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Wedding Recessional Songs

The Recessional Ceremony Song is the song played when the Bride and Groom return down the aisle after the wedding ceremony is complete. The wedding recessional should always feature uplifting joyful music. 

This is the part of the wedding ceremony when you’ll be feeling most exhilarated – you’ll be past all of those jitters, the official ceremony will be over and you’ve just been announced to your friends and family as man and wife!  The music should be a reflection of your happiness.

There are no rules to the song choice here and an upbeat happy song works well. Once again any of the Bride and Grooms favourite songs can be used whether they are popular top 40 songs or the traditional "Wedding March" song.

Some Wedding Recessional song ideas are...

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More about the Wedding Recessional

The recessional music usually begins just as you are introduced or, in some ceremonies, just as your first kiss ends.  The music should be triumphant and celebratory, which is why you’ll often hear music for recessionals that includes trumpet music in, often referred to as “Trumpet Voluntaries.” 

Hundreds of years ago, these classical pieces would accompany the arrival of triumphant kings and queens in European cities.  Today it can announce the triumphant marriage of a couple embarking on the adventure of a new life together.

Why Bother with a Recessional?

Don’t skip the recessional at the end of your wedding ceremony – it’s one of the elements of the wedding that your guests most enjoy.  It’s the moment when they first get to see the bride and groom together as a couple.  At the altar, you were both spending most of your time facing away or facing each other. 

During the recessional, your guests see your smiling faces and get to enjoy your obvious happiness.  It’s one of those magical moments they get to share with you that’s truly rare and magical.

There are also practical reasons for having a recessional.  As you leave, the guests remain in their seats while you pass by.  After you exit the front of the church, your attendants will exit to music as well, giving the guests the chance to admire each of them as they leave. 

This gives everyone in the wedding party time to get to the back of the church and get organized before the guests start to leave, which is very important if you’re going to have a receiving line at the back of the church. 

If you aren’t going to have a receiving line at the church, it will give you and your new husband or wife some precious time alone together somewhere private for a few minutes.  After all, you’ll be sharing the rest of the day with tons of people at the reception, so you’d better squeeze in some time alone now while you can!  In the meantime, one of your groomsmen will be dismissing the guests one row at a time from the church or synagogue so that there’s some order maintained.

Wedding Recessional Music Can be Lighthearted

Since the official ceremony is over and you’ll be feeling incredibly happy, you’ll naturally gravitate toward joyful music.  We mentioned music that was festive earlier, but you can also be light-hearted and have some fun with your choices if you like (and it is acceptable to the official who performed the ceremony). 

One of the most popular choices if you want to stick with the traditional is the Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, popularized way back in 1858 when it was played at the wedding of the English Princess Royal. 

Today most people simply call it the Wedding March.  If you want to be less serious, choose something like the Beatles’ When I’m 64 or Smashmouth’s I’m A Believer to bring a smile to everyone’s face and lighten the mood.  It will shift the mood a bit from solemn to festive but keep things focused on the real point of the day – that you’re celebrating the start of your new life together and how wonderful it’s going to be!

For more Wedding Recessional music ideas, make sure to check out the Top Wedding Songs list here.