Need some FAST wedding photography tips

[Menkaure]

I need some fast tips for a wedding I'm gonna shoot. It's my Sister so it's kind of casual but one problem I always seem to have is... In a hall, the background always turns out dark when I use flash.
I have a Canon Rebel digital XT and a Canon 580EX Speedlight flash.
I'm a real newbe when it comes to wedding photography so ANY tips you might share will be most appreciated.
Thank you in advance.

Menkaure

[adam8080]

Shoot in manual mode with your lens wide open, higher ISO and a slower shutter speed.

[tim]

You have a few options:
- Shoot high ISO, lens wide open without flash
- Shoot high ISO lens wide open with the flash pointed direct at the subject
- Shoot high ISO lens wide open with the flash pointed at the ceiling

There's also a wedding FAQ (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=255604).

I hope you're not the primary photographer for the wedding, because i'm sure you'll foul it up one way or another - like most beginners.

[elader]

cam on manual
ISO400-800
lens f/4, ss vary to achieve desired effect
flash on full auto, and bounce it. Use a rubber band and index card to send some of the flash forward

if the room is really dark, you can turn the SS WAY down to get nice blurry backgrounds while keeping main subject sharp.

[ironchef31]

Read fast:
http://tips.romanzolin.com/articles.php?cat=4
http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/
http://www.all-things-photography.com/wedding-photography-tips.html

Memorize and practice:
http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/3-dragging-the-shutter/

[phsv]

Make a better bounce card. Search for "better bounce card" in Google to help diffuse the lighting on your subjects.

[h_A_Z]

Read fast:
http://tips.romanzolin.com/articles.php?cat=4
http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/
http://www.all-things-photography.com/wedding-photography-tips.html

Memorize and practice:
http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/3-dragging-the-shutter/

Good links! Thanks alot! I'm just beginning to learn how to use flash