Wedding shoot coming up?

Wow, you're definately jumping in head first! Personally, I won't touch weddings unless I really know the couple and they are on a real limited budget. I would do it for free just so i could get the experience but I always recommend they get a pro. Weddings are a sacred thing and extremely important in at least the brides eyes.

There has been some really good advice offered but I think to better help you we need to know a little more about you. What is your experience level? What is your current equipment? What medium have you shot before? What are you planning on doing for post processing? Stuff like that is what we need to know so we can better guide you.Also if you have some past pics you can post so we can get a feel for your photography style, that would help.

Most everyone's post is spot on. Cept for those saying this guy is jumping in head first or he's not ready. I think he knows this. That is why he is here looking for advise. Not everyone can shadow or assist a wedding photographer. And in case you missed it, the wedding is 7 months away. Good advise on reading up, looking at other work, and let's face it, practice. If you cannot practice weddings, I say find out the venue and start practicing with people you know (family and friends as models) in that actual venue or similar location. Practice using your lenses, practice positioning, practice composistion, practice focussing. Practice anything and everything you can. Shoot. That is the only way anyone gets better, wedding photographer or not. I can only assume that the soon to be married are on a budjet, or God forbid, you sold yourself as a pro (I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you haven't). Its tough to invest in fast lenses, if you are serious about this type of work, than go for it. Otherwise, you will need to figure out how to perfect what you can afford. Fast lenses are fantastic. I know a pro who hates using flash during a ceremony - too disrupting. She books at $5k and up and her work is fantastic. But if you can't get the fast lenses, than you need to work what you can and build from there. Regardless of what people have posted here, that is the way most everyone grows.

One thing knowone has really mentioned, is to make sure you speen some time with the couple before the wedding. Find out what they (especially the bride) have asperations of seeing at the end of the day. This will also help you and them get comfortable with each other. You're gonna want to find out who the key players are as well. Best man, maid of honor, parents, etc. Also find out about the guest who will be in your face trying to tell you which pictures you "need" to take. You are gonna want to know how to work with all these cast members. Also you need to know if they mind where you shoot from.

There's much more. And I encourage you to read up all you can and again, shoot.

Good luck and good shooting.