably won't need your fixed lens camera but take it as a backup or for low light candid's.
The old idea of the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding is pretty much a thing of the past. I would get posed shots of the bride, for sure, and bride and groom, if they agree, the week before the wedding. This has two benefits. One, the bride and groom will spend less time away from their guests on the wedding day and two, if they don't come out the way you wanted, you still have the wedding day for a second chance.
When taking the formal portraits, start with the largest group and take away. For example B&G + both sets of parents. Take away one set of parents and have them wait on the sidelines while you shoot the other parents. It's a lot easier then trying to round up the next group. Getting a list of the shots that the B&G want is a must. Be sure to include Aunt Matilda that is 103 years old and came half way across the country for the event. I shot one wedding where the mother of the groom died of cancer the month after the event. Those photos of her were especially important to the family. As suggested get an assistant that can organize the formals and shoot second camera for the candid's.
Flash: Best if off camera with umbrella or light box, and fired remotely. If it has to be on camera use a diffuser. Gary Fong makes a good one, but a quart soup container from a Chinese takeout restaurant with the bottom cut out to fit your flash and a little bubble wrap under the lid works even better. Point the flash towards the ceiling. A flash bracket that allows the camera to be shifted from horizontal to vertical while keeping the flash over the lens is helpful.
The best way to maintain friendships when doing business with family is to have a contract where everyone has a clear understanding of what is expected of them. Wedding photography is too stressful for many photographers. It's not like taking portraits in a studio where the customer can come in for a reshoot the following week. Best of luck, who knows this may be the start of a part time business for you. A similar situation got me started shooting weddings part time to subsidize my hobby.

wishaw

If you must do it.
You do not have time to change lenses.
Need to find a place with a good background. Go a few days before and figure out what there is and what direction you will shoot.
Flash. Fill in flash if the sun is shining. No flash if it is cloudy.
You need a plan. Build the group so that you are not wasting time rearranging.
Bride full length
Bride and groom
Add the parents brides parents swap the men to the wrong side. Swap the men to correct side
Add the bridesmaids and grooms men
Take out the parents
Bride and bridesmaids together
Groom and men together
Close ups of bride and groom at end. She will be relaxed and ok getting her picture taken and you will get better pictures.
Do not say smile or cheese. The word is sausages
Good luck

weedhook

If you are doing this for free, then I don't see how anyone could complain about the results. My only piece of advice would be that you need to be totally in charge of the photography. Make them do what you want done and when and don't put up with any attempts from the guests or even the wedding party to run things. I'm not saying be closed to reasonable suggestions, but you have to be in charge and act like it.

kenArchi Loc: Seal Beach, CA

Bring your oxygen tank.
It's a mad rush, non stop. The cerrimony doesn't stop to pose.

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

Make sure you check out the church beforehand. see if you can attend the rehearsal. I hope it's a "small" wedding. Nowadays there are more than just one photographer at a wedding. You can't be in more than one place at a time. Good luck!!! And don't drink too much at the reception. Either that or DRINK A LOT!

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

Be prepared to be reviled by everyone. Based on personal experience.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

As the saying goes, "May the Lord have mercy on your soul." I've been a wedding photographer's "assistant" at three weddings and I have never worked so hard in all my life. My advice is to consult with the future bride and groom and create a list of the staged shots, as well as who should be in them, that they would like to have for their album. Of course, having stock images for them to choose the type of poses that they are to be placed in is a big help too. Get an assistant to help get the folks that are to be in the shot there when needed and to "tote that barge and lift that bale" to get the gear set up where and when needed....sounds easy, but it is not.

When you know what shots will be taken and where they will be staged, it makes selecting the best camera, lenses, and lighting for those shots easier and far less stressful...especially when you have someone that can help get it all ready for you so that you can concentrate on "getting the shot" for their lifetime of memories.

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

LMAO....l came VERY close to saying the same thing.