Wedding photography kit?

For those of you who do wedding photography, what kit do you typically use? I was talking to a wedding photographer the other day and was interested by the lenses they used (I have some of them ).

My kit includes, 2 camera bodies, one set up with my 24-70 f2.8 and the other with my 70-200 f2.8 but i also take my 50mm f1.8 in my bag, numerous batteries and memory cards, white balance card for indoor shots, 2 x flash guns, reflector, tripod, remote control in case i need it.

Best piece of wedding tog kit is an assistant

Alan.

To be honest, just use what you are comfortable with.

Indoors you will need a fast lens or flash. Wide lens for the group shots outside.

I don't use a tripod, I do take one, but I find that I move around too much to use it. I have a monopod but can't get on with it ;(

A reflector is great if you have an assistant, although you can rope the guests in on that one

I use one of the 'mothers' as my crowd control, give her the list of family shots and wait for my subjects to be ushered to me

A spare body is a must really, I mean, you will rarely (if ever) need it as failures are rare, but just in case.

It's mostly common sense stuff really.

Alan.

Forgot to add as i do things Solo, before the wedding i meet with the best man and ask him to help me, they are usually more than willing to lend a hand, either him or a grooms man or grooms father, who is willing to shout and organise people. This way you can get through the shoots a lot faster as they know who everyone is and people want to listen to them instead of the annoying photographer.

I also give people time when i am done setting up the bride and groom for the guests to get their shots too.

I do take my tripod, but 9/10 times it stays in the car as its an extra thing to carry around and i can always do a levelling out after the shoot.

Always remember to take spares, i use battery packs for the camera, and have spare batteries for that and an emergency AA battery pack set up just in case they fail or i have forgotten to charge them. Make sure all memory cards are empty and ready to use. Double check and check again everything, i clean all my lenses, whether i take them or not so if i do make a last minute decision as i am walking out the door i can grab it and know it is ready to use.

In my bag i have face wipes so i can stay fresh between shoots, deoderant and a spare shirt.. just in case i get something down my top, or get too hot and sweaty. Weddings are long days and a camera can weigh a lot after a long time of lifting it up and down all day. Whilst the family are taking their shots, i go to my next spot to get ready for the next shot and also give my arms a quick break.

Sorry about the ramblings just writing it as it comes into my head... oh yes... always have a bottle of water handy, shouting at people and carrying your gear is hard work. And as a dog owner i always have a roll of cellotape in my bag so i can sticky off all the hairs LOL.

Radiohead said this in another thread:

Not sure if that helps but thought it worth mentioning

Thanks all.

WW - It wasn't 'common sense' I was after, I am not looking to get into wedding photography (although I would like to shadow one to see how they work), I was more after the specific kit involved although I did find Sammy's second post on the workings of the day very interesting

Azz - yes that is helpful. We were discussing the 28 - 70 lens and they felt it didn't give them the versatility of the 24 - 105 (especially for the longer church shots) but at the trade off of a slower aperture. I was interested in what the majority of people on here used and their reasons for choosing a piece of kit over another (and not necessarily just because of the cost)