Found this while digging through specs. Technically, the Godox V1-F TTL Li-ion Round Head Camera Flash wipes the floor with the Fujifilm EF-X500 Shoe Mount Flash because of that VB26 battery. You get a 1.5s recycle time compared to the Fujis 2.5s on AAs. Huge for receptions. The Godox V860III-F TTL Li-ion Flash uses the same guts if you dont need the round head falloff. Both handle TTL fine if your firmware is current...

Honestly, if youre on a strict budget and want to avoid the high price of native Fuji glass, you should look at the Godox TT685II-F TTL Flash for Fujifilm. It is basically the workhorse version of the V860III but runs on AA batteries instead of a li-ion pack. Tbh, for a wedding, some pro shooters actually prefer AAs because you can just carry a bunch of Panasonic Eneloop Pro AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries and never worry about a proprietary charger failing or a single lithium pack dying mid-reception. It's way under your 300 dollar limit tho. Regarding the TTL consistency on Fuji, it can be a bit jumpy if youre shooting into high-contrast backgrounds like a dark tent corner. My advice is to use the flash in TTL to get your base exposure, then hit the TCM button to lock those settings into manual mode. It's a safer way to shoot once you find a light level that works for the dance floor without fiddling constantly while people are moving around. If you really want to save cash, there is the Godox TT350F Mini TTL Flash for Fujifilm. It is tiny and cheap, but for a wedding reception, it probably lacks the power you need to bounce light off a high tent ceiling. Stick with the TT685II. It is a reliable middle ground that wont make you regret skipping the EF-X500. It communicates well enough with the X-T4. Wont overheat easily either.

I went through this exact same panic for a rainy barn wedding a while back. I ended up grabbing the round-head model because I was terrified of harsh shadows on the tent walls. Here is what I learned from that night:

• The circular beam made a huge difference when bouncing light off the ceiling. It felt way more natural than my old rectangular speedlight.
• I had some issues with the TTL at first, but after a firmware update on both the unit and the body, it started hitting the exposure perfectly most of the time.
• Battery life was the real winner tho. I shot for six hours straight and it never slowed down or overheated once. I tried my friends native brand flash that same night and the tiny screen drove me nuts... the interface was just way too clunky. Id honestly go with the round third-party option.

Ive been shooting weddings on Fuji since the X-T1 days and Ive tried everything under the sun! Honestly, I love my Fuji gear but I stopped using their native flashes years ago because they just couldnt keep up with the pace of a reception. I remember this one shoot in a pouring rainstorm where my gear was basically soaked, and my third-party setup just kept firing like a champ... it was amazing! If youre worried about the budget, just go with Godox. Seriously, you cant go wrong with anything theyve released in the last few years. Their ecosystem is fantastic and once you get one, youll probably end up buying three more because the wireless triggers are so easy to use. Tbh, check out the Strobist blog if you havent already. David Hobby has some incredible archives there that really explain the physics of light, which helps way more than worrying about specific buttons... Just grab any of the newer lithium-ion models from Godox and youll be golden for that Seattle wedding. The battery life alone is gonna make you so happy!

^ This. Also, late to the party but i have to say i was pretty disappointed with my last few tries using non-native flashes for big events. I tested the Godox V350-F TTL Flash and also the Nissin i60A Flash for Fujifilm because i wanted to save some cash, but the reliability just wasnt there for me.

• Godox V350-F: the li-ion battery is nice but it felt way too weak for bouncing light in a larger space.
• Nissin i60A: it has a lot of power but the menu system felt super clunky and it overheated once during a family reunion. Honestly, the TTL was just inconsistent enough to make me nervous. It actually reminds me of this one time i was hiking up near Snoqualmie Pass. I was so focused on making sure my Fujifilm XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR was perfectly dry that i completely forgot to pack my actual lunch. I spent six hours wandering through the mist with nothing but a half-melted granola bar and some lukewarm water. By the time i saw a cool hawk, i was too lightheaded to even steady the camera. Anyway, just make sure you test your flash at home before the wedding so you dont have any surprises, but yeah.