Wedding song list – Part 3 in the Series
Music is such an important part of any celebration and to life in general. When planning a wedding ceremony, choosing your ceremony song list is always on my list of topics for discussion.
March’s blog https://lindycookecelebrant.com.au/wedding-song-list-for-walking-down-the-aisle/ focused on music for the Processional (walking down the aisle.)
April’s blog https://lindycookecelebrant.com.au/wedding-song-list-signing-the-certificates/ was all about background music for when you’re signing the Certificates of Marriage.
Today, we move on to the last key area where music generally plays during your ceremony. This is called the Recessional. It’s where the newly married couple walk back up the aisle together after the ceremony concludes.
Recessional
Here are some song suggestions for you to consider. They’re all (deliberately) quite upbeat to match the vibe that we’ve all reached at this point in the ceremony. Everyone is on a high and this music adds to the feeling of joy that is being felt. I know it looks like a very long list but everyone has their own taste and these options cover a wide variety of artists.
If you don’t recognise some of the songs, just go to https://www.youtube.com/ and search for them there.
In no particular order
- Love Me Do, The Beatles
- I Do, Colbie Caillat
- Signed Sealed Delivered, Stevie Wonder
- Home, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
- Use Somebody, Kings of Leon
- All You Need Is Love, The Beatles
- A Moment Like This, Kelly Clarkson
- Happy Together, The Turtles
- Cinema, Benny Benassi feat. Gary Go
- Classic, MKTO
- Do You Remember, Jack Johnson
- Slice of Heaven, Dave Dobbyn
- Everything, Michael Buble
- From This Moment, Shania Twain
- Happy, Pharrell Williams
- I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch), Jessica Mauboy
- On Top of the World, Imagine Dragons
- Love is Easy, McFly
- Sky Full of Stars, Coldplay
- Best Day of My Life, American Authors
- I’m Gonna Lose You, Meghan Trainor
- Gorecki, Lamb
- It’s a Beautiful Day, Tim McMorris
- Just the Way, Parmalee
- With Me, Sum 41
Then there’s
- Life Is Better With You, Michael Franti
- Moments Like This, The Afters
- I’m Yours, Jason Mraz
- Little Wonders, Rob Thomas
- Adore You, Miley Cyrus
- I’m Yours, Jason Mraz
- Little Wonders, Rob Thomas
- Adore You, Miley Cyrus
- Riptide, Vance Joy
- Setting the World on Fire with Pink, Kenny Chesney
- Something I Need, OneRepublic
- Best Friend, Queen
- You Are the Best Thing, Ray Lamontagne
- Better Together, Jack Johnson
- First Day of My Life, Bright Eyes
- Then, Brad Paisley
- Make You Feel My Love, Adele
- Grow Old With Me, Tom Odell
- I’ll Be, Edwin McCain
- Gone Gone Gone, Phillip Phillips
- It Must Be Love, Madness
- Bonfire Heart, James Blunt
- Black Betty, Spiderbait
- The Way You Make Me Feel, Bryan Adams & Ronan Keating
- Dreams, The Cranberries
- Meant To Be, Bebe Rexha
Not forgetting
- Special, Six60
- Mirrors, Justin Timberlake
- I Believe in You, Michael Buble
- Without You, D at Sea
- My Best Friend, Hollywood Anderson
- It Must Be Love, Madness
- Paradise, George Ezra
- Take My Hand, Secret Nation
- I’m a Believer, Smash Mouth
- (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice, Amen Corner
- I Be U Be, High Valley
- Real Love, Clean Bandit & Jess Glynn
- James Dean & Audrey Hepburn, Sleeping With Sirens
- I Love You, I Love You. It’s Disgusting, Broadside
- Still Into You, Paramore.
- I’m Right Where I Wanna Be, Von Bonneville
- I Like Me Better, Lauv
- Forever, James Morrison
- You’ve Got the Dirtee Love, Florence + The Machine & Dizzee Rascal
- All Eyes on Us, Jon Langston
- Body Like a Back Road, Sam Hunt
- Forever Begins Tonight, The McClymonts
I recommend asking couples to choose three songs/artists for this part of the ceremony. One for when the couple walk back up the aisle together PLUS two more for when family and friends are coming up to congratulate them.
It’s important to imagine the couple being on cloud 9 straight after the ceremony. For this reason, I always recommend they ask their photographer to wait until the final three songs have played before they start to organise family and friends into a group photo. Three songs will go for only 10 minutes or so, so it’s the perfect opportunity for everyone to catch their breath and enjoy this special time before being called up for photographs.
I’ve seen too many ceremonies go from a 10 back down to a two or three when this is overlooked. Keep in mind that your photographer is likely to be with you for an hour (at least) so there’s no need to rush things. They can definitely use the time to take those all-important candid photos which I find most of my couples prefer anyway.
If you keep these tips in mind, you’ll be in the perfect position to kick-start the party to follow!
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Happy listening 🎶🎼🎵
31/05/2023
102 – ©Lindy Cooke Celebrant