The ceremony processional is one of the first big moments of your wedding day. It sets the tone as family members, the wedding party, and eventually the couple make their way down the aisle.
This moment can be as formal, romantic, relaxed, or fun as you want it to be.
If you are going for a classic and elegant feel, something like “Ode to Joy” by Beethoven can work beautifully. If you want something more relaxed, you might choose a favorite acoustic song or an instrumental version of something that means something to you.
The processional is also a great place to show some personality. The important thing is choosing music that matches the way you want the ceremony to feel from the very beginning.
Popular Ceremony Processional Songs
Here are some ideas for your wedding processional:
Classic & Instrumental
- Canon in D – Johann Pachelbel
- A Thousand Years (Piano/Cello) – The Piano Guys
- Forrest Gump Theme – Alan Silvestri
- Without You – The Piano Guys
- Theme from Jurassic Park – John Williams
Another option is to look for instrumental versions of songs you already love. Artists like Brooklyn Duo and Vitamin String Quartet have arrangements of contemporary songs that can work beautifully for a ceremony while still giving you something personal and recognizable.
Romantic & Modern
- Marry Me – Train
- A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
- Perfect – Ed Sheeran
- Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
- All of Me – John Legend
- Speechless – Dan + Shay
- From the Ground Up – Dan + Shay
- How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
Acoustic & Indie
- Better Together – Jack Johnson
- First Day of My Life – Bright Eyes
- Flightless Bird, American Mouth – Iron & Wine
- Heartbeats – José González
- The One – Kodaline
- Come Away With Me – Norah Jones
Soulful & Timeless
- At Last – Etta James
- Stand by Me – Ben E. King
- What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
- God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
- Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
- In My Life – The Beatles
Country
- In Case You Didn’t Know – Brett Young
- On My Way to You – Cody Johnson
- Me and You – Kenny Chesney
- Bless the Broken Road – Rascal Flatts
- This Is It – Scotty McCreery
Feel-Good & Upbeat
- This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
- Good Life – OneRepublic
- You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
- I Choose You – Sara Bareilles
- Better Place – Rachel Platten
One Processional Song or Several?
You do not have to use a separate song for every part of the processional.
Some couples use one song for family members and the wedding party, then change songs for their own entrance. Others use several songs for different groups. And sometimes one song works for the entire processional.
If you want everyone to enter to the same song but have a particular part of the music play for your entrance, that can be planned too. I can work with the song so earlier sections repeat as needed, allowing the processional to continue while saving a specific part of the song for your entrance.
The number of songs matters less than making sure the music fits the timing of the people walking down the aisle.
Take a Breath Before You Take the First Step
When it is time for your entrance, you do not have to immediately start walking the second the music begins.
I usually tell couples to take a breath, look around, take in the moment, and then take that first step.
From my perspective as the DJ, I am watching what is happening and timing the music with the entrance. The goal is for the music and the moment to come together naturally without making you feel rushed.
You only get that walk down the aisle once. Take a breath and enjoy it.
Your ceremony processional is more than just walking down the aisle. The music helps set the tone before the ceremony even begins.
Whether you choose something traditional, modern, instrumental, or completely unexpected, choose music that fits the way you want that moment to feel.