Choosing your wedding songs (Without the stress)

(Including a list of our recommended ceremony songs)

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For many couples, planning a wedding is exciting... but it can also feel overwhelming. Unless you've organised a wedding before, knowing where to start—especially when it comes to music—can be surprisingly difficult.

After performing at 600+ weddings across Melbourne, the Yarra Valley and beyond, one of the questions we're asked most often is:

"What songs should we choose?"

The truth is, there isn't a right or wrong answer. Every couple is different, and that's exactly how it should be.

The good news? Choosing your wedding music doesn't have to be stressful.

The songs that really matter

While you'll hear hundreds of songs throughout your wedding day, there are really only a handful that become part of your story.

These are the moments you'll remember every time you hear those songs in the future.

Most couples choose music for:

• Walking down the aisle (sometimes one song for the bridal party and another for the bride)

• Signing the marriage certificate (usually two songs)

• The recessional (walking back up the aisle as newlyweds)

• Bridal party entrance

• First dance

You might also like to choose songs for:

• Cake cutting

• Bouquet and/or garter toss

• Final dance floor song

• Farewell or goodbye song

  
  

Don't put too much pressure on finding the "perfect" song

This is probably the biggest piece of advice we can give.

We've seen couples spend weeks—even months—trying to find the one perfect song.

In reality, there usually isn't just one.

If a song reminds you of each other, brings back a special memory or simply makes you smile, it's probably the right choice.

Twenty years from now, you won't remember whether your aisle song was trending on social media. You'll remember how you felt in that moment.

Choose songs that mean something to you

Some couples choose the song from their first date.

Others pick the song that was playing during their first kiss, engagement or first holiday together.

Sometimes it's simply a favourite artist you've always loved.

Those personal connections are what make wedding music so special.

And if your favourite song isn't a traditional love song? That's perfectly okay too.

It's your wedding, not anyone else's.

The best weddings always feel personal.

But... make sure you read the lyrics!

This might sound obvious, but you'd be surprised how often it happens.

Over the years we've had requests for beautiful songs that, after reading the lyrics properly, turned out to be about heartbreak, infidelity or the end of a relationship!

Songs like Someone Like You by Adele or Not The Only One by Sam Smith are fantastic songs... they're just probably not sending the message you want as you're walking down the aisle.

If you're unsure, take five minutes to read through the lyrics before making your final decision.

You don't have to follow the trends

Every year there are a handful of songs that become incredibly popular for weddings.

They're popular for a reason—they're beautiful songs.

But don't feel like you have to choose Perfect, A Thousand Years or Until I Found You simply because everyone else does.

The most memorable weddings are usually the ones where the music reflects the couple, not what's fashionable at the time.

One of our favourite moments

After more than 600 weddings, there's one moment that never gets old.

The first few seconds when the bride appears and all of the guests turn around.

It's amazing how quickly the atmosphere changes.

The music begins, proud parents become emotional, guests start smiling (and often crying), and suddenly months of planning become real.

It's one of the reasons we love performing wedding ceremonies.

Our Top Wedding Ceremony & First Dance Songs

If you already have songs in mind, that's fantastic.

If you're completely stuck, here's a list of songs that have been consistently popular with our couples over the years and continue to stand the test of time.

• Adore- Amy Shark

• All Of Me- John Legend

• All You Need Is Love- The Beatles

• Amazed- Lonestar

• A Thousand Years- Christina Perri

• Beautiful Crazy- Luke Combs

• Better Together- Jack Johnson

• 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

• Dream to Me- The Cranberries

• Even When I’m Sleeping- Leonardo’s Bride

• Everything I Do- Bryan Adams

• Feels Like Home- Matt Johnson Version

• Flowers Need The Rain- Preston Pablo

• Fly Me to The Moon- Frank Sinatra

• Forever And Ever And Always- Ryan Mack

• Forever You and Me- Teskey Brothers

• Grow Old With You- Adam Sandler (Wedding Singer Movie)

• Heartbeats- Jose Gonzales

• Heaven- Bryan Adams

• Here Comes The Sun- The Beatles

• Hero- Enrique Iglesias

• Higher Love- Steve Winwood (Grace Grundy version)

• Hold My Girl- George Ezra

• Holy- Justin Bieber

• Ho Hey- The Lumineers

• Hooked On A Feeling- Blue Swede

• 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 Knew I Loved You- Savage Garden

• I Like Me Better- Lauve

• I Love You Always Forever- Donna Summer

• I’ll Be- Edwin McCain

• I'm With You- Vance Joy

• In Case You Didn’t Know- Brett Young

• Isn't She Lovely- Stevie Wonder

• Is This Love- Bob Marley

• Kiss Me- Sixpense None The Richer

• Lifetimes- Justin Bieber

• Love At First Sight- Kylie Minogue

• Loved You Before- Peach PRC

• L.O.V.E- Nat King Cole

• Love Someone- Lukas Graham

• Make You Feel My Love- Adelle version

• Making Memories of Us- Keith Urban

• Millionaire- Chris Stapleton

• Next To Me- Rufus Du Sol

• Over the Rainbow- Israel Kamakawiwoole version

• Perfect- Ed Sheeran

• Real Love Baby- Father John Misty

• River- Leon Bridges

• Simply The Best- Tina Turner (Billianne version)

• Still Into You- Paramore

• Stand By Me- Ben E King

• Tenerife Sea- Ed Sheeran

• The Way You Look Tonight- Frank Sinatra

• To Love Somebody- Beegees

• Truly, Madly, Deeply- Savage Garden

• Turning Page- Sleeping At Last

• Two of Us- Birds of Tokyo

• Two Strong Hearts- John Farnham

• Until I Found You- Stephen Sanchez

• When You Say Nothing At All- Ronan Keating

• When You Were Young- The Killers

• Wonderful Tonight- Eric Clapton

• XO- John Mayer version

• You & Me- Lifehouse

• You Are The Reason- Callum Scott

• Your Song- Elton John

• 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

• You've Got The Love- Florence & The Machine

  
  

One final tip that many couples overlook

Choosing your songs is only half the story.

The timing of your walk down the aisle can make just as much difference as the song itself.

One of the most magical moments is when the bride reaches the start of the chorus just as she begins walking. It creates an emotional build-up that's hard to describe until you've experienced it.

On the other hand, one of the most common mistakes we see is everyone walking so quickly that the song has barely started before they're already at the front!

Take your time.

Pause.

Smile.

Look around.

Soak it all in.

If you're lucky enough to have live musicians performing your ceremony, they'll usually adjust the song to match your pace anyway. But having a rough idea of your timing beforehand will make the moment feel even more natural.

Enjoy the process

At the end of the day, your wedding music isn't about impressing your guests.

It's about telling your story.

Choose songs that make you feel something, don't overthink every decision, and remember that the emotion behind the music will always matter more than choosing the "perfect" song.

If you'd like some personalised recommendations or advice, we're always happy to help. After all, helping couples create unforgettable wedding moments is what we do every weekend.

We look forward to being part of your special day.

Reviewed and updated by Josh Sperring. Josh is the founder of Sperring Entertainment and has performed at over 600 Melbourne weddings. Read more about Josh >>>

Last updated: June 2026