Lense choice - advice please

[OEH]

Firstly I am not a wedding photographer, I photograph horses. I'm terrified about doing this wedding. I've been asked by a great friend to do her wedding which is next week. I've done a lot of photograph for her Spanish horse stud over the past couple of years and she loves my photographs. We're both artists and have similar taste in these things. So she's convinced me to photograph her wedding. I'm very scared.

I have a 1d MkIII and a 40d. I've got a 580exII. I've got a 16-35, 24-70 and 70-200 all at 2.8. I also have a 50 1.8. I'm hiring a 15mm fisheye for a holiday in Vence which I get back from the night before so I'll still have that.

It's going to be indoors or outside in the evening (her horses are doing a display). She wants me to keep flash use to the minimum. So I want to make sure that I've got the best lens combination. I'm going to hire one more.

The choice, as far as I can see it is the 50L or the 35L. What do you all think.

I feel such a fraud doing this but she begged me and I couldn't say no.

[RT McAllister]

If this is a one time deal, It almost looks to me like you're good to go with your current gear. It's always best to shoot with the lenses you already know and I don't think one extra is going to be the key for anybody shooting their first wedding.

Will the wedding be on the bride's property? If so, you'll have fewer movement restrictions other than those she personally imposes. You also need to scope the venue, script things out.

[OEH]

The majority of the wedding is at her house which I know very well. Unless it goes amazingly well it'll be a one off- there are tonnes of great wedding photographers out there without me attempting to become one!

Thanks for the advice. I'm pleased with my current gear, but I don't want to find myself regretting not hiring another one to save a few pounds.

[Red Tie Photography]

I hear amazing things about the 85L. You already have the 50mm, and i think it would be safe to say that most people on here would rather use a 85L than a 35 if they had the choice. You seem to have a lot of focal ranges covered, and from the looks of it i dont think you should have any problems. Prepare for it, look at pictures to find good poses (and the photo sharing section would be a good place to look) but dont psyche yourself out. Be confident and prepare, and you will do a great job. I would love to see the pictures after you have finished as well.

[RT McAllister]

but I don't want to find myself regretting not hiring another one to save a few pounds.Ah, ok. I see your location now... "across the pond".

Where I'm from we "rent" lenses and "hire" hookers. :D

I still think you're good to go. Outdoors you're well covered and if the rain plan calls for something inside a tight area you have that 16-35 if you need it.

[caught14]

I would agree with RT in that you are probably good to go with the lenses you own. Especially since it sounds like a lot of the wedding will be outdoors.

If you insist on renting another lens, I would recommend the 35L. Not only is it fast at 1.4, but you will also be able to include context in the frames you capture. Except for intentional portraits, the bulk of my wedding shots come from my 24, 35, and 50. And, if you throw the 35L on your 40D, it's more like a 56mm anyways. If you put an 85 on your 40D, then it will be more like a 136mm, which is far less versatile at a wedding.