Picking Your Walking Down the Aisle Songs: Suggestions from a Seasoned Wedding Musician

Why Live Music Matters for Your Ceremony

I have performed for hundreds of brides and walking down the aisle and have been part of some incredibly special moments at wedding ceremonies. I believe live music in the ceremony is THE most important part of the day.

Some people do like to play tracks from Spotify or apple music for their ceremony. but i find them to be less personal, less engaging and can be finicky at times. Tracks can stop early for a section of the ceremony, leaving awkward gaps, fade awkwardly, or fail to play at the right time. A downloaded song might have the wrong version or there may be technical issues during the ceremony or reception. A seasoned live musician can ensure every song flows perfectly in real time, and can extend or shorten a song naturally so it feels rehearsed and intentional.

The Three Key Ceremony Songs

There are three main songs in a wedding ceremony: the bridal processional (walking down the isle song), the signing song, and the exit. When talking with clients, i spend that extra time to help them pick the right songs for each moment. Here are my tips:

Processional

This is the big moment. The song should be meaningful to you both. It could be the song that was playing when you first met or just a song you both love. Extra points if the lyrics are loving.

Even an upbeat song can be arranged into a beautiful ballad for the ceremony. in fact some of my favorite songs are like this. Some great examples to check out are are Sleeping at Last or Boyce Avenue covers. they do this very well and will give you an example of what im able to do to really any song. Here are a couple of my favourite songs for the Processional:

• 500 Miles – Sleeping at Last cover

• Simply the Best – Noah Reid cover

• You Are the Reason” – Calum Scott

• Somewhere Only We Know – Keane

• A Thousand Years – Christina Perri

• Home - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

• I'm With You - Vance Joy

• Heartbeats - Jose Gonzalez

• XO - John Mayer cover

• You're Still The One - Shania Twain
  

Signing

The signing is an intermission moment. The song should be love-focused, easy listening, and mid-tempo. It should not be too sad or too upbeat.

Here are some signing song ideas I love to play:

• Kiss Me – Sixpence None the Richer

• Bloom – The Paper Kites cover

• Your Song – Elton John

• Lover – Taylor Swift

• Harvest Moon – Neil Young

• You Make My Dreams (Come True) - Hall & Oats Cover

  
  

Exit

This is the celebration moment. The song should be full of energy, happy, and loving as you walk back down the aisle. It should match the excitement of your guests cheering.

Here are some exit song options that bring great energy:

• You’ve Got the Love – Florence + The Machine

• Signed, Sealed, Delivered – Stevie Wonder

• Love on Top – Beyoncé

• This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole

• Bright Side of the Road - Van Morrison

• Marry You – Bruno Mars

• You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne

• Lovely Day – Bill Withers

• I’m a Believer – The Monkees

• Twist and Shout – The Beatles

• All You Need Is Love – The Beatles

• Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye

Optional Extra Songs

Bridesmaid Song – For some weddings, I play the bridal processional song instrumentally for the bridesmaids, then start singing as the bride appears. This keeps the flow smooth and gives the bride her spotlight. You can also choose a separate song for the bridesmaids if you prefer.

Second Signing Song – Some couples like a backup signing song in case the ceremony runs longer than expected. This covers witnesses signing or photo sessions so the music never feels awkward or stops abruptly.

If you wanna hear some of my arrangements, you can check my YouTube channel or go to my "Have a Listen" page

- Ethan