112 Celebratory Wedding Recessional Songs That'll End Your Ceremony Perfectly

After your officiant announces you and your boo are officially married, you'll need the right song to fit the joyous mood for the end of your wedding ceremony. The wedding recessional song is the first thing you'll hear as a married couple. Whether a DJ or ceremony musician plays your wedding ceremony exit song, it should be a thoughtful and romantic choice.

As you start making your wedding ceremony music soundtrack, you might wonder, "What is a recessional song?" Simply put, the recessional song is played at the end of the ceremony when the to-be-weds and wedding party walk up the aisle. This isn't the same as the wedding processional, which occurs when the couple and their wedding party walk down the aisle before the ceremony begins.

And remember, there are no steadfast rules when it comes to choosing wedding recessional songs. You can opt for a classical instrumental piece, a sacred wedding song, an acoustic cover, traditional cultural music, or a current hit straight from the charts. Like your songs for the first dance, the reception exit and even cutting the cake, your wedding recessional music should be a sentimental choice you and your partner love.

If you're searching for a memorable wedding recessional song, we're here to help regardless of your music tastes. We've narrowed down the best recessional wedding songs to play when you walk hand in hand as newlyweds.

Wedding Recessional Songs in this article:

• Upbeat Wedding Recessional Songs
• Acoustic Cover Wedding Recessional Songs
• Fun Wedding Recessional Songs
• Classical Wedding Recessional Songs
• Modern Wedding Recessional Songs
• More Wedding Recessional Song Ideas

Bonus: Listen to our picks with The Knot's Celebratory Recessional Songs playlist on Spotify.

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Upbeat Wedding Recessional Songs

End your ceremony on a high note with an upbeat recessional song. If you imagine skipping, dancing or running up the aisle with your new spouse, queue one of these high-energy hits. We have a feeling your guests will start grooving with you.

• "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)," by Natalie Cole
• "You Make My Dreams," by Hall & Oates
• "Beautiful Day," by U2
• "I'm Yours," by Jason Mraz
• "Fly Me to the Moon," by Frank Sinatra
• "On Top of the World," by Imagine Dragons
• "Best Day of My Life," by American Authors
• "Love Me Like You Do," by Ellie Goulding
• "Oh! You Pretty Things," by David Bowie
• "The Way You Make Me Feel," by Michael Jackson
• "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)," by Stevie Wonder
• "CUFF IT," by Beyoncé
• "Happy Now," by Kali Uchis
• "Marry You," by Bruno Mars
• "Home," by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
• "All I Do Is Dream of You," by Michael Bublé
• "Happy Together," by The Turtles
• "I Got You Babe," by Sonny and Cher
• "Your Love," by The Outfield
• "Good Vibrations," by The Beach Boys
• "You & Me," by That Band Honey
• "Still into You," by Paramor
• "Lo que tú me das,"by Juanpalitoschinos

Photo: May Iosotaluno Photography

Acoustic Cover Wedding Recessional Songs

If you love the idea of having live music, ask your wedding ceremony musicians about doing an acoustic cover of a popular song. A string quartet, pianist, harpist or guitarist will bring a unique sound to your wedding ceremony exit song. Take inspiration from these song covers.

• "Crazy In Love," by Daniela Andrade
• "Sugar," by Ebony Day ft. Jake Coco
• "All You Need Is Love," by Paul Canning
• "Wonderwall," by Jake Coco
• "Stand by Me," by Tom Speight
• "Islands In The Stream," by Feist, Constantines
• "You've Got A Friend In Me," by Sleeping At Last
• "Here Comes The Sun," by Imaginary Future
• "Every Breath You Take," by Aaron Krause ft. Liza Anne
• "Halo," by Lotte Kestner
  
• "All of Me," by Ivy Ravenwood, Harpist
• "Perfect," by Ed Sheeran, Fernando Wilson
• "Love On Top," by Midnite String Quartet
• "Somewhere Over The Rainbow," by The Cairn String Quartet
• "Make You Feel My Love," by Greg Maroney, Pianist

Photo: Off BEET Productions

Fun Wedding Recessional Songs

Try one of these unique tunes for couples who want to play a song not typically played as the wedding ceremony exit song. You might even find some gems to add to your personal playlist.

• "You're the One That I Want," (from Grease) by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta
• "Love You This Way," by Aly & AJ
• "Girls Like You," by Maroon 5
• "Walking on Sunshine," by Katrina and the Waves
• "Love's Holiday," by Earth, Wind & Fire
• "Million Dollar Bill," by Whitney Houston
• "Lovely Day," by Bill Withers
• "Kiss Me," by Sixpence None The Richer
• "Accidentally In Love," by Counting Crows
• "I'm a Believer," by The Monkees
• "Time of Our Lives," by Pitbull and Ne-Yo
• "What a Wonderful World," by Louis Armstrong
• "Two of Us," by The Beatles
• "How Deep Is Your Love," by The Bee Gees

Photo: Madeleine Collins Photography

Classical Wedding Recessional Songs

There's no need to break from tradition if you like the classics. From "Wedding March" to "Spring," these common tunes are no-fail crowd-pleasers for the end of your ceremony. Read below for the best traditional recessional songs for weddings.

• "Wedding March" (from A Midsummer Night's Dream) by Felix Mendelssohn
• "Ode to Joy," by Ludwig van Beethoven
• "Allegro Maestoso" (from Water Music Suite) by George F. Handel
• "Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 (Allegro)," by Johann S. Bach
• "Crown Imperial (Coronation March)," by Sir William Walton
• "Hallelujah Chorus" (from The Messiah) by George F. Handel
• "Hornpipe" (from Water Music Suite) by George F. Handel
• "Spring (Allegro)," (from The Four Seasons), by Antonio Vivaldi
• "Toccata" (from Symphony No. 5, Op. 42) by Charles-Marie Widor
• "Trumpet Tune and Bell Symphony," by Henry Purcell
• "Wedding Song (There Is Love)," by Noel Paul Stookey
• "Largo from Xerxes," by George Frideric Handel
• "One Hand, One Heart" (from West Side Story) by Leonard Bernstein
• "On Wings of Song," by Felix Mendelssohn
• "Badinerie" (from Orchestral Suite No. 2) by Johann S. Bach
• "Rondeau" (Theme from Masterpiece Theater) by Jean Joseph Mouret
• "Violin Sonata in G Major," by Giuseppe Tartini
• "Triumphal March," by Edvard Grieg
• "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Posthorn-Serenade," by Wolfgang A. Mozart

Photo: Nirav Patel Photography

Modern Wedding Recessional Songs

There are plenty of contemporary songs that'll show off your personality and your stellar taste in music. These recent hits are unlikely recessional song choices, but they're ideal for couples who want to personalize their ceremony. From Beyoncé to Harry Styles, find our favorite modern wedding recessional songs here.

• "XO," by Beyoncé
• "Fallin' for You," by Colbie Caillat
• "Adventure of a Lifetime," by Coldplay
• "Mirrors," by Justin Timberlake
• "I Choose You," by Sara Bareilles
• "We Found Love," by Rihanna and Calvin Harris
• "Wildest Dreams," by Duomo
• "River," by Leon Bridges
• "You Are in Love," by Taylor Swift
• "Adore You," by Harry Styles
• "Butterflies," by Kacey Musgraves
• "The Distance," by Mariah Carey
• "Love Me Harder," by Ariana Grande
• "Champagne Kisses," by Jessie Ware
• "Matrimony," by Tennis
• "Better," by Khalid
• "Shotgun," by George Ezra
• "I Like Me Better," by Lauv
• "Taking Me Higher," by Illenium
• "10,000 Hours," by Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber
• "All the Stars," by Kendrick Lamar and SZA
• "Somewhere Only We Know," by Keane
• "I Found You," by Andy Grammer and Cash Cash
• "You Are the Best Thing," by Ray LaMontagne
• "Hey," by We Are KING
• "Only want To Be With You," by Post Malone
• "That's What Love Is," by Justin Bieber
• "I Feel It Coming," by The Weeknd, Daft Punk
• "Here, There and Everywhere," by The Beatles

More Wedding Recessional Song Ideas

Looking for something a little more specific for your recessional song by genre or instrument, find more music inspiration from these music selections:

• Wedding Ceremony Songs by Genre
• Country Wedding Songs
• Disney Wedding Songs
• Jazz Wedding Songs
• Harp Wedding Songs
• Violin Wedding Songs
• String Quartet Wedding Songs
• Piano Wedding Songs

Chapelle Johnson and Diane Hall contributed to the reporting of this article.