25 Jan Songs to Walk Down the Aisle To: Choosing the Perfect Wedding Song

Your aisle wedding song ceremony is one of the most critical moments of your life. As you make your grand entrance and walk down the aisle to meet your future spouse, you’ll want a song that fits the occasion perfectly. The processional song sets the tone for the wedding and represents your love story. Choosing the proper wedding processional song can be a daunting task. With so many options, how do you select meaningful lyrics and melodies that complement your style as a couple? This comprehensive guide will walk you through songs to walk down the aisle to make your aisle trek unforgettable.

Factors to Consider When Selecting Your Wedding Processional Song

Here are some key factors to keep in mind as you search for the perfect wedding processional song:

Musical Style

Consider your overall wedding aesthetic when choosing a processional song. Formal black-tie weddings warrant classical or instrumental songs. For a relaxed beach wedding, popular acoustic tunes could work well. Ensure the song’s musical style fits the formality and location of your ceremony.

Lyrics

Lyrics matter when selecting a processional song. Look for poetic words about lasting love that speak to your relationship. If you prefer no words, opt for a beautiful instrumental piece. Ensure the lyrics align with your values as a couple.

Tempo

The tempo of your processional song dictates how slowly or quickly you’ll walk down the aisle. Slower songs allow a graceful, elegant entrance. Upbeat songs exude joy and excitement. Match the tempo to the mood you want to convey.

Length

The length of your processional song depends on the wedding venue size and number of bridal party members. For a large bridal party walking a long aisle, choose a 4-5 minute song. A 2-3 minute song should suffice for a shorter aisle and fewer bridesmaids. Time the song to your processional.

Personal Meaning

Ideally, your processional song reflects your love story. Select a meaningful tune from your relationship timeline, like a song during your first dance or road trip soundtrack. This adds a personal touch. Or, choose a song with a message that resonates with your journey as a couple.

Religious Factors

If you have a religious ceremony, ensure your processional song aligns with your faith’s guidelines. Some churches prohibit secular tunes—research denomination specifications before you choose.

Considering these factors will help you narrow down the pool and find a processional song that perfectly complements your wedding in every way.

Timeless & Traditional Wedding Processional Songs

For time-honored wedding classics, you can’t go wrong with these traditional processional songs:

“Bridal Chorus” by Wagner

More commonly known as “Here Comes the Bride,” this iconic 1850 Wagner composition remains the most traditional processional song for brides. The familiar refrain evokes wedding joy.

“Canon in D” by Pachelbel

Pachelbel’s elegant 17th-century classical piece provides a universally romantic backdrop as you walk down the aisle.

“Trumpet Voluntary” by Clarke

With its regal trumpet opening, this stately 18th-century composition lends a royal air to any bride’s procession.

“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by Bach

This Baroque-era hymn conveys a beautiful sense of grace and awe with its reverent lyrics and gentle melody.

“Ave Maria” by Schubert

Dramatic and devout, Schubert’s 1825 “Ave Maria” infuses any religious wedding with reverence and grace.

Modern Pop & Rock Wedding Processional Songs

For a contemporary vibe, today’s chart-topping hits make excellent modern processional songs:

“Marry Me” by Train

Train’s sentimental folk-pop melody and promise-filled lyrics capture the heartfelt hope of marriage.

“I Get To Love You” by Ruelle

Ruelle’s passionate power ballad celebrates the joy of cherishing one particular person forever.

“A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri

Perri’s sweeping vocals turn this poetic ode to an endless love into the perfect romantic processional.

“At Last” by Etta James

Etta James’ 1960 classic combines old-school romance with contemporary pop-soul in a gorgeous love song.

“Your Song” by Elton John

Elton John’s 1970 folk-rock ballad overflowing with affection makes for a sweet serenade down the aisle.

Unique Processional Song Ideas

Think outside the box with these one-of-a-kind processional picks:

Movie & TV Show Theme Songs

Songs from beloved movies and shows you enjoy together work wonderfully. Try the triumphant Star Wars theme, the Harry Potter “Hedwig’s Theme,” or the uplifting show tune “Married” from Married With Children.

Disney Songs

Several romantic Disney ballads like “Beauty and the Beast” and “A Whole New World” from Aladdin make perfect processionals for Disney-loving couples.

Classical Music

Beyond traditional wedding classics, other uplifting classical compositions by composers like Mozart, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn make beautiful alternatives.

Instrumentals

Any relaxing piano, violin, guitar, or orchestra instrumental piece can provide a mellow backdrop without distracting lyrics.

Cultural Music

Incorporate your cultural heritage with memorable songs like a customary Irish blessing or traditional Hindu, Chinese, or Hawaiian melodies.

Sentimental Processional wedding song Ideas

Sentiment goes a long way on your wedding day. Here are some ideas for processional songs with personal significance:

Memorable Songs from Your Relationship

Choosing a romantic song like “Your Song” shared during your dating years makes the moment even more meaningful.

Significant Lyrics

Find a song with lyrics that tell your love story. Lines like “I knew I loved you before I met you” (Savage Garden’s “I Knew I Loved You”) sum up your bond.

Family Traditions

Walking down to a beloved song passed down in your family or your parent’s wedding song connects you to generations past.

Inside Jokes

A silly song with an inside joke significance between you and you adds a playful personal touch.

Sentimental Gift Songs

Songs given as gifts celebrating special moments like anniversaries make perfect professionals.

Relaxing Instrumental Processional wedding song

Sometimes, simple is best. Here are some gorgeous wordless options to consider:

“Canon in D” – Johann Pachelbel

The string-filled opening notes evoke warmth. Gentle and heartfelt, this classical piece provides a beautiful acoustic backdrop as you walk toward your betrothed.

“River Flows In You” – Yiruma

This modern piano solo feels both peaceful and hopeful. Yiruma’s melodies are the musical embodiment of calm joy.

“Nuvole Bianche” – Ludovico Einaudi

Einaudi’s neoclassical piano composition carries you down the aisle on waves of delicate, peaceful music that crescendos into stirring emotion.

“Clair de Lune” – Claude Debussy

Debussy’s soothing piano masterpiece fills any space with moonlight’s luminous, uplifting energy.

Violin Covers

Pretty much any song sounds gorgeous when covered by a violin. Try The Piano Guys’ stirring violin renditions of popular tunes.

Uplifting Uptempo Processional Ideas wedding song

Set an energetic mood from the start with quicker-paced processional picks:

“Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” – Stevie Wonder

What better way to seal your marriage than with Stevie Wonder’s funky serenade? This joyful 1970 hit highlights your excitement.

“You Make My Dreams Come True” – Daryl Hall John Oates

Hall & Oates’ feel-good 1981 pop hit will make you smile and dance down the aisle with its upbeat tempo and cheery lyrics.

“Ho Hey” – The Lumineers

A modern folk-rock favorite, The Lumineers’ catchy love song and foot-tapping rhythm screams wedding celebration.

“This Will Be” – Natalie Cole

Natalie Cole’s soaring 1975 ballad turns your wedding day into an anthem, boldly declaring your everlasting bond.

“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” – The Proclaimers

This quirky Scottish singalong for fun-loving couples sets an upbeat, smile-filled mood.

Modern & Meaningful Processional wedding song

Contemporary songs with meaningful messages might be the perfect fit. Here are some modern ballads about love to walk down the aisle:

“Lucky” – Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat

Mraz and Caillat’s breezy duet reminds us how lucky we are to find true love with uplifting lyrics like “I’m lucky I’m in love with my best friend.”

“I Get To Love You” – Ruelle

Ruelle’s soaring vocals turn this earnest love ballad into an emotional serenade, with lines like “I get to love you/It’s the best thing I’ll ever do,” capturing your joy.

“Speechless” – Dan & Shay

Country duo Dan & Shay penned this sentimental song for their weddings, making it a natural choice. Heartfelt lyrics express being “speechless” in love.

“Yours” – Russell Dickerson

Dickerson’s tender 2017 country/pop crossover hit promises, “Now I’m yours, and you’re mine,” in wedding-perfect lyrics.

“Overjoyed” – Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder’s buoyant 1985 Motown love song radiates pure bliss, with lyrics like “I’m so glad I found you” speaking to any couple so in love.

“The Luckiest” – Ben Folds

Folds wrote this poetic ballad as a wedding gift with verses like “I don’t get many things right the first time/In fact, I am told that a lot/Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls/Brought me here” encapsulating a marriage journey.

“Everything” – Michael Bublé

Crooner Bublé’s spellbinding love song insists your partner gives you “every little thing that I need” in a romantic fashion.

Uplifting Christian Processional Hymns & wedding Song

Christian brides and grooms can honor their faith with these sacred processional selections:

“Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee”

This blissful Beethoven-inspired hymn is a wedding classic that praises divine union and marital joy.

“How Beautiful” by Twila Paris

This contemporary Christian ballad awes at new love with the chorus, “How beautiful the hands that served/How beautiful the feet that walked.”

“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”

Walking down the aisle to this traditional hymn reminds us of God’s steadfastness, which makes a meaningful statement of faith.

“Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong

Hillsong’s sweeping worship ballad about trusting God complements matrimony well in lyrics like “Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders.”

“Lord I Need You” by Matt Maher

This solemn serenade recognizing our need for God adds gravitas with a chorus imploring, “Lord, I need You, oh, I need You.”

“Better Is One Day” by Matt Redman

Redman’s reverent praise song awes at spending “one day” with the Lord, paralleling one’s wedding day.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When does the processional song start?

The processional song begins after all guests have been seated, and the officiant and groom enter and take their places at the altar. The bride and groom’s parents will process in first, followed by the rest of the wedding party, and finally, the bride’s processional music starts as she walks down the aisle.

2. How do you coordinate the processional song tempo with the walking pace?

Make sure to practice walking to the song ahead of time. The tempo dictates how slow or fast you walk. For traditional marches and ballads, take measured steps of about one per second. Upbeat songs allow you to walk more quickly at 1.5 beats per second.

3. What songs work for a double processional with the bride and groom?

Some couples choose to walk down the aisle together in a double processional. Good songs for this include upbeat choices like “You Are The Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne or “Lucky” by Jason Mraz, which have a joyful feel.

4. Can you use the same song for the processional and recessional?

It’s best to choose a different song for the recessional at the end of the ceremony when you walk back down the aisle together. This bookends the ceremony nicely. But some couples use the same song twice if it has a special meaning.

5. How do you make your processional song unique?

For a genuinely distinctive processional, use a custom live performance by a singer-songwriter duo, string quartet, guitarist, bagpiper, harpist, or other musician to perform a particular song. This adds personal flair.

Conclusion

Your wedding processional songs to walk down the aisle deserve plenty of thought and consideration. The proper musical selection is the soundtrack to one of the most pivotal moments in your love story. Sift through tunes that reflect your style as a couple and include personal touches. Infuse the joy of the holiday season into your celebration with cheerful Christmas songs for kids as your aisle walk music; the possibilities are endless, ranging from time-honored classics to modern pop hits, sentimental tributes, and cultural anthems. Trust your intuition, involve your fiancé, and choose a processional song that wholly encapsulates your one-of-a-kind love. As you take those first steps toward your future spouse, let your processional melody fill you with joy, inspiration, and the promise of a beautiful marriage.