First Dance in Des Moines Iowa — Photo By: ***Ally McElfish Photography***

The music you choose to use on your wedding day is SO important! Afterall, it’s a reflection of you as a couple. But how do you go about choosing your wedding music? Do you pick traditional songs? Songs you love? Songs that represent you as a couple? Why not all of the above!? In this blog post, I’ll go over all types of wedding day songs- what songs I see used the most, my personal favorites, and more!

Processional Song Choices

The processional is the beginning of your ceremony- when your guests are being seated, and when your bridal party starts walking down the aisle. But how do you even begin to start picking processional songs?! If you’re looking for something instrumental, try looking at instrumental versions of some of your favorite songs. You can also check out the song list from the tv show ‘Briderton’ as they have tons of instrumental covers of popular songs, some of which are even included in this list! If you’re looking for something lyrical, you can start by looking as songs that remind you of each other, or songs you love.

Family Songs

What a Wonderful World, by Louis Armstrong
Sign of The Times- Stripped, by Steve Horner
Marry Me, by Train
God Gave Me You, by Blake Shelton
Wildest Dreams (Instrumental), by Duomo

Bridal Party Songs

Dancing On My Own, by Vitamin String Quartet
Say You Won’t Let Go, by Boyce Avenue
What About Us (Instrumental), by Duomo
In Case You Didn't Know, by Brett Young
Wildest Dreams (Instrumental), by Duomo
Beethoven’s 5 Secrets-One Republic, by Piano Guys

Bride’s Entrance Song

Canon in D, by Pachelbel
A Thousand Years, by Christina Perri
At Last, by Etta James
Young & Beautiful, by Lana Del Ray
Thinking Out Loud, by Ed Sheeran
Kiss Me, by Vitamin String Quartet
Speechless, by Dan + Shay
All Of Me, by John Legend
Just the Way You Are, by Bruno Mars
Hallelujah, by Pentatonix
Marry Me, by Train
From the Ground Up, by Dan + Shay
Wildest Dreams (Instrumental), by Duomo
Invisible String, by Taylor Swift
Clair De Lune, by Debussy
Wedding March, by Felix Mendelssohn
Can't Help Falling in Love, by Haley Reinhart
A Thousand Years, by The Piano Guys
I Get to Love You, by Ruelle

Recessional Song Choices

After you are pronounced married at your ceremony, you have a ‘walk out’ song, which is typically pretty upbeat, but can also be slow and romantic. The recessional songs are what the couple as well as the bridal party and guests recess out to. Here are a few of the most common recessional walk out songs I see at weddings.

Can't Stop the Feeling, by Justin Timberlake
Best Day of My Life, by American Authors
Happy, by Pharrel Williams
Accidentally In Love, by Counting Crows
On Top of the World, by Imagine Dragons
Sky Full Of Stars, by Coldplay
Came Here For Love, by Sigala, Ella Eyre
Perfect, by Ed Sheeran
Here Comes The Sun, by The Beatles (Acoustic Cover)
Today Was A Fairytale, by Taylor Swift
Unforgettable, by Thomas Rhett
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, by Marvin Gaye
Married Life, by Michael Giacchino (from UP!)
Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours), by Stevie Wonder
This Will Be (An Ever Lasting Love), by Natalie Cole

Grand Entrance Song Ideas

Your grand entrance is when you the couple (and your bridal party) make your official entrance into the reception to kick off the night. Think of your grand entrances as a hype song- You want to pick something that will get your guests riled up and ready to party!

For the Entire Bridal Party

There are so many ways you can do your grand entrance, but most couples choose to have their bridal party enter in pairs rather than all the girls, then all the guys. here are some song choices for grand entrances where the bridal party is being introduced as couples.

24K Magic, by Bruno Mars
This Will Be (An Everlasting Love), by Natalie Cole
Let's Get It Started, by The Black Eyed Peas
HandClap, by Fitz and the Tantrums
Shut Up and Dance, by Walk the Moon
Can't Stop the Feeling, by Justin Timberlake
I Gotta Feeling, by Black Eyed Peas
On Top of the World, by Imagine Dragons
…Ready For It?, by Taylor Swift
Hey Ya!, by OutKast

For Just The Girls

Some couples choose to have their bridal party enter in their groups such as all the bridesmaids at once, then all the groomsmen. If you’re choosing to do that, then here are some hype songs for all the girlies to walk in to!

Dance the Night, by Dua Lipa
Party in the USA, by Miley Cyrus
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me), by Whitney Houston
Bang, Bang, by Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj
Juice, by Lizzo
I Love Rock and Roll, by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Run the World (Girls), by Beyoncé
Raise Your Glass, by Pink
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, by Cyndi Lauper

For The Guys

Some couples choose to have their bridal party enter in their groups such as all the bridesmaids at once, then all the groomsmen. If you’re choosing to do that, then here are some hype songs for the boys!

Back in Black, by AC/DC
Rock You Like a Hurricane, by Scorpions
Who Let the Dogs Out, by Baha Men
Sexy And I Know It, by LMFAO
Thunderstruck, by AC/DC
Let’s Get It Started, by The Black Eyed Peas
Uptown Funk, by Bruno Mars
My House, by Flo Rida

For The Bride and Groom

Then finally, after the bridal party is announced, we have our lovely couple walk in to a song of their own. I have seen SO many different songs for the newlyweds to walk in to, but here are some of my favorites/most common!

Marry You, by Bruno Mars
Let’s Get It Started, by The Black Eyed Peas
September, by Earth, Wind & Fire
Shut Up and Dance, by Walk the Moon
Can't Stop the Feeling, by Justin Timberlake
I Gotta Feeling, by Black Eyed Peas
On Top of the World, by Imagine Dragons
Paper Rings, by Taylor Swift
Best Day of My Life, by American Authors
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me), by Whitney Houston
Happy, by Pharrel Williams
Accidentally In Love, by Counting Crows
Walking On Sunshine, by Katrina & The Waves
I’m a Believer, by The Monkees
All I Do Is Win, by DJ Khaled
Dear Future Husband, by Meghan Trainor

First Dance Song Ideas

Your first dance song should be a reflection of you as a couple. It can be a song you both love, or one that makes you think of eachother. Really listen to the words of the song to help decide which first dance song fits you the best.

First Dance Walker Homestead — *Photo By:* ***Emily Crall Photography***

First Dance Song Ideas

All of Me, by John Legend
Die A Happy Man, by Thomas Rhett
At Last, by Etta James
"Perfect, by Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé
Yours, by Russell Dickerson
A Thousand Years, by Christina Perri
Marry Me, by Train
I Get to Love You, by Ruelle
Thinking Out Loud, by Ed Sheeran
Can't Help Falling in Love, by Elvis Presley
From the Ground Up, by Dan + Shay
Lover, by Taylor Swift
Speechless, by Dan + Shay
You Make It Easy, by Jason Aldean
Body Like a Back Road, by Sam Hunt
This Will Be (An Everlasting Love), by Natalie Cole
10,000 Hours, by Justin Bieber and Dan + Shay
God Gave Me You, by Blake Shelton
In Case You Didn't Know, by Brett Young
Rewrite the Stars, by Zac Efron and Zendaya

Father Daughter Song Ideas

There are so many father daughter songs out there to choose from, but here are a few of my favorites.

Father Daughter Dance — Father Daughter Song Ideas

My Girl, by The Temptations
Stand By Me, by Ben E King
I Loved Her First, by Heartland
My Little Girl, by Tim McGraw
Your Song, by Elton John
When You Need Me, by Bruce Springsteen
The Best Day, by Taylor Swift
Hero, by Mariah Carey
Butterfly Fly Away, by Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus
Love Me Now, by John Legend

Mother Daughter Song Ideas

Mother daughter songs have become a hot new trend, but what song should you pick? Here are a few of my personal favorites.

Mother Daughter Dance — Mother Daughter Song Ideas

Slipping Through My Fingers, by ABBA
Mom, by Meghan Trainor (feat. Kelli Trainor)
In My Daughter's Eyes, by Martina McBride
Like My Mother Does, by Lauren Alaina
Because You Loved Me, by Celine Dion
Mama's Song," Carrie Underwood
A Mother's Prayer," Celine Dion
Your Song, by Elton John

Mother Son Song Ideas

There are so many mother and son songs out there to choose from, but here’s a handleful of my personal favorites.

Mother Son Dance — Mother and Son Dance Song Ideas:

Lean On Me, by Bill Withers
Letter to My Mother, by Edwin McCain
You’ll Be In My Heart, by Phil Collins
Mother, by Sugarland
Your Song, by Elton John
The Baby, by Blake Shelton
The Man I Want To Be, by Chris Young
Sweet Joy Of Mine, by Joy Williams

Cake Cutting Song Ideas

Most cake cutting songs are fun, upbeat, and have to do with sugar one way or another! Here are a few of my favorite cake cutting songs.

Cake Cutting Midnight Gem — Cake Cutting Song Ideas:
Sugar, by Maroon 5
Cake by the Ocean, by DNCE
Pour Some Sugar On Me, by Deff Leppard
This Will Be (An Everlasting Love), by Natalie Cole
Sugar, Sugar, by The Archies
Yummy, by Justin Bieber
Watermelon Sugar, by Harry Styles
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch), by Four Tops
Sweetheart, by Thomas Rhett

Bouquet Toss Song Ideas

Bouquet tosses have been crazy popular over the years, but let’s be honest- everyone is tired of hearing “Single Ladies’ by Beyonce play, so here’s some additional bouquet songs for you to look through and choose from.

Bouquet Toss Midnight Gem — **Bouquet Toss Song Ideas:**
Dear Future Husband, by Meghan Trainor
Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, by ABBA
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me), by Whitney Houston
Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It), by Beyoncé
Girls Just Want to Have Fun, by Cyndi Lauper
It's Raining Men, by The Weather Girls
Run the World (Girls), by Beyoncé
Man! I Feel Like a Woman!, by Shania Twain
Where Them Girls At, by David Guetta featuring Flo Rida and Nicki Minaj
Call Me Maybe, by Carly Rae Jepsen

Garter Toss Song Ideas

While the garter toss trend is slowly dying (mostly because no one wants their family to see their husband crawl up their wedding dress), it is becoming increasingly popular to do a private garter toss! Go in one of the bridal suites to do a private garter removal, then you can choose to go back into the reception and toss the garter, or opt to not do a garter toss at all.