Skip to main content
Weddings

220 of the Best Wedding Ceremony Songs From Upbeat Tunes to Slow Ballads

Read on to discover the 220 best wedding ceremony songs, with some insider knowledge on how to pick the best music for your ceremony, no matter what the vibe is

Bride and groom laughing hand in hand as they leave their wedding ceremony

Wedding ceremony songs cover all the music you’ll play during the ceremony. Getting the right music for the prelude (the time when the guests are taking their seats) and the processional (when the wedding party is walking down the aisle) will set the tone for your ceremony.

You might choose to go for something from our list of the best wedding songs of all time, which has plenty of options for your wedding ceremony songs, or from this list, which has been put together specifically to create a memorable atmosphere during your ceremony. 

Wedding Ceremony Songs: The Best Wedding Music Ideas for a Memorable Ceremony

When it comes to choosing songs for a wedding ceremony, you also have to consider your big exit as newlyweds, too.

Here, you'll find our list of upbeat wedding ceremony exit songs sure to get the party started, as well as some top tips from wedding music expert Rosie from Tailor Made Music Agency to help you choose the best wedding ceremony songs for your milestone occasion.

Read on to discover amazing wedding music ideas sure to move hearts and get guests' feet tapping!

The Best Wedding Ceremony Songs From Upbeat to Romantic

Below you’ll find our Spotify playlist of the best wedding ceremony songs, which includes wedding prelude songs and processional songs. Scroll down for the full list of wedding music ideas to inspire you.

1. Canon in D Major – Pachelbel Orchestra

2. Bella’s Lullaby – Carter Burwell, Dan Redfeld, and Elizabeth Hedman 

3. Make You Feel My Love – Adele

"I could make you happy, make your dreams come true. Nothing that I wouldn't do, I'd go to the ends of the Earth for you, to make you feel my love."

4. I’m Kissing You – Des’ree

5. The Secret Wedding (Braveheart) – David Arkenstone ft Kathleen Fisher 

6. Better Together – Jack Johnson

"Love is the answer, at least for most of the questions in my heart."

7. Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good) – Quindon Tarver 

8. The Way You Look Tonight – Tony Bennett 

9. Across the Stars (Episode II: Attack of the Clones) – John Williams 

10. The Prince of Denmark’s March (Trumpet Voluntary In D Major) – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Christian Rainer

11. A Thousand Years – Christina Perri

"Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years, and I'll love you for a thousand more."

12. My Lover’s Prayer – Otis Redding 

13. From This Moment On – Shania Twain & Bryan White

14. Claire De Lune – Claude Debussy

"The calm light of the moon, sad and fair, that sets the birds dreaming in the trees, and the fountains sobbing in their rapture, tall and svelte amid marble statues."

15. Loving You – Minnie Riperton

16. I Knew I Loved You – Savage Garden 

17. All Of Me – John Legend 

18. When You Love a Woman – Journey 

19. Circle of Life (The Lion King) – Lebo M & Carmen Twillie

20. Kisses and Cake – John Powell 

21. This I Promise You – Ronan Keating

"My love, here I stand before you. I am yours now from this moment on. Take my hand, only you can stop me shaking. We'll share forever, this I promise you."

22. All I Ask of You (Phantom of the Opera) – Andrew Lloyd Webber

23. How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding 

24. A Groovy Kind of Love – Phil Collins

25. Londonderry Air – John Rutter & The Cambridge Singers

26. Canon In F – The O’Neill Brothers 

27. Dreams Come True – Westlife

28. Glasgow Love Theme – Craig Armstrong 

29. Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars 

30. Be Mine – David Gray

"From the very first moment I saw you, that's when I knew. all the dreams I held in my heart, had suddenly come true."

31. Here and Now – Luther Vandross

32. Perfect – Ed Sheeran

33. The Best of Me – Cliff Richard 

"You were my one more chance, I never thought I'd find. You were the one moment, I'll always have in my mind."

34. Bridal Chorus (Lohengrin) – Richard Wagner

35. Halo – Beyoncé 

36. Moon River – Frank Sinatra 

37. Rule the World (Stardust) – Take That 

38. The Luckiest – Ben Folds

39. Ode to Joy from Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125: Choral – Beethoven

40. Can You Feel the Love Tonight – Elton John 

"And can you feel the love tonight? It is where we are."

41. Helena – My Chemical Romance Piano Tribute 

42. If I Fall to Your Heart – Derwent Hannon

43. On the Wings of Love – Vitamin String Quartet

44. Endless Love – Lionel Richie & Diana Ross 

"Two hearts, two hearts that beat as one. Our lives have just begun."

45. Love You More – JLS 

46. On This Day – David Pomeranz 

47. Trumpet Tune – Henry Purcell

48. She Is Love – Oasis

49. Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran

50. Moonlight – Ariana Grande

"'Cause I never knew, I never knew you could hold moonlight in your hands. 'Til the night I held you, you are my moonlight."

51. Falling In Love With You Again – Imelda May

52. Let’s Get Married – The Proclaimers 

53. (They Long to Be) Close to You – Carpenters 

"Why do birds suddenly appear, every time you are near? Just like me, they long to be, close to you."

54. Barry: Main Theme from Out of Africa – Erich Kunzel & Cincinnati Pops Orchestra 

55. Chanson de Matin – Edward Elgar

56. Prelude from Te Deum – The Raglan Baroque Players & Nicholas Kraemer

57. (There Is) No Greater Love – Amy Winehouse  

58. After All Is Said and Done – Beyoncé & Marc Nelson

59. Always – Bon Jovi 

60. Gravity – Embrace 

61. Love Is All Around – Wet Wet Wet 

62. Sweet and Dandy – Tash Sultana 

"Picking daisies from the flowers that grow and the life that there is. Surround me, surround me with your sunshine."

63. Nocturne – Frédéric Chopin, Daniel Barenboim

64. You’ll Never Walk Alone (Carousel) – Rodgers & Hammerstein

65. Spring from The Four Seasons – Violin Concerto In E Major – Antonio Vivaldi

66. Feels Like Home – Edwina Hayes

67. Strange – (Celeste), Kris Bowler ft Hillary Smith, Bridgerton

68. Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole 

69. Songbird – Oasis 

"Gonna write a song, so she can see. Give her all the love she gives to me. Talk of better days that have yet to come. Never felt this love from anyone."

70. The Book of Love – Peter Gabriel 

71. This Guy’s In Love With You – Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass 

72. All I Want Is You – Barry Louis Polisar 

73. Amazed – Lonestar

"I wanna spend the rest of my life, with you by my side, forever and ever."  

74. Any Other Name – Thomas Newman

75. The Only Exception – Paramore

76. Four Seasons – Summer III Presto – Antonio Vivaldi

77. No One – Alicia Keys 

78. Always On My Mind – Willie Nelson

79. Amazing Day – Coldplay

"We sat on a roof, named every star and you showed me a place where you can be what you are."  

80. Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley

81. Edelweiss – The New London Orchestra

82. Everything (Curtis & Moore Remix) – Mary J. Blige 

"It's all because of you, I'm never sad and blue. You've brightened up my days in your own special way."

83. Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), K. 492: Overture (arr. S. Bergler) – John Bauer Brass

84. Love Is Easy – McFly 

85. Power of Love – Huey Lewis & The News

86. Bel Air – Lana Del Rey

87. Cherish – The Association

88. Evergreen (A Star Is Born) – Barbra Streisand 

"Spirits rise and their dance is unrehearsed. They warm and excite us 'cause we have the brightest love."

89. Everything – Michael Bublé  

90. Father-Daughter Dance – Wayne Jacobs

91. Haven’t Met You Yet – Michael Bublé 

92. Just Be – Paloma Faith

93. Love and Marriage – Frank Sinatra 

94. Love Never Fails – Brandon Heath 

"Love is the river that flows through. And love never fails you."

95. Love You I Do – Jennifer Hudson

96. Marry Me – Train 

97. Nothing Else Matters – Metallica

98. Still In Love – Lionel Richie

99. Truly Madly Deeply – Savage Garden

"I'll be your dream, I'll be your wish, I'll be your fantasy. I'll be your hope, I'll be your love, be everything that you need."

100 All Time Love – Will Young 

101. (You) Got What I Need – Freddie Scott

102. Grow Old With Me – Mary Chapin Carpenter 

"Grow old along with me. Two branches of one tree. Face the setting sun. When the day is done."

103. Lovely Day – Bill Withers

104. I See You (Avatar) – Leona Lewis

105. Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder

106. Love Oh Love – Lionel Richie 

"Show the world and all its people all the wonders love can bring. Give us strength and understanding, give us all one song to sing."  

107. My Girl – The Temptations 

108. One – Ed Sheeran 

109. Suddenly – Angry Anderson 

110. Sweet Louise – Passenger 

111. The One – Kodaline

112. The Power of Love – Jennifer Rush 

"'Cause I'm your lady. And you are my man. Whenever you reach for me, I'll do all that I can."

113. Three Little Birds – Bob Marley & The Wailers 

114. Two Hearts – Phil Collins 

115. Verdi: Aida: Triumphal March & Ballet – Giuseppe Verdi

116. Wedding Day – Bee Gees 

"From the first time that I saw you, to the way you look tonight, I was shaken by your spirit, I was blinded by your light."

117. When I’m Sixty-Four – The Beatles

118. You Are So Beautiful – Joe Cocker

119. Your Song – Ellie Goulding 

120. You’re Still the One – Shania Twain

"Looks like we made it. Look how far we've come, my baby. We mighta took the long way, we knew we'd get there someday."

121. A Million Dreams – P!nk

122. Merry Go Round of Life (Howl's Moving Castle) – Cover by Grissini Project

123. Killing Me Softly With His Song – Fugees

124. I See The Light (Tangled) – Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi 

"And it's warm and real and bright, and the world has somehow shifted. All at once everything looks different, now that I see you."

125. Falling Slowly – Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova

126. Seasons of Love – Rent

127. Conversations in the Dark – John Legend and Lindsey Stirling 

128. So Close (Enchanted) – Jon McLaughlin

129. Kiss Me – Sixpence None The Richer

130. Sweet Nothing – Taylor Swift 

"I find myself running home to your sweet nothings. Outside, they're push and shoving. You're in the kitchen humming. All that you ever wanted from me was sweet nothing."

131. Latch – Sam Smith

132. I Feel It Coming – The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk

133. September Song – JP Cooper

134. Bonfire Heart – James Blunt

135. At Last – Etta James 

"You smiled, you smiled. Oh, and then the spell was cast. And here we are in heaven. For you are mine at last."

136. That's When I Knew – Alicia Keys

137. Little Things – One Direction

138. Never Gonna Be Alone – Nickelback

139. Those Sweet Words – Norah Jones

140. Turning Page – Sleeping at Last – "Your love is my turning page / Where only the sweetest words remain / Every kiss is a cursive line / Every touch is a redefining phrase."

Sweet and Upbeat Wedding Ceremony Exit Songs

We teamed up with the amazing wedding musician and DJ, Michael Mulholland, to bring you the best wedding ceremony exit songs for your grand exit as newlyweds! Whether it's upbeat wedding ceremony exit songs to get the party started or romantic music to continue the serenity of your union, there's something for everyone on our list below.

141. Best Day Of My Life – American Authors

142. Ho Hey – Lumineers

"I belong with you, you belong with me. You're my sweetheart. I belong with you, you belong with me. You're my sweet."

143. Today Was a Fairytale – Taylor Swift

144. I Say a Little Prayer – Aretha Franklin

145. All You Need Is Love – The Beatles

146. This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole

147. Greatest Love of All – Whitney Houston

148. You've Got The Love – Florence + The Machine 

"When food is gone you are my daily meal. When friends are gone I know my saviour's love is real. You know it's real."

149. Love On Top – Beyoncé

150. Dancing in the Moonlight – Toploader

151. Death Do Us Part – Nick Jonas

152. Ever Ever After – Carrie Underwood

"Storybook endings, fairy tales coming true. Deep down inside we wanna believe they still do. In our secretest heart, it's our favourite part of the story. Let's just admit we all wanna make it too."

153. Just The Two of Us – Grover Washington Jr ft Bill Withers

154. Ain't No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

155. Heroes – David Bowie 

156. Photograph – Ed Sheeran

"Holding me closer 'til our eyes meet. You won't ever be alone, wait for me to come home."

157. Love Story – Taylor Swift

158. Love Will Keep Us Alive – Eagles

159. I'll Be Your Mirror – Velvet Underground

160. Joy – George Winston

161. 1+1 – Beyonce

162. Livin' on a Prayer – Bon Jovi 

"We've gotta hold on to what we've got. It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not. We've got each other and that's a lot for love. We'll give it a shot."

163. (I've Had) The Time of My Life – Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes

164. My Universe – Coldplay ft BTS 

"And you (you), you are (you are) my universe. And you make my world light up inside."

165. Shut Up and Dance – WALK THE MOON

166. Walking On Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves

167. Kiss of Life – Sade

168. You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne

169. I Do – Colbie Caillat 

"You can trust I've never felt it like I feel it now. Baby, there's nothing, there's nothing we can't get through."

170. You're the One That I Want – Grease, Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta

171. Send Me On My Way – Rusted Root

172. Melting – Kali Uchis

173. Higher Love – Kygo and Whitney Houston

174. L-O-V-E – Joss Stone 

175. Be My Baby – The Ronettes

"I'll make you happy, baby, just wait and see. For every kiss you give me, I'll give you three."

176. Can't Stop The Feeling – Justin Timberlake

177. Superposition – Young the Giant

178. In My Blood – Shawn Mendes

179. Loyal – Lauren Daigle

180. Bless the Broken Road – Rascal Flatts

"This much I know is true. That God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you."

181. True Love – P!nk ft Lily Allen

182. Electric Love – BØRNS 

183. Teenage Dream – Katy Perry

184. On Top Of The World – Imagine Dragons 

185. A Sky Full Of Stars – Coldplay

"'Cause you get lighter the more it gets dark. I'm gonna give you my heart, oh."

186. Lovesong – The Cure

187. Accidentally In Love – Counting Crows

188. Island In The Sun – Weezer

189. Modern Nature – Sondre Lerche 

"Why the world is right when you're near? (Oh, is that so?) Stay a while and wait and see."

190. Sweet Creature – Harry Styles

191. Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) – Stevie Wonder

192. Can't Take My Eyes Off You – Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

193. I Believe In A Thing Called Love – The Darkness

"I believe in a thing called love. Just listen to the rhythm of my heart."

194. Get Lucky – Daft Punk

195. Anything Could Happen – Ellie Goulding

196. Love Lust – King Charles

197. Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler

198. I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston

"Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody. With somebody who loves me"

199. Bring Me Sunshine – Morecambe & Wise

200. Arrival of the Birds – The Cinematic Orchestra

201. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do – ABBA

202. It Had to Be You – Harry Connick

203. Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap 

"Baby, it had to be you, wonderful you."

204. I Wanna Love Somebody Like You – Keith Urban

205. Don't Stop Me Now – Queen

206. Come and Get Your Love – Redbone 

"Hail, with it, baby, 'cause you're fine. And you're mine, and you look so divine."

207. Hooked On A Feeling – Björn Skifs 

208. Take Yo' Praise – Camille Yarbrough

209. Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry

210. All Night Long – Lionel Richie

211. (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher – Jackie Wilson

212. Meet Me At Our Spot – Tyler Cole

"Baby, are you coming for the ride? When I look into your eyes I just wanna hold you all night."

213. Who We Love – Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran

214. Your Guardian Angel – The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

75. Wildest Dreams – Taylor Swift

216. Sweet Child O' Mine – Guns n Roses

217. AMAZING – Rex Orange County – "Don't change a thing, you are amazing / I can't believe you've come and saved me"

218. Hold You Here – This Wild Life

219. Lift Me Up – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Rihanna

220. I'm In Love With You – The 1975

How Many Songs Are Enough for a Wedding Ceremony?

We caught up with the amazing Rosie from Tailor Made Music Agency to bring you the scoop on the perfect number of songs for a wedding ceremony.

For a typical civil ceremony, Rosie advises couples to, "Choose four to five special songs: an entrance song, an exit song, and two to three pieces to entertain your guests while you’re signing the register. Some couples also like to choose music to create a beautiful atmosphere as their guests arrive and take their seats."

"If you’re breaking with tradition in any way," Rosie continues, "You don’t need to stick to that. For example, if you and your partner both plan to make an entrance, you might choose two different entrance songs! If you’re having a celebrant-led ceremony, you can use music completely differently. In that case, you can select as many songs as you like."

What Songs Are Needed for a Wedding Ceremony?

The key sections of your wedding ceremony that you require music for are:

  • Prelude
  • Processional
  • Signing of the register
  • Recessional
  • Post-wedding music, to move between the ceremony and reception

For each section, think about whether you want calming or upbeat ceremony music. Will you have songs or just instrumentals? Will you have gentle background music while the register is being signed or it is hymns all the way for you? Do you want something playing while you say your vows?

Our playlist contains lots of different genres and tempos so have a listen to them all and get a sense of what feels right for you. Because there’s so much choice, we’ve actually created separate inspirational playlists for the signing of the register and the recessional (when you exit the church) but these beautiful songs could be used at any point during the ceremony.

Rosie shares her insider knowledge on the kind of music needed for a meaningful ceremony: "The songs you hear at your wedding ceremony will remain in your memories for a lifetime. So they need to be chosen carefully. They could be songs that already have a special meaning to you as a couple or simply songs that reflect your personality and unique style.

"I love helping couples to choose a blend of old and new pieces that go seamlessly together. My go-to is usually something traditional for the entrance, familiar modern favourites during the register signing, and something quirky and fun for the exit."

"If you’re playing original tracks or have booked a singer, you need to make sure the lyrics to your chosen songs are wedding-friendly. Songs about heartbreak are probably best avoided! Using an instrumental version is a brilliant way to get around a problem lyric. If there’s a song you both love, but you’re afraid the lyrics might offend your granny, have a string quartet perform it! Problem solved!"

How Long Should a Wedding Ceremony Entrance Song Be?

This is up to you! Some couples opt for a two to five minute song to begin when their wedding party starts walking down the aisle, others prefer a concise but meaningful 20-second fanfare that's reserved just for when the couple meets at the altar.

Depending on how you wish your day to flow, your ceremony music can be whatever length you desire. Most wedding musicians and DJs can tailor the length of your favourite songs to meet your vision.

Now that you've created your dream wedding soundtrack, check out these award-winning bands and DJs who know just how to get the party started!