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for somebody charging for there service what would you consider the minimum kit they would need to accomplish a professional standard? aimed at a budding pro tog NOT a photographer who is doing uncle Bob`s for free
just kit here, lets not worry about experience/insurance/people skills etc
Camera, is a 40D still acceptable? 20D? what about the 550D? (or Nikon equivalent), with the prosumer 550 cameras what relevance is there that there is a likelihood a guest will have one?
Lenses, sigma 17-70? kit lens?
Backup, is this really necessary with the reliability of modern cameras?
speedlights, 430 ok? what about the sigmas, is off camera becoming more popular?
bits and bobs, how many memory cards, how many batteries etc,
and to put the minimum kit list into perspective can the pro wedding togs give us a list of equipment they would normally take
Prepare yourself for an onslaught of comments saying how if you need to ask you shouldn't be doing it, but in response to your questions.
Camera, it doesn't matter, it is almost irrelevant any modern DSLR is capable of taking good pictures.
Lenses, Well If you want to get better results than guests then you need a quality lens and if you have any indoor pictures you need a good wide aperture 2.8 for example.
Backup, Now I'm afraid I'm going to have to laugh you out of the room for this comment, I'm not even a photographer and I can see how ridiculous this statement is. EVERYTHING fails eventually no matter how reliable it is. Without a spare camera what do you propose to do when one of the children goes running around the place and knocks the camera clean out of your hands and it is in bits on the floor ? Are you going to say to the bride, sorry no more pictures it is that kids fault ???
really is a tricky one Steve - nice one 
My first thoughts are that a good tog could probably shoot a wedding on pretty average kit. DSLR, flashgun and a zoom would probably get you through the day - at the very minimum.
I say that based on the fact that at most weddings I've done, most shots are taken with 1 camera, 1 lens and 1 flash
Of course I have another body with another lens and another flash too - but that works far far less.
I use for the main body of the day...
Canon 5D
Canon 24-104
Canon 580EX 2
I also use...
17-40 for table shots
Lensbaby C2 for creative candid when the bride gets ready - love heart aperture
70-200 f2.8 for candids and the ceremony etc.
and other bits and bobs - never really used manual off camera flash that much - just not got the time at a wedding. Amazing what you can achieve with on camera bounce flash etc.
This is something I have views on which probably contrast with the general consensus. I think that the kit you use should reflect your style and approach (and budget), and not what others deem to be the 'minimum' requirement just because you are a wedding (or any) photographer. My kit list will probably have people laughing, but I get what I want out of it.
My kit is an evolving thing, this is what I took to my last wedding:
Main camera: Nikon D700
Backup: Borrowed D300 (I only own 1 DSLR), plus 2 film cameras 'just in case' (Nikon FE2 & F80).
Lenses: Nikon 35/2, 50/1.8, 50/1.2 (manual), 28/2.8 (manual), 105/2.8 VR, 24 PCE (not really a 'wedding' lens, but can be used nicely in church etc), 18-35, 135/2.8 (manual) + 2x TC (manual)
Most of the wedding was shot with the 35/2 on the D700 & 50/1.8 on the D300.
Flash: 1 x SB800, 1 x SB600 (borrowed & not used). I don't use flash much.
6 cards, 4 batteries, flash batteries and some film
My kit reflects the fact that I do weddings, but I'm not a 'wedding photographer', and I mostly work in a documentary style. You'll notice that I don't even own a standard zoom (gasp!), but I'll admit a 24-70 2.8 would be a nice addition!
the post wasn't aimed at myself, I have been asked the question and know it gets talked about here, so I thought I would see that people think is the minimum,
for me
Camera, for quality any modern dslr will be fine, for reasonable iso performance anything older than the 40D is pushing it (apart from the 1d`s) though I do think there is a perceived issue when guests have a better camera than the pro tog,
lenses, some of the mid priced sigmas produce good results if you keep away from the extremes, the standard prosumer kit lens is not good enough,
speedlight, is a must and needs an added diffuser
backup, I also think this is obvious, but not to the togs I was talking to
my kit
5dmkII, 7D,
canon lenses 10-22 17-40 24-70 70-200
3x580 and 2x430 speedlights, 2x external battery packs and 6 ettl pocketwizards to fire them
76gb of memory cards, more aa batteries than i can count
Quote: Prepare yourself for an onslaught of comments saying how if you need to ask you shouldn't be doing it, but in response to your questions.
lets hope not
this group is for "Professional Advice & Critique" so hope people take that on board 
I've got about 25 5D batteries
None of which would fit a 7D or 5D 2 if I got a new body
What else...
on a long day I've taken the studio lights along and set them up in a room and invited people for portraits... I was stopping at the hotel anyway so had time to set that lot up. this is VERY unusual, but really created a buzz.
I also use the tripod for group shots - not because you "need" one, but because it's a stamp of authority - people always stand behind it.
my second body last time was a borrowed 40D - which had the 70-200 on it, hardly used it to be honest. was a cold day, everyone was indoors, so the 24-105 on 5D was ample
I've got 1001 new ideas for off camera flash in weddings of course.. it's just getting the right couple to play along that's the crucial point.
I have just done my first wedding for 10 years or so.
i used a 7D, 17-40L, 24-105L anmd a 70-200f2.8 ( thanks to a mate who loaned me the trio ) a 10-20 sigma and a 60mm canon, + a 580EXII flash, 8 Batteries in the flash and the 7ds didnt drop a bar, i took 180 + shots was there 3 hours and have spent another 5hours+ sorting and editing images.
it's when you do a 14 hour wedding that you need the batteries
7AM till 9:30PM - one of those long Hindu weddings.
Quote:
lets hope not
Indeed, I have been reading wedding threads, planing to help out a family member with some photos at their wedding and noticed the majority of threads quickly get jumped on with comments along the lines of "If you have to ask then you are not ready to do it". I must admit some of the questions were deserving of such response but some were valid questions that still got the same response. There seems to be a group of wedding photographers that seem to want to try and put everybody off the idea of even considering doing a wedding.
Quote: I've got about 25 5D batteries
I also use the tripod for group shots - not because you "need" one, but because it's a stamp of authority - people always stand behind it.
.
Excellent tip.
I would also add that if you plan on becoming a regular wedding photographer that you are better off changing camera not lens. Your camera is at its most vulnerable when changing the lens, not only do you risk fumbling and dropping a lens when trying to change it quick you can easily get dirt on the sensor. I would suggest having 2 cameras one with your wide and one with your telephoto lens on so you can just switch camera when you need to switch type of shot. Not only does this reduce the risk of problems it means your photos are taken on 2 cameras so if one of them fails you still have half the pictures.
turn your video on and watch the batteries go
what about perceived camera quality? there where 2 guests at my last wedding who where using the canon 550, this camera would be good enough for a pro, but does it matter that the guests may have the same camera?
Quote: does it matter that the guests may have the same camera?
I would argue it is the results that matter not the equipment, it isn't the camera that makes the professional results it is the person using it. I went to a wedding last week where a member of the family was taking the photos using a pretty good canon. Well using is perhaps not quite right, abusing is probably a better term, there she was with the camera in full auto and using the little on camera flash. Every photo came out rubbish, over exposed and harsh shadows, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the guests got better pictures with their little £50 samsung P&S cameras.
Quote: Backup, is this really necessary with the reliability of modern cameras?
Oh yes, oh yes and thrice oh yes!
Case in point - in my last wedding, I arrived at the Brides house in the morning, took 1 shot with the 5D, and the mirror fell off.
If I did not have the 5d2 sitting in the car, I would have been completely stuffed. As it was, I was able to continue, without the couple even noticing there was any problem whatsoever.
Yes, modern equipment is very reliable - but Murphy’s law (if can go wrong, it will do so at the worst moment) does come into effect.
FYI - The 5D went into Fixation, and was repaired under warranty without quibble and with no charge (even the shipping home was free) 
Quote: Camera, is a 40D still acceptable? 20D? what about the 550D? (or Nikon equivalent), with the prosumer 550 cameras what relevance is there that there is a likelihood a guest will have one?
Depends upon style and ability of the photographer. The 40D, 20D and 550D would certinally make good backup cameras, although I would still suggest having at least one body with really good low light (high ISO) performance (such as the 5D, 5D2, D700, D3 etc). Churches can be gloomy inside - doubly so if its grey outside, and if you are not allowed to use flash, then the ability to crank the ISO up to 6400 and still get good quality output is a distinct advantage.
nothing apart from D3S, D3 and back up kit: D90 +18/55 & 70/300;
14/24; 24/70; 70/200; 35mm f/2 b/u lens; sometimes 100mm macro
2x SB900s
batteries, cards, odds and sodds inc bull whip, electric cow prodder, loud whistle and megaphone.
Back up? Vital at an unrepeatable occasion.
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