You’ve spent months planning your wedding. And every last detail you’ve chosen goes towards creating the wedding vision you’ve dreamed of – from your dress, to your colors, to your wedding day decor.
But, maybe you’re stuck on choosing your wedding ceremony music. You want to make sure the music fits with the vibe you’ve created so far. And you know that if you choose the wrong music, it can cause some discord with the dream wedding you’ve imagined.
We’ve rounded up our favorite 15 songs for modern wedding ceremony music to include in your wedding day playlist! Whether your wedding day vision is rustic, non-traditional, quirky, or old school, we’ve got something for you here in this list.
And the best news? All of these songs sound incredible when played by a string quartet!
Wedding ceremony music ideas: Our favorite 15 songs for modern wedding ceremony music
- Yellow by Coldplay
Why we love it: If your wedding mood is unique, non-traditional, or even unconventional, this song is the perfect fit for your wedding ceremony playlist.
- Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran
Why we love it: While we won’t call him the king of modern romantic music (more on that in a minute), Ed Sheeran definitely has his place in weddings today. This song is a beautiful choice!
- XO by John Mayer
Why we love it: If you’re wanting some subtlety in your wedding ceremony music, this song is a great choice. With its sweet lyrics and soft, subtle pacing, this song will flow seamlessly into your wedding ceremony music playlist.
- All of Me by John Legend
Why we love it: We’re dubbing him the king of modern romantic music, and this song absolutely explains why. A great choice for a modern wedding mood no matter what venue you’re at!
- She’s Got a Way by Billy Joel
Why we love it: If you love classic rock and want to include that into your wedding ceremony, think about adding Billy Joel into your playlist. Your audience will recognize the sweet lyrics from this classic rock legend (not to mention the song had a quick cameo in The Office — Roy’s wedding, anyone?).
- Ho Hey by The Lumineers
Why we love it: If your wedding edges on the bohemian side, this is a great choice for your ceremony prelude music. Plus, who can resist the lyrics “I belong with you / you belong with me / you’re my sweetheart.”
- Crazy in Love by Beyonce
Why we love it: If your wedding mood is modern with a touch (or, you know, a lot) of drama, then Queen Bey is the obvious choice for you!
- Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton
Why we love it: If you’re going for a country or rustic mood for your wedding, this song is a perfect choice. An excellent song to use in a wedding prelude for a spring or summer outdoor wedding!
- A Thousand Years by Christina Perri
Why we love it: Made popular from the Twilight movies, this song has been a great choice for wedding ceremony music since then. It has the perfect lyrics for a romantic wedding mood and a great pace that will fit seamlessly into a wedding prelude playlist.
- Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding
Why we love it: Another song with perfectly romantic lyrics, this song has been popular in recent years since it came out.
- Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley
Why we love it: A quintessential modern wedding song (even if it’s now a little older) from the King himself. If you’re going for an old school vibe for your wedding ceremony, then this song will be absolutely perfect.
- Marry Me by Train
Why we love it: With lyrics like “forever can never be long enough for me / to feel like I’ve had long enough of you,” this song exudes pure love. If you’re wanting to showcase how deep your love for one another is, be sure to put this song in your wedding ceremony playlist.
- I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons
Why we love it: Perfect for you if you describe your wedding vibe as indie, bohemian, or even quirky. This song might not be the first one people’s list when they think of beautiful wedding songs, and it sounds absolutely gorgeous when played by a string quartet.
- When You Say Nothing At All by Keith Whitley
Why we love it: Another great song if you’re planning on a rustic wedding, since people typically think of Alison Krauss and Union Station’s version of it.
- Your Song by Elton John
Why we love it: We’d say this is an “old school” song, and technically it is, but it also flows so seamlessly with any wedding style and vibe. It’s a beautiful song, and with sweet lyrics like, “I hope you don’t mind / that I put down in the words / how wonderful life is while you’re in the world,” it’s a hard one to pass up for your wedding ceremony music.
Your wedding ceremony music can be a major component of your wedding to help tie your vision together. With everything else in place, the right wedding ceremony playlist will set the mood and tone of your big day for your guests.
Plan out your wedding music ideas in advance, and be sure to chat with your string quartet about what they suggest and what they can play. Most modern wedding ceremony music can be played by string quartets, but it’s always great to ask, just in case!
And if you’re looking for more classic, timeless wedding music ideas for your ceremony, be sure to check out our other blog post here!
Don’t have your string quartet booked yet? We can help you with that!