This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. You have spoken your “I dos” and shared your first kiss as a married couple. You’re ready to walk down the aisle hand-in-hand with your life partner – and you need the perfect soundtrack to make it happen… and that’s where wedding recessional songs come in.
But before we start the music, here are a few FAQs about wedding recessional songs!
What is a Recessional?
When you start planning your wedding playlist, you might ask, “What is a recessional?”. At the ceremony’s end, the newly-married couple and wedding party walk back up the aisle. This moment cannot be confused with the wedding processional, which takes place when the couple and their wedding party walk down the aisle before the ceremony begins.
There are no steadfast rules regarding wedding recessional music. You can choose a classic instrumental tune, or you can pull a current hit straight from the charts. Similarly to your songs for the first dance, the reception exit, and even cutting the cake, your recessional music should be a choice you and your S.O. love. Here are some of the best ideas, broken out by category.
What are wedding recessional songs?
When you leave your wedding ceremony as a newly married couple, the recessional songs are playing in the background. The song will send you off when your loved ones cheer, throw rice or flower petals, or wail sparklers.
Wedding recessional songs not only help you make a memorable ceremony exit, but they also start the party for the rest of the night!
Think: the surprise rendition of “All You Need Is Love” at Keira Knightley’s wedding ceremony in Love, Actually.
While wedding recessional songs technically refer to your ceremony exit, these songs also refer to the final exit at the end of the night! You can even play the same song for both exits to tie the celebration together.
Traditional Wedding Recessional Songs
When you love the classics, you don’t have to break with tradition. The most common classical tunes are no-fail crowd pleasers at the end of your ceremony, whether they’re “Wedding March” or “Spring.” The best traditional wedding recessional songs are here.
- “Wedding March” (from A Midsummer Night’s Dream) by Felix Mendelssohn
- “Ode to Joy” by Ludwig van Beethoven
- “Allegro Maestoso” (from Water Music Suite) by George F. Handel
- “Brandenburg Concerto No. 1,” Allegro, by Johann S. Bach
- “Coronation March” (from Crown Imperial) by Sir William Walton
- “Hallelujah Chorus” (from The Messiah) by George F. Handel
- “Hornpipe” (from Water Music Suite) by George F. Handel
- “Spring,” Allegro, (from The Four Seasons), by Antonio Vivaldi
- “Toccata” (from Symphony 5, opus 42) by Charles-Marie Widor
- “Trumpet Tune and Bell Symphony” by Henry Purcell
- “Wedding Song” by Noel Paul Stookey
- “Largo from Xerxes,” by George Frideric Handel
- “One Hand, One Heart” by Bernstein
- “On Wings of Song” by Mendelssohn
- “Badinerie” (from Orchestral Suite No. 2) by Johann S. Bach
- “Rondeau” (theme from Masterpiece Theater) by Jean Joseph Mouret
- “Sonata in G Major” by Giuseppe Tartini
- “Triumphal March” by Edvard Grieg
- “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Posthorn-Serenade” by Mozart
Modern Wedding Recessional Songs
You can use wedding recessional songs to show off your personality and your great taste in music. Many of these recent hits may not be recessional, but they’re ideal for couples who want something nontraditional. Here are our favorite modern wedding recessional songs from Beyonce to Dan and Shay.
- “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
- “XO” by Beyoncé
- “Fallin’ for You” by Colbie Caillat
- “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay
- “Mirrors” by Justin Timberlake
- “I Choose You” by Sara Bareilles
- “We Found Love,” Rihanna and Calvin Harris
- “Wildest Dreams” by Duomo
- “River” by Leon Bridges
- “You Are in Love” by Taylor Swift
- “Sweet Creature” by Harry Styles
- “Butterflies” by Kacey Musgraves
- “At Your Best (You Are In Love)” by Frank Ocean
- “Love Me Harder” by Ariana Grande
- “Best Love Song” by T-Pain
- “One Thing Right” by Kane Brown
- “Better” by Khalid
- “Shotgun” by George Ezra
- “I Like Me Better” by Lauv
- “Taking Me Higher” by Illenium
- “10,000 Hours” by Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber
- “All the Stars” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA
- “Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane
- “I Found You” by Andy Grammer
- “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne
- “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
Upbeat Wedding Recessional Songs
In the final moments of your ceremony, you can end your ceremony with a high-energy recessional song. Take a look at these high-energy hits if you want to dance (or run) up the aisle with your new spouse. Your guests are likely going to dance with you.
- “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
- “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” by Natalie Cole
- “All You Need is Love” by The Beatles
- “You Make My Dreams Come True” by Hall & Oates
- “Beautiful Day” by U2
- “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz
- “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra
- “On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons
- “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors
- “Love Me Like You Do” by Ellie Goulding
- “Oh! You Pretty Things” by David Bowie
- “The Way You Make Me Feel” by Michael Jackson
- “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” by Stevie Wonder
- “Sunshine of My Life” by Stevie Wonder
- “The Long and Winding Road” by The Beatles
- “Marry You” by Bruno Mars
- “Home” by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
- “All I Do is Dream of You” by Michael Bublé
- “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles
- “Happy Together” by The Turtles
- “I Got You Babe” by Sonny and Cher
- “Your Love” by The Outfield
- “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys
- “You & Me” by That band Honey.
Religious Wedding Recessional Songs
Consider ending your wedding ceremony with a sacred wedding recessional song. Here are plenty of appropriate hymns to add to your playlist.
- “Esultate, Jubilate” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- “Joy” by George Winston
- “Now Thank We All Our God” by Johann S. Bach
- “Hallelujah Chorus” by The Choir & Orchestra of Pro Christe
- “Psalm 19” by Benedetto Marcello
- “The Prayer” by Josh Groban and Charlotte Church
- “Multiplied” by NEEDTOBREATHE
- “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, BWV 147” by Andrew Grossman, Anna Moor, and Lana Ross
- “Build Your Kingdom Here” by Rend Collective
- “Something Beautiful” by Newsboy
- “Love Song” by Third Day
- “Thankful for You” by tobyMac
Instrumental Wedding Recessional Songs (Traditional – Classical Ceremony Exit Music)
We have put together some of the most popular classical music selections for the wedding ceremony (the bride and groom exit song) in case you are getting married in a church or simply want a traditional song to walk down the aisle to.
- “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
When you’re a fan of country music (or having a rustic wedding), you’ll find these country songs to use for your wedding ceremony exit.
- “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
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
Catholic Wedding Exit 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
Unique Wedding Recessional Songs (Non Traditional)
These songs are great if you want some wedding recessional music that is less traditional or unique!
- “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
Rock Wedding Party Exit Songs
This is the song list for you if you’re looking for a rock-inspired wedding song to walk out to after the ceremony:
- “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
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
Check out some of the most famous songs you know from your favorite films or television 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)
Tips on getting the best photos of your wedding recessional exit
Follow these tips for walking back down the aisle, if you want your wedding photos to look their best.
- 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 half way down the aisle and give each other a kiss (or a dip). Your friends and family will all be turned around looking at. 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.
If you’re looking for the perfect wedding recessional song, we’ve got your back. We’ve compiled a list of the best wedding recessional songs that will work for any ceremony exit. From classic hits to new songs, we’ve got something for everyone on this list. We hope you enjoyed this list of the best wedding recessional songs for ceremony exit.
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