Recessional Songs To Exit Ceremony in Style or a Bang
Updated November 16, 2023 | Author: Matthew Campbell
Pick a song that will play as you exit the wedding ceremony after the I dos and you are officially married. What song will play to end the ceremony and set the tone for the reception?
When picking out the song to leave the ceremony as a married couple, you must consider the following 3 factors:
- Does the song have a special meaning to both of you?
- What is the tempo of the song (fast or slow) to determine the mood of the walk?
- Does the song’s genre and meaning match your music tastes and relationship?
As an experienced wedding DJ, I’ve assembled a list of recessional songs. Songs are selected by the meaning of the song and popular hits by today’s couples. Besides new and trending, additional lists are grouped by genre to match your taste in music.
New Recessional Songs
- “Dreaming” by Marshmello, P!NK, Sting (Dance – 2023)
- “Run Away With Me” by Cold War Kids (Rock – 2023)
- “Beside You” by James Blunt (Pop – 2023)
- “You & I” by Rita Ora (Pop – 2023)
- “That Part” by Lauren Spencer Smith (Pop – 2023)
- “Rest of Our Lives (Instrumental)” by The Light the Heat (Indie – 2023)
- “You Make My Dreams (Come True)” by Wendlo (Pop – 2023)
- “You Plus Me” by Plain White T’s (Rock – 2023)
- “A Sky Full of Stars (Piano Version)” by Linneo (New Age – 2023)
- “Wings” by Jonas Brothers (Pop – 2023)
- “First Day of My Life” by Brooklyn Duo (Classical – 2022)
Popular versus Unique Alternatives
Below is a list of popular and unique alternative recessional songs. The songs on the left are popular recessionals. The songs on the right are similar alternative tracks in the same music style, tempo, and mood – but not played at every wedding.
Popular Songs | Unique Alternatives |
---|---|
1. Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours – S. Wonder 2. This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole 3. You Make My Dreams (Come True) – Hall & Oates 4. Best Day Of My Life – American Authors 5. Marry You – Bruno Mars 6. Forever – Chris Brown 7. You Are The Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne 8. Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros 9. You’re My Best Friend – Queen 10. Love Me Like You Do – Ellie Goulding 11. I’m A Believer – Smash Mouth 12. Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen 13. On Top Of The World – Imagine Dragons 14. Here Comes The Sun – Beatles 15. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) – J. Taylor 16. Electric Love – Borns 17. A Sky Full Of Stars – Coldplay 18. Accidentally In Love – Counting Crows 19. Higher Love – Kygo and Whitney Houston 20. Forever And Ever, Amen – Randy Travis 21. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Gaye & Terrell 22. Beautiful Day – U2 23. I Do – Colbie Caillat 24. Just The Two Of Us – Washington Jr. & Withers 25. Lovely Day – Bill Withers 26. (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher – J. Wilson 27. Love On Top – Beyonce | 1. For Once In My Life – Stevie Wonder 2. The Best – Tina Turner 3. Whenever I Call You “Friend” – K. Loggins, S. Nicks 4. You – A Great Big World 5. Good Day for Marrying You – Dave Barnes 6. Down – Jay Sean 7. What Would I Do Without You – Drew Holcomb 8. Honeybee – The Head and The Heart 9. Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now – Starship 10. I’ll Be There – Jesse Glynne 11. Follow Me – Uncle Kracker 12. Got My Mind Set On You – George Harrison 13. Good Life – OneRepublic 14. All You Need Is Love – Katy Perry 15. Kiss Me – Sixpence None The Richer 16. Let’s Get Married – Bleachers 17. I’m In Love With You – The 1975 18. Only Wanna Be With You – Post Malone 19. One in a Million – Bebe Rexha, David Guetta 20. Thank God – Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown 21. Best of My Love – The Emotions 22. If I Didn’t Have You – BANNERS 23. Say Hey (I Love You) – Michael Franti 24. Better – Khalid 25. Good Day – Nappy Roots 26. Ain’t Nobody – Rufus & Chaka Khan 27. Forever – Ciara & Lil Baby |
Stream Recessional Songs
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Listen to your favorite songs on streaming services!
Instrumental Classical Songs
- First Day of My Life – Brooklyn Duo
- Livin’ on a Prayer – 2Cellos
- Canon in D – Brooklyn Duo
- River Flows in You – Hauser
- Wildest Dreams – Duomo
- Highland Cathedral – Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
- Trumpet Tune – Henry Purcell
Tip
After you pick your song to exit to, don’t forget about the song to play as you and your wedding party walk down the aisle – the processional.
R&B Tracks
- Forever – Lee Fields
- Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Jennifer Hudson
- Better – Khalid
- Marry Me – Jason Derulo
- Love On Top – Beyonce
- Forever – Chris Brown
- No One – Alicia Keys
- All My Life – K-Ci & JoJo
- September – Earth Wind & Fire
- This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours – Stevie Wonder
- (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher – Jackie Wilson
- At Last – Etta James
Tip
What songs do you want playing as guests take their seats as the ceremony starts? See our list of prelude songs.
Rock Hits
- I’m In Love With You – The 1975
- Beautiful Thing – Old Foes
- I Wanna Remember (Acoustic) – NEEDTOBREATHE, Carrie Underwood
- If I Didn’t Have You – BANNERS
- Best Day Of My Life – American Authors
- Marry Me – Train
- Say Hey (I Love You) – Michael Franti & Spearhead
- You Are The Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
- Better Together – Jack Johnson
- Beautiful Day – U2
- Send Me On My Way – Rusted Root
- Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles
Tip
The recessional is the song played as you exit the ceremony. Pick the song that will play as your wedding’s last dance to close out your reception. Will it be romantic or end on a high note?
Pop Tunes
- Songbird – Rita Wilson, Josh Groban
- All You Need Is Love – Katy Perry
- I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Music Travel Love, Felix Irwan
- Ocean – LunchMoney Lewis, Meghan Trainor
- Forever And Ever, Amen – Ronan Keating & Shania Twain
- Brand New Day (Acoustic 2020) – Joshua Radin
- All My Life – Sailr
- Grow As We Go – Ben Platt
- I Am Yours – Andy Grammer
- Could I Love You Any More – Reneé Dominique feat. Jason Mraz
- Lover – Taylor Swift
- Carry Me Away – John Mayer
- Can’t Help Falling in Love – Kina Grannis
- How Would You Feel (Paean) – Ed Sheeran
- Can’t Stop The Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
- Brand New – Ben Rector
- I Choose You – Sara Bareilles
- A Sky Full Of Stars – Coldplay
- Yours – Ella Henderson
- On Top Of The World – Imagine Dragons
- A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
- Good Life – Onerepublic
- I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
- Bittersweet Symphony – The Verve
- You Make My Dreams Come True – Hall & Oates
- What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
- Happy Together – The Turtles
- Fly Me To The Moon – Frank Sinatra
Tip
A popular event during a wedding ceremony is the unity ceremony. The unity ceremony signifies the union of two becoming one. Highlight your unity ceremony with a special song.
Country Hits
- Keep Her – Johnny and Heidi
- Thank God – Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown
- Found It In You – Tiera Kennedy
- Anyone / Still the One – Charlotte Ave
- 10,000 Hours (Piano Remix) – Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber
- Walk With Me – Delta Rae
- Made for You – Jake Owen
- Best Shot – Jimmie Allen
- This Is It – Scotty McCreery
- Yours (Wedding Edition) – Russell Dickerson
- Millionaire – Chris Stapleton
- Grow Old – Florida Georgia Line
- God Gave Me You – Blake Shelton
- Stuck Like Glue – Sugarland
- Forever And For Always – Shania Twain
- Cowboy Take Me Away – The Chicks
Tip
After the ceremony is over, couples typically take pictures and then go to the reception hall. You will need to select a song for your entrance and introduction as the newly married couple into the venue.
Indie Tunes
- One Life – James Bay
- What a Wonderful World – Sawyer Fredericks
- My Love Will Follow You – Dave Barnes
- No Matter Where You Are (Wedding Version) – Us The Duo
- Evermore – Hollow Coves
- To Whatever Comes After – Jon Danforth
- Forever From Now – Sheffield
- Rest of Our Lives – The Light the Heat
- Finally Mine – Juliet Roberts
- For a Lifetime – Ryann Darling feat. Cory Ard
- I Get to Love You – Ruelle
- Ho Hey – The Lumineers
- Higher Love – James Vincent McMorrow
- Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
- We Are Man And Wife – Michelle Featherstone
- First Day Of My Life – Bright Eyes
- Just Like Heaven – The Cure
- How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) – James Taylor
Tip
A very popular dance during a wedding reception that is rarely skipped is the first dance. See a list of popular and unique first dance songs picked by other wedding couples.
Misc Walk-Out Tracks
- Cowboy Take Me Away – Virgo Rising
- Hand in Hand – David Arkenstone
- Now That We Found Love – Heavy D. & the Boyz
- Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Tip
If you are having your wedding in a church, the music must meet specific guidelines. Be sure to check out our list of wedding songs to play in churches and also tracks for a Catholic wedding.
Do you have a favorite recessional song? Please share your song below in the comments!
A quick video of recessional song picks.
FAQs
Why trust
?DJ, Author, Music Lover
Matthew (Matt) Campbell is the founder/editor of My Wedding Songs from his experience as a wedding DJ. He is the author of two wedding planners: ‘Wedding Songs Planner’ and ‘The Wedding Music Toolkit’. Matt is the host of the ‘Wedding Songs Podcast’. He shares music inspiration in his weekly newsletter the ‘Wedding MusicLetter’. His articles have been published on Rolling Stone, DJ Life Magazine, and DJ Times. Matt resides in the wedding capital of the world – Las Vegas.