65 Classical Wedding Music Pieces to Walk Down the Aisle To

For a processional that feels classic, but not overplayed.
Classical Wedding Music Pieces to Walk Down the Aisle to
Photo: Caroline Lima Photography
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Brittany Barber
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Brittany Barber
The Knot Contributor
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Updated Oct 30, 2024

There's nothing more classic than, well, walking down the aisle to classical wedding music. If you're looking for wedding ceremony music that feels formal and traditional, but not predictable, don't limit yourself to Pachelbel's "Canon in D Major" or Wagner's "Wedding March." Instead, ask your ceremony musicians to play one of these stunning, more under-the-radar classical pieces for your grand ceremony entrance.

These wedding ceremony songs will evoke the same romantic, formal atmosphere as the classics, but with a refreshing twist that'll surprise and delight your guests. So, set a one-of-a-kind tone that reflects your style, leaving a lasting impression with a soundtrack that is beautiful, timeless and entirely unique to your celebration.

Classical Wedding Music in this Story:

Editor's Picks | Classical Piano | Classical Strings | Orchestral | Contemporary Classical | More Classical Music Ideas

Bonus: Listen to our picks with The Knot's Classical Wedding Music playlist on Spotify.

Editor's Favorite Classical Wedding Music

From Franz Liszt to Samuel Barber, we've listed our top 10 favorite classical wedding music pieces below. These aren't the typical Pachelbel's "Canon in D Major" or Wagner's "Wedding March," so make sure you communicate your picks with your wedding musicians to make sure they're within their repertoire.

1. Concert Étude, S144 no. 3, "Un sospiro," by Franz Liszt

2. "The Lark Ascending," by Ralph Vaughan Williams

3. "Salut d'Amour," by Edward Elgar

4. Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9, No. 2, by Frédéric Chopin

5. La Mer, L. 109, No. 1, "From Dawn to Noon on the Sea," by Claude Debussy

6. Water games, M. 30, Maurice Ravel

7. "Ständchen," D 889, by Franz Schubert

8. Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

9. Daphnis and Chloe: Part III: "Daybreak," by Maurice Ravel

10. Adagio for Strings, Op. 11, by Samuel Barber

Piano Classical Wedding Music

For pieces that sound particularly lovely on the piano, have a listen to the following picks. Whether you choose to hire a live pianist or a wedding DJ, these classics will not disappoint.

11. Consolation No. 3, S. 172, by Franz Liszt

12. Mirrors, M. 43: III, "A Boat on the Ocean," by Maurice Ravel

13. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Minor, K. 457: II. Adagio, by WA Mozart

14. Arabesque L. 66 No. 1 in E Major, by Claude Debussy

15. Gymnopédie No. 1, by Erik Satie

16. Sarabande from French Suite No. 5 in G Major, BWV 816, by JS Bach

17. "Moonlight," by Claude Debussy

18. Prelude in D-flat major, Op. 28 No. 15 "Raindrop," by Frédéric Chopin

19. Intermezzo in A major, Op. 118 No. 2, by Johannes Brahms

20. Amélie's Waltz, by Yann Tiersen

21. Prelude in B minor, Op. 32 No. 10, by Sergei Rachmaninoff

22. Pavane for a Dead Infanta, by Maurice Ravel

Strings Classical Wedding Music

If you resonate with the beauty and versatility of instruments like the violin, viola and cello, consider adding these pieces to your wedding day playlist. Not each piece was originally composed for strings specifically, but you can find string arrangements that are sure to make your guests swoon.

23. Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prelude, by JS Bach

24. Adagio For Strings, Op. 11, by Samuel Barber

25. Pezzo in forma di Sonata, Serenade for Strings Op. 48, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

26. "Vocalize," Sergei Rachmaninov

27. Chaconne in G minor, by Tomaso Antonio Vitali

28. Serenade for Strings in E major, Op. 22, by Antonín Dvořák

29. String Quartet No. 2 in D major, "Intimate Letters," by Leoš Janáček

30. String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 11: II. Andante cantabile, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

31. Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, by Ralph Vaughan Williams

32. Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4, by Arnold Schoenberg

33. Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

34. String Quintet in C major, D. 956: II. Adagio, by Franz Schubert

Orchestral Classical Wedding Music

For sweeping sounds from symphonies around the world, consider the following orchestral pieces for your wedding. They'll prove to be just as epic and awe-inspiring as the love you're celebrating.

35. The Nutcracker, Op. 71, Act II, Scene XIV: Waltz of the Flowers, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

36. Romeo and Juliet Overture, "Fantasy," Op. 17, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

37. Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor, IV. Adagietto, by Gustav Mahler

38. Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, by Ralph Vaughan Williams

39. Pavane, Op. 50, by Gabriel Fauré

40. The Planets, Op. 32: II. "Venus, the Bringer of Peace," by Gustav Holst

41. Scheherazade, Op. 35, by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

42. Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, "Pathétique," ​​IV. Finale: Adagio lamentoso, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

43. Valse Triste, Op. 44, by Jean Sibelius

44. Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27: III. Adagio, by Sergei Rachmaninoff

45. "Liebestod" from Tristan und Isolde, by Richard Wagner

Contemporary Classical Wedding Music

If you're looking for newer classical music to play at your wedding, give these contemporary pieces a listen. The following works were composed from the late 20th century to the present day, so you may hear influences from other genres within these picks, too.

46. ​​"Nuvole Bianche" by Ludovico Einaudi

47. "Spiegel im Spiegel" by Arvo Pärt

48. "The Arrival of the Birds" by The Cinematic Orchestra

49. "Experience" by Ludovico Einaudi

50. "Music for Airports" by Brian Eno

51. "Embers" by Max Richter

52. "Recomposed: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons: Spring 1" by Max Richter

53. "I Giorni" by Ludovico Einaudi

54. "Chill in the Air" by Ólafur Arnalds

55. "Metamorphosis: Metamorphosis One" by Philip Glass

56. "November" by Max Richter

57. "The Ludlows" by James Horner

58. "Big My Secret" by Michael Nyman

59. "A Model of the Universe" by Jóhann Jóhannsson

60. "Watermark" by Enya

61. "Opus 23" by Dustin O'Halloran

62. "The Promise" by Michael Nyman

63. "Nursery rhyme of another summer: The afternoon" by Yann Tiersen

64. "Orpheus's Lament" by Jóhann Jóhannsson

65. "Echoes" by Nils Frahm

More Classical Music Ideas

Want even more wedding song ideas? Find inspiration from these music selections:

Additional reporting by Maggie Seaver.

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