I used the Vello BG-N21 Battery Grip for Nikon Z6 II and Z7 II for a long wedding day. Honestly, it didnt disconnect once and felt pretty decent for the price.

TL;DR: Grab the Neewer BG-N11 Replacement Vertical Battery Grip if you want to save cash. It does exactly what it needs to without the 400 dollar price tag and the shutter connection is solid for portrait work. I just saw this and wanted to chime in because I went through the same dilemma last year. Honestly, I was pretty skeptical about going third-party for something as vital as a shutter connection, but I've been really happy with the Neewer version. I have put it through its paces during a few long studio days and it hasnt let me down once. Basically, the build quality is much better than what youd expect for the price. It doesnt have that weird cheap toy texture and the rubberized grip matches the Nikon finish surprisingly well. The main reason I like it is that it stays snug... nothing kills the vibe like a grip that shifts while you're trying to focus. You might notice the shutter button has a slightly different travel distance than the native one, but you get used to it after like ten minutes. Its a great way to save your wrists without draining your bank account. If you arent planning on shooting in a literal hurricane, the weather sealing wont be an issue for 95% of your gigs. Also, if you can, grab a couple Nikon EN-EL15c Rechargeable Li-ion Battery units to keep in there for the extra juice. You will be glad you have the extra weight to balance out that new 85mm anyway.

^ This. Also, I totally get the sticker shock with the official Nikon gear, it's rough. I actually tried one of those super cheap knockoffs from a random brand a while back and it was honestly such a disappointment. I was out doing a shoot near the lakefront and the shutter button just felt... wrong. Mushy and lagged way too much for my liking. It even lost connection a few times when I tilted the camera, which is basically a nightmare when you're in the zone. Unfortunately, that's the risk you run with the bottom-barrel stuff. If you're looking to save some cash but need it to actually work, just go with Meike. I've used their stuff on older bodies and the build usually feels a bit more substantial than the others. Not perfect, but better than most third-party options I've touched.

^ This. Also, before you commit to an off-brand one, are you planning on shooting outdoors at all? Chicago weddings can get pretty unpredictable with the wind and rain... Just asking because I think I heard that the seals on the cheaper clones can be hit or miss. I'm not 100 percent sure about the latest third-party builds, but someone told me the shutter button feels way different than the camera itself, which might throw you off during a fast-paced shoot. Be careful with the budget options too cuz if those communication pins are slightly off, you might deal with weird battery drain issues or it wont wake up correctly. IIRC some off-brands dont play nice with the USB-C charging either. I would suggest keeping an eye on the used market for the official one just to be safe.