Picking the music for your wedding can be fun but it’s only when you get down to the nitty gritty, you realise how many songs you have to choose and how time consuming it can be! While it can be hard work, your song choices will really add some personality to your day and are a great way to make the ceremony more meaningful to you as a couple. If you’re having a humanist or civil ceremony, you’ll have free reign when it comes to your wedding ceremony music but those getting married in a church will have some restrictions. Generally, there’s more flexibility for the bridal entrance (processional) song, bridal exit (recessional) song and the songs you pick for signing the register as they’re outside the mass part of a church ceremony but always check as certain churches, priests or parishes may not allow some songs or types of music. If you do have creative freedom, it can be a gorgeous way to make the ceremony extra meaningful and emotional and there are some beautiful song choices out there. Check out our song suggestions for the processional, recessional and signing the register below…

Browse Wedding Ceremony Musicians in the weddingsonline Supplier Directory!

Bridal Entrance – Processional

The bridal entrance is such a poignant and special moment and the song you choose to walk up the aisle to will stay with you forever! Many brides love the idea of walking up the aisle to the familiar and beautifully traditional ‘Bridal March’ as it’s a song that instantly makes you think ‘bride’, but there are lots of other contenders that are either romantic, emotional or that have a haunting quality that will give you and your guests goosebumps as you make your big entrance. Here are 30 gorgeous options…

1. Canon in D – Pachelbel

2. Bridal Chorus – Wagner

3. Nella Fantasia

4. Gabriel’s Oboe (Instrumental)

5. Somewhere Over the Rainbow –  Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

6. A Thousand Years – Christina Perri

7.  Make You Feel My Love – Adele

8. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Roberta Flack

9. The One – Kodaline

10. Higher Love – James Vincent McMorrow

11. Songbird – Eva Cassidy

12. Can’t Help Falling in Love with You – Elvis Presley

13. She – Elvis Costello

14. First Day of My Life – Bright Eyes

15. La Vie en Rose – Louis Armstrong

16. Falling Slowly – Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

17. Skinny Love – Bon Iver

18. Ho Hey – The Lumineers

19. You Raise Me Up – Josh Groban

20. Feels Like Home – Chantal Kreviazuk

21. Bittersweet Symphony – The Verve

22. Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran

23. All of Me – John Legend

24. Hoppípolla – Sigur Rós

25. Kissing You – Des’ree

26. How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding

27. The Luckiest – Ben Folds

28. The Secret Wedding from Braveheart

29. Glasgow Love Theme from Love Actually

30. She Moved Through the Fair

Bridal Exit – Recessional

Like your bridal entrance, the recessional or bridal exit song (which is played as you walk back down the aisle as newlyweds) will leave you with happy memories for years to come. As it’s a happy and joyous part of the ceremony, experts say an upbeat or fun song works best. Lots of couples love the idea of making their exit to the classic, Wedding March by Mendelssohn, while others have a particular song that they love that would be perfect for a fun and special moment. Check out some great options below…

1. Wedding March – Mendelssohn

2. Tabhair Dom Do Lámh

3. Happy – Pharrell Williams

4. You Make My Dreams Come True – Hall & Oates

5. Everything – Michale Bublé

6. One Day Like This – Elbow

7. Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) – Stevie Wonder

8. You are the Best Thing – Ray Lamontagne

9. Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

10. You’ve Got the Love – Florence and The Machine

11. All you Need is Love – The Beatles

12. On Top of the World – Imagine Dragons

13. Ho Hey – The Lumineers

14. Higher and Higher – Jackie Wilson

15. At Last – Etta James

16. Greatest Day – Take That

17. Lovely Day – Bill Withers

18. Wouldn’t It Be Nice – The Beach Boys

19. For Once in My Life – Stevie Wonder

20. Mr Blue Sky – E. L. O

21. Everlasting Love – Love Affair

22. Best Day of My Life – American Authors

23. Walking on Sunshine – Kathrina & The Waves

24. You & Me – The Wannadies

25. Marry You – Bruno Mars

26. You’re My Best Friend – Queen

27. Arrival of the Queen of Sheba

28. Nothing Else Matters – Metallica

29. Songbird – Oasis

30. Happy Together – Turtles

Signing the Register

At the end of the ceremony, you and your now husband or wife will sign the register. If you’re having a humanist or civil ceremony, you can choose any songs you like! For those getting married in a church, as the mass part is over, generally there is more flexibility regarding song choice but as always check with the priest/parish as restrictions may apply. You will need to pick two (or sometimes three) songs which will be played as you’re signing the register but depending on how long it takes, there may only be time to play one or two. There’s some overlap with recessional (bridal exit) songs as both can be upbeat, romantic or fun. Check out some great song choices below…

1. God Only Knows – The Beach Boys

2. The Rose – Bette Midler

3. The Voyage – Christy Moore

4. Better Together – Jack Johnson

5. Songbird – Eva Cassidy

6. The Book of Love – Peter Gabriel

7. Viva la Vida – Coldplay

8. Oh Happy Day

9. Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles

10. Heyday – Mic Christopher

11. I Can See Clearly Now – Jimmy Cliff

12. Your Song – Elton John

13. We’ve Only Just Begun – The Carpenters

14. Fields of Gold – Eva Cassidy

15. Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder

16. When You Say You Love Me – Josh Groban

17. Caledonia – Dolores Keane

18. What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong

19. I Won’t Let Go – Rascal Flatts

20. You Do Something to Me – Paul Weller

21. Let There Be Love – Nat King Cole

22. Can’t Help Falling in Love – Ingrid Michaelson

23. On Top of the World – Carpenters

24. Perfect Day – Lou Reed

25. I’m Yours – Jason Mraz

26. Paradise – Coldplay

27. I’m a Believer – The Monkees

28. The Blower’s Daughter – Damien Rice

29. Beautiful Day – U2

30. Footprints in the Sand – Leona Lewis

*Remember – If you’re getting married in a church, make sure to run your song choices by your priest/parish as some churches may not allow certain songs or types of music! 

Credits:

Main photo: from Real Wedding by Art Wedding Photography | 2. Photo from Sarah & Vinnie’s real wedding by Mrs Redhead Photography | 3. Photo from Tara & Fionan’s real wedding by DKPHOTO | 4. Photo from Sabrina & Ian’s real wedding by Aidan Beatty Photography

The post Wedding Ceremony Music: Song Suggestions for the Processional, Recessional & Signing the Register appeared first on weddingsonline.