I think the Godox V860III-F TTL Li-Ion Flash for Fujifilm is your best bet for reliability under $300. The battery life is consistent, which is safer for a wedding environment. I have used it with my fuji gear and it doesnt have those ttl dropouts. Its a decent, professional option that fits your budget perfectly.

Jumping in here because I'm always super worried about gear failing during a big event like a wedding. Regarding what #1 said about "I think the Godox V860III-F TTL Li-Ion Flash...", just be careful because those third-party units can sometimes still have communication hiccups after firmware updates on the X-T5. If you are noticing slow recycle times, it usually means the capacitor is struggling or your battery is on its way out. I would suggest you look at something a bit more robust to be safe. You might want to consider:

• Godox V1-F Round Head Flash for Fujifilm which has better thermal management than the older V860 series.
• Nissin i60A Flash for Fujifilm because it is tiny but very reliable with Fuji TTL protocols. Just a few technical things to keep in mind for next weekend:
• Always stay on Mechanical Shutter; the X-T5 electronic shutter wont sync right with most flashes.
• Clean the contacts on the flash itself with a tiny bit of alcohol, not just the camera pins.
• Keep a spare battery in your pocket at all times because wedding days are long. I personally think the V1-F is your safest bet for that budget. It feels way more professional than the older models and the recycle time is basically instant if you arent firing at full power. Definitely dont wait until the last minute to test the new TTL communication tho... that would be a nightmare in Seattle.

To add to the point above: those TTL communication errors are often just voltage drops from an old battery cell! If you're on a $300 budget you can actually get a killer setup that is way more reliable than just replacing the li-ion unit with another one. The flexibility of AA units for high-pressure events like weddings is a total lifesaver because you can literally buy batteries at a gas station if things go south...

• Godox TT685II-F Flash for Fujifilm
• This is basically the AA version of the V860 series and it is fantastic for the price! It has a GN60 rating at ISO 100 which is plenty for big venues.
• Panasonic Eneloop Pro AA Batteries
• These are essential for that snappy 0.1 to 2.6s recycle time and the 2500mAh capacity lasts forever.
• Godox XProII-F TTL Wireless Flash Trigger
• Amazing for getting the flash off-camera. The TCM function to convert TTL to manual settings instantly is a total game changer! Getting two of those flashes would still keep you under budget lol. The TT685II has a much better UI than the older version and the quick-release lock is such a lifesaver when youre rushing between the ceremony and the party. Ngl, the circuit design on these feels way more solid too. You're gonna crush that Seattle wedding!

adding my two cents here... since youve got that seattle wedding coming up fast you might want to consider just biting the bullet and going with a native fujifilm flash. i know the third party stuff is tempting because of the price but i would suggest being careful with those on the x-t5 specifically. the communication protocols for ttl can be so finicky and i wouldnt want you missing shots during the ceremony because of a weird handshake error. honestly just get any of the official speedlights from fuji and youll probably notice a huge difference in how it talks to your body. they just play nicer together. make sure to grab one that fits your power needs and you should be good to go. seattle is beautiful this time of year even if the lighting gets moody, so youll definitely want something reliable.

Just wanted to say thanks for everyone chiming in. Super helpful discussion.

> it keeps missing shots or the recycle time is way slower than it used to be and its honestly driving me crazy Honestly ive tried many different setups over the years and i always end up coming back to the official Fuji flashes. They just work. Third party stuff is great for saving money but for a wedding you really need that reliable ttl connection. Just get any speedlight from Fuji, even used, and youll be way less stressed. Better to spend a bit more now than deal with black frames during the ceremony.

Works great for me