(Including a list of our recommended ceremony songs)
For most couples, planning your own wedding is a time consuming and often daunting task! Without much event planning experience, it can be hard to know where to start - especially when it comes to music and entertainment. After many years of experience in performing at weddings and events, we have plenty of knowledge in this area, which we’re happy to share. Hopefully this helps you in organising the music for your wedding.
We often get asked “what normally happens for wedding music? What do most couples do?”. This isn’t always an easy question to answer, as there are many options and it always depends on your budget and personal taste.
In our next blog post we have worked out the 10 most important things to keep in mind when organising your wedding music supplier/vendor- things that you might not necessarily think about at first.
Before we get to that, lets start with one of the most crucial steps- choosing your songs!
The songs that matter
There are normally 5 or 6 special songs you will need to choose for your wedding. They are for:
Walking down the aisle (sometimes a separate song for bridal party and bride)
Signing of the registry (generally 2 songs)
Recessional/ End of Ceremony
Bridal party entrance at the reception
Your first Dance
And a few less important songs you may like to choose:
Cake Cutting
Bouquet and/or Garter Toss
Final Dance Floor Song
Goodbye/Farewell Song
We always recommend that couples choose songs that are special and unique to them. This could be a song by a band or artist that you saw on your first date, a song that was playing when you had your first kiss or a song that reminds you of your loved ones. Most importantly, have a good read through the lyrics and make sure they resonate with you. Not all songs are suitable to take centre stage at a key moment of your wedding. In fact, on more than one occasion, we have had requests for beautiful ceremony songs only to read through the lyrics and realise they are about a break-up or infidelity (ie: Not the only one by Sam Smith or Someone Like You by Adele).
If your favourite song isn't a typical "love song" but it means something to you both, thats totally fine too, we're not judging! You have to do what is right for you - it's your wedding after all. But if you have no idea where to begin, and want some recommendations of songs that reflect the love and commitment of your marriage, we have compiled a list of songs that you can select for the key moments in your wedding. Hopefully this will at least give you some ideas!
Our top 50 wedding ceremony or first dance songs:
All Of Me- John Legend
Amazed- Lonestar
Angels- The XX
A Thousand Years- Christina Perri
At Last- Etta James
Beautiful in White- Shane Filan
Better Half of Me- Tom Walker
Better Together- Jack Johnson
Bless The Broken Road- Travis Atreo
Can You Feel The Love Tonight- Elton John
Can’t Help Falling In Love- Kina Grannis Version
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You- Frankie Valli
Change The World- Eric Clapton
Collide- Howie Day
Dream to Me- The Cranberries
Even When I’m Sleeping- Leonardo’s Bride
Everything Has Changed- Taylor Swift
Everything I Do- Bryan Adams
Feels Like Home- Matt Johnson Version
Fly Me to The Moon- Frank Sinatra
For You- Rita Ora & Liam Payne
Forever You and Me- Teskey Brothers
Give Me Love- Ed Sheeran
Halo- Beyonce
Hearts Don’t Break Around Here- Ed Sheeran
Heaven- Bryan Adams
Hero- Enrique Iglesias
Higher Love- Steve Winwood (Grace Grundy version)
Hold My Girl- George Ezra
Ho Hey- The Lumineers
How Deep Is Your Love- The Beegees
How Long Will I Love You- Ellie Goulding
How Would You Feel- Ed Sheeran
If I Ain’t Got You- Alicia Keys
I Get to Love You- Ruelle
I Guess I’m In Love- Clinton Kane
I Just Can’t Stop Loving You- Michael Jackson
I Knew I Loved You- Savage Garden
I’ll Be- Edwin McCain
In Case You Didn’t Know- Brett Young
Let’s Stay Together- Al Green
L.O.V.E- Nat King Cole
Love Someone- Lukas Graham
Lucky- Jason Mraz, Colbie Caillat
Make You Feel My Love- Adelle
Making Memories of Us- Keith Urban
Marry Me- Train • No one- Alicia Keys
Only You Can Love Me This Way- Keith Urban
Over & Over Again- Nathan Sykes, Ariana Grande
Over the Rainbow- Israel Kamakawiwoole version
Perfect- Ed Sheeran
So Into You- Tamia
Something About The Way You Look Tonight- Elton John
Stand By Me- Ben E King
Take Me Home Country Roads- Music Travel Love Version
Take My Breath Away- Berlin
Tenerife Sea- Ed Sheeran
The Best- Tina Turner
The Way You Look Tonight- Frank Sinatra
Thinking Out Loud- Ed Sheeran
To Love Somebody- Beegees
True Colours- Cyndi Lauper
Truly, Madly, Deeply- Savage Garden
Two of Us- Birds of Tokyo
Two Strong Hearts- John Farnham
Wanted- Hunter Hayes
When You Say Nothing At All- Ronan Keating
Wonderful Tonight- Eric Clapton
XO- John Mayer version
You & Me- Lifehouse
You Are The Reason- Callum Scott
You’re My Best Friend- Queen
You’re the One That I Want- Grease- Angus & Julia Stone version
You’re Still The One- Shania Twain
Finally, once you've chosen your songs and the big day has arrived, an important detail which is often overlooked is the timing of the aisle walk. It's important to put some thought into the way the bride and bridesmaids walk down the aisle, ideally so the bride is walking during the chorus, for maximum impact! The worst thing you can do is rush down the aisle so quickly that the song has barely started by the time you all reach the front. Take your time, space it out and enjoy the moment! If you have professional musicians (like us) singing you down the aisle, we will always adjust and make it work no matter how you walk, but its always better if you've thought about your timing.
We look forward to seeing you at a wedding soon!