What songs will a wedding band perform?

Professional wedding bands usually have extensive song lists - they're experienced musicians and will cater the songs they play to fit the mood of the wedding reception party and whatever your playlist requirements were. A wedding band's first priority is hitting the right tunes at the right time, getting your guests dancing, and making sure the evening is unforgettable. Unlike a pre-organised Spotify playlist, wedding bands will 'read the room', providing the right musical atmosphere to suit the moment. Make sure you tell the band the song you'd like them to play for the first dance well in advance - they might already know it, but best not to risk it!

When should I get the band to perform?

After the wedding dinner is usually your best bet. The band will normally set-up during dinner, and be ready to start the party when you are. If you're after something low-key, getting the band to play background music is not unheard of, just simply let them know beforehand.

Will the wedding band provide all their own equipment?

Wedding bands will come well-prepared with all their own equipment: lights, PA system, music gear, and sometimes even a sound assistant! To give them a break between their sets, they will also often provide a DJ service, which will keep the guests happy and the dancefloor moving and grooving.

Best Wedding Recessional Songs to Exit The Ceremony in 2023

As important as wedding processional songs are for marking that moment the bride and groom first lay eyes on one another in all their finery, your recessional song will be the soundtrack to you taking your first steps as a newlywed couple. Whether you’re looking for pop songs, rock songs, love songs or party songs, it’s important that you find a recessional song that really means something to you both.

Make sure to use our list of wedding songs to find the perfect music to take your new husband or wife by the hand to, as you head back up the aisle to your beautiful new future together.

Modern Recessional Songs

We all love a good dance song at weddings – so why wait until your wedding reception to get your guests bopping in their seats? These chart-toppers all feature either hooky-as-heck choruses, irresistible beats or a winning combination of the two – the perfect way to get your wedding party started in style whilst showing everyone you’re crazy in love:

Run – Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version)
Smiling All The Way Back Home – Tom Odell
Quietly Yours – Birdy
Nervous – John Legend
Adore You – Harry Styles
Best Day Of My Life – American Authors
Sky Full Of Stars – Coldplay
Grow Old With Me – Tom Odell
Happy – Pharrell Williams
Came Here For Love – Sigala, Ella Eyre
Firework – Katy Perry
Perfect – Ed Sheeran
Treasure – Bruno Mars
Love Story – Taylor Swift

Classical Recessional Songs

If you’re planning a traditional white wedding, it stands to reason that you’d want to walk back down the aisle to a classical recessional song or piece of music which has stood the test of time – as we’re sure you as a couple will too! Here are some of our favourite choices for classical recessional songs which will give your ceremony a real sense of occasion:

Ode To Joy – Beethoven
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Posthorn-Serenade – Mozart
Hallelujah Chorus – George F. Handel
Spring – Vivaldi
Exultate Jubilate – Mozart
Waltz Of The Flowers (Nutcracker) – Tchaikovsky
Andante From Divertimento No.1 – Mozart
Gigue From Suite 3. In D Major – J.S. Bach
La Rejouissance – Handel
Toccata In D Minor – Widor

Indie

Are you a cool and edgy bride and groom who want to make sure every wedding song choice passes the hipness test? Look no further than our best ceremony exit songs from the indie genre – show your love for one another whilst retaining your street cred:

Dog Days Are Over – Florence & The Machine
One Day Like This – Elbow
Paradise – George Ezra
True Love Way – Kings Of Leon
Rooting For You – London Grammar
Electric Feel – MGMT
Still Together – Mac DeMarco
Don’t Delete The Kisses – Wolf Alice
Cornerstone – Arctic Monkeys
Walking On A Dream – Empire Of The Sun

Rock

Looking for some music with a little more impact to shake everyone up after you’ve exchanged vows with your partner? Scroll through these head-banging rock recessional songs on this wedding playlist for some music to make you strut back up the aisle as your guests prepare to put the ‘party’ in ‘wedding party’:

Running Up That Hill – Kate Bush
Wait For Me – The Amazons
You’re The One – Black Keys
Beautiful Day – U2
Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
Accidentally In Love – Counting Crows
On Top Of The World – Imagine Dragons
I Believe In A Thing Called Love – The Darkness
Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
Heaven – Bryan Adams
The Middle – Jimmy Eat World
Thunderstruck – AC/DC
Forever – Stratovarius

Recessional songs for the one you love 🙂

Acoustic

The gentle tenderness of acoustic wedding music will make you never want to let go of your partner’s hand again! If you have a rustic or DIY style wedding in mind, then the best recessional songs for you would come from a predominantly acoustic genre such as folk – or you could ask your wedding DJ for an acoustic cover version of a popular song, giving it that warm, intimate edge:

Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles (Acoustic Cover)
This Love – Maroon 5
Little Bit Of Love – Tom Grennan
Fly Me To The Moon – Frank Sinatra (Acoustic Cover)
Dancing In The Moonlight – Toploader
Today Was A Fairytale – Taylor Swift
Shotgun – George Ezra
Sweet Creature – Harry Styles
Never Going Back Again – Fleetwood Mac
My Sweet Lord – George Harrison

Country & Western

Some of the greatest love songs of all time come from the Country & Western genre, which makes each song on this playlist a prime candidate for a wedding recessional song. No one in attendance at your ceremony will be able to resist the toe-tapping rhythms – your first steps as newlyweds will have an undeniable spring in them:

The Rest Of Our Life – Faith Hill & Tim McGraw
Unforgettable – Thomas Rhett
Millionaire – Chris Stapleton
Good As You – Kane Brown
The Bones – Maren Morris
You Look So Good In Love – George Strait
How Many Love Songs – The Shires
For Ever & Ever, Amen – Randy Travis
Cowboy Take Me Away – Dixie Chicks
Simple – Florida Georgia Line

Romantic Wedding Songs

Let’s face it – there are few things in this life more romantic than a love song, and there are few occasions more romantic than your wedding day, so this is a match made in heaven for you newlyweds! The lovelorn lyrics and soaring choruses on this list of wedding songs will help set that cosy, candlelit tone you’ve been searching for to make your dreams of a romantic stroll up the aisle come true:

Save The Last Dance For Me – Michael Buble
I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher
My Baby Just Cares For Me – Nina Simone
Greatest Day – Take That
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye
Love Is All Around – Wet Wet Wet
Woman – John Lennon
Maybe I’m Amazed – Paul McCartney
Conversations In The Dark – John Legend
Endless Love – Lionel Richie & Diana Ross

Wedding exit songs to give everyone a good time

Nothing says ‘I do’ quite like a unique wedding recessional song – it’s almost like a private joke between you and your love, only this time your friends and family are being allowed in on it! Give your wedding guests a glimpse into your world after you tie the knot with one of these surprising yet sweet wedding songs from our selection:

The Universal – Blur
Cause I’m A Man – Tame Impala
I Still Believe In You – Flyte
Outro – M83
Elephant Gun – Beirut
Soulful Strut – Young-Holt Unlimited
Starlings – Elbow
Still D.R.E. – Dr. Dre, Snoog Dog
Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You) – Bombay Bicycle Club
Carry You – The Teskey Brothers

T.V. & Film

If you’re a couple whose love story is something straight out of the Notebook or Love Actually, you’ll want a ceremony exit song that’ll make your walk up the aisle suitably cinematic. While the end credits may be rolling over your single lives, a wedding recessional song from our T.V. and film song list will show your friends and family that your story as a bride and groom is only just beginning:

Hakuna Matata – Lion King
We Go Together – John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (Greece)
Jurassic Park Theme – John Williams
Married Life – Michael Giacchino (UP!)
Mr Blue Sky – ELO (Guardians Of The Galaxy)
Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey (The Wedding Singer)
A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes – Cinderella
Anyone Else But You – The Moldy Peaches (Juno)
City Of Stars – Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone (La La Land)
The Bear Necessities – The Jungle Book

Golden Oldies

Everybody attending your ceremony will recognise these timeless wedding recessional songs, so you’re bound to get a good response from your guests. Starting a new chapter at any stage in your life is bound to make you feel nostalgic – and these wedding songs from days gone by will capture that feeling perfectly as you walk back up the aisle:

All My Loving – The Beatles
Come Fly With Me – Frank Sinatra
Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) – Stevie Wonder
This Will Be (An Ever Lasting Love) – Natalie Cole
Higher & Higher – Jackie Wilson
Lovely Day – Bill Withers
Happy Together – The Turtles
You & Me – The Wannadies
Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
Walking On Sunshine – Katrina & The Waves

Funny Wedding Songs

Who says the best wedding recessional songs have to be serious? The only thing that matters is that everyone you’ve invited to your wedding has a seriously good time! Give your guests the gift of laughter after the emotional high point of saying ‘I do’ and show off your fun side as a couple with these funny wedding songs:

Love On Top – Beyonce
We Are Family – Sister Sledge
Bye, Bye, Bye – NSYNC
I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do – ABBA
Oh Happy Days – Edwin Hawkins Singers
Yellow Submarine – The Beatles
Someone You Loved – Lewis Capaldi
You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
Escape (The Piña Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes
Get Lucky – Daft Punk

We hope these playlists of the best wedding recessional songs help give you some ideas for your wedding ceremony and get your guests in the mood for the fun that awaits them at your reception.

If you’re looking for more wedding song ideas, check out our list of first dance songs and father and daughter songs on our blog.

Don’t forget to check out our amazing Dance and Cover Bands here for your upcoming special day!

Best Wedding Recessional Songs to Exit The Ceremony 2023