Best wedding ceremony songs

People ask me about ceremony songs more than almost anything else, more than seating charts, more than what happens if it rains. And I get it. The ceremony is the part everyone remembers most clearly afterwards: the look on your partner's face as you walk in, the quiet stretch while you're signing the register, that first proper laugh of the day. Music does a lot of quiet, unglamorous work in all of that, which is probably why choosing the right song can feel like a strangely big decision for something that lasts about ninety seconds.

I've played live music at over 300 weddings across NSW now, from ceremonies in the Southern Highlands to vineyard weddings in the Hunter Valley, and I've picked up a pretty good sense of what actually works. Not because there's a secret formula (there isn't one), but because I've watched hundreds of couples make this call and I know what tends to land. So here's my honest list: the ceremony songs I keep coming back to, grouped by the moment they actually suit, plus what I'd tell you if you were sitting across from me with no idea where to start.

The quick list

If you just want the names, here's the full list I keep coming back to for ceremonies. Keep scrolling for which moment each one suits and why.

You genuinely can't get this wrong

Before the list properly starts, one thing worth saying. Most couples I work with land on a ceremony song because it means something to them personally, not because it's the "correct" wedding song. That's really the only rule that matters. If a song makes you both grin every time it comes on in the car, it'll work walking down the aisle. Everything below is just a starting point if you're stuck, or if you want to hear what tends to work before you commit to something unexpected.

Songs for walking down the aisle

This is the one couples spend the most time on, which makes sense: it's the only moment in the whole day where literally everyone turns around to look at you at once. The songs that work best here tend to build gently rather than demand attention from the first note.

Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley is the one I get asked for more than any other, and there's a reason it's held up for over sixty years: it's simple, unhurried, and it means exactly what it says. I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) gets requested a lot too, but almost always the Sleeping at Last version rather than the original, a slowed-down, string-laden reimagining that suits an aisle walk far better than the upbeat song most people know.

For something warmer and more contemporary, I'm With You by Vance Joy and Better Together by Jack Johnson both do the job without ever feeling like they're trying too hard, and Hold My Girl by George Ezra has become a real favourite over the last couple of years. Follow the Sun by Xavier Rudd is a beautiful, sun-soaked option if you want something a little more laid-back, and if you're after something different, Kiss the Girl by Brent Morgan is a gorgeous, lesser-known pick from an Australian artist that most guests won't have heard before, which is honestly part of the appeal.

Songs for signing the register

This part of the ceremony is quieter and far less watched, which means the song can sit further into the background. I tend to lean towards something a little more atmospheric here: music that fills the pause without pulling focus from the two witnesses signing next to you.

San Luis by Gregory Alan Isakov is one of my favourites for this exact moment: understated, a bit dreamy, and it never overstays its welcome. Yellow works beautifully too, but specifically Kina Grannis' stripped-back acoustic cover rather than the original, it's gentler and sits much better in a live acoustic set.

You Are My Sunshine by Zach Bryan and Joy of My Life by Chris Stapleton both bring a tenderness that suits the moment perfectly, and We Deserve to Dream by Xavier Rudd is a lovely, hopeful choice if you want something with a bit more warmth running through it.

Songs for walking back up the aisle

Once you're married, the mood shifts, and the walk back up the aisle is where you can have a bit more fun with it. This is the moment to go bigger and brighter.

Simply the Best is the obvious pick, and by that I mean the Tina Turner original: it's loud, joyful, and gets every guest grinning the second they hear the opening notes. If that feels like too much for your day, Noah Reid's version is a completely different animal, soft and sincere, and lovely if you'd rather ease out than burst out.

Stand by Me by Ben E. King has a natural walking rhythm that works surprisingly well for this exact moment, and Mango Tree by Angus and Julia Stone is a fun, breezy way to close things out if your ceremony has had a relaxed, easygoing feel throughout.

What if your song isn't on this list?

All of this is a starting point, not a shortlist. If there's a song that means something to the two of you and it's not here, tell me. Depending on your package, I can learn up to three songs specifically for your wedding, and honestly, those personal requests are some of my favourite parts of the job. Your actual story usually makes for a better ceremony than anything I could suggest off a list.

If you want help figuring out what goes where, or a full breakdown of packages and pricing, head to the weddings page, or just get in touch directly. I'm always happy to talk through music before anything's locked in.

Check availability