Processional Songs: Walk in Love & Elevate Your Wedding Ceremony

Updated November 16, 2023 | Author: Matthew Campbell

The processional song sets the mood for the entire wedding ceremony. It makes a statement about you as a wedding couple; not just as a bride.

I selected a list just for you of the most popular and unique processional songs for walking down the aisle – for the entire wedding party.

wedding processional songs

When picking out the songs for walking down the aisle as the ceremony begins, you must consider the following 3 factors:

  1. Do the songs have a special meaning to both of you?
  2. What is the tempo of the song (fast or slow) to determine the walking speed and mood?
  3. Does the song’s genre and meaning match your music tastes and relationship?

As an experienced wedding DJ, I’ve assembled a list of songs for the processional. 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 Processional Songs

  1. “Gonna Love You” by Parmalee (Country – 2023)
  2. “Kiss the Girl” by Simon Casey (World – 2023)
  3. “Better Together (Saxophone Version)” by Bobby G (Pop – 2023)
  4. “Say Yes To Heaven Instrumental Piano” by Roman Tee (New Age – 2023)
  5. “The Perfect Wedding Mashup” by Ni/Co’s Covers feat. Ni/Co (Pop – 203)
  6. “Every Day I Do” by Lance Allen (New Age – 2023)
  7. “I See the Light” by Disney Peaceful Strings (Classical – 2023)
  8. “Until I Found You (Wedding Piano Version)” by Paul Hankinson Covers (Pop – 2023)
  9. “All for You (Instrumental)” by The Light the Heat (Indie – 2023)
  10. “Marry You” by Tayler Holder (Country – 2023)
  11. “All My Love” by Cathartic Fall (Folk – 2023)

Below is a list of popular and unique alternative processional songs. The songs on the left are popular processionals. The songs on the right are similar alternative tracks in the same music style, tempo, and mood – but not played at every wedding.

Popular SongsUnique Alternatives
1. Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis/Reinhart/Grannis
2. A Thousand Years – The Piano Guys
3. Canon In D – Pachelbel
4. Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Israel K.
5. Marry Me – Train
6. Here Comes The Sun – Beatles
7. How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
8. You Are The Reason – Calum Scott
9. A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
10. Perfect – Ed Sheeran
11. Get To Love You – Ruelle
12. Turning Page – Sleeping At Last
13. This Is It – Scotty McCreery
14. Wildest Dreams – Taylor Swift
15. Make You Feel My Love – Adele / Garth Brooks
16. All Of Me – John Legend
17. Marry You – Bruno Mars
18. Speechless – Dan + Shay
19. Can You Feel The Love Tonight – Elton John
20. Best Part – Daniel Caesar, H.E.R.
21. Stand By Me – Ben. E. King
22. I Choose You – Sara Bareilles
23. Better Together – Jack Johnson
24. Joy Of My Life – Chris Stapleton
25. Theme from Jurassic Park – John Williams
26. Growing Old With You – Restless Road
27. From This Moment On – Shania Twain
1. I Will Spend My Whole Life… – Future/Grannis
2. I See the Light – Disney Peaceful Piano & Disney
3. River Flows In You – The Piano Guys, Eli Nelson
4. I Got You – Jack Johnson
5. MARRY YOU – Tayler Holder
6. Simply The Best – Billianne
7. I Was Made For Loving You – Kelly, Sheeran
8. Biblical – Calum Scott
9. I Guess I’m In Love – Alice Kübe
10. Lucky Me – Jake Miller
11. Look at Me – Carrie Underwood
12. Bloom – The Paper Kites
13. My Feet Don’t Touch the Ground – Bonner Rhae
14. Unconditionally – Katy Perry
15. That’s What Love Is – Alexandra Kay
16. Faithfully – Brian McKnight
17. I Just Love You – Roo Panes
18. When I See You – Aaron Watson
19. Kiss the Girl – Simon Casey
20. Anything For You – Ledisi, PJ Morton
21. If You Love Her – Forest Blakk, Meghan Trainor
22. Lifetime – Justin Bieber
23. I GUESS I’M IN LOVE – Clinton Kane
24. In Your Love – Tyler Childers
25. Married Life – Michael Giacchino
26. Never Til Now – Ashley Cooke
27. I Choose You – Amanda Jordan

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Instrumental Classical Tracks

  1. The Joker And The Queen (Piano Version) – Marlene T
  2. I Just Love You (Reimagined for Piano) – Roo Panes, Philip Daniel
  3. Feels Like Home – Bridesmaids Quartet
  4. Young and Beautiful – Ashot Dumanyan
  5. Wildest Dreams (Cover) – Dallas String Quartet
  6. Hold My Hand (Lady Gaga) [Piano Arrangement] – Alexandre Pachabezian
  7. Can’t Help Falling in Love – Anne Akiko Meyers & Jason Vieaux
  8. You Are The Reason – The Piano Guys & Dallas String Quartet
  9. Disney Medley – 40 Fingers
  10. Canon in D – Brooklyn Duo
  11. River Flows in You – Hauser
  12. Wildest Dreams – Duomo
  13. Can’t Help Falling In Love – Daniel Jang
  14. A Thousand Years – The Piano Guys
  15. Across the Stars (Love Theme From Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones) – John Williams
  16. All I Want Is You – Vitamin String Quartet
  17. Highland Cathedral – Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
  18. Jurassic Park Theme – John Williams
  19. Gabriel’s Oboe – Ennio Morricone
  20. Coronation March – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
  21. The Prince of Denmark’s March – Jeremiah Clarke
  22. Air On The G String – Johann S Bach

Tip

Once you select the processional song, there is another song to have for your ceremony. Pick your wedding songs to walk out after the ceremony.

 

Country Favorites

  1. World Before You – Lauren Duski
  2. Love Makes You Blind (Acoustic Version) – Kaylee Rose
  3. Take My Name (Wedding Version) – Parmalee
  4. Growing Old With You – Restless Road
  5. Walk in a Room (Reimagined) – Muscadine Bloodline
  6. I Love You More – Avery Anna
  7. So in Love With You – Jonny Houlihan
  8. 10,000 Hours (Piano Remix) – Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber
  9. Made for You – Jake Owen
  10. Speechless – Dan + Shay
  11. In Case You Didn’t Know – Brett Young
  12. Yours (Wedding Edition) – Russell Dickerson
  13. From the Ground Up – Dan + Shay
  14. Bless The Broken Road – Rascal Flatts
  15. From This Moment On – Shania Twain feat. Bryan White

Tip

A very common event during the wedding ceremony is a unity ceremony. This is to symbolize two becoming one. Pick a song to play for your wedding unity ceremony.

Romantic R&B Hits

  1. Angel (Acoustic) – Ric Hassani
  2. Is This Love – Allen Stone
  3. Today I Do – Tamia
  4. I Choose You (Acoustic) – Kiana Ledé
  5. Why I Love You – MAJOR.
  6. All Of Me – John Legend
  7. Forever – Jaheim

Tip

If you will have your wedding ceremony in a church, get clergy approved church music ideas.

 

Popular Pop Tunes

  1. Songbird – Eva Cassidy, London Symphony Orchestra & Christopher Willis
  2. Marry Me – Tommee Profitt, Fleurie
  3. Songbird – Rita Wilson, Josh Groban
  4. What Dreams Are Made Of – Brent Morgan
  5. Marry Me (Ballad) – Jennifer Lopez, Maluma
  6. love is just a word – Jasmine Thompson, Calum Scott
  7. Imagine (Acoustic) – Ben Platt
  8. Unconditionally – Caleb and Kelsey
  9. loving you – Mahogany Lox
  10. Can’t Help Falling In Love – Music Travel Love
  11. You’re the One That I Want – Dylan Rockoff with Caroline Kole
  12. The Only One – Music Travel Love
  13. Wedding Medley – Anthem Lights
  14. Can’t Help Falling in Love – Kina Grannis
  15. Love Someone – Lukas Graham
  16. Perfect Symphony – Ed Sheeran with Andrea Bocelli
  17. I Choose You – Sara Bareilles
  18. XO – John Mayer
  19. Yours – Ella Henderson
  20. A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
  21. I’m Yours – Jason Mraz

Tip

Instrumental songs are popular selections for wedding processionals. Check out our lists of popular violin wedding songs and popular wedding hits played on piano.

 

Unique Indie Songs

  1. Made to Love You – Drew Angus
  2. Kiss the Girl – Brent Morgan
  3. Anything – JJ Heller
  4. All My Life – Sailr
  5. For a Lifetime – Ryann Darling feat. Cory Ard
  6. I Will Spend My Whole Life Loving You – Imaginary Future & Kina Grannis
  7. I Get To Love You – Ruelle
  8. Take My Hand (The Wedding Song) – Emily Hackett feat. Will Anderson
  9. Bright – Echosmith

Non-Traditional Folk Selections

  1. The First Time – The Brave Collide
  2. When You Love Someone (Live) – Gretchen Peters
  3. Marry Me – The Wicks
  4. Someone Like Me – Julia Westlin
  5. Steal My Heart Away – The Paper Kites, Ainslie Wills
  6. No Matter Where You Are (Wedding Version) – Us The Duo
  7. I Chose You – Caleb Edens
  8. Heavenly Day – Patty Griffin
  9. I Do – Colbie Caillat
  10. First Day Of My Life – Bright Eyes

Tip

If you want a processional song specific to your role, see our list of favorite bride processional songs and favorite songs for grooms to walk down the aisle.

 

Emotional Rock Tracks

  1. The One – Kodaline
  2. Wedding Song (Acoustic) – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
  3. Never Stop (Wedding Version) – SafetySuit
  4. Marry Me – Train
  5. You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
  6. Better Together – Jack Johnson
  7. Bittersweet Symphony – The Verve
  8. Nothing Else Matters – Metallica

Tip

Your wedding party could enter the wedding ceremony with their own song. See our list of bridesmaid’s processional songs and groomsmen’s processional songs.

Misc Genre Moodsetters

  1. Pachelbel’s Canon in D – Danny Wright
  2. Wagner’s Bridal Chorus – Keun Young
  3. Yellow – Virgo Rising
  4. In My Life – Kevin Kern
  5. Make You Feel My Love (Acoustic Instrumental) – Casper Esmann
  6. Forrest Gump: Opening Theme – Mark Northam
  7. The Chronicles of Narnia Main Theme – Patrik Pietschmann
  8. Hand in Hand – David Arkenstone
  9. Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

Tip

If you are a big reader or movie buff, you may know the name, J.K. Rowling. See our list of Harry Potter wedding ceremony songs.

Do you have a favorite processional song? Please share your song below in the comments!

Quick video of top processional picks.

 

FAQs

There’s nothing wrong with traditional songs. If you like the expected then there are plenty of traditional songs to choose from. Traditional wedding processional songs listed below include “Wedding March” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, “Trumpet Tune” by Henry Purcell, and “Canon In D Major” by Johann Pachelbel.

If you choose to shake things up, then choose a song that reinforces your theme. If you have a beach-themed wedding, we would suggest “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” sung by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. We have also included romantic pop songs which include “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys and “A Whole New World,” from the movie Aladdin.

Answer: “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley and other versions including Kina Grannis, Haley Reinhart, Music Travel Love, and Kacey Musgraves.

No matter your favorite music style or the theme of your wedding, you can definitely find a song on our list that will fit your needs. If you like country music, Zac Brown Band would be a good start. If you would like the processional to be more of a pomp and circumstance type of song, then consider The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

Some brides choose not to walk down the aisle. There is a line of thinking that the whole concept of “giving the bride away” echoes the patriarchal society we live in. That’s totally fine. The bride and groom can both walk down the aisle – or the bride can walk alone.

If you choose to walk down the aisle, it’s traditionally accompanied by music. We call this the processional song. The processional is the start of the actual ceremony rituals. Yes, there is music played as guests meander in and take their seats. However, the first official ceremony song typically starts with the processional song.

If the bride would like a special song just for her and a different song for the wedding party, then you have two processional songs. This should be coordinated with your wedding planner and professional DJ. The wedding rehearsal is an important night for practicing the timing of this walk. If the song is too long, your DJ should help you choose how to edit the song.

A special song should also be considered for the recessional. The wedding couple starts the recessional after the announcement of the newly married couple to their guests the officiant. Then, the wedding party exits. The wedding party is followed by the wedding guests from the front to back rows. But, that’s another blog post.

Celebrate yourselves. This is what a wedding is all about. Why not both walk down the aisle? You can choose to walk together or each have a special person to walk with you — one person at a time. You can each have a song that speaks to your part in the marriage. Have fun with it.

Ultimately, the wedding is about you — the wedding couple. Its purpose is to celebrate your union with your closest friends and family. The song choice should be a fun part of your wedding planning.

Walking to the altar from behind wedding guests to start the wedding ceremony is known as the processional.

This part of the ceremony is customarily set to music. When choosing a processional song, it is important to factor in who is walking down the aisle and how long the aisle is at the wedding venue. The people walking down the aisle could include the entire wedding party or just the bride. (Know the responsibilities of each member of the wedding party)

Why trust Matthew Campbell?

DJ, Author, Music Lover

matt

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.

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RJ
RJ
4 years ago

Great list!

My Wedding Songs
My Wedding Songs
4 years ago
Reply to  RJ

Thanks RJ. Glad you like it.

Laurie zubry
Laurie zubry
6 years ago

Sometime in the morning The Monkees

My Wedding Songs
My Wedding Songs
6 years ago
Reply to  Laurie zubry

Thanks for the suggestion Laurie! Great song!

Pam
Pam
6 years ago

Natalie Cole – Our Love

My Wedding Songs
My Wedding Songs
6 years ago
Reply to  Pam

Thank you Pam. We will add it to the list!

Natalie
Natalie
7 years ago

Michelle Featherstone – We are Man and Wife
Russel Dickerson – Yours
Taylor Swift – You are in Love
Safteysuit – Never Stop (wedding version)

My Wedding Songs
My Wedding Songs
7 years ago
Reply to  Natalie

Thanks Natalie. We will add them to the list!

Joan Ruiz
Joan Ruiz
9 years ago

Bryant Adam- After All

My Wedding Songs
My Wedding Songs
7 years ago
Reply to  Joan Ruiz

Thanks Joan. Forgot to tell you we added it to the list as a duet with Michael Buble.