Picking music for your wedding should be a fun experience—it’s a chance for the bride and groom to sit together and pick out songs that they feel best represent their relationship. However, it’s important to remember that you two will pick the music for the entire wedding—that includes both the reception and the ceremony too. When it comes to music for the actual wedding ceremony, many couples choose some form of instrumental music to walk down the aisle. Here are a few thoughts and suggestions regarding instrumental wedding music.

 

Generally speaking, the mood for a wedding entrance should be romantic and formal—this is, of course, a rather important moment! Even if your wedding is meant to be casual, the ceremony will be a significant event for both you and your partner, so your music choices should reflect that importance. The tone of instrumental music often perfectly matches the mood of a wedding—soft, reflective, romantic, and serene. If you need to pick music for your wedding, you can’t go wrong with some instrumental tunes!

 

Before picking music for your ceremony, it’s important to remember that you’ll have to pick songs for both the processional and recessional parts of your wedding. The processional song will be used when you’re walking down the aisle, and the recessional song will be for when you and the wedding party leave the venue following the ceremony. An often-popular pick for a processional song is Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus,” otherwise known as the “Here Comes the Bride” song. It’s a traditional pick, but it’s definitely a safe one too. There are also other classical songs that you can go with, like “Canon in D.” Just remember that your song should match the mood of your ceremony.

 

Lastly, if you’re looking for some more modern songs to walk down the aisle to, artists such as Florence and the Machine and Rihanna sometimes create instrumental versions of their popular songs. If you find an instrumental version of a popular song that both you and your partner have some special connection to, you can definitely use it for your processional… just make sure it’s appropriate for the ceremony!

 

For your recessional song, you can go with the popular (and traditional) Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March.” It’s classic, refined, and definitely a safe pick. Otherwise, the same rules apply here: if you go with another classical song, or you decide to go with an instrumental version of a popular song, just make sure that the tune matches the tone and mood of your wedding ceremony!

 

If you’re looking for other helpful tips for wedding planning, check out the other articles on our blog. Or browse our directory of beautiful wedding and reception venues, and you’re sure to find one to host your perfect wedding day.