Skipping the high-end Sony glass is a smart move here because their G Master series will blow your budget immediately. For a wedding, especially in a place like Hawaii where you'll have harsh sun and then likely a dimly lit reception, a constant f/2.8 aperture is non-negotiable. Over the years, Ive tested pretty much every mid-range zoom for E-mount, and the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Sony E is the clear winner for your price point. It usually retails for about $899. A few technical reasons why it works for the a7 IV:

• Constant f/2.8 aperture ensures consistent exposure when you zoom in for the vows.
• Linear motor focus (VXD) is fast enough to keep up with the a7 IV's eye-autofocus.
• Minimal chromatic aberration which is huge when you're shooting white dresses against bright beach backgrounds. If you feel like you really need more zoom range, you could look at the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS, but honestly f/4 is a bit slow for a wedding photographer's main lens. The Tamron G2 is basically the gold standard for budget-conscious pros right now. Just make sure you grab a decent circular polarizer for that Hawaii glare... it'll save your shots from looking washed out.

I went through this exact same panic when I first got my a7 IV! Honestly, the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art for Sony E is an absolute beast for this kind of thing. I used it for a beach wedding in Maui last year and the results were incredible. Its got that professional look and feels super solid in your hands. But it is heavy, ngl. If you want to save some cash for drinks in Hawaii, look at these two instead of the expensive Sony glass:

• Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art for Sony E: This is the heavy hitter. Its super sharp and built like a tank. The 24mm wide end is amazing for those huge landscape shots of the ceremony.
• Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary: This one is so tiny and light! It is basically the vacation version of the Art lens. You lose a little bit of the wide angle at 28mm, but your neck wont hurt after eight hours of shooting in the heat. I personally love the Art lens more because of that extra 4mm on the wide end... it makes a huge difference for big family group shots. You can usually find it right around $1000 if you shop around or grab a slightly used one. Seriously, dont overthink it too much, both of these blow the kit lens out of the water. Just make sure you get a fast SanDisk 128GB Extreme Pro UHS-II SDXC card too because that a7 IV produces massive files. Have a blast in Hawaii!

TL;DR: same boat. ive been digging through data sheets for months and still havent found a single lens i actually trust for a one-lens setup. tbh i have this exact same issue and i have been dealing with it for like three months now. i keep looking at the technical specs and mtf charts for every zoom in that price range and nothing feels reliable enough for a high-stakes wedding. it is super frustrating because every time i think i found a winner i find a major technical compromise that makes me nervous... im still looking for an answer too and the clock is ticking.

Ok adding this to my list of things to try. Thanks for the tip!

whatever you do dont settle for an f/4 lens. in my experience they look okay in the sun but youll absolutely regret it once that wedding reception starts and everything turns grainy... trust me.