ByThomas Beaman
Are you looking for the best wedding ceremony recessional songs to use for the moment when you walk back down the aisle?
If so, you are in the right place.
I have photographed over 500 wedding ceremonies and have heard some fantastic wedding song ideas. Plus, we reached out to a few wedding DJs and lots of couples in our wedding planning community to get their recessional song ideas
Here is what we will cover in this article:
- Upbeat wedding exit songs (fun recessional songs)
- Instrumental wedding recessional songs (traditional/classical exit music)
- Country wedding recessional songs
- Funny wedding recessional songs
- Catholic wedding recessional songs
- Piano recessional songs
- Non-traditional (unique) wedding ceremony exit songs
- Modern ceremony exit songs
- Rock wedding recessional songs
- Disney wedding exit songs
- Wedding recessional songs from movies and tv
Upbeat Wedding Exit Songs (Fun Recessional Songs)
Many couples choose a fun, upbeat song for the ceremony recessional. We contacted a group of wedding DJs and married couples to get their opinions on the best songs to use. Here are some of the more popular recessional songs:
- “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” – The Proclaimers
- “Happy” – Pharrell Williams
- “Best Day Of My Life” – American Authors
- “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” – Stevie Wonder
- “Shut Up And Dance” – Walk the Moon
- “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” – Jackie Wilson
- “I See Love” – Jonas Blue ft. Joe Jonas
- “Beautiful Day” – U2
- “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” – Natalie Cole
- “Marry You” – Bruno Mars
- “Sugar” – Maroon 5
- “Dynamite” – BTS
- “You Make My Dreams” – Hall & Oates
- “Can’t Stop The Feeling” – Justin Timberlake
- “Let’s Go Crazy” – Prince and The Revolution
- “Finesse” – Bruno Mars
- “Love On Top” – Beyoncé
- “We Are Family” – Sister Sledge
- “All You Need Is Love” The Beatles
- “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” – The Beach Boys
- “Viva La Vida” – Coldplay
- “Lucky” – Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat
- “Crazy In Love” – Beyoncé and Jay Z
- “Walking On Sunshine” – Katrina & The Waves
- “I Do” – Colbie Caillat
- “The Way You Make Me Feel” – Michael Jackson
- “Crazy In Love” – Beyoncé
- “Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift
- “Happy Together” – The Turtles
- “Wake Me Up” – Avicii
- “Good Vibrations” – The Beach Boys
- “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” – Queen
- “I Gotta Feeling” – The Black Eyed Peas
- “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” – Whitney Houston
- “And We Danced” – The Hooters
- “Good Day Sunshine” – The Beatles
- “I Melt With You” – Modern English
- “The Power of Love” – Huey Lewis and The News
- “This Is What You Came For” – Calvin Harris ft. Rhianna
- “Semi-Charmed Life” – Third Eye Blind
- “The Impression That I Get” – The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
- “Without You” – Parachute
Instrumental Wedding Recessional Songs (Traditional – Classical Ceremony Exit Music)
If you are getting married in a church or want a more traditional song to walk back down the aisle to, we have put together some of the more popular classical music selections to use for the wedding ceremony recessional (the bride and groom exit song).
- “Wedding March” – Felix Mendelssohn (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
- “The Marriage of Figaro” – Mozart
- “Allegro Maestoso (Water Music Suite 2)” – George F. Handel
- “Largo from Xerxes” – Handel
- “(Ode to Joy) from Symphony no. 9 in D minor” – Ludwig van Beethoven
- “(Allegro) from Spring, The Four Seasons” – Vivaldi
- “Le Rondeau (Masterpiece Theatre)” – Mouret
- “Brandenburg Concerto No. 4, (Allegro)” – Johann S. Bach
- “(Coronation March) from Crown imperial” – Sir William Walton
- “(Fugue in E-Flat Major) from St. Anne” – Johann S. Bach
- “(Hallelujah Chorus) from The Messiah” – George F. Handel
- “The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba” – George F. Handel
- “Trumpet Tune and Bell Symphony” Henry Purcell
- “Allegro Brandenburg Concerto no. 4 in G” – Bach
- “(Badinerie) from Orchestral Suite No. 2” – Johann S. Bach
- “Triumphal March” – Edvard Grieg
Country Wedding Recessional Songs
If you are a fan of country music (or having a rustic wedding), you will love some of these country songs to use for the ceremony exit.
- “Forever After All” – Luke Combs
- “Heartbeat” – Carrie Underwood
- “Cowboy Take Me Away” – The Chicks (aka Dixie Chicks)
- “On the Road Again” – Willie Nelson
- “Wagon Wheel” – Darius Rucker
- “Forever And Ever, Amen” – Randy Travis
- “Would You Go With Me” – Josh Turner
- “Loving You Easy” – Zac Brown Band
- “She’s In Love With The Boy” – Trisha Yearwood
- “Love Story” – Taylor Swift
- “This Kiss” – Faith Hill
- “God Gave Me You” Blake Shelton
- “Forever and for always” – Shania Twain
If you want even more country wedding songs to use for your big day, check out this article: 470 Best Country Wedding Songs.
Funny Wedding Recessional Songs
This list of ceremony recessional songs is perfect for a couple with a sense of humor who wants to keep things a little more light-hearted.
- “We Go Together” – John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (Plus the entire Grease cast)
- “East Bound and Down” – Jerry Reed
- “Happy Trails” – Roy Rogers & Dale Evans (Or you can do this Van Halen version)
- “On the Road Again” – Willie Nelson
- “The Bear Necessities” – The Jungle Book
- “Love and Marriage” – Frank Sinatra (From Married with Children)
- “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” – Deniece Williams
- “Get the Party Started” – P!nk
- “We’re Off To See The Wizard” – The Wizard of Oz
- “Bye Bye Bye” – *NSYNC
R&B and Hip Hop Wedding Recessional Songs
- “Now That We Found Love” – Heavy D & The Boyz
- “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” by Marvin Gaye
- “You’re My First My Last My Everything” by Barry White
- “I Got You (I Feel Good)” – James Brown
- “Lovely Day” – Bill Withers
- “Give Me Everything” – Pitbull (feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer)
- “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- “Find Someone Like You” by Snoh Aalegra
Catholic Wedding Recessional Songs
We love these bridal processional songs:
- “(Ode to Joy) from Symphony no. 9 in D minor” – Ludwig van Beethoven
- “O God Beyond All Praising” – Gustav Holst
- “La Rejouissance” – Handel
- “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” – Chris Rice
Recessional Wedding Songs (Piano)
- “Rewrite The Stars” – The Piano Guys (From The Greatest Showman)
- “Without You” – The Piano Guys (David Guetta featuring Usher)
- “Story of My Life” – The Piano Guys (OneDirection)
- “Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, Op. 65, no 6” – Edvard Greig
- “On Wings of Song” – Mendelssohn
- “O Perfect Love” – Barnby
Non-Traditional Wedding Recessional Songs (Unique)
If you are looking for wedding recessional music that is a little less traditional or unique, you will love these songs!
- “Something Beautiful” – NeedtoBreathe
- “Daylight” Matt and Kim
- “I Choose You” – Sara Bareilles
- “Here Comes The Sun” – The Beatles
- “Get Up Offa That Thing (Release the Pressure)” – James Brown
- “Sweet Disposition” – The Temper Trap
- “Friday I’m In Love” by The Cure
- “Walk Of Life” – Dire Straits
- “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” – Michael Bublé
- “Hey Look Ma, I Made It” – Panic! At the Disco
- “Waterloo” – ABBA
- “No Excuses” – Meghan Trainor
- “Wake Me Up” – Simply Three
- “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” Music Travel Love
- “Happy” – Simply Three
- “You Get What You Give” – New Radicals
- “Hold On Forever” by Rob Thomas
- “I Belong To You” – Jacob Lee
- “Kiss Me” – Sixpence None The Richer
Modern Wedding Recessional Songs For The Bride and Groom
- “Remember This” – Jonas Brothers
- “Good Riddance” – Green Day
- “Home” – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
- “Good Life” – OneRepublic
- “Love Story” – Taylor Swift
- “On Top Of The World” – Imagine Dragons
- “Levitating” – Dua Lipa (feat. DaBaby)
- “You Are The Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne
- “Adore You” by Harry Styles
- “Uptown Funk” – Bruno Mars
- “Home” – Phillip Phillips
- “Mr. Brightside” – The Killers
- “Happy Together” – Weezer
Rock Recessional Songs For Wedding Party Exit (The Couple Too!)
If you are looking for rock-style wedding songs to walk out to after the ceremony, this is the song list for you:
- “You Shook Me All Night Long” – AC/DC
- “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” – The Darkness
- “Wedding March” – Heavy Metal Wedding
- “Dreams” – Van Halen
- “Livin’ On A Prayer” – Bon Jovi
- “Love Of A Lifetime” by Firehouse
- “Can’t Stop Loving You” by Van Halen
- “The Final Countdown” – Europe
- “Back In Black” – AC/DC
- “Paralyzer” – Finger Eleven
- “Ocean Avenue” – Yellowcard
- “Crazy Train” – Ozzy Osbourne
- “Come Sail Away” – STYX
Disney Wedding Recessional Songs
- “Once Upon A Dream” – Sleeping Beauty
- “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” – Song of the South
- “Married Life” – Up
- “You’ll Be In My Heart” – Tarzan (Phil Collins)
- “I See The Light” – Tangled
- “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” – The Lion King
- “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” – Toy Story
- “A Whole New World” – Aladdin (Here is the modern version: “A Whole New World“)
- “Hakuna Matata” – The Lion King
- “Proud Corazón” – Coco
Wedding Recessional Songs From Movies and TV Soundtracks
These are some of the more famous songs that you know from your favorite movies or tv shows.
- “Hold On” – Wilson-Phillips (From the hit movie Bridesmaids)
- “True” – Spandau Ballet (From the final wedding scene in The Wedding Singer)
- “Forever and Ever (I Say A Little Prayer)” – Diana King (From My Best Friend’s Wedding) (And here is the Aretha Franklin version)
- “Pirates of the Caribbean” – Hans Zimmer
- “Jump In Line (Beetlejuice)” by Harry Belafonte
- “Star Wars IV – A New Hope – Ending Theme” – John Williams
- “Cantina Band” – John Williams (Star Wars IV, A New Hope)
- “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” – Aerosmith (Armageddon)
- “Jurassic Park (Main Theme)” by John Williams
- “Let My Love Open the Door” – Pete Townshend (Along Came Polly)
- “Today Was A Fairytale” – Taylor Swift (Valentine’s Day)
- “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” – Stevie Wonder (You’ve Got Mail)
- “Somebody Like You” – Keith Urban (How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days)
- “Everything Is Awesome (The Lego Movie)” by Tegan and Sara
- “You Make My Dreams” – Hall & Oates (500 Days of Summer)
- “It Had To Be You” – Harry Connick, Jr. (When Harry Met Sally)
- “All You Need Is Love” – Lynden David Hall (Love Actually)
- “I Melt With You” – Jason Mraz (50 First Dates)
- “Forever” – Pam and Jim’s wedding (The Office)
If you need ideas for the wedding ceremony processional, we put together this awesome article: 109 Best Wedding Songs for The Bridal Processional.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) About The Wedding Ceremony Recessional (Plus Tips)
Here are a few tips for your wedding ceremony recessional, plus answers to some of the most common questions.
Tips for getting the best photos of your wedding recessional exit
If you want the photos of your wedding exit to look their best, follow these tips for walking back down the aisle:
- Look up when walking back down the aisle. Look wherever you want (at each other, straight ahead, at your family and friends, etc.). Just don’t stare at your feet.
- Stop halfway down the aisle and give each other a kiss (or a dip). Your friends and family will all be turned around and looking at you. They will cheer and clap. You will absolutely love these photos!
- Don’t walk too fast. Give you photographer a chance to get a few awesome photos. Walking at a normal speed is perfect.
- Your wedding party should leave a little space in between each couple when walking back down the aisle. We recommend leaving about 20-25 feet in between each couple.
- Tell your wedding party to look up when walking back down the aisle.
- Anyone carrying a bouquet should carry it low (you want to make sure that it is not covering part of your face).
- Practice all of these quick tips at your ceremony rehearsal.
Should recessional songs be upbeat?
Your wedding recessional music should reflect your personality as a couple. Using upbeat music is not required, but many couples choose an upbeat song because walking back down the aisle as newlyweds is a very exciting time.
All of your friends and family are cheering and clapping, so upbeat or happy wedding recessional songs usually fit the moment.
Are recessional songs instrumental?
Typically wedding ceremony recessional songs are instrumental if you are getting married in a church (but it doesn’t have to be). If you are getting married at a modern wedding venue (or pretty much anywhere that is not a church), your recessional song can be anything you want it to be.
What song is played at the end of a wedding ceremony?
Any song can be played at the end of a wedding ceremony, but if you are talking about the traditional wedding march that many movies or tv shows used to use, it is called “Wedding March” by Felix Mendelssohn (From A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
A few more wedding ceremony articles that you might find helpful:
- The Ultimate Wedding Music Guide (Songs for Every Wedding Day Moment)
- Best wedding ceremony processional songs.
- 67 non-traditional wedding ceremony ideas.
- Amazing songs to use for the first dance
