How to Plan Your Wedding Ceremony Music
The beginning of the entire celebration starts with the ceremony. From the moment your guests arrive throughout the walk back down the aisle as a newly-married couple, each experience should be accompanied by a song. Usually consisting of softer, more romantic pieces of music, the wedding ceremony should be filled with warm, welcoming choices.
From ballads to classical tunes, let’s break down this part of your big day and allow us to help you plan your ceremony music.
Content Guide
Important Parts of Wedding Ceremony Music
Top 25 Songs for The Prelude
Top 25 Songs for The Processional
Top 25 Songs for The Ceremony
Top 25 Songs for The Unity Candle
Top 25 Songs for The Recessional
Other Posts About Wedding Ceremony Music
Important Parts of Wedding Ceremony Music
There are several important parts to the wedding ceremony where music becomes key. You’ll want your song choices to flow with each and every event.
Here’s a breakdown of its main parts:
The Prelude
When guests start arriving at the ceremony location.
Classical wedding music is the most appropriate here. Of course, you can even go with instrumental versions of your favorite tunes. This is a great spot to start your live string quartet or even a pianist you may have hired to help create the appropriate ethos.
The Processional
When the bridal party and the bride make their entrance.
Classical wedding music is traditional here as well. But again, you can go with instrumental versions of your favorite songs. Don’t be afraid choose a live vocalist here though, making it even more romantic and personal.
The Ceremony
When the bride and groom are married.
There are a lot of different routes to take when it comes to the actual ceremony. Sometimes the music will stop completely during the changing of the vows, other times a song will creep up throughout different points of the service.
Recessional
As the bride and groom walk back down the aisle and out of the ceremony site.
Here is a great spot to play more joyous and celebratory songs. Of course, you can stick with tradition but if you want to start the party as soon as you say, “I do,” you can make it happen by adding more festive tunes at the end!
Unity Candle
A candle ceremony symbolizing the union of two families as one.
Not everyone will participate in lighting a unity candle but it’s the perfect example of “extra” events that can take place during a ceremony that you want to think ahead for. It’s especially nice to add this to the service if it’s a second marriage where two families with children are coming together.
You can think about adding some special songs at different points as well, such as after exchanging the rings and vows or taking communion.
Top 25 Songs for The Prelude:
- Sheep May Safely Graze – Early 18th century, JS Bach – YouTube
- Highland Serenade – T Carter Music – YouTube
- Maybe I’m Amazing – 1970, Paul McCartney – YouTube
- Greensleeves – 1978, Olivia Newton John – YouTube
- Ave Maria – 1853, JS Bach/Gound – YouTube
- Air on the G String – Early 18th century, JS Bach – YouTube
- Minuet in G – MId-Late 18th century, Mozart – YouTube
- Someone To Watch Over Me – 1928, Gershwin/Gershwin – YouTube
- Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony – Early 19th century, Ludwig Von Beethoven – YouTube
- Prelude in C – Early 18th century, JS Bach – YouTube
- A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes – 1950, Disney’s Cinderella – YouTube
- The Wedding Song (There is Love) – 1971, Paul Stookey – YouTube
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Early 18th Century, JS Bach – YouTube
- Arioso – Early 18th Century, JS Bach – YouTube
- Caribbean Blue – 1991, Enya – YouTube
- Waiting on a Woman – 2005, Brad Paisley – YouTube
- Romanza – 1997, Andrea Bocelli – YouTube
- Four Seasons Winter – 1721-1725, Vivaldi – YouTube
- Truly – 1982, Lionel Richie – YouTube
- A Rose is Gently Blooming – Mid-Late 19th century, J Brahms – YouTube
- Evergreen – 1976, Barbra Streisand – YouTube
- A Thousand Years – 2011, Christina Perri – YouTube
- Water Music – 1771, George F Handel – YouTube
- A Starlit Sky – 2011, The Workday Release – YouTube
- Free – 2010, Zac Brown Band – YouTube
Top 25 Songs for The Processional:
- Air on the G String – Early 18th century, JS Bach – YouTube
- I Choose You – 2013, Sara Bareilles – YouTube
- Marry Me – 2009, Train – YouTube
- I Was Married – 2005, Teegan & Sara – YouTube
- Home – 2013, Phillip Phillips – YouTube
- Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony – Early 19th century, Ludwig Von Beethoven – YouTube
- Love – 2007, Matt White – YouTube
- Arioso – Early 18th Century, JS Bach – YouTube
- You and Me – 2009, Dave Matthews Band – YouTube
- Bridal Chorus (Here Comes The Bride) – 1850, Wagner – YouTube
- Ave Maria – 1853, JS Bach/Gound – YouTube
- What A Wonderful World – 1967, Louis Armstrong – YouTube
- The Rose – 2006, Westlife – YouTube
- Four Seasons Winter – 1721-1725, Vivaldi – YouTube
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Early 18th Century, JS Bach – YouTube
- Walk With You – 2009, Edwin McCain – YouTube
- I Run To You – 2008, Lady Antebellum – YouTube
- Your Song – 1970, Elton John – YouTube
- Come Away With Me – 2002, Norah Jones – YouTube
- Clair de Lune – 1890s, Debussy – YouTube
- Landslide – 1975, Fleetwood Mac – YouTube
- All You Need Is Love – 1967, The Beatles – YouTube
- Rhythm of Love – 2010, Plain White T’s – YouTube
- Yellow – 2002, Vitamin String Quartet – YouTube
- Is This Love – 1978, Bob Marley – YouTube
Top 25 Songs for The Ceremony:
- The Wedding Song (There is Love) – 1971, Paul Stookey – YouTube
- This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – 1975, Natalie Cole – YouTube
- Grow Old With Me – 1995, Mary Chapin Carpenter – YouTube
- You Are The Best Thing – 2008, Ray LaMontagne – YouTube
- When I Say I Do – 2010, Matthew West – YouTube
- When You Say Nothing At All – 2002, Alison Krauss – YouTube
- The Prayer – 1999, Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion – YouTube
- Trumpet Voluntary – 1700, Jeremiah Clarke – YouTube
- My Best Friend – 1999, Tim McGraw – YouTube
- The Butterfly Waltz – 1999, Brian Crain – YouTube
- Minuet in G – MId-Late 18th century, Mozart – YouTube
- Make You Feel My Love – 1998, Billy Joel – YouTube
- Can You Feel The Love Tonight – 1994, Elton John – YouTube
- The Flower Duet – 19th century, Leo Delibes – YouTube
- Bella’s Lullaby – 2008, Carter Burwell – YouTube
- Bitter Sweet Symphony – 1997, Verve – YouTube
- Clocks – 2002, Coldplay – YouTube
- Forrest Gump Suite – 1994, Alan Silvestri – YouTube
- Floral’s Secret – 2000, Enya – YouTube
- By Your Side – 2000, Sade – YouTube
- I Have and Always Will – 2006, Dave Barnes – YouTube
- Say Once More – 1988, Amy Grant – YouTube
- The Rose – 1979, Better Midler – YouTube
- I Was Meant To Be With You – 1992, Diamond Rio – YouTube
- The Wedding Song – 1992, Kenny G – YouTube
Top 25 Songs for The Unity Candle:
- For Always – 2003, BeBe and CeCe Winans – YouTube
- Inseparable – 1975, Natalie Cole – YouTube
- Longer – 1979, Dan Fogelberg – YouTube
- When You Say Nothing At All – 2002, Alison Krauss – YouTube
- True Companion – 1991, Marc Cohn – YouTube
- You Light Up My Life – 1997, LeAnn Rimes – YouTube
- You Are The Best Thing – 2008, Ray LaMontagne – YouTube
- Amazing Grace – 2008, Celtic Thunder – YouTube
- Clair de Lune – 1890s, Debussy – YouTube
- From This Moment On – 1997, Shania Twain – YouTube
- All of Me – 2013, John Legend – YouTube
- Nothing Else Matters – 1992, Metallica – YouTube
- Let It Be – 1970, The Beatles – YouTube
- The Wedding Song – 1992, Kenny G – YouTube
- The Circle of Life – 1994, Elton John– YouTube
- I Melt – 2002, Rascal Flatts – YouTube
- Grow Old With Me – 1995, Mary Chapin Carpenter – YouTube
- Just the Way You Are – 2013, The Piano Guys – YouTube
- A Thousand Years – 2011, Christina Perri – YouTube
- All You Need Is Love – 1967, The Beatles – YouTube
- Make You Feel My Love – 1998, Billy Joel – YouTube
- Love – 2007, Matt White – YouTube
- Me And You – 1996, Kenny Chesney – YouTube
- Ave Maria – 1853, JS Bach/Gound – YouTube
- A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes – 1950, Disney’s Cinderella – YouTube
Top 25 Songs for The Recessional:
- I Do – 2011, Colbie Caillat – YouTube
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered – 1970, Stevie Wonder – YouTube
- You Are The Best Thing – 2008, Ray LaMontagne – YouTube
- Beautiful Day – 2000, U2 – YouTube
- Just Like Heaven – 1987, The Cure – YouTube
- Ave Maria – 1853, JS Bach/Gound – YouTube
- Do You Believe in Magic – 1965, The Lovin’ Spoonful – YouTube
- Wedding March – 1842, Mendelssohn – YouTube
- Crazy in Love – 2003, Beyonce & Jay Z – YouTube
- Air on the G String – Early 18th century, JS Bach – YouTube
- Treasure – 2012, Bruno Mars – YouTube
- Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony – Early 19th century, Ludwig Von Beethoven – YouTube
- Is This Love – 1978, Bob Marley – YouTube
- Arioso – Early 18th Century, JS Bach – YouTube
- Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of Your – 1967, Frankie Valli – YouTube
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Early 18th Century, JS Bach – YouTube
- Home – 2013, Phillip Phillips – YouTube
- Sugar – 2014, Maroon 5 – YouTube
- Hallelujah Chorus – 1741, Handel – YouTube
- You May My Dreams Come True – 1980, Hall & Oates – YouTube
- Rhythm of Love – 2010, Plain White T’s – YouTube
- Everything – 2007, Michael Buble – YouTube
- For Once In My Life – 1968, Stevie Wonder – YouTube
- I Could Not Ask For More – 1999, Edwin McCain – YouTube
- The Way You Make Me Feel – 1987, Michael Jackson – YouTube
Other Posts About Wedding Ceremony Music
Read Our Complete Guide
Our complete guide to wedding songs breaks down your entire wedding, from beginning to end, and helps you pick great songs that are sure to add to your big day! If you’re in the planning stages of your wedding, we recommend starting there first!
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Garter Toss Songs
