how many times did it fail

I shot my first 4 weddings with only 1 camera. Once I got my first paid wedding I purchased my 2nd body. I've never had a problem but as soon as I had a paying client I purchased the most important thing on my list.

I was once working as a second and my camera broke when I set it down and forgot about the battery cable attached to my waist. It hit the floor when I reached for something and broke the battery door. I was out of commission and had to leave since at the time I did not have a backup camera. My friend went on to finish the wedding but it would have been a disaster if I were the only shooter.

Banbert wrote in post #4208162
This is what me and my partner take to every wedding

4 x 30D (4 grips)
1 x 20D
2 x 17-55 F2.8 IS
2 x 70-200 L (one F4 one 2.8IS)
1 x 10-22
1 x 8mm Fisheye
1 x 30mm F1.4
1 x 50mm F1.4
1 x 100mm Macro
1 x 17-85 IS (never needed it but we take it just in case)
2 x 430EX
2 x 580EX
Ton of batteries, 60Gb of CF cards, lightstands, tripods, reflectors/diffusers, rugs, etc etc
2 x mac book pros
2 x selphy 720's

being properly geared up for weddings aint cheap, we will probably add some remote triggers or additional flashes this year and a few other bits we have our eyes on.

Wow! 60Gb of CF cards?!?!?! How many photos do you take? I usually go with 10-11Gb of space, with my second shooter about the same. I have never used more than 6-7Gb at a wedding (spread over 4 cards), shooting raw only. I suppose if I shot in raw and jpg, that it would be more, but still not 60Gb worth.

I was shooting a wedding this weekend and my 20D gave me an error 01---I think. I was VERY grateful that I had a 40D around my neck.
I am getting to the point that I carry three camera with me for a wedding. The third is a backup-backup I leave in the car......just in case.

Between myself and my wife (second shooter) We shoot about 40 gb in a 14 hr shoot. I bring 60 gb since I never want to run out. We shoot Raw + Jpeg. The 40d and 5D are high resolution so they fill cards up faster.

To address the OP question...

- My 20d failed when the bride and father were walking down the isle. It was my first wedding and I had my trusty 300d on my neck as well. I grabbed it and got the shot. It was a simple battery swap issue, so I was back in action after they went past.

- I have had CF cards freak out and stop writing. Once moments before the Kiss at the ceremony. I swung the camera around and grabbed my other camera just in time to get it.

- I had my 580ex ripped off my 20d by a kid at the ceremony. Parent actually paid to replaced the hotshoe on my camera.

- Broke the battery door of my 20d when I was out shooting a biking event. Was glad I still had the grip in my bag, so I just screwed that in and I was good to go.

With the price of an XT around 350-400 bucks on the used market, I see no reason why you couldn't afford one. I even bring my film camera and a few roles for a worst case scenerio. I had an issue with my 40d when I first got it. Since it was replaced I haven't had any sort of problem. The 5d has been perfect as well.

Banbert wrote in post #4196322
2. During the same first wedding of the year my shooting partner clipped a door frame with his 17-55 F2.8 IS cracking the front section of the barrel, it was brand new 2 days earlier so we got it replaced as delivered defective.

How honest of him