Everything You Need to Know About Choosing Music for Your Wedding Ceremony

There's no doubt about it: There are a lot of decisions to be made for a wedding, and in the midst of choosing flowers, décor, a honeymoon destination, the menu, and, well, everything else, it can be easy to overlook the ceremony music. You definitely don't want to underestimate the power of this important detail, though. Music sets a tone, stirs up emotions, and shares a message with your guests, so picking the right songs for the prelude, processional, and recessional is key.

Choosing ceremony music isn't quite as simple as curating a playlist of tunes you love, though. While that approach might work for the reception, there's a bit more nuance involved when it comes to selecting exceptional ceremony music. These songs should to fit the vibe of your service, mirror your personal preferences, and also be the right length for your specific needs.

Sounds like a lot to keep straight? We're here to help. Ahead, our top tips for getting your ceremony music right.

Figure Out the Total Number of Songs You Need

How many songs do you need for a wedding ceremony? There are a few big moments to pick music for: the prelude, the processional (which often includes entrances for parents, the wedding party, and both partners), and the recessional. Your partner's processional could also be the song the wedding party walks down the aisle to or they can have a tune all their own. Here's a good breakdown of how many songs you'll need for each part.

The Prelude

The prelude is the period of time leading up to the beginning of your wedding ceremony, when guests are gathering and taking their seats. While most attendees will arrive 10 to 15 minutes before the start time listed on your wedding invitation, others might arrive earlier; if guests will be allowed into the ceremony area this early, plan to choose about 30 minutes worth of music, or about 10 songs that are each roughly three minutes long. For a shorter prelude, five songs should do the trick.

The Processional

In general, you'll need at least two songs for the processional: one for each partner's entrance. That being said, most couples choose to select music for each specific group entering the ceremony space, including parents, the wedding party members, and each partner. If you prefer this idea, decide which groups should have their own special entrances and select songs accordingly. Remember: If you have large wedding parties (say, 10 people on each side) and want everyone to walk down the aisle to the same song, you'll need a tune that's long enough. Take the length of your aisle into consideration, too!

The Recessional

You're officially married, and after you two share that special first kiss, you'll want the space to fill with celebratory music that matches the mood. Select a song for your recessional, then have two to three additional songs in the queue that can be played as guests are filing out behind you.

Check With Your Venue

If you’re having a wedding in a house of worship, talk to your officiant and see if there are restrictions as to what you can use. Some more conservative wedding venues will have a specific list of traditional (often religious) songs for you to choose from. Others might allow anything as long as it’s instrumental and has no recorded words, and the most progressive may be open to whichever music you choose (with the officiant’s review and approval first). Find out what rules you need to follow, and go from there.

Consider Your History

No matter how long the two of you have been together, there’s bound to be a song, artist, or genre of music that you both really connect to. Think back: Is there a tune you love to belt out in the car? One you always dance to in the kitchen? A song one of you has heard that makes you think about the other? Or maybe a concert you went to together by an artist you really love? Any of these will help guide you toward a song or two that are really meaningful.

Read the Lyrics

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s crucial that you read the lyrics before pressing “play” at your ceremony. Think about “Every Breath You Take,” by the Police. It pops up at weddings all the time, but Sting himself has insisted that it’s about jealousy, obsession, and a lost lover—not how you want to kick off your marriage.

Choose a Theme

For a little more cohesion, choose a theme to tie your processional songs together. That could be songs in the same genre, songs with a similar tempo, or songs from the same era. This will lead to a better flow between songs as you and your wedding party process.

Think About the Feeling You're Trying to Create

Of course, you want the main feeling to be "love"—but do you want something calm and subdued, upbeat, or a fun surprise your guests might barely pick up on, like an instrumental version of that rap song the two of you can't help but dance to? Don't be afraid to pick an unexpected genre, especially if there's an acoustic or instrumental version that will nod to your favorite tune without busting out the hard rock on your way down the aisle.

Celebrate!

Your recessional song should be one that’s up-tempo, happy, and primed to get the party started. After all, you’ve just tied the knot. Pick a song that will make you want to dance down the aisle, and will have your guests singing along. Go for a surprise here, too. This could be anything from a gospel choir singing “Oh Happy Day” to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours,” by Stevie Wonder to Beyoncé and Jay-Z's “Crazy in Love.” Have fun with this one.