Music For your wedding ceremony

Music has a an amazing ability to throw you back win time to memory of the past. It can be the soundtrack of a memory that when heard years in to the future, takes you right back to the moment it happened, in this case one of the happiest moments of your life – your wedding ceremony. However, we have found that people tend to book more readily with their sense of sight than their sense of hearing. Of course this is absolutely fine and there are so many things to thing about – the dress, the decor, suits, flowers, rings, Cars…….you get the idea. But, in our experience we have found that when it comes to the wedding day, it is the music that sets off people crying and really sets the mood. If it’s so important then you might need some wedding music inspiration. What is the best song for bridal entrance? What is the most popular wedding song? So in this article I am going to break down the ceremony, outline what music needs to be considered; the wedding ceremony song order, how many songs for wedding ceremony? what is popular? what are the alternatives?……..and try to give some examples of our favourite wedding ceremony music.

Before the wedding ceremony starts it is very common for the registrars to want to interview the groom in the ceremony room. This interview is to confirm your identity and contains sensitive information. Incidentally, if you are looking for info about a typical wedding ceremony you can check out the FAQs on one of our industry friends page – Your Ceremony – the Cheshire registrars. If you scroll down the FAQs you will see the question, “What music will I require for my ceremony ?“. The first item they show is “Play list for guests sitting, around 15-20 minutes worth”. This is the time between the guests being allowed in the ceremony room (after the groom interview) and the bridal entrance. It is about 15-20 minutes of music to set the mood. We recommend you let us “do our thing”. But if you have some special songs that you would love to hear (remembering of course that the Bride is NOT in the room at this time) you can let us know – and of course you can check out The Piano Guy’s song list for wedding music inspiration. Generally this should be a little low key music to set the mood. As of 2023, Mark The Piano Guy tends to play songs like Amazed by Lonestar or How long will I love you by Ellie Goulding.

Highlighted songs take you to a link where you can hear the Piano Guy sing these at a real wedding.

• I get to love you – Ruelle
• Perfect – Ed Sheeran
• The One – Kodaline
• A Thousand Years – Chistina Perri
• You are the Reason – Callum Scott

Some people prefer not to have any vocal content as the bride makes her way to the alter. Whereas some people want to hear the lyrics, others would prefer not to have any and the piano to be a solo instrument. The Piano Guy is by trade a singing pianist but he is a pianist all the same and would be happy to provide an instrumental piano piece for you if this is what you want for your wedding music. So below are the top 5 instrumental piano songs for bridal entrance – note there is some overlap with other lists as the songs take on a character of their own when performed on instrumental piano.

• A thousand years – Christina Perri
• How long will I love you – Ellie Goulding
• Heaven – Bryan Adams/DJ Sammy
• I can’t help falling in love with you – Elvis Presley

What they used to call “The Register” is now the schedule. However this is still a legal document that you must sign in the presence of the registrars, witnessed by your chosen representatives. During the time the schedule is on the table, the registrars will likely inform your guests that photos and videos may not be taken due to it containing sensitive data. Then they remove it, replace it with a dummy schedule so you can pose for your signing shot. The photographer may direct you and call up others, like your parents or bridal party to be part of the shot. Only when this is done, and if you want, does the registrar announce that guests a free to snap away. During this time a little music to entertain your guests is a really nice touch. Also note – this will likely be the first opportunity to you have to really sit and listen to the music. So if there is anything particular special you would like to hear – now is a good time. Two songs is usually enough but some people like to pick three just in case. Again check out the song list for inspiration.

Traditionally known as the recessional, this is the moment when your registrar announces you to the world as a married couple for the first time. They will get all your guests upstanding and ask them to welcome (with rapturous applause) for the first time – the new Mr/Mrs & Mr/Mrs YOU! Then you come bounding down the aisle with your bridal party and your guests following behind you as you leave the ceremony area. For this we recommend an up beat song that your guests might clap their hands to – with a jaunty tempo to it that you can saunter to. Below is a list of the top five songs for wedding recessional:-

• Signed Sealed Delivered – Stevie Wonder
• Marry you – Bruno Mars
• I gotta Feeling – Black eyed peas
• It must be love – Madness
• Brown eyed girl – Van Morrison

Whilst the most popular choices for wedding music are listed herein is important to add that it is your day……you should make it a reflection of who you are. As such if you are a little alternative – should not the music be? Check out this list of our top 5 alternative wedding ceremony songs – and if you have something interesting or different, why not ask. You never know…….we might be able to make it work

• One day like this – Elboy
• Ever Long – Foo Fighters
• Handbags and Gladrags – Stereophonics/Rod Stewart
• Nothing else matters – Metallica