One cam 2 mic inputs

[Shaun Steele]

I will possibly be shooting my 1st wedding in a couple of weeks. Ive researched here and I guess Im not drawing a positive solution to the micing issue. My cam JVC DV500 has 2 mic inputs. I have 2 wireless lavs. What would be my best placement options. 1 on groom and one on priest, or 1 on groom and one on lecturn. As other mic options, I have 3 wired lavs, 1 wired boundry, the shotgun on the cam (which Im not a big fan of), and a box of wired sm 57s and 58s. Im sure none of these wired mics could be an option. Thanks in advance!!

[Don Bloom]

Depends. How's that for an answer. Serioulsy it depends on the venue and the setup but 'typically' for a Catholic ceremony (or any other where there are readers at a lectern) I mic the groom and the lectern and then get ambient room from the shotgun on my 2nd camera.
This however is subject to change. I did a wedding a couple of weeks ago where there were no readers at the lectern (I knew in advance) so I mic'd the groom and hid another on the altar where the B&G would be standing. I like having a backup just in case.
I just did a wedding that was supposed to be outdoors and we got rained out so instead of 4 seperate systems I wound up using 2 indoors.
Placement of mics and how many is not a cut and dried thing. Use as many as you deem necessary to get the event but if I were you I would stay away from running wires around the venue. It could be problematic.

YMMV

Don

[Mark Holland]

Don, it sounds like you and I do things pretty much the same!

Shaun, I'd like to add that with only one camera, I'd probably wireless mic the groom, and use the other channel for an ambient mic source. If possible I'd be making the ambient source wired, but kept close to (not ON) the camera. (For 2 or more cameras, re-read Don's response)

Mark