One of the loveliest parts of planning a wedding, is actually the most important part, as it is the ceremony itself. While there is a set structure for a wedding ceremony, which you can opt to follow or not, (we have a guide on writing your own ceremony here!) your choices of ceremony music and readings are a great way to reflect your personalities, interests and values as a couple.

Music plays a huge role in the ceremony from the start to the finish and brings your guests on a journey through your love story. However, couples often get overwhelmed by the sheer choice, and leave it to the last minute. This is why we’re here to help, with a handy list of ceremony music options – broken down into the categories of traditional, classical and modern, as well as the parts of the ceremony they might suit best depending on whether you are having a religious or non-religious ceremony.

From beautiful classical songs like Ave Maria to upbeat, fun songs like Love Fool by The Cardigans. There are songs that you might never have thought of and ones you know well. Check out the list and have Spotify or YouTube on standby to give all this ceremony music a listen as you go.

But First a Word on Ceremony Music Choices

If you are having a religious ceremony, in particular a Catholic wedding, then you will have to pass your ceremony music choices with the priest or officiant. They might have more conservative views on what they feel are appropriate song choices for a religious ceremony and setting, in particular when it comes to modern songs. As it is left up to each officiant to decide this as they see fit, you really do have to respect their final decision if they say no to certain ceremony music.

Don’t be afraid to ask your ceremony musicians for suggestions as well, as they will have performed at hundreds of weddings and will know what works best. Check out our list of the best singers and ceremony musicians here if you still haven’t booked yours.

The Entrance/Processional Songs

Classical Choices:

• Ave Verum
• Jesu, Joy of Man Desiring
• Sheep May Safely Graze
• Pavane
• Astor Piazzolla Verano Portano
• Astor Piazzolla Milonga del Angel
• Capricho Arabe by Tarrega
• Cavatina on Classical Guitar
• Romance on Classical Guitar
• Pie Jesu
• In Paradisum
• Canon in D by Pachelbel
• Caro Mio Bien
• Bridal Chorus
• Bridal March by Wagner
• Gabriel’s Oboe by Ennio Morricone
• The Secret Wedding from Braveheart
• The Ashokan Farewell by Ungar
• Spring from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
• Carolan’s Concerto

Modern Choices:

• The Blower’s Daughter by Damien Rice
• Fields of Gold by Sting
• In a Country Churchyard by Chris De Bourg
• To Make You Feel My Love by Adele
• Hysteric by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
• Everlong by Foo Fighters
• She by Elvis Costello
• Hoppipolla by Sigour Ross
• Moth’s Wings by Passion Pit
• Halo by Beyoncé

Romantic Processional Songs Choices:

• Songbird by Eva Cassidy
• Somewhere over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiw’ole
• The Prayer by Celine Dion & Andre Bocelli
• Lullaby by the Dixie Chicks
• Growing up Beside You by Paolo Nutini
• The Luckiest by Ben Folds
• Hold You in my Arms by Ray Lamontagne
• Wild Horses by The Sundays
• To be alone with You by Sufijan Stevens
• I’ve Got a Crush on You by Ella Fitzgerald
• Be Still my Heart by The Postal Service
• Cello Song by Nick Drake
• Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard
• Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright
• You belong to Me by Jason Wade
• You’re the One That I Want by Angus and Julia
• All I Want is You by U2
• With or Without You by U2
• I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You by Elvis Presley
• Kissing You by Des’ree

Click to check out our full Spotify Playlist of Processional Songs.

The Lighting of Baptismal & Marriage Candles

Only 30-60 seconds of music is required for both sections, rather than a full song.

• She Moved Through the Fair
• One Hand, One Heart from West Side Story
• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach
• Air on a G String by Bach
• The Coolin (Traditional Irish air)
• The Water is Wide
• Winter from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
• Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach
• Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens
• Greensleeves

• Be Not Afraid
• Like a Shepherd
• The Hiding Place by Liam Lawton
• Song of Ruth (Wherever You Go)
• Celtic Blessing
• On Eagle’s Wings
• The Lord is my Shepherd
• Here I am lord
• Bind Us Together

The Offertory

• Ave Maria by Schubert
• Down to the River to Pray
• One Bread, One Body
• Eat This Bread
• I Am The Bread of Life
• Ag Críost an Síol
• As I Kneel Before You
• In Bread We Bring You Lord

The Sign of Peace

• Tabhair Dom do Lámh
• Dona Nobis Pacem
• Make Me a Channel of Your Peace

The Communion

• Panis Angelicus by César Franck
• You Raise Me Up
• Gabriel’s Oboe (Sung) – Nella Fantasia
• Ave Maria by Bach & Gounod
• Laudate Dominum by Mozart
• I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls
• Pie Jesu by Andrew Lloyd Webber
• Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart
• The Wedding Song (There is Love)
• Flower Duet by Léo Delibes
• Amazing Grace
• Largo by Handel
• How Great Thou Art
• Just a Closer Walk With Thee
• Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven
• Piano Concerto 21 (Elvira Madigan) by Mozart
• Traumerei by Schumann
• The Cloud’s Veil by Liam Lawton

The Signing of the Register

Choose two songs here.

• Perhaps Love by John Denver
• The Prayer by Celine Dion/Andrea Bocelli
• O Mio Babbino Caro by Puccini
• Songbird by Eva Cassidy
• Fields of Gold by Eva Cassidy
• All I Ask Of You from The Phantom of the Opera
• In My Life by The Beatles
• Laschia Ch’io Pianga by Handel
• We’ve Only Just Begun by The Carpenters
• From This Moment On by Shania Twain
• Somewhere from West Side Story
• Love Changes Everything
• Annie’s Song by John Denver
• No Frontiers by Mary Black
• The Voyage by Christy Moore
• When I Fall in Love by Nat king Cole
• Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Stevie Wonder
• When You Say You Love Me by Josh Groban
• Faithfully by Journey
• Prelude in C Major
• Sleepers Wake by Bach
• Morning by De Greig
• Sea of Love by Cat Power

Recessional Songs

Classic Choices:

• Wedding March by Mendelssohn
• Trumpet Voluntary by Handel
• 9th Symphony by Beethoven
• Water Music by Handel
• Rejouissance by Handel
• Brandenburg Concerto by Bach
• Rondeau by Mouret
• Te Deum by Charpentier
• Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel
• Fields of Gold by Sting
• We’ve Only Just Begun by The Carpenters
• All I Want is You by U2
• What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
• City of Blinding Lights by U2
• Dance Tonight by Paul McCarthy
• You Are the Best Thing by Ray La Montague
• Dog Days are Over by Florence and the Machine
• You and Me Song by The Wannadies
• Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen

Upbeat Songs:

• God Only Knows by The Beach Boys
• Wouldn’t it Be Nice by The Beach Boys
• I Will by The Beatles
• Love Fool by the Cardigans
• Toothpaste Kisses by The Macabees
• Are You Gonna Be my Girl by Jet
• Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles
• Isn’t She Lovely by Stevie Wonder
• Accidentally in Love by Counting Crows

General Song Choices

Traditional:

• Ave Maria by F. Schubert
• Ave Maria by J. S. Bach/C. Gunod
• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by J. S. Bach
• Pie Jesu by Andrw Lloyd Webber
• Be Still My Soul from Finlandia by J. Sibelius
• Panis Angelicus by C. Franck
• In Paradisum by G. Faure

Classic:

• Amazing Grace
• How Great Thou Art
• The Clouds’ Veil by Liam Lawton
• Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace
• The Lord’s My Shepherd
• On Eagle’s Wings
• Be Not Afraid
• Here I am Lord
• Hiding Place by Liam Lawton
• Be Thou My Vision
• Song of Ruth
• As I Kneel Before You

Modern Songs:

• You Raise Me Up
• Fields of Gold by Sting
• What A Wonderful World
• Come What May from Moulin Rouge
• The Prayer by Carole Bayer Sager/David Foster
• Songbird by Eva Cassidy
• All I Ask Of You from The Phantom of the Opera
• Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Eva Cassidy
• The Rose
• Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
• Somewhere from West Side Story
• And I Love You So by Don McLean
• The Long And Winding Road by John Lennon & Paul Mc Cartney
• She by Charles Aznavour
• Glasgow Love Theme from Love Actually
• A Thousand Years by Christina Perri
• Just Like Heaven by The Cure

Irish Wedding Songs

• Mo Ghile Mear (traditional)
• The Sally Gardens words by W.B. Yeats
• She Moved Through the Fair
• Carrickfergus
• The Last Rose of Summer by T. Moore
• The Isle of Inisfree
• Fairytale by Enya
• The Irish Wedding Song

Hymns/Religious Music

• Make me a Channel of Your Peace
• Here I am Lord
• Be Thou My Vision
• Amazing Grace
• Be Still for the Presence of the Lord

Interludes

• Ave Maria
• Panis Angelicus

Postludes (Closing Music)

• Winter from Four Seasons by Vivaldi
• Spring from Four Seasons by Vivaldi

 Looking or other wedding-worthy tunes? Be sure to follow us on Spotify for all our great playlists for everything from your hen party to the wedding morning itself.