Unfortunately, the native Fujifilm EF-X500 TTL Flash is a huge letdown given that price tag. It's frustrating how much they charge. I'd just get the Godox V860III-F TTL Li-ion Flash for Fujifilm. I know the plastic shoe seems sketchy, but it's way more reliable than generic stuff. It'll save you enough cash to grab an extra battery for Portland too. Good luck with the shoot!

Like someone mentioned, the Godox system is pretty much the only sane choice right now, though I'm honestly so disappointed that Fuji hasn't updated their own flashes to compete. It's really frustrating that the official gear is such a letdown given the price tag they're asking for. If you're worried about the build quality on the V860, the Godox V1-F Round Head Flash for Fujifilm is probably your best bet for under $300. I've had issues with the plastic shoes on the older models too, but the V1 has a much better quick-lock mechanism that feels a bit more secure when you're moving fast. The light falloff is way smoother for weddings too, which saves you a lot of headache in post-processing. Recycle times on the lithium batteries are basically instant, so you wont be standing there like a dummy while the bride is walking down the aisle. If you have a few bucks left over, maybe grab a Godox VB26A Rechargeable Li-ion Battery as a spare just so you don't have to think about it. Since you're heading to Portland, if you get a break from the shoot, skip the usual spots and try Matt's BBQ instead... the food carts there are elite. Good luck with the second shooting gig, you'll kill it!

Late to the party but oh man, I feel your pain so much!! I had the exact same nightmare with my Fujifilm X-T4 last summer during a high-stakes shoot. My old generic unit just gave up on the TTL communication halfway through and I was literally sweating bullets trying to fix it while the client watched. It's honestly amazing how much of a difference a reliable system makes when you actually get it working! I've been obsessing over the technical specs lately, comparing the gate voltage and thermal cutoff limits of different brands because I'm in the same boat as you and need something bulletproof... Tbh, instead of me rambling, you should just head over to YouTube. Just search for "Fujifilm flash comparison wedding photography" or something similar. There’s a really fantastic video that popped up for me last week that breaks down the recycle times and overheating issues for all the big third-party brands specifically for Fuji systems. It’s basically the gold standard guide for this exact budget range and it's way more detailed than anything I can remember off the top of my head! Honestly, just check that or the main Fuji sub on Reddit, they have a huge spreadsheet that covers all of this.

I totally get the frustration with generic gear, its the worst! I finally switched to a proper li-ion system and it changed my life, no more carrying 20 loose AA batteries in my pockets like a crazy person! But oh man, you mentioned Portland and I just got so excited for you! I was there for a shoot a couple years back and the food scene is just unbelievable. I spent way too much time at this one taco truck near the bridge, Los Gorditos I think? I ended up talking to the owner for hours about his vintage motorcycle collection instead of actually taking photos. He actually let me sit on his bike... it was some 1960s classic. It was the highlight of my whole trip, even though my client was annoyed I was late. Portland just has such a cool energy, you're gonna love it. Anyway lol, sorry kinda went off topic there!

Came here to say the same thing lol. Great minds think alike I guess.