A Guide to Selecting Meaningful Wedding Prelude Music

As an experienced wedding DJ, I’ve assembled a list of prelude songs. Songs are selected by the song’s meaning and popular hits by today’s couples. Besides new hits, additional lists are grouped by genre to match your taste in music.

Your wedding time is set. Guests are arriving. What songs do you want to play as guests arrive at the ceremony and take their seats? These are known as the wedding ceremony prelude songs.

Wedding Ceremony Prelude Songs

Quick Tips

When selecting the prelude songs, 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 mood and vibe as the ceremony starts?
3. Do the songs’ genres and meanings match your music tastes?

New Prelude Songs to Consider

  • Don’t Stop Me Now – Min-Jung Kym
  • Für Elise – Batiste – Jon Batiste
  • I Get To Love You – Brooklyn Duo
  • Shape Of My Heart – The Piano Guys
  • Truly Madly Deeply – Sidney

Prelude Music Themes

Traditional Classical

Celebrating elegance and formal religious ceremonies. These traditional ceremony songs will be around for years to come.

  • A Rose Is Gently Blooming – Meral Guneyman
  • Air on G (Arr. for Violin and Acoustic Guitar by Arthur Campbell) – Anne Akiko Meyers, Jason Vieaux
  • Air on the G String – HAUSER
  • Arioso (Adagio in G) from Cantata BWV 156 (Arr. by Lloyd Webber) – J.S. Bach
  • Ave Maria, D.839 – Arr. Hazell – Sheku Kanneh-Mason
  • Bagatelle in A Minor, WoO 59, “Fur Elise” – Ludwig van Beethoven
  • Canon In D (Guitar) – The O’Neill Brothers Group
  • Canon In F – The O’Neill Brothers Group
  • Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prélude – João Kouyoumdjian
  • Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, Prélude – Yo-Yo Ma
  • Clair de Lune, L. 32 – Martin Jones
  • Etude No. 2 – Philip Glass
  • Für Elise, WoO 59 – Nelly Kokinos
  • Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty (Wedding Hymn) – Robbins Island Music Group
  • Pachelbel’s Canon in D – Danny Wright
  • Prelude in C Major – Brian Bradley
  • Rockelbel’s Canon (Pachelbel’s Canon in D) – The Piano Guys
  • Romance for String Orchestra, Op. 11 – Academy of St Martin in the Fields
  • Romantic Pieces, Op. 75, B. 150 – 1. Allegro moderato – Akiko Suwanai
  • Salut d’Amour, Op. 12 – Yo-Yo Ma
  • Sarabande, BWV 1007 – Andrei Krylov & Lana Ross
  • Sheep May Safely Graze – Leon Fleisher
  • Sleepers Awake, Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns Die Stimme, BWV 140 – Andrei Krylov & Lana Ross
  • Suite bergamasque, L. 75 – III. Clair de lune – Lang Lang, Claude Debussy
  • The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 “Spring”: I. Allegro – Itzhak Perlman
  • The Occasional Oratorio, HWV62 – George Frideric Handel
  • Trumpet Tune in C Major, Z. 697 – The Prague Brass Soloists
  • Trumpet Voluntary in D Major “The Prince of Denmark’s March” – The Clerkenwell Baroque String
  • Water Music Suite, HWV 348-350 – Hornpipe – Wolfgang Meyer, Berlin Philharmonic, Rafael Kubelik

Modern Covers

These songs are the most popular for today’s couples. They add a bit of current hits with a traditional mood.

  • A Thousand Years – The Piano Guys
  • A Thousand Years – VioDance
  • Back At One (Instrumental Cover) – Johan Sander
  • Bittersweet Symphony – Vitamin String Quartet
  • Can’t Help Falling In Love – Amber Leigh Irish
  • Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Paul Canning
  • Enchanted – Midnite String Quartet
  • Enchanted (The Wedding Violin Version) – Ana Done
  • Faithfully – Laura Sullivan
  • First Day of My Life – Brooklyn Duo
  • God Bless the Broken Road – O’Neill Brothers Group
  • golden hour – Brooklyn Duo
  • Here Comes the Sun – Benny Martin
  • Here, There and Everywhere – David Leinweber
  • I’m Yours (Guitar Version) – Mount Hayes
  • In My Life – Kevin Kern
  • Kiss From A Rose – Vitamin String Quartet
  • Kiss the Rain – HAUSER
  • Latch – Simply Three
  • Levels – Midnite String Quartet
  • Love Me Like You Do – Brooklyn Duo
  • Love Story Instrumental Piano – Roman Tee
  • Lover – Paul Hankinson Covers
  • Marry You – The O’Neill Brothers Group
  • My Boo (Acoustic) – Will Gittens, Rahky
  • Pachelbel Meets U2 – Jon Schmidt
  • Perfect – Paul Hankinson Covers
  • Say You Won’t Let Go – Daniel Jang
  • Somewhere Only We Know – Simply Three
  • Stand By Me – Fred Turnquist
  • Sunflower – Vitamin String Quartet ft. ThatViolaKid
  • This Is What You Came For – Lars Florence
  • This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Dr. Cover Band
  • Turning Page (Instrumental) – Sleeping At Last
  • Wildest Dreams – Dallas String Quartet
  • Yellow (Piano Version) – Henry Smith

Video Games, Plays, TV & Film

Just for pop culture, these songs are featured in video games, broadway plays, TV shows, and movies.

  • A Million Dreams (Piano Version) – Emilie’s Piano
  • A Whole New World – Disney Ukulele & Disney
  • All I Ask Of You – Andrew Lloyd Webber
  • Ashitaka and San (Princess Mononoke) – CelloKat
  • Beauty and the Beast – Disney Ukulele & Disney
  • Concerning Hobbits – Howard Shore
  • Fairy Tail Theme – Taylor Davis, Lara De Wit
  • Game of Thrones (Main Theme) – Vitamin String Quartet
  • Hold My Hand – Alexandre Pachabezian
  • If I Ain’t Got You (Orchestral) – Alicia Keys
  • Married Life from Up (Violin & Piano) – Paul Hankinson
  • Reveries – Ramin Djawadi
  • Rewrite The Stars (Piano Version) – Emilie’s Piano
  • Seasons Of Love (RENT) – Stan Whitmire
  • The Princess Bride – Storybook Love – VSQ

Modern Romance

A list of songs that are from recent years that are being selected by couples as guests take their seats. Some unique hits are added too.

  • Ain’t Love Somethin – Sam Brooker
  • At Your Worst (Acoustic) – Calum Scott
  • Best Part – H.E.R., Daniel Caesar
  • Feels Like Home – Chantal Kreviazuk
  • Forever After All – Luke Combs
  • God Bless the Broken Road – Rascal Flatts
  • Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves
  • Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley
  • Halo – Beyoncé
  • Heartbeats – José González
  • Hold You In My Arms – Ray LaMontagne
  • How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
  • In Case You Didn’t Know (Piano Version) – Brett Young
  • Joy Of My Life– Chris Stapleton
  • Love Is – Ingrid Michaelson & Jason Mraz
  • Love Is Alive – Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton
  • Love Story – Taylor Swift
  • Marry Me – Train
  • Nella Fantasia – Sarah Brightman
  • Nothing Sweeter – Naomi Sharon
  • Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
  • Slow And Steady – Of Monsters And Men
  • Songbird – Eva Cassidy
  • Speechless – Dan + Shay
  • Such Great Heights – Iron And Wine
  • Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap
  • Tenerife Sea – Ed Sheeran
  • Thank God (Spring Symphony Version) – Kane & Katelyn Brown
  • The Gift – Jim Brickman, Collin Raye, Susan Ashton
  • True Companion – Marc Cohn
  • Wedding Medley – Anthem Lights
  • Why I Love You – MAJOR.
  • You Are My Sunshine – Kina Grannis
  • Yours (Wedding Version) – Russell Dickerson

Classic Romance

These are popular hits from the years of your parents and grandparents.

  • Always and Forever – Heatwave
  • One In A Million – Larry Graham
  • Ribbon In The Sky – Stevie Wonder
  • Truly – Lionel Richie
  • Wedding Song (There Is Love) – Noel Paul Stookey
  • You and I – Stevie Wonder

New Age Vibe

You may be surprised but this group of songs as they set the mood for romance.

  • A Day Without Rain – Enya
  • Angel Eyes – Jim Brickman
  • Fairytale – Enya
  • Hand In Hand – David Arkenstone
  • Love Story – Luc Serra
  • May It Be – Enya
  • Nocturne – Secret Garden
  • Only Time – Enya
  • Variations on the Kanon – George Winston

DJs! Plan Prelude Songs by BPM and Key

(Click on the Song, Artist, Key and BPM column headers for sorting)

SongArtistKeyBPM
Kiss From a RoseVitamin String Quartet8B56
Pachelbel's Canon in DDanny Wright6B64
Arioso (Adagio in G) from Cantata BWV 156 (Arr. by Lloyd Webber)Julian Lloyd Webber, John Lenehan9B64
Clair de Lune, L. 32Claude Debussy, Martin Jones3B66
ReveriesRamin Djawadi11A68
TrulyLionel Richie3B68
Perfect - Solo Piano Wedding VersionPaul Hankinson Covers4B69
Back At One - Instrumental CoverJohan Sander8B69
Always and ForeverHeatwave10B71
One in a Million YouLarry Graham6B71
A Day Without RainEnya7B71
LoverPaul Hankinson Covers9B71
Salut d'Amour, Op. 12Edward Elgar, Yo-Yo Ma, Kathryn Stott10B72
A Rose Is Gently BloomingMeral Guneyman4B72
Shape Of My HeartThe Piano Guys11A73
Here Comes the SunBenny Martin11B73
Air on a G StringJohann Sebastian Bach, HAUSER, Robert Ziegler, London Symphony Orchestra10B74
Suite bergamasque, L. 75: III. Clair de luneClaude Debussy, Lang Lang3B74
Ashitaka and SanJoe Hisaishi3B74
Sleepers Awake, Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns Die Stimme, BWV 140Andrei Krylov, Lana Ross & Andrew Grossman4A74
Hold My Hand (Piano Arrangement)Alexandre Pachabezian9B74
The Princess Bride - Storybook LoveVitamin String Quartet10B75
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. PréludeJohann Sebastian Bach, Yo-Yo Ma9B75
Best Part (feat. H.E.R.)Daniel Caesar, H.E.R.9B75
Yellow - Piano VersionHenry Smith1B77
Kiss the RainHAUSER5B77
In My LifeKevin Kern7B78
NocturneSecret Garden7A79
Romance for String Orchestra, Op.11Gerald Finzi, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner4B80
Why I Love YouMAJOR.4B80
Schubert: Ave Maria, D.839 - Arr. HazellFranz Schubert, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Members Of The BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Members of the English Chamber Orchestra, Members Of The Philharmonia Orchestra, Christopher Warren-Green6A80
You Are My SunshineKina Grannis6B80
Enchanted (The Wedding Violin Version)Ana Done10B82
Only TimeEnya5B83
In Case You Didn't Know - Piano VersionBrett Young6B83
Seasons Of Love - From RentStan Whitmire7B83
Air on G (Arr. for Violin and Acoustic Guitar by Arthur Campbell)Anne Akiko Meyers, Jason Vieaux10B85
I Get To Love YouBrooklyn Duo11B86
golden hourBrooklyn Duo11B86
Love Is AliveGwen Stefani, Blake Shelton12A86
Over the RainbowIsrael Kamakawiwo'ole8B86
HeartbeatsJosé González5B88
Nothing SweeterNaomi Sharon6A88
Marry MeTrain8B88
FairytaleEnya8B88
Golden HourKacey Musgraves11A89
Sunflower (feat. ThatViolaKid)Vitamin String Quartet, ThatViolaKid10B90
Nella FantasiaSarah Brightman6B90
LatchSimply Three11B91
Somewhere Only We KnowSimply Three11B92
Say You Won't Let GoDaniel Jang6B93
Such Great HeightsIron & Wine2B94
Love Me Like You DoBrooklyn Duo8B95
Sheep May Safely GrazeJohann Sebastian Bach, Leon Fleisher6B98
Feels Like HomeChantal Kreviazuk10B99
HaloBeyoncé2B99
Thank God - Spring Symphony VersionKane Brown, Katelyn Brown5B99
Can't Help Falling In Love - AcousticAmber Leigh Irish8B99
Etude No. 2Philip Glass7B101
God Bless the Broken RoadThe O'Neill Brothers Group6B102
Concerning HobbitsHoward Shore10B104
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 "Spring": I. AllegroAntonio Vivaldi, Itzhak Perlman, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra12B105
This Is What You Came ForLars Florence8B107
Trumpet Voluntary in D Major (The Prince of Denmark's March)Jeremiah Clarke, Frank Shipway, Christian Rainer, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra10B108
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. PréludeJohann Sebastian Bach, João Kouyoumdjian10B108
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty (Wedding Hymn)Robbins Island Music Group10B108
Water Music Suite, HWV 348-350: Alla HornpipeGeorge Frideric Handel, Wolfgang Meyer, Berliner Philharmoniker, Rafael Kubelik10B109
4 Romantic Pieces, Op.75, B.150: 1. Allegro moderatoAntonín Dvořák, Akiko Suwanai, Boris Berezovsky6B111
Trumpet Tune in C Major, Z. 697Henry Purcell, The Prague Brass Soloists7B112
Love StoryLuc Serra6A114
True CompanionMarc Cohn11B115
The Occasional Oratorio, HWV62 - Arr. Hazell: MarchGeorge Frideric Handel, The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, Elgar Howarth10B116
Stand By MeFred Turnquist11B116
Slow And SteadyOf Monsters and Men1A117
If I Ain't Got You (feat. Queen Charlotte's Global Orchestra) - OrchestralAlicia Keys, Queen Charlotte's Global Orchestra9B117
Love StoryTaylor Swift10B119
At Your Worst - AcousticCalum Scott2B120
Fairy Tail ThemeTaylor Davis, Lara de Wit7B120
Sarabande, BWV 1007Andrei Krylov, Lana Ross & Andrew Grossman6A121
You And IStevie Wonder2B122
Tenerife SeaEd Sheeran4B122
Canon in D (Instrumental Version)The O'Neill Brothers, Wedding Day Music10B124
Prelude in C MajorBrian Bradley8B124
A Whole New WorldDisney Ukulele, Disney9A124
Turning Page (Instrumental)Sleeping At Last5B125
Rewrite the StarsThe Piano Guys6B125
This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)Dr. Cover Band3A126
Bagatelle No. 25 in A Minor, WoO 59 "Für Elise"Ludwig van Beethoven, Igor Levit8A126
How Long Will I Love YouEllie Goulding8B126
Für Elise, WoO 59Ludwig van Beethoven, Nelly Kokinos8A127
Sweet DispositionThe Temper Trap10B129
Rockelbel's Canon (Pachelbel Canon in D)The Piano Guys10B130
First Day of My LifeBrooklyn Duo12B132
May It BeEnya11B133
Faithfully - Instrumental Piano VersionLaura Sullivan1B133
Yours - Wedding EditionRussell Dickerson1B134
Hand In HandDavid Arkenstone12B135
Wedding Song (There Is Love)Noel Paul Stookey5B135
Beauty and the BeastDisney Ukulele, Disney8B135
Canon in D (Instrumental Version)The O'Neill Brothers, Wedding Day Music10B136
SpeechlessDan + Shay3B136
EnchantedMidnite String Quartet4B136
Bless The Broken RoadRascal Flatts8B136
Ribbon In The SkyStevie Wonder3A137
Ain't Love Somethin'Sam Brooker5B137
I'm Yours - Guitar VersionMount Hayes1B139
All I Ask Of YouAndrew Lloyd Webber, Phantom Of The Opera Original London Cast, Steve Barton, Sarah Brightman3B139
A Thousand Years (Instrumental Violin & Piano Cover)VioDance6B140
A Million DreamsThe Piano Guys6B140
Wildest DreamsDallas String Quartet9B140
The Gift (feat. Collin Raye & Susan Ashton)Jim Brickman, Collin Raye, Susan Ashton7B142
Married Life from Up (Violin & Piano)Paul Hankinson Covers8B144
Marry You (Instrumental Version)The O'Neill Brothers Group7B145
Angel EyesJim Brickman8B146
Variations on the KanonGeorge Winston8B146
Pachelbel Meets U2Jon Schmidt10B148
Joy Of My LifeChris Stapleton5B149
Forever After AllLuke Combs8B152
SongbirdEva Cassidy9B153
A Thousand YearsThe Piano Guys6B157
Love Story - Instrumental PianoRoman Tee4B164
Truly Madly DeeplySidney1B169
Bittersweet SymphonyVitamin String Quartet11B170
Game of Thrones - Main TitleVitamin String Quartet7A170
Hold You in My ArmsRay LaMontagne9B170
My Boo - AcousticWill Gittens, Rahky7A172
Love IsIngrid Michaelson, Jason Mraz5B174
Spanish LoveWayne Gutshall, Steve Oliver9A174
Wedding MedleyAnthem Lights12B180
HallelujahJeff Buckley9B181

*BPM and key pulled from SongData.io

Spotify Prelude Playlist

Do you have a favorite prelude song for wedding ceremonies? Please share your song below in the comments.

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