Music Ideas for your Wedding Day
by Suzanne Riley Sunshine Coast Wedding Celebrant
Music really does create the mood for any occasion and whether it’s the bridal entrance, the first romantic dance or the DJ list for the party, it can make or break the moment or it can make or break the whole occasion.
We all have a song that evokes a special memory, this is what happens with songs you choose for your wedding day.
Your memory will forever be attached to the song, so… take some time to choose the music which will reflect the mood you want to create. Music is so personal, my first piece of advice is to choose what ‘you’ love.
Music lists
CEREMONY
Decide what style of music you would like.
Live music, there are beautiful string trio’s / quartets, harpists, Guitar soloists, singers and even drumming groups to entertain the guests and serenade you down the aisle.
Live musicians will bring their own instruments and audio equipment.
Ensure your live musician is booked to be set up for guest arrival and ask them to connect with your Celebrant to coordinate timing of bridal entrance.
Playlists
If you choose to use a PA for you ceremony, I recommend that you have with an allocated person who is responsible for bringing and playing the music.
Check with your celebrant that they have the relevant aux connector for the chosen device.
This chosen person should be cool, calm and collected on the day, arrive early and liaise with the celebrant to know exactly when to play each song. Remember, it is not your celebrants responsibility to supply or organise the music.
- HINTS:
The person responsible for music should download music to their own device
The person responsible for music should be onsite to liaise with the celebrant regarding timing of songs
The device should be placed on airplane mode
The device should be fully charged
All music to be fully downloaded and not streamed
Playlists to be clearly marked as ‘walking down the aisle’, ‘signing of the register’ and ‘end of ceremony’
Have a back up device with playlists available
Music lists:
1. Waiting Guests
Music isn’t usually required for the waiting guests, however if you decide you’d like music, it can create a certain mood. Light, modern happy music will create a light and happy atmosphere, whereas strings will create a more formal mood.. so keep that in mind.
2. The Bridal Entrance.
You have a couple of options.
One Song for the entire bridal party.
or
Two songs.
One for the bridesmaids entrance. THEN once the bridesmaids are all in place, their song is ‘volumed down’ and the Bridal entrance song is started and the bridal entrance commences.
I love this as it really gives the bridesmaids a moment to get into position and enjoy every moment of the Brides entrance.
3. Signing of the Register
I suggest 2 songs for the background music – sometimes this is a longer process if the photographer decides to take extra photos etc, so it’s lovely to be prepared with special songs chosen.
4. The Recessional Song.
This is where you walk back down the aisle as a married couple
What a celebration this moment is! So choose a song that will really fit the mood, upbeat, happy and a true celebration.
5. Congratulations.
I like to have background music playing quietly to create atmosphere as your guests congratulate you, choose approximately 6 songs with an upbeat feel.
RECEPTION
For the reception, plan your music with your DJ or Band who will be able to get the party started exactly to your ‘brief’, so make sure you communicate exactly what you expect for your celebrations. Your DJ or Band will have a music list and will most likely have some great ideas to suit your individual celebrations.
Background music for your Wedding Video
Incorporate your first dance song as part of your video or allow your videographer to surprise you.
Links to wedding music
Click this link to see Top 80 most romantic songs for you wedding
Also
150 OF THE BEST SONGS TO WALK DOWN THE AISLE TO
As suggested by One of my FAVOURITE venues GABBINBAR HOMESTEAD
- At Last – Etta James
- Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
- Songbird – Fleetwood Mac
- Harry Styles – Adore You
- The Joker & The Queen – Ed Sheeran feat. Taylor Swift
- Lucky – Jason Mraz ft. Colbie Caillat
- A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
- Canon in D – Pachelbel
- Your Song – Elton John
- I’m Kissing You – Des’ree
- Hold My Hand
- Leave the door open
- Make You Feel My Love – Adele
- Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars
- I’ll never not love you – Michael Buble
- Glasgow Love Theme – Craig Armstrong
- Butterfly Waltz – Brian Crain
- From This Moment On – Shania Twain & Bryan White
- What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
- Higher Love – James Vincent McMorrow
- The Secret Wedding (From “Braveheart”) – David Arkenstone featuring Kathleen Fisher
- Marry You – Bruno Mars
- Best Part – Daniel Caesaer featuring H.E.R
- Green Eyes – Coldplay
- Ave Maria – Schubert
- Air On the G String, from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068 – J.S. Bach Orchestra
- Love Never Fails – Brandon Heath
- Iris – The Goo Goo Dolls
- Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
- Arrival of the Queen of Sheba from “Solomon” – Bela Banafalvi & Budapest Strings
- Paradise – Coldplay
- Tale As Old As Time (Instrumental) – Beauty and the Beast
- How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
- The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Roberta Flack
- The Dream of the Dolphin – Enigma
- All Of Me – John Legend
- This I Promise You – Ronan Keating
- Air – Handel’s Water Music
- Kiss from a Rose – Seal
- Amazing Day – Coldplay
- Turning Page – Sleeping At Last
- Feels Like Home – Edwina Hayes
- This I Swear – Nick Lachey
- Halo – Beyoncé
- Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
- Highland Cathedral – The Regimental Band of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
- No One – Alicia Keys
- The Rose – Bette Midler
- I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
- Chapel of Love – The Dixie Cups
- Romeo & Juliet : Act I, Scene XVIII, Gavotte – Valery Gergiev & London Symphony Orchestra
- Songbird – Oasis
- Superman Theme (”Superman” the Movie Theme) – Toners
- You Had Me From Hello – Bon Jovi
- Come Away With Me – Norah Jones
- A Whiter Shade of Pale – Procol Harum
- A Fifth Of Beethoven – Walter Murphy
- Falling In Love With You Again – Imelda May
- I’ll Be There – Jackson 5
- Rigaudon – Empire Brass & Michael Murray
- The One – Kodaline
- Time After Time – Eva Cassidy
- Us Against the World – Coldplay
- All My Life – K-Ci & JoJo
- I Love the Way You Love Me – John Michael Montgomery
- La Vie En Rose – Edith Piaf
- Rhapsody On a Theme By Paganini, Op. 43: Introduction – Lang Lang, Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre & Valery Gergiev
- River Flows In You – Yiruma
- A Million Love Songs – Take That
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight – Elton John
- Celebration – Kool & the Gang
- Could I Have This Dance – Anne Murray
- Heaven – DJ Sammy & Yanou featuring Do
- On This Day – David Pomeranz
- (Everything I Do) I Do It For You – Bryan Adams
- Crystal – Fleetwood Mac
- Gabriel’s Oboe – Ennio Morricone
- Giving Myself – Jennifer Hudson
- I Fall Apart – Rory Gallagher
- If I Fall to Your Heart – Derwent Hannon
- (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life – Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
- Hallelujah – Pentatonix
- Better Together – Jack Johnson
- Hero – Enrique Iglesias
- Nothing’s Going to Stop Us Now – Starship
- Endless Love – Lionel Richie & Diana Ross
- It Must Be Love – Madness
- Somewhere Only We Know – Lily Allen
- The Wonder of You – Elvis Presley
- You’ve Got the Love – Florence + the Machine
- Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Andy Williams
- Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
- The Reason – Hoobastank
- Marry Me – Train
- If I Ain’t Got You – Alicia Keys
- I Get the Sweetest Feeling – Jackie Wilson
- When You Say Nothing At All – Ronan Keating
- Lover – Taylor Swift
- I Found You – Alabama Shakes
- Everything – Michael Bublé
- We Have All The Time In The World – Louis Armstrong
- Everything – Mary J. Blige
- You’re All I Need to Get By – Aretha Franklin
- Angels – Robbie Williams
- I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
- Romeo and Juliet – The Killers
- Islands In the Stream – Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers
- How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) – Marvin Gaye
- You’re Beautiful – James Blunt
- Moon River – Frank Sinatra
- She’s The One – Robbie Williams
- You Give Me Something – James Morrison
- The Look of Love – Dusty Springfield
- Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers
- Tenerife Sea – Ed Sheeran
- Truly Madly Deeply – Savage Garden
- This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
- I’m Kissing You – Des’ree
- Run – Leona Lewis
- You Make It Real – James Morrison
- Love You ‘Till the End – The Pogues
- You’re Still the One – Shania Twain
- Grow Old With You – Adam Sandler
- Rich Man – Heart & Colours
- Songbird – Eva Cassidy
- Let There Be Love – Nat “King” Cole
- You Do Something to Me – Paul Weller
- Somewhere Over The Rainbow– Israel Kamakawiwo?ole
- Come What May – Ewan McGregor & Nicole Kidman
- You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
- One Day Like This – Elbow
- All You Need Is Love – The Beatles
- You’re the First, the Last, My Everything – Barry White
- A Moment Like This – Kelly Clarkson
- I Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley
- The Luckiest – Ben Folds
- Perfect – Ed Sheeran
- Something – The Beatles
- Don’t Want To Miss A Thing – Aerosmith
- Stand By Me – Ben E. King
- Kiss Me – Sixpence None The Richer
- Alone With Me – Vance Joy
- Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Diana Ross & The Supremes
- Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
- Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
- Daydream Believer – The Monkees
- Walking On Sunshine – Katrina & The Waves
- This Kind of Love – Sister Hazel
- Champagne Supernova – Oasis
- God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
Suzanne Riley Sunshine Coast Marriage Celebrant music for weddings
by Suzanne Riley Sunshine Coast Wedding Celebrant
