> I have no idea how to even put these on without breaking the battery door Dont sweat it! Basically just slide the door latch and pop in a Neewer VG-C4EM Vertical Battery Grip for Sony A1 to save big. Since youre in NYC, hit up BH today! Its totally fantastic!

Look, unfortunately youre in a bit of a spot because those two cameras use completely different grips. Sony updated the body design for the a9 III, so the Sony VG-C5 Vertical Grip is its own thing and wont work on the a1. For your a1, you would need the Sony VG-C4EM Vertical Grip. Its super annoying that they arent interchangeable anymore, trust me, Ive complained about it plenty. Given your 350 dollar budget, youre definitely not getting both brand new. Ive tried saving money with third-party options like the Meike MK-C4EM Pro Battery Grip and honestly, I was pretty disappointed. The build quality just isnt there and the buttons feel cheap compared to the camera body. For a high-stakes wedding, Id honestly be worried about it losing connection or the dial skipping at the wrong moment. Installing them is easier than it looks tho. You dont break anything. On the hinge of the battery door, theres usually a tiny spring-loaded switch. Pull that, the door comes off, and you slide it into a dedicated storage slot on the vertical part of the grip so you dont lose it. If you need it by Friday and youre in NYC, just hit up the big shops in Midtown. They usually have used copies of the VG-C4EM which might help you stay near that budget, but the a9 III grip is still pretty pricey everywhere.

Regarding what #1 said about "Look, unfortunately youre in a bit of a spot," theyre right about the mismatch. I've been very happy using the Meike MK-VG-C4EM for Sony a1 with no complaints. It works well and fits your budget perfectly. Dont worry about the battery door, it just pops off when you slide the internal latch. Maybe grab a Sony NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Battery while youre at B&H too.