Top 10 Recessional Elope Songs

What song should play after you are pronounced married?

Imagine…you were just pronounced married at the end of your ceremony and it’s time to celebrate. What song do you imagine playing in the background? Better yet…what feeling do you want to be surrounded by in that moment? Is it joyous and celebratory? Romantic and moving? Epic and iconic? Fun and a little tongue-in-cheek?

Image by: Rochelle Bergstrom

Just like choosing a processional song, the choice is really personal to the couple. Start with the feeling you hope to create in that moment and then brainstorm songs that make you and your co-eloper feel that way. I always suggest couples think about songs that are upbeat and make them happy. What is the song that you both can’t help but sing along with? Or dance to?

The most important thing to remember is that this is your elopement. Try to keep the whole wedding process as low stress and fun as possible. The truth is no song will be completely perfect until you pick it, then that song IS the perfect song. If you still need help thinking of a great song to get married to, below are my top 10 picks for recessional songs used by real elopers at Elope 253.

Top 10 Recessional Elope Songs:

• Marry You by Bruno Mars

  If I could pick a theme song for Elope 253, this would be it. If a couple asks me to pick for them, this is my go-to song for ending the ceremony. It’s fun, upbeat and says “Well I know this little chapel on the boulevard we can go”.

• Stand by Me by Ben E. King

  From 1961 and still so good. I love the emotions and throb of the percussion. This will never go out of style.

• Act My Age by One Direction

  Okay, hear me out on this one. Or at least listen to the song to get a feel for it’s great celebratory vibe. The couple that choose this song had just a handful of guest but they all jumped up and started dancing in the pews. It is still one of my favorite moments!

• A Good Night by John Legend & Blood Pop

  I dare you to not dance to this one. It’s so good. The beat and the lyrics: “But everything's gonna be alright. I think I just met my wife.” (FYI: There is an F-bomb in the first line which doesn’t bother if it doesn’t bother you. There is a clean version also if children are present.)

• This Must Be the Place by Talking Heads

  This song has a vibe that was just perfect for the couple that picked it. It’s less about the words and more about the feeling you and your guests get from the song.

• You Make My Dreams by Daryl Hall & John Oates

  Okay, how fun is this!? The two couples that chose this song were very fun and joyful. I can’t imagine not feeling joyful with this song.

• Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen

  I like to think this song just matches our little wedding venue so well. Upbeat and a little quirky.

• Let’s Stay Together by Al Green

  For a couple that likes to groove and have a more romantic tone. It also has some sensuality to it, am I right?

• I’m A Believer by Smash Mouth

  Again, we are looking for that feeling you get and this song is so happy and exuberant.

• Despacito by Justin Beiber ft. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee

  The first time I heard this song was when the couple requested it and I was like… Yep, this makes sense. The co-elopers that choose this song were a super hot couple so it just seemed to fit very well.

Honorable Mentions:

• Favorite song for a Friday elopement: Friday I’m in Love by The Cure

• Favorite song for April Fools Day elopement: Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley

• Favorite song for May 4th: The Throne Room by John Williams

• Favorite song no one has picked yet: I Believe in a Thing Called Love by The Darkness

Top 10 Processional Elope Songs

Picking the Perfect Entrance Song for your Wedding

Image by: Melanie Faun

The song you choose to walk down the aisle to can set the tone for your ceremony and the feeling you want for your elopement. There are many traditional songs you can pick but my favorite thing about eloping is that you can break all the rules and make your own traditions. This goes for the music too.

When it comes to the perfect processional song, the choice is really personal. Maybe it’s a song that makes you and your co-eloper cry or reminds you of a specific moment in your relationship. Maybe it’s a song that makes you laugh or is an inside joke between the two of you. Perhaps it’s a song that makes you feel empowered, sexy or just feels magical. What makes you feel all the feels? Cause that’s probably the one you should go with. Remember… don’t worry about what others think. It’s your wedding and these songs are about the two of you.

Okay, all that being said, please don’t freak out if you can’t think of a song. Eloping is also about having a low stress wedding and not sweating the small stuff. So if you need help deciding, here is a list of some of my favorites that were used by real couples at Elope 253 (in no particular order).

Top 10 Processional Elope Songs:

• Into the Mystic by Van Morrison

  This song has such a laid back, pretty vibe. It’s just a damn good song. Fun Fact: We had two brides who were getting married the same day pick this song as their processional song. They didn’t know each other and had no idea that the other chose that song. If that is not mystic… I’m not sure what is.

• Fool in the Rain by Led Zeppelin

  Admittedly, I am not the biggest Led Zeppelin fan BUT when I recently saw a bride sashay down the aisle to this song with a little sway in her hips and a twinkle in her eye, I thought to myself “Wowza! Everyone should walk down the aisle to this song!”

• By Your Side by Sade

  Ok, if you are looking for a little sass, romance and sensuality, this song has all of it.

• Can’t Help Falling in Love by Kina Grannis

  So we’ve all seen the movie, Crazy Rich Asians, and seen the wedding scene, right? Well, we can’t all afford a $40 million wedding but we can use the same song. Fun Fact: My co-eloper and I walked down the aisle to this song (Elvis version) at our elopement in Vegas.

• Rainbow Connection by The O’Neil Brothers Group

  This instrumental version of this song is lovely but then again, I’ve never heard a version of this song that I didn’t LOVE.

• Marry You by Midnite String Quartet (In the style of Bruno Mars)

  When a couple says they don’t want the stress of choosing a song and just want me to pick something, this is my go-to song. I have always felt that Bruno Mars’ Marry You was a perfect song for eloping and this instrumental version fits so well with walking down the aisle.

• Halo by Beyoncé

  Um, it’s Beyoncé… do I need to say anything else? Seriously though, her voice is silky and strong and passionate. It’s a fantastic song for a bride to walk independently to.

• Perfect by Ed Sheeran

  This song is by far the most popular at Elope 253. It’s relatable, modern and simply chalk full of so much emotion. If you want to set a romantic tone, this might be your to-go song.

• Uptown Girl by Vitamin String Quartet (in the style of Billy Joel)

  I am a big fan of finding string quartet versions of fun songs that you wouldn’t normally choose for a wedding song. This song is so good in its original form but when it is performed by this string quartet it sounds very wedding-y but a super fun and personal touch.

• Coming Home by Leon Bridges

  Reminiscent of another time (think Otis Redding or Sam Cook), this song is modern, soulful and upbeat. It has a chill vibe and R&B throb to it. Plus Leon Bridges’ voice is AH-MAZ-ING!

Bottom line to picking your processional song is to have fun and don’t worry about what anyone else thinks. There is no “perfect” song until you pick one… then that song will be perfect for you.

Walking in together - Image by Melanie Faun

Walk in independently - Image by Melanie Faun

Walk in with a loved one - Image by Jaquilyn Shumate