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:

1. Sheep May Safely Graze – Early 18th century, JS Bach  – YouTube
2. Highland Serenade – T Carter Music – YouTube
3. Maybe I’m Amazing – 1970, Paul McCartney – YouTube
4. Greensleeves – 1978, Olivia Newton John – YouTube
5. Ave Maria – 1853, JS Bach/Gound – YouTube
6. Air on the G String – Early 18th century, JS Bach – YouTube
7. Minuet in G – MId-Late 18th century, Mozart – YouTube
8. Someone To Watch Over Me – 1928, Gershwin/Gershwin – YouTube
9. Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony – Early 19th century, Ludwig Von Beethoven – YouTube
10. Prelude in C – Early 18th century, JS Bach – YouTube
11. A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes – 1950, Disney’s Cinderella – YouTube
12. The Wedding Song (There is Love) –  1971, Paul Stookey – YouTube
13. Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Early 18th Century, JS Bach – YouTube
14. Arioso – Early 18th Century, JS Bach – YouTube
15. Caribbean Blue – 1991, Enya – YouTube
16. Waiting on a Woman – 2005, Brad Paisley – YouTube
17. Romanza – 1997, Andrea Bocelli – YouTube
18. Four Seasons Winter – 1721-1725, Vivaldi – YouTube
19. Truly – 1982, Lionel Richie – YouTube
20. A Rose is Gently Blooming – Mid-Late 19th century, J Brahms – YouTube
21. Evergreen – 1976, Barbra Streisand – YouTube
22. A Thousand Years – 2011, Christina Perri – YouTube
23. Water Music – 1771, George F Handel – YouTube
24. A Starlit Sky – 2011, The Workday Release – YouTube
25. Free – 2010, Zac Brown Band – YouTube

 

Top 25 Songs for The Processional:

1. Air on the G String – Early 18th century, JS Bach – YouTube
2. I Choose You – 2013, Sara Bareilles – YouTube
3. Marry Me – 2009, Train – YouTube
4. I Was Married – 2005, Teegan & Sara – YouTube
5. Home – 2013, Phillip Phillips – YouTube
6. Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony – Early 19th century, Ludwig Von Beethoven – YouTube
7. Love – 2007, Matt White – YouTube
8. Arioso – Early 18th Century, JS Bach – YouTube
9. You and Me – 2009, Dave Matthews Band – YouTube
10. Bridal Chorus (Here Comes The Bride) – 1850, Wagner – YouTube
11. Ave Maria – 1853, JS Bach/Gound – YouTube
12. What A Wonderful World – 1967, Louis Armstrong – YouTube
13. The Rose – 2006, Westlife – YouTube
14. Four Seasons Winter – 1721-1725, Vivaldi – YouTube
15. Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Early 18th Century, JS Bach – YouTube
16. Walk With You – 2009, Edwin McCain – YouTube
17. I Run To You – 2008, Lady Antebellum – YouTube
18. Your Song – 1970, Elton John – YouTube
19. Come Away With Me – 2002, Norah Jones – YouTube
20. Clair de Lune – 1890s, Debussy – YouTube
21. Landslide – 1975, Fleetwood Mac – YouTube
22. All You Need Is Love – 1967, The Beatles – YouTube
23. Rhythm of Love – 2010, Plain White T’s – YouTube
24. Yellow – 2002, Vitamin String Quartet – YouTube
25. Is This Love – 1978, Bob Marley – YouTube

 

Top 25 Songs for The Ceremony:

1. The Wedding Song (There is Love) –  1971, Paul Stookey – YouTube
2. This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – 1975, Natalie Cole – YouTube
3. Grow Old With Me – 1995, Mary Chapin Carpenter – YouTube
4. You Are The Best Thing – 2008, Ray LaMontagne – YouTube
5. When I Say I Do – 2010, Matthew West – YouTube
6. When You Say Nothing At All – 2002, Alison Krauss – YouTube
7. The Prayer – 1999, Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion – YouTube
8. Trumpet Voluntary – 1700, Jeremiah Clarke – YouTube
9. My Best Friend – 1999, Tim McGraw – YouTube
10. The Butterfly Waltz – 1999, Brian Crain – YouTube
11. Minuet in G – MId-Late 18th century, Mozart – YouTube
12. Make You Feel My Love – 1998, Billy Joel – YouTube
13. Can You Feel The Love Tonight – 1994, Elton John – YouTube
14. The Flower Duet – 19th century, Leo Delibes – YouTube
15. Bella’s Lullaby – 2008, Carter Burwell – YouTube
16. Bitter Sweet Symphony – 1997, Verve – YouTube
17. Clocks – 2002, Coldplay – YouTube
18. Forrest Gump Suite – 1994, Alan Silvestri – YouTube
19. Floral’s Secret – 2000, Enya – YouTube
20. By Your Side – 2000, Sade – YouTube
21. I Have and Always Will – 2006, Dave Barnes – YouTube
22. Say Once More – 1988, Amy Grant – YouTube
23. The Rose – 1979, Better Midler – YouTube
24. I Was Meant To Be With You – 1992, Diamond Rio – YouTube
25. The Wedding Song – 1992, Kenny G – YouTube

 

Top 25 Songs for The Unity Candle:

1. For Always – 2003, BeBe and CeCe Winans – YouTube
2. Inseparable – 1975, Natalie Cole – YouTube
3. Longer – 1979, Dan Fogelberg – YouTube
4. When You Say Nothing At All – 2002, Alison Krauss – YouTube
5. True Companion – 1991, Marc Cohn – YouTube
6. You Light Up My Life – 1997, LeAnn Rimes – YouTube
7. You Are The Best Thing – 2008, Ray LaMontagne – YouTube
8. Amazing Grace – 2008, Celtic Thunder – YouTube
9. Clair de Lune – 1890s, Debussy – YouTube
10. From This Moment On – 1997, Shania Twain – YouTube
11. All of Me – 2013, John Legend – YouTube
12. Nothing Else Matters – 1992, Metallica – YouTube
13. Let It Be – 1970, The Beatles – YouTube
14. The Wedding Song – 1992, Kenny G – YouTube
15. The Circle of Life – 1994, Elton John– YouTube
16. I Melt – 2002, Rascal Flatts – YouTube
17. Grow Old With Me – 1995, Mary Chapin Carpenter – YouTube
18. Just the Way You Are – 2013, The Piano Guys – YouTube
19. A Thousand Years – 2011, Christina Perri – YouTube
20. All You Need Is Love – 1967, The Beatles – YouTube
21. Make You Feel My Love – 1998, Billy Joel – YouTube
22. Love – 2007, Matt White – YouTube
23. Me And You – 1996, Kenny Chesney – YouTube
24. Ave Maria – 1853, JS Bach/Gound – YouTube
25. A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes – 1950, Disney’s Cinderella – YouTube

 

Top 25 Songs for The Recessional:

1. I Do – 2011, Colbie Caillat – YouTube
2. Signed, Sealed, Delivered – 1970, Stevie Wonder – YouTube
3. You Are The Best Thing – 2008, Ray LaMontagne – YouTube
4. Beautiful Day – 2000, U2 – YouTube
5. Just Like Heaven – 1987, The Cure – YouTube
6. Ave Maria – 1853, JS Bach/Gound – YouTube
7. Do You Believe in Magic – 1965, The Lovin’ Spoonful – YouTube
8. Wedding March – 1842, Mendelssohn – YouTube
9. Crazy in Love – 2003, Beyonce & Jay Z – YouTube
10. Air on the G String – Early 18th century, JS Bach – YouTube
11. Treasure – 2012, Bruno Mars – YouTube
12. Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony – Early 19th century, Ludwig Von Beethoven – YouTube
13. Is This Love – 1978, Bob Marley – YouTube
14. Arioso – Early 18th Century, JS Bach – YouTube
15. Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of Your – 1967, Frankie Valli – YouTube
16. Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Early 18th Century, JS Bach – YouTube
17. Home – 2013, Phillip Phillips – YouTube
18. Sugar – 2014, Maroon 5 – YouTube
19. Hallelujah Chorus – 1741, Handel – YouTube
20. You May My Dreams Come True – 1980, Hall & Oates – YouTube
21. Rhythm of Love – 2010, Plain White T’s – YouTube
22. Everything – 2007, Michael Buble – YouTube
23. For Once In My Life – 1968, Stevie Wonder – YouTube
24. I Could Not Ask For More – 1999, Edwin McCain – YouTube
25. 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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