The Best Instrumental Songs for Weddings 2022

Updated on June 26, 2022 | Written by Matthew Campbell

Make your wedding ceremony just a little classier with instrumental songs.

It doesn’t have to be The Lawrence Welk Show your parents made you watch.

You’d be surprised at some of the cover songs of popular wedding hits.

Methodology

We’ve talked to wedding couples through social groups and analyzed hundreds of wedding DJs’ playlists across the U.S. that play instrumental wedding music. We selected a list just for you of the most popular and unique instrumental wedding songs for your wedding day.

Every couple’s instrumental music tastes are different. Thus, we selected wedding songs from modern songs to classic hits.

 

 
Let’s start with the most popular right now.

Top 10 Classical Songs Streamed

(calculated by Amazon)

1. “Canon in D Major” by Johann Pachelbel
2. “Perfect” by The Piano Guys
3. “The Power of Belief” by Phil Larson
4. “Richard Rodgers Waltzes” by New York Philharmonic Orchestra; Richard Rodgers
5. “Shallow” by Peter Bence
6. “The Trooper (Overture)” by 2Cellos
7. “Chopin: Nocturne No.2 In E Flat, Op.9 No.2” by Maurizio Pollini & Frédéric Chopin
8. “Fly” by Ludovico Einaudi
9. “Baby Can I Hold You” by Tracy Chapman & Luciano Pavarotti & Friends
10. “Clair de Lune, L. 32” by Martin Jones

Listen to Instrumental Wedding Songs

Best Wedding Instrumental Songs

This curated list represents our favorite best instrumental songs for your wedding. Instrumental songs will make it just that much more special.

Did we neglect to mention your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

My Wedding Songs is a reader-supported website.  As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases.

2020s Classical Wedding Songs

Young and Beautiful – Ashot Dumanyan
2022, Young and Beautiful

Watermelon Sugar – UNSECRET, Unsecret String Quartet
2022,Watermelon Sugar

Sign of the Times (Stripped) – Steve Horner
2022, Bridgerton Season Two (Covers from the Netflix Series)

First Day of My Life – Brooklyn Duo
2022, First Day of My Life

Wildest Dreams (Cover) – Dallas String Quartet
2022, Wildest Dreams

Hold My Hand (Lady Gaga) [Piano Arrangement] – Alexandre Pachabezian
2022, Piano Covers, Vol. 11

A Whole New World – Disney Ukulele & Disney
2022, Disney Ukulele: Love

My Gift Is My Song – HAUSER
2022, My Gift Is My Song

Livin’ on a Prayer – 2Cellos
2021, Classical

The Luckiest (arr. Nicholas Buc) – Benaud Trio
2021, Classical

You Are The Reason – The Piano Guys & Dallas String Quartet
2021, Classical

Say You Won’t Let Go (Instrumental) – Ariella Zeitlin
2020, Pop

Air on a G String – Hauser
2020, Classical

Thinking Out Loud – The Piano Guys
2020, 10

2010s Classical Wedding Songs

Disney Medley – 40 Fingers, Emanuele Grafitti, Enrico Maria Milanesi, Andrea Vittori, and Matteo Brenci
2019, New Age

Meant To Be (Instrumental Version) – Steve Petrunak
2019, Country

Canon in D – Brooklyn Duo
2019, Classical

Nothing Else Matters – Golden Salt
2019, Rock

River Flows in You – Hauser
2019, Classical

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Symphonic Suite – John Williams
2019, Classical

Perfect (Instrumental) – Riya Jane “Arjay” Yulde
2019, New Age

Wildest Dreams – Duomo
2018, Pop

Can’t Help Falling In Love – Daniel Jang
2018, Pop

Let It Be Me – Roberto Dalla Vecchia
2018, Folk

Moon River – 2cellos
2017, Classical

All I Want Is You – Bridesmaids Quartet
2016, Rock

All Of Me – O’Neill Brothers Group
2014, Pop

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You – United Guitar Players
2014, New Age

Marry Me – United Guitar Players
2014, New Age

Stay With Me – Vitamin String Quartet
2014, Pop

Your Song (Instrumental Version) – United Guitar Players
2014, Pop

Wedding March: Recessional – London Philharmonic Orchestra
2013, Classical

God Bless the Broken Road – O’Neill Brothers Group
2013, Pop

I Won’t Give Up – O’Neill Brothers Group
2013, Pop

Begin Again – The Piano Guys
2013, Pop

More Than Words – The Piano Guys
2012, Rock

Claire De Lune – Claude Debussy
2012, Classical

Just the Way You Are – The Piano Guys
2012, Pop

Without You – Josh Vietti
2012, Pop

André Campra: Rigaudon – Massimo Nosetti
2012, Classical

Somewhere Over the Rainbow – What a Wonderful World – Relaxation Guitar Maestro
2012

A Thousand Years – The Piano Guys
2012, Pop

Over the Rainbow / Simple Gifts – The Piano Guys
2012, Classical

The Cello Song – The Piano Guys
2012, Classical

Secrets – Dallas String Quartet
2011, Pop

River Flows In You – Yiruma
2011, New Age

Here Comes the Sun – Instrumental Songs Music
2010 Soft Rock

Bitter Sweet Symphony (Instrumental) – The Verve
2010, Classical

1,2,3,4 – Vitamin String Quartet
2010, Pop

2000s Classical Wedding Songs

I’m Yours – by Guitar Tribute Players
2008, Pop

Can’t Help Falling in Love – Vitamin String Quartet
2008, Pop

Such Great Heights – Section Quartet
2007, Rock

Nothing Else Matters – Scott D. Davis
2006, Folk Rock

The Prayer – O’Neill Brothers
2005, Pop

Glasgow Love Theme – Craig Armstrong
2004, Pop

Pachelbel’s Canon in D – Barrymoore Chamber Orchestra
2003, Classical

It’s Your Day – Yiruma
2001, New Age

Kiss The Rain – Yiruma
2001, New Age

Only Time – Enya
2000, New Age

1990s Classical Wedding Songs

Mission Impossible Theme – Danny Elfman
1996, Orchestral

Forever In Love – Kenny G
1993, Jazz

The Wedding Song – Kenny G
1993, Jazz

Book Of Days – Enya
1991, New Age

Caribbean Blue – Enya
1991, New Age

1980s Classical Wedding Songs

Fairytale – Enya
1987, New Age

Once Upon a Time… Storybook Love – Mark Knopfler
1987, Orchestral

Gabriel’s Oboe – Ennio Morricone
1986, Classical

Sirius – Alan Parsons Project
1982, Rock

Chicken Dance aka The Bird Dance – The Emeralds
1982, Polka

Joy – George Winston
1982, New Age

Highland Cathedral – Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
1982, International

1970s Classical Wedding Songs

(Gonna Fly Now) Rocky Theme – Bill Conti/Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
1977, Orchestral

Jaws Theme – John Williams
1975, Orchestral

Star Wars Theme – John Williams
1977, Orchestral

1960s Classical Wedding Songs

Green Onions – Booker T. & The MG’s
1962, R&B

Jeopardy Theme – Gamers
1964, Classical

Pink Panther Theme – Henry Mancini
1963, Jazz

1950s Classical Wedding Songs

Rebel Rouser – Duane Eddy
1958, Rockabilly

1800s Classical Wedding Songs

Wedding March – Felix Mendelssohn
1842, Classical

Ode To Joy – Ludwig van Beethoven
1824, Classical

Coronation March – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
1891, Classical

Romeo And Juliet Love Theme – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
1880, Classical

Bridal Chorus – Richard Wagner / Otto Sieben
1850, Classical

1700s Classical Wedding Songs

Autumn – Antonio Vivaldi
1725, Classical

Spring – Antonio Vivaldi
1725, Classical

Winter – Antonio Vivaldi
1725, Classical

Air – George F Handel
1741, Classical

Allegro Maestoso – George F Handel
1741, Classical

Hallelujah Chorus – George F Handel
1741, Classical

Hornpipe – George F Handel
1741, Classical

Overture – George F Handel
1741, Classical

The Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba – George F Handel
1741, Classical

Trumpet Tune – Henry Purcell
1700, Classical

The Prince of Denmark’s March “Trumpet Voluntary” – Jeremiah Clarke
1700, Classical

Air On A G String – Johann S Bach
Early 1700s, Classical

Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 – Johann S Bach
Early 1700s, Classical

Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring – Johann S Bach
1716, Classical

Wedding March -Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Late 1700s, Classical

1600s Classical Wedding Songs

Rondeau – Henry Purcell
Late 1600s, Classical

Canon In D Major – Johann Pachelbel
1680s, Classical

Why Would I Want an Instrumental Song at My Wedding?

Instrumental songs are simply songs sung without lyrics or verbiage. Instrumental songs can be used during events in the wedding ceremony such as the processional, recessional, unity candle lighting, and more. Instrumental songs can also be played during a wedding reception including during the cocktail and dinner hours, cake cutting, grand entrance, or introductions.

Instrumental music is simple to the listener, allowing for conversation. We get distracted by lyrics. What’s more, is instrumental music is completely appropriate for small venues. With COVID-adjusted weddings, instrumental music is a fantastic choice.

When Are Instrumental Songs Appropriate for My Wedding?

Not only can you play instrumental songs during cocktail hour and mealtime, but during the unity candle, processional, recessional, and while guests arrive at the venue. Depending on your type of event and the music you like, The Piano Guys’ version of “A Thousand Years” would make for a fantastic first dance song.

Along with The Piano Guys, another popular instrumental music artist is Vitamin String Quartet. With instrumental versions of hit songs “Stay With Me” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” Vitamin String Quartet will remain on wedding playlists for years to come. Brooklyn Duo (piano and cello) absolutely kill “All of Me” by John Legend. (I’m not crying; you’re crying.)

When considering instrumental music for your wedding, live music during the wedding gives intimacy to your special day. For example, bagpipes can play as a grand entrance, a harpist can play during a wedding ceremony, a three-piece band (lead singer, guitarist, drummer, etc.) can perform at a wedding reception to encourage dancing.

Instrumental Covers of Hit Songs For Weddings

Wedding couples who want to have current songs on the radio incorporated into their weddings definitely can. This is where hiring a musician can help out. However, not every radio hit is perfect for every event of a wedding. This is when it is great to have pre-recorded versions. We wouldn’t recommend “Creep” by Radiohead for your wedding, maybe, but this version is amazing.

How Would You Define Instrumental Music?

You may be thinking of Bach and Beethoven. But according to the Dictionary, instrumental is music written for or performed on musical instruments and doesn’t include a song. Instrumental songs are typically written for solo instruments like the piano, violin, or guitar. But can also include trumpet, saxophone, and even string quartets (commonly two violin players, a viola player, and a cellist).

We tend to categorize this type of instrumentation as stuffy chamber music. It doesn’t have to be. If you haven’t heard a string quartet play The Beatles, you have missed out!

Similar Song Lists:

• Vitamin String Quartet songs
• The Piano Guys songs
• 2Cellos songs

What Genres are Covered in the Instrumental Category?

Covers of mainstream songs are commonplace for the jazz genre. They choose a strong melody, play it, and each instrument has a turn riffing on it. When selecting instrumental music for your wedding, consider different types of instrumental songs such as recorded music artists of the piano, guitar, sax, and harpists.

Wedding planners can also consider popular classical music composers like Mozart and Bach. In addition, you can include many big band musicians of today and yesteryear.

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About Matthew Campbell