The Ultimate Wedding Music Guide: Popular Songs by Genre for Every Moment of Your Day

Musicians perform a classical piece on string instruments against a scenic outdoor backdrop, creating a harmonious blend of nature and melody.

Choosing the right songs for your ceremony can feel both exciting and overwhelming. Your music should reflect your story — the way you met, the way you love, and the way you want the day to feel.

To make things easier, we’ve curated a guide to some of the most beloved wedding pieces — organized by genre — all beautifully adaptable for live strings. Whether your vision is timeless and classical, modern and romantic, or cinematic and emotional, these selections will help you craft a soundtrack that feels entirely your own.

Timeless Classics

These pieces have defined love for generations. Their melodies are elegant, instantly recognizable, and perfect for creating a sense of grace and tradition.

Ideal for: Prelude, processional, or a formal indoor ceremony

• Canon in D – Pachelbel

• Ave Maria – Schubert

• Air on the G String – Bach

• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Bach

• Meditation from Thaïs – Massenet

• Clair de Lune – Debussy

• La Réjouissance (from Music for the Royal Fireworks) – Handel

• Trumpet Voluntary – Clarke

• The Swan – Saint-Saëns

• Salut d'Amour – Elgar

Check out the video below of our string quartet playing Canon in D–a wedding classic!

Romantic Favorites

Soft, lyrical, and emotional — these songs are timeless for a reason. Their melodies evoke tenderness and devotion, making them perfect for the moment you walk down the aisle.

Ideal for: Processional, interlude, or first dance

• Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley

• At Last – Etta James

• A Thousand Years – Christina Perri

• Perfect – Ed Sheeran

• All of Me – John Legend

• I Get to Love You – Ruelle

• Moon River – Henry Mancini

• The Prayer – Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli

• Make You Feel My Love – Adele

• Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwoʻole

Contemporary Love Songs

Modern classics with heartfelt lyrics and melodies that translate beautifully to strings. These songs bring warmth, familiarity, and a modern touch to your ceremony or cocktail hour.

Ideal for: Prelude, recessional, or cocktail hour

• Lover – Taylor Swift

• You Are the Reason – Calum Scott

• Marry Me – Train

• Say You Won’t Let Go – James Arthur

• Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran

• From the Ground Up – Dan + Shay

• Your Song – Elton John

• Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars

• Better Together – Jack Johnson

• How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding

Check out the video below of Lavandula Strings performing Lover at a ceremony in the Colorado rockies!

Cinematic & Instrumental Favorites

For couples who dream of a wedding that feels like a film, these pieces create breathtaking atmosphere and emotional depth. They’re especially striking when performed live on strings.

Ideal for: Processional, interlude, or dramatic entrances

• Turning Page – Sleeping at Last

• Merry-Go-Round of Life (from Howl’s Moving Castle) – Joe Hisaishi

• Concerning Hobbits – Howard Shore

• Glasgow Love Theme (from Love Actually) – Craig Armstrong

• Kiss the Rain – Yiruma

• River Flows in You – Yiruma

• Bella’s Lullaby – Carter Burwell

• The Ludlows (from Legends of the Fall) – James Horner

• La Vie en Rose – Édith Piaf

Listen to a clip below of Lavandula Strings in Boulder, Colorado performing a Ghibli favorite!

Upbeat & Joyful Recessionals

The recessional marks your first walk as a married couple — a moment full of celebration and joy. Choose something bright, rhythmic, and full of energy to match that feeling.

Ideal for: Recessional, postlude, or grand exit

• Viva La Vida – Coldplay

• You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oates

• This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole

• Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) – Stevie Wonder

• Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles

• I’m Yours – Jason Mraz

• Best Day of My Life – American Authors

• Happy – Pharrell Williams

• Accidentally in Love – Counting Crows

• On Top of the World – Imagine Dragons

Bridgerton-Inspired Elegance

For couples drawn to modern romance with classical flair, these pop songs reimagined for strings bring sophistication and cinematic drama to any setting.

Ideal for: Prelude, processional, or cocktail hour

• Wildest Dreams – Taylor Swift

• thank u, next – Ariana Grande

• Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey

• Shallow – Lady Gaga

• Halo – Beyoncé

• Love Story – Taylor Swift

• Young and Beautiful – Lana Del Rey

• Can’t Stop the Feeling – Justin Timberlake

• Bittersweet Symphony – The Verve

• All You Need Is Love – The Beatles

How to Use This List

Think of these songs as inspiration, not limitation. Your selections should reflect your story and the atmosphere you want to create.

We encourage couples to mix genres — blending classical prelude pieces with modern processional songs or cinematic interludes with joyful pop recessionals. The best wedding soundtracks flow naturally between emotion and energy, between nostalgia and now.

At Lavandula Strings, we guide each couple through this process, helping you design a ceremony and cocktail hour that feel cohesive, elevated, and uniquely you.

String quartet performing outdoors on a scenic mountainside deck, surrounded by blooming flowers and vibrant greenery.

Design Your Perfect Soundtrack

Whether you envision timeless elegance or modern romance, our team curates music that reflects your story with beauty and intention.

Explore our Services to learn how Lavandula Strings can craft a live soundtrack for your wedding — one that feels personal, graceful, and unforgettable.

Visit www.lavandulastrings.com for inspiration and curated playlists for every part of your day.