Not only does our Chicago wedding band live for getting all of your guests out there on the dance floor, but we also can’t wait to meet with you to discuss your ceremony music! After choosing a song for walking down the aisle, the next most important tune to think about is the one for walking out after your ceremony has finished. It’s called the recessional, and this is the song that will kick off your first moments of being married, along with the first moments of your reception.
The party! This is the song that will catapult everyone into the party! YES!
Maybe you’ve known all along which song you want to exit to, or maybe you’re looking for ideas. If ideas are your thing, we’ve got one for you today:
Pull out all the stops with an instrumental version of this and your guests will swoon. It’s classic, and it’s fun. Even better, you’ll have a spring in your step and a smile on your face.
And when everyone knows the lyrics? SCORE!
Have a listen, see if this one is a good fit for you.
We’re going to keep things short today, in honor of St. Patrick 🍀
If you’re looking for music for walking down the aisle, check out this version of Crazy Love for string quartet, performed live by Artistrings, a modern string quartet in Chicago that specializes in pop and rock music. The Artistrings quartet paired with one of our Chicago wedding bands is an entertainment lineup that will not miss! This is our favorite Van Morrison string cover, with a string quartet arrangement and sheet music written by our talented violist, Benton Wedge.
For fans of Van Morrison (and really, who isn’t?), this is an absolutely beautiful song for walking down the aisle. Not too slow, and not too fast. Goldilocks would be the first to say that it’s just right 🙂 Your guests will be thinking the lyrics as you float down the aisle. What could be sweeter?
I can hear her heart beat for a thousand miles And the heavens open every time she smiles And when I come to her that’s where I belong Yet I’m running to her like a river’s song
She give me love, love, love, love, crazy love She give me love, love, love, love, crazy love
She’s got a fine sense of humor when I’m feeling low down And when I come to her when the sun goes down Take away my trouble, take away my grief Take away my heartache, in the night like a thief
She give me love, love, love, love, crazy love She give me love, love, love, love, crazy love
Yes I need her in the daytime Yes I need her in the night Yes I want to throw my arms around her Kiss her hug her kiss her hug her tight
And when I’m returning from so far away She gives me some sweet lovin’ brighten up my day Yes it makes me righteous, yes it makes me feel whole Yes it makes me mellow down in to my soul
For ceremony music inspiration, take a spin through our wedding ceremony ideas and get access to 25 already done for you templates to mix & match ideas. We’ll be back soon with more ideas. Happy planning!
If you’re looking for a modern song for walking down the aisle that’s also grand and regal, have we got an idea for you!
The Prime Minister’s Love Theme from Love Actually bridges the gap between traditional classical music and driving pop. It’s elegant, regal, grand, and classy. It’s also from one of our very favorite movies, so win-win!
All you need to do is imagine this huge sound filling the room, from floor to walls and ceiling, welcoming you as you walk down that beautiful aisle. If you’re looking for a modern song for walking down the aisle that will make you feel like royalty, stop and give this one a good listen.
Speaking about Love Actually, one of our favorite things to do is to tie a ceremony together with a musical theme. Think about taking all of your ceremony music from the score of Love Actually, it works! When you combine the Glasgow Love Theme, Portuguese Love Theme, PM Love Theme, and All You Need Is Love, you’ve got a cohesive ceremony plan that will win the hearts of everyone in the room.
Here are some more modern ceremony music theme ideas: All Beatles All Coldplay All Bruno Mars All Beyonce Yacht Rock!
Isn’t your creativity just flowing now?! The possibilities are simply endless and so very exciting. This is your chance to create something that will last forever.
If you’re looking for inspiration, take a spin through our wedding ceremony ideas and get access to 25 already done for you templates to mix & match ideas. We’ll be back soon with more ideas. Happy planning!
It seems that one of the most common concerns we hear from brides & grooms about their wedding ceremony music is that they don’t know where to start! So, let’s lay some basic groundwork.
We’re all unique individuals, so the first thing to think about is the mood you want supporting you as you walk down the aisle. What suits your style? If you’re getting married in a traditional church and having a religious ceremony, classical music might fit the bill. And, it might be the only kind of music that’s allowed, so be sure to check with the music director at your church!
If you’re getting married anywhere else, you’ve got ALL the options. Would you feel best walking to something that feels regal, like an entrance fit for a queen? In that case, you’ll likely want to look at classical music. Start listening to things and see how it feels. How does this feel to you?
The opposite end of the spectrum is if you’d prefer something that’s more relaxed and pretty. This one is very traditional, and is chosen often for good reason! Goosebumps, right?
If you’re thinking that those were all nice, but not for you, consider some pop music. Whether you have live musicians or a DJ, instrumental music is easier to time for walking down the aisle, because you don’t need to worry about cutting lyrics off in the middle of a thought. So, we’re going to give you all instrumental examples here. This one fits the bill for relaxing pop music with a message that’s perfect for a wedding day:
If you want something a little more lively (but not too much!) check this out:
And, if country music is more your thing, here’s one:
Finally, how about making your big entrance to a rock tune?
So, from these 7 examples, go with your gut and tell us which direction feels best to you. From there, you’ll know which door to open and do a deeper dive into finding the right song, just for you.
If you’re looking for inspiration and want to ditch the guesswork and save time, take a spin through our wedding ceremony ideas and get access to 25 already done for you templates to mix & match ideas. From classical to pop, rock, country, and film music, we’ve got you covered!
The Imperial March from Star Wars string quartet, performed live by Artistrings, a modern string quartet in Chicago that specializes in pop and rock music. This is one of our favorite Star Wars string covers for our Chicago wedding band musicians, with a string quartet arrangement written by our talented violist, Benton Wedge! If you’re a fan of Star Wars and you want to make a statement walking down the aisle, consider this. We actually wrote this one for a little ring bearer who walked down the aisle in his Darth Vader mask and cape and could not have been more excited about his contribution to the big day. Love it!
Katherine Hughes, violin Carol Kalvonjian, violin Benton Wedge, viola & arranging Matthew Agnew, cello
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