Songs to Walk Down the Aisle To
Music has been used in weddings around the world for centuries. The most well-known song used for walking down the aisle is Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March”, a mainstay of nuptials since 1842. Since then, the catalog of wedding music has grown to encompass a wide range of musical styles.
In recent decades, on screen weddings have inspired couples to get creative with their choice of music, from “Love Actually”’s acapella rendition of “All You Need is Love” (complete with brass section) to the moving choral music from Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo and Juliet”.
Inspirational moments like these demonstrate how music can perfectly accent your big day, and while there are plenty of articles listing popular songs to walk down the aisle to, this one can help you choose something that is uniquely yours.
The Soundtrack to a Big Moment
Walking down the aisle is a big moment for any soon-to-be-married couple, and choosing the right soundtrack is key. You can pick your music together, or you could even leave it to one spouse to decide so that it can be a surprise on the big day. Whether live or recorded, your choice of music can be something that fits with the overall theme or style of the wedding, or a song with special significance for you both.
Compliment the Theme or Style of the Wedding
Picking a song to match the overall aesthetic of your wedding can help narrow down your options while ensuring it fits the occasion perfectly. Informal style weddings might suit something a little more eclectic – who can forget the steel drum band playing “Here, There and Everywhere” for Phoebe and Mike in “Friends”?.
Traditional or formal weddings tend to make use of classical music, whether using a recording (Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” is a firm favorite) or live musicians. If you can’t decide between the two, contemporary music played by classical musicians offers the best of both worlds (Vitamin String Quartet offer a great source of inspiration).
Choose Something Personal
Perhaps it was the song you first kissed to, or maybe it’s the soundtrack to your favorite movie. Almost every couple has “their” song, and if you’re not sure what yours is yet, choosing music for your wedding gives you the perfect opportunity to find it.
Popular songs include Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World”, Etta James’ “At Last” and Israel Kamakawiwo’Ole’s version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”, but if there’s something that feels uniquely “yours”, why not use it or even ask someone to cover it for you?
Key Considerations
It’s also important to think about how it will work in terms of things like pace and lyrical content. Spend some time putting together a playlist of favorites and practice walking down the aisle to see if they work.
As with any major production, sound checking is essential, so make sure any equipment such as speakers are fully functional. On the day, savor the moment with a song that can be a souvenir of your special day.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
