The Ultimate List of Recessional Songs!

The Best Wedding Recessional Songs

The Recessional

The Recessional takes place immediately after the bride and groom are pronounced husband and wife and presented to the guests (right after the big kiss!).
This is the joyous climax to one of your life’s most memorable moments. Typically you will be introduced, your recessional song will fire up, your honored guests will erupt in a wave of applause and hand in hand you will head out into your adoring throng.
While most couple’s choose a processional song that is traditional, elegant and low-key the recessional is an entirely different situation.
I like to think of this song as a segue, a bridge between the religious reverence and quiet tone of the ceremony and the party that is chafing at the bit just waiting to begin. The recessional music is usually an upbeat, celebratory tune, full of joy and happiness.
Obviously this selection is typically more jubilant, upbeat and celebratory than other music used during the ceremony. It is now time to rejoice and it’s perfectly alright to show this in your choice of music.
Points to ponder when considering a Recessional song:
o Will this song be familiar to your guests?
o Does it reflect our personality as a couple?
o Will some segment of your crowd consider it offensive … and do you care?
o Do you prefer one of the traditional favorites or would you like to make a statement with something more contemporary?
The possibilities are virtually endless and range from the tradition of Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" to classic pop like Stevie Wonder’s “Signed Sealed Delivered, I’m Yours” and the contemporary sound of Jack Johnson’s “Better Together.”

Classical Recessional Songs
If you’re looking for something traditional the top choice for the recessional is Mendelssohn's Wedding March. Close behind in second place it’s basically a tie between Ludwig Van Beethoven's Ode to Joy and Clarke's Trumpet Voluntary. (Prince Charles and Diana used the latter as did Maurtis and Marilene of the Dutch royal family)

Other Classic choices:

Hornpipe from Water Music Suite – Handel
Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah
The Four Seasons – A collection of four violin concertos
Air on the G String – Johann Sebastian Bach
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba – Handel
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 – Bach
Eine Klein Nachtmusik – Mozart
Gigue – Bach
La Rejouissance – Handel
Ode to Joy – from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
Rondeau – Wynton Marsalis
Trumpet Tune – Henry Purcell
Trumpet Tune in D Major – Jeremiah Clarke

Those are fine choices but this is a time where you can get creative so don’t stifle your imagination.
Many couples choose to use contemporary songs as part of their recessional. If that’s what you would like to do, consider playing James Brown's "I Got You (I Feel Good)," U2's "Beautiful Day," or our most popular recessional selection, Signed Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours” from Stevie Wonder!
In most cases you will need only one song for your recessional.

Browse through the following list and let it inspire you with possibilities:

Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
When I’m 64 - Beatles
I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher
All You Need is Love – Beatles
How Sweet It Is – James Taylor or Marvin Gaye
Love & Marriage – Frank Sinatra
This Will Be An Everlasting Love – Natalie Cole
Finally – Ce Ce Penniston (especially good if you’ve had a long relationship or engagement)
Get Ready For This – 2 Unlimited
Sandstorm – Da Rude
Strike It Up – Black Box
Waiting For Tonight – J Lo
Celebration – Kool & the Gang
5th of Beethoven – Walter Murphy
At Last – Etta James
I Got You – James Brown
I’m A Believer – Smashmouth or The Monkees
In My Life – Beatles
It Had To Be You – Harry Connick Jr
It’s The End of the World As I know It – R.E.M.
Walking on Sunshine – Katrina & the Waves
Tequila – The Champs (Glen Campbell was a member)
Highway to Hell – ACDC
Thunderstruck – ACDC
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life – Stevie Wonder
Signed, Sealed Delivered, I’m Yours – Stevie Wonder
One More Time – Daft Punk
Love To – Mika
Let’s Get Loud – J Lo
Ch Ch Check It Out – Beastie Boys
Gonna Fly Now (Rocky Theme) – Bill Conti
Love Train – O’Jays
Love’s Theme (Instrumental) – Love Unlimited Orchestra
Enter Sandman – Metallica
Beautiful Day – U2
Bittersweet Symphony – The Verve
Crazy Train – Ozzy Osbourne
You Shook Me All Night Now – ACDC
Another One Bites The Dust – Queen
Welcome To The Jungle – Guns n Roses
Cruisin – Gwenyth Paltrow/Huey Lewis
Clocks – Coldplay
All You Need Is Love – Beatles
Fly Me To The Moon – Frank Sinatra
Forever Young – Bob Dylan or Neil Young
Happy Together – The Turtles
Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley
Roam – B-52’s
Wedding Day – Bee Gees
Stolen – Dashboard Confessional
We Are Family – Dream Girls
When I’m Gone – 3 Doors Down
With or Without You – U2
You’re My Best Friend – Queen
Would You Go With Me – Josh Turner
My Best Friend – Tim McGraw
You Belong To Me – Jason Wade
I Do – 98 Degrees
Stay Down – Luther Vandross
Stuck On You – Lionel Ritchie
Thank You For Loving Me – Bon Jovi
Her & Now – Luther Vandross
How Did You know – Gary Valenciano (Filipino)
I’ll Be There For You – Bon Jovi
Too Late To Turn Back Now – Eddy Cornelius
L-O-V-E – Michael Buble
Like A Star – Corrine Bailey Rae
Living on A Prayer – Bon Jovi
Love Story – Taylor Swift
Love Is A Beautiful Thing – Phil Vasser
Miracle – Foo Fighters
Mud On The Tires – Brad Paisley
Paradise By The Dashboard Lights – Meatloaf
Better Life – Keith Urban
Can’t Help Falling In Love – UB 40
From This Moment – Shania Twain
When – Alan Jackson
Shambala – 3 Dog Night
Some Kind Of Wonderful – Huey Lewis
Just Like Heaven – Cure
Let My love Open The Door – Pete Townsend
Hero – Mariah Carey
Keeper Of The Stars – Tracy Byrd
Thunder Road – Bruce Springsteen
Come & Get Your Love – Redbone
Joy to the World – Three Dog Night
Lovely Day – Bill Withers
Secret Garden – Bruce Springsteen
Final Countdown – Europe
Wouldn’t It Be Nice – Beach Boys
Nothing’s Going to Stop Us Now – Starship
In My Life – Beatles
God Only Knows – Beach Boys
Your Precious Love – Marvin Gaye/Tami Terrell
I Melt With You – Modern Romance
Is This Love – Bob Marley
Here Comes The Sun – Beatles
Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
Hold My Hand – Hootie & the Blowfish
Crazy Game of Poker – Counting Crows
This Will Be Our Year – Zombies
Accidentally In Love – Counting Crows
Low Rider – War
We Go Together – the Grease Soundtrack
Hero – Wallflowers
Show Me Love – Robin
R&B/Contemporary Choices
Here I Am – Leona Lewis
How Do I Breathe – Mario
Let’s Get Married - Jagged Edge
Promise – Ciara or Jagged Edge
So Amazing – Beyonce/Luther Vandross
Sweet Escape – Gwen Stefani
Truly Madly Deeply – Cascada
This I swear – Nick Lachey
The Good Life – Kanye West
The Arms Of One – Xscape
Until The End Of Time – Justin Timberlake/Beyonce
Crazy In Love – Beyonce
Get This Party Started – Pink
Kanye West – Gold Digger
Hot In Here – Nelly
Angel – Shaggy
Party Like A Rockstar – Shop Boyz
Pon de Replay – Rhianna
Yeah – Usher
Temperature – Sean Paul
Way You Move – Outkast
Cupid – 112
Everytime We Touch – Cascada
Don’t Change – Musiq Soulchild
Forever – Mariah Carey/R Kelly
Anyone Else But You – Mouldy Peaches
Chariot – Gavin DeGraw
Flower In The Window – Travis
Just Like Heaven – Katie Melua
Hesitating Beauty – Wilco/Billy Bragg
Melon Collie & Infinite Sadness – Smashing Pumpkins
Blinking Lights – Eels
Fresh Feeling – Eels
Do You Realize – Flaming Lips
I Found A Reason – Cat Power
A Moment Like This - Kelly Clarkson
This Years Love – David Grey
There She Goes – The La’s
Mesh & Lace – Nouvelle Vouge
I Wanna Know All Of You – Hardy
Human – Killers
#41 – Dave Mathews
Love & Memories – Oar
Love Your Ways – Salmonella Dub
Sail Away – David Grey
It’s You It’s Me - Kaskade

Feel free to move further away from the radio charts. You may want to consider incorporating soundtrack songs from movies or television. We’ve used the following tracks with great success.
I find that TV theme music is a powerful way to transport you and your guests back to what often seems to be a kinder, gentler time in your past.

You may want to consider the Theme from:

2001 A Space Odyssey
Austin Powers
St. Elmo’s Fire
Star Wars: The Imperial March or Throne Room
Indiana Jones
Mission Impossible
Rocky (Gonna Fly Now) or (Eye Of The Tiger)
The Jeffersons
The Newly-wed Game
Friends
Survivor
The Apprentice
Hockey Night In Canada
Peter Gunn
Survivor
Afterwards, you will move into the postlude.