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.

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)
Song | Artist | Key | BPM |
---|---|---|---|
Kiss From a Rose | Vitamin String Quartet | 8B | 56 |
Pachelbel's Canon in D | Danny Wright | 6B | 64 |
Arioso (Adagio in G) from Cantata BWV 156 (Arr. by Lloyd Webber) | Julian Lloyd Webber, John Lenehan | 9B | 64 |
Clair de Lune, L. 32 | Claude Debussy, Martin Jones | 3B | 66 |
Reveries | Ramin Djawadi | 11A | 68 |
Truly | Lionel Richie | 3B | 68 |
Perfect - Solo Piano Wedding Version | Paul Hankinson Covers | 4B | 69 |
Back At One - Instrumental Cover | Johan Sander | 8B | 69 |
Always and Forever | Heatwave | 10B | 71 |
One in a Million You | Larry Graham | 6B | 71 |
A Day Without Rain | Enya | 7B | 71 |
Lover | Paul Hankinson Covers | 9B | 71 |
Salut d'Amour, Op. 12 | Edward Elgar, Yo-Yo Ma, Kathryn Stott | 10B | 72 |
A Rose Is Gently Blooming | Meral Guneyman | 4B | 72 |
Shape Of My Heart | The Piano Guys | 11A | 73 |
Here Comes the Sun | Benny Martin | 11B | 73 |
Air on a G String | Johann Sebastian Bach, HAUSER, Robert Ziegler, London Symphony Orchestra | 10B | 74 |
Suite bergamasque, L. 75: III. Clair de lune | Claude Debussy, Lang Lang | 3B | 74 |
Ashitaka and San | Joe Hisaishi | 3B | 74 |
Sleepers Awake, Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns Die Stimme, BWV 140 | Andrei Krylov, Lana Ross & Andrew Grossman | 4A | 74 |
Hold My Hand (Piano Arrangement) | Alexandre Pachabezian | 9B | 74 |
The Princess Bride - Storybook Love | Vitamin String Quartet | 10B | 75 |
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prélude | Johann Sebastian Bach, Yo-Yo Ma | 9B | 75 |
Best Part (feat. H.E.R.) | Daniel Caesar, H.E.R. | 9B | 75 |
Yellow - Piano Version | Henry Smith | 1B | 77 |
Kiss the Rain | HAUSER | 5B | 77 |
In My Life | Kevin Kern | 7B | 78 |
Nocturne | Secret Garden | 7A | 79 |
Romance for String Orchestra, Op.11 | Gerald Finzi, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner | 4B | 80 |
Why I Love You | MAJOR. | 4B | 80 |
Schubert: Ave Maria, D.839 - Arr. Hazell | Franz 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-Green | 6A | 80 |
You Are My Sunshine | Kina Grannis | 6B | 80 |
Enchanted (The Wedding Violin Version) | Ana Done | 10B | 82 |
Only Time | Enya | 5B | 83 |
In Case You Didn't Know - Piano Version | Brett Young | 6B | 83 |
Seasons Of Love - From Rent | Stan Whitmire | 7B | 83 |
Air on G (Arr. for Violin and Acoustic Guitar by Arthur Campbell) | Anne Akiko Meyers, Jason Vieaux | 10B | 85 |
I Get To Love You | Brooklyn Duo | 11B | 86 |
golden hour | Brooklyn Duo | 11B | 86 |
Love Is Alive | Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton | 12A | 86 |
Over the Rainbow | Israel Kamakawiwo'ole | 8B | 86 |
Heartbeats | José González | 5B | 88 |
Nothing Sweeter | Naomi Sharon | 6A | 88 |
Marry Me | Train | 8B | 88 |
Fairytale | Enya | 8B | 88 |
Golden Hour | Kacey Musgraves | 11A | 89 |
Sunflower (feat. ThatViolaKid) | Vitamin String Quartet, ThatViolaKid | 10B | 90 |
Nella Fantasia | Sarah Brightman | 6B | 90 |
Latch | Simply Three | 11B | 91 |
Somewhere Only We Know | Simply Three | 11B | 92 |
Say You Won't Let Go | Daniel Jang | 6B | 93 |
Such Great Heights | Iron & Wine | 2B | 94 |
Love Me Like You Do | Brooklyn Duo | 8B | 95 |
Sheep May Safely Graze | Johann Sebastian Bach, Leon Fleisher | 6B | 98 |
Feels Like Home | Chantal Kreviazuk | 10B | 99 |
Halo | Beyoncé | 2B | 99 |
Thank God - Spring Symphony Version | Kane Brown, Katelyn Brown | 5B | 99 |
Can't Help Falling In Love - Acoustic | Amber Leigh Irish | 8B | 99 |
Etude No. 2 | Philip Glass | 7B | 101 |
God Bless the Broken Road | The O'Neill Brothers Group | 6B | 102 |
Concerning Hobbits | Howard Shore | 10B | 104 |
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 "Spring": I. Allegro | Antonio Vivaldi, Itzhak Perlman, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra | 12B | 105 |
This Is What You Came For | Lars Florence | 8B | 107 |
Trumpet Voluntary in D Major (The Prince of Denmark's March) | Jeremiah Clarke, Frank Shipway, Christian Rainer, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra | 10B | 108 |
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prélude | Johann Sebastian Bach, João Kouyoumdjian | 10B | 108 |
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty (Wedding Hymn) | Robbins Island Music Group | 10B | 108 |
Water Music Suite, HWV 348-350: Alla Hornpipe | George Frideric Handel, Wolfgang Meyer, Berliner Philharmoniker, Rafael Kubelik | 10B | 109 |
4 Romantic Pieces, Op.75, B.150: 1. Allegro moderato | Antonín Dvořák, Akiko Suwanai, Boris Berezovsky | 6B | 111 |
Trumpet Tune in C Major, Z. 697 | Henry Purcell, The Prague Brass Soloists | 7B | 112 |
Love Story | Luc Serra | 6A | 114 |
True Companion | Marc Cohn | 11B | 115 |
The Occasional Oratorio, HWV62 - Arr. Hazell: March | George Frideric Handel, The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, Elgar Howarth | 10B | 116 |
Stand By Me | Fred Turnquist | 11B | 116 |
Slow And Steady | Of Monsters and Men | 1A | 117 |
If I Ain't Got You (feat. Queen Charlotte's Global Orchestra) - Orchestral | Alicia Keys, Queen Charlotte's Global Orchestra | 9B | 117 |
Love Story | Taylor Swift | 10B | 119 |
At Your Worst - Acoustic | Calum Scott | 2B | 120 |
Fairy Tail Theme | Taylor Davis, Lara de Wit | 7B | 120 |
Sarabande, BWV 1007 | Andrei Krylov, Lana Ross & Andrew Grossman | 6A | 121 |
You And I | Stevie Wonder | 2B | 122 |
Tenerife Sea | Ed Sheeran | 4B | 122 |
Canon in D (Instrumental Version) | The O'Neill Brothers, Wedding Day Music | 10B | 124 |
Prelude in C Major | Brian Bradley | 8B | 124 |
A Whole New World | Disney Ukulele, Disney | 9A | 124 |
Turning Page (Instrumental) | Sleeping At Last | 5B | 125 |
Rewrite the Stars | The Piano Guys | 6B | 125 |
This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) | Dr. Cover Band | 3A | 126 |
Bagatelle No. 25 in A Minor, WoO 59 "Für Elise" | Ludwig van Beethoven, Igor Levit | 8A | 126 |
How Long Will I Love You | Ellie Goulding | 8B | 126 |
Für Elise, WoO 59 | Ludwig van Beethoven, Nelly Kokinos | 8A | 127 |
Sweet Disposition | The Temper Trap | 10B | 129 |
Rockelbel's Canon (Pachelbel Canon in D) | The Piano Guys | 10B | 130 |
First Day of My Life | Brooklyn Duo | 12B | 132 |
May It Be | Enya | 11B | 133 |
Faithfully - Instrumental Piano Version | Laura Sullivan | 1B | 133 |
Yours - Wedding Edition | Russell Dickerson | 1B | 134 |
Hand In Hand | David Arkenstone | 12B | 135 |
Wedding Song (There Is Love) | Noel Paul Stookey | 5B | 135 |
Beauty and the Beast | Disney Ukulele, Disney | 8B | 135 |
Canon in D (Instrumental Version) | The O'Neill Brothers, Wedding Day Music | 10B | 136 |
Speechless | Dan + Shay | 3B | 136 |
Enchanted | Midnite String Quartet | 4B | 136 |
Bless The Broken Road | Rascal Flatts | 8B | 136 |
Ribbon In The Sky | Stevie Wonder | 3A | 137 |
Ain't Love Somethin' | Sam Brooker | 5B | 137 |
I'm Yours - Guitar Version | Mount Hayes | 1B | 139 |
All I Ask Of You | Andrew Lloyd Webber, Phantom Of The Opera Original London Cast, Steve Barton, Sarah Brightman | 3B | 139 |
A Thousand Years (Instrumental Violin & Piano Cover) | VioDance | 6B | 140 |
A Million Dreams | The Piano Guys | 6B | 140 |
Wildest Dreams | Dallas String Quartet | 9B | 140 |
The Gift (feat. Collin Raye & Susan Ashton) | Jim Brickman, Collin Raye, Susan Ashton | 7B | 142 |
Married Life from Up (Violin & Piano) | Paul Hankinson Covers | 8B | 144 |
Marry You (Instrumental Version) | The O'Neill Brothers Group | 7B | 145 |
Angel Eyes | Jim Brickman | 8B | 146 |
Variations on the Kanon | George Winston | 8B | 146 |
Pachelbel Meets U2 | Jon Schmidt | 10B | 148 |
Joy Of My Life | Chris Stapleton | 5B | 149 |
Forever After All | Luke Combs | 8B | 152 |
Songbird | Eva Cassidy | 9B | 153 |
A Thousand Years | The Piano Guys | 6B | 157 |
Love Story - Instrumental Piano | Roman Tee | 4B | 164 |
Truly Madly Deeply | Sidney | 1B | 169 |
Bittersweet Symphony | Vitamin String Quartet | 11B | 170 |
Game of Thrones - Main Title | Vitamin String Quartet | 7A | 170 |
Hold You in My Arms | Ray LaMontagne | 9B | 170 |
My Boo - Acoustic | Will Gittens, Rahky | 7A | 172 |
Love Is | Ingrid Michaelson, Jason Mraz | 5B | 174 |
Spanish Love | Wayne Gutshall, Steve Oliver | 9A | 174 |
Wedding Medley | Anthem Lights | 12B | 180 |
Hallelujah | Jeff Buckley | 9B | 181 |
*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.