Song Recommendations & Copyright Info
Howdy! Below you’ll find a TONNE of song suggestions for your ceremony if you’re looking for some inspo. I’ve broken it up into Processional (Entering of Parties), Interlude (Register Signing) and Recessional (End of Ceremony), and popped them into fun and totally superfluous categories, but really, you can play anything you like, whenever you like. Many people don’t want to bother with music during and after the ceremony and just want an entry song, so it’s completely up to you if you want to opt in for these or not.
If you’d like me to help play the music during the ceremony with my PA system, let me know and we can discuss this in further detail.
To listen to any of the below songs, check out my Spotify playlist here.
Processional Songs for Your Glorious Entry
Oldies but Goodies
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
At Last - Etta James
The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra
Stand by Me - Ben E. King
L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole
I Put a Spell on You - Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
All You Need is Love - The Beatles
I Want to Hold Your Hand - The Beatles
Feeling Good - Nina Simone
I Got You Babe - Sonny & Cher
Can’t Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley
Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Various
Have I Told You Lately - Van Morrison
I’m On Your Side - Paul Kelly
Unforgettable - Nat King Cole
Upbeat & Dancey
Silly Love Songs - Wings
Dance Tonight - Paul McCartney
Home - Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
Wouldn’t It Be Nice - Beach Boys
Ready to Start - Arcade Fire
Here (In Your Arms) - Hellogoodbye
Love at First Sight - Kylie Minogue
Adore You - Harry Styles
Let’s Dance - David Bowie
Romantic Pop
From This Moment On - Shania Twain
You’re Still The One - Shania Twain
Truly Madly Deeply - Savage Garden
I Knew I Loved You - Savage Garden
To the Moon and Back - Savage Garden
Kiss From a Rose - Seal
Ocean Eyes - Billie Eilish
Angels - Robbie Williams
Kiss Me - Sixpence None The Richer
She Will Be Loved - Maroon 5
Mess is Mine - Vance Joy
You’ve Got the Love - Florence + the Machine
Make You Feel My Love - Adele
Feeling Good - Michael Bublé
Lover - Taylor Swift
Soaring Instrumentals, Heavenly Vocals
I’m Kissing You - Des’ree
Never Let Me Go - Florence + the Machine
Silhouette - Active Child Feat. Ellie Goulding
Young & Beautiful - Lana Del Rey
Love - Lana Del Rey
Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinéad O’Connor
Soft & Gentle
Come Away with Me - Norah Jones
Only Time - Enya
Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Iron & Wine
Heartbeats - José González
Holocene - Bon Iver
Mystery of Love - Sufjan Stevens
Miracle Love - Matt Corby
Beautiful Dress - Marlon Williams
Blurry Line Between Sad & Romantic?
Lover / Soldier - Washington
Retrograde - James Blake
The Blower’s Daughter - Damien Rice
Landslide - Fleetwood Mac
Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
Skinny Love - Bon Iver
Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
Into my Arms - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
A Case of You - Joni Mitchell or James Blake
Unapologetically Dramatic
I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion
Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve
Life on Mars - David Bowie
Purple Rain - Prince
I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing - Aerosmith
Can You Feel the Love Tonight - Elton John
You Raise Me Up - Westlife
…Ready for it? - Taylor Swift
Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
With or Without You - U2
Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
Untraditional As Fuck
Fuck it I Love You - Lana Del Rey
Gold Digger - Kanye West & Jamie Foxx
Chick Habit - April March
Indie Vibes
Ho Hey - The Lumineers
Stay Young, Go Dancing - Death Cab for Cutie
Spanish Sahara - Foals
Video Games - Lana Del Rey
Sweet Disposition - Temper Trap
Real Love - Beach House
Hoppipolla - Sigur Ros
Pretty Girls - Little Dragon
The Special Two - Missy Higgins
Under Your Spell - Desire
Wasn’t Expecting That - Jamie Lawson
I’m Sticking With You - Velvet Underground
Anyone Else But You - The Moldy Peaches
We’re Going to be Friends - The White Stripes
I Love You, Honeybear - Father John Misty
Shut Up Kiss Me - Angel Olsen
Bit More Guitar Heavy
The Look of Love - Dusty Springfield
Everlong - Foo Fighters
All I Need - Radiohead
Accidentally in Love - Counting Crows
Feeling Good - Muse
Bones - The Killers
R & B
All of Me - John Legend
1+1 - Beyoncé
Halo - Beyoncé
Simple Things - Miguel
All My Life - K-Ci & JoJo
Ribbon in the Sky - Stevie Wonder
Let’s Stay Together - Al Green
By Your Side - Sade
Last Night - Az Yet
Bit of Punk Never Hurt Anybody
I’m With You - Avril Lavigne
Welcome to the Black Parade - My Chemical Romance
With Me - Sum 41
Teenage Dirtbag - Wheatus
I Write Sins not Tragedies - Panic! At the Disco
Signing of the Register Songs While Your Guests Chat Amongst Themselves
Classical Gems
Wedding March - Mozart
Clair de Lune - Clade Debussy
Fur Elise - Beethoven
Ode to Joy - Beethoven
Si Tu Vois Ma Mère - Claude Luter et Son Orchestre
Ave Maria - Various
Moon River - Various
Amazing Grace - Various
Old Faves
Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Thank You - Led Zeppelin
Colour my World - Chicago
We’ve Only Just Begun - The Carpenters
Always a Woman - Billy Joel
Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
Fall At Your Feet - Crowded House
Stand by Me - Otis Redding
Quirky & Romantic
Kiss Kiss and Rhinestones - HTRK
Playground Love - Air
A Lot’s Gonna Change - Weyes Blood
The Luckiest - Ben Folds
Adore - Amy Shark
Only Love - Ben Howard
Honeymoon (Forever) - Hellogoodbye
Beyond - Leon Bridges
Real Love Baby - Father John Misty
Baby I’m Yours - Arctic Monkeys
Recessional Songs as You Walk Victoriously Back Down the Aisle
Feelin' Cheeky
Let’s Get Married - Jagged Edge
Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon
Let’s Get it On - Marvin Gaye
Drunk in Love - Beyoncé & Jay Z
Sexual - Neiked
Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye
Locked Out of Heaven - Bruno Mars
Montero (Call Me By Your Name) - Lil Nas X
Hot in Herre - Nelly
Love on Top - Beyoncé
Yummy - Justin Bieber
Pony - Ginuwine
We Go Together - Grease the Musical
I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do - ABBA
Austin Powers Theme Music
Oops… I Did it Again - Britney Spears
Classics
Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder
September - Earth, Wind & Fire
I Say a Little Prayer - Aretha Franklin
This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) - Natalie Cole
Happy Together - The Turtles
I’m a Believer - The Monkees
Real Uplifting
Gold - Spandau Ballet
Once in a Lifetime - Talking Heads
Beautiful Day - U2
A Sky Full of Stars - Coldplay
Home - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Dog Days Are Over - Florence + the Machine
Party Starters
We Belong Together - Mariah Carey
Crazy in Love - Beyoncé & Jay Z
Get The Party Started - P!nk
We Found Love - Rihanna
I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston
Love Shack - B-52s
Now That We Found Love - Heavy D & The Boyz
I Feel Better - Hot Chip
Young Hearts Run Free - Candi Staton or Kym Mazelle
Rock n Roll Forever
I Believe in a Thing Called Love - The Darkness
Don’t Stop Believin’ - Journey
You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
R U Mine? - Arctic Monkeys
Another One Bites the Dust - Queen
Copyright
Are there copyright laws about what song we’re allowed to use as we walk down the aisle?
Nope! Your wedding ceremony is regarded as a private party, so just like at your Mum’s 50th where you know the ABBA will be blasting, you can choose any song that you desire for your entering moment! The same goes for leaving the ceremony, and if you want to play music during the signing of the official register. See the below:
While public performance licences are usually required for the playing of sound recordings (administered by the PPCA) or the public performance of live music (administered by APRA), both APRA and PPCA have waived the requirement to obtain licences for performance of music or sound recordings within a wedding service irrespective of the location of the wedding.
APRA exempts the performance of music at a wedding reception from the requirement to obtain a public performance licence.
HOWEVER, if you intend to make a video or audio recording of your wedding, be aware of the following:
Video Recordings
If you wish to make a video recording of a wedding and either dub sound recordings of music later, or record live music as it is being played at the service, you will need some type of licence if the music and/or sound recordings are in copyright. This also applies in cases where music is played in the background and may not be the main feature of the video. AMCOS and ARIA offer a joint special events licence which allows the video operators to make videos for special occasions including music or sound recordings (available as a single event or annual licence).
Audio Recordings
If you wish to make an audio recording of a wedding, for example, of musical performances at the wedding, you will need to apply for a manufacture licence from AMCOS if the music is in copyright (see http://www.amcos.com.au/Licence/LicIntro.htm).
Performers’ Rights
Please note that any type of live recording, be it audio or video, requires the performer’s consent. This is additional to any licence that is taken out for the reproduction of the music. It would be a very good idea to make sure, prior to the wedding, that the performers agree to their performance being recorded (by video or audio equipment). A ‘performer’ in this context may refer to a celebrant, minister, musical performer, instrumentalist or vocalist, or dancer.
What else may require a licence for our wedding?
If you intend to print off copies of the order of service for the ceremony, know that you will need a licence if you want to include a copy of any poem, hymn, song lyrics, literary extracts, etc. This also applies to copying of sheet music for any singers/choirs, or copying lyrics onto a projector. Copyright protection generally only lasts 50 years past a person’s lifetime, so if you’re looking to use something older than this, you most likely don’t need a licence as this material will be in the public domain.
For more info, check out the following websites:
Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) licences the public performance of music and lyrics.
Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) licences the public playing of sound recordings.
Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS) administers licences for reproducing music and lyrics.
Information compiled by Copyright Law Branch, Attorney General’s Department.