Image by Julia Luckett Photography.

Choosing wedding songs is easily one of the most fun parts of planning your big day, but arguably one of the most challenging. Do you choose songs you listened to a lot when you first started dating? Songs that make you think of your partner or that tell your love story? What about the love songs you’ve always imagined accompanying your wedding day? Which ones should you use as your recessional songs?

If these questions have your head spinning take a deep breath, we’re here to walk you through it. First and foremost, recessional songs are the songs that play when you’ve finished your vows and you’re walking back down the aisle as a married couple. They should feel exciting, triumphant, and—importantly—should have guests feeling ready to join the reception. With that in mind, we’ve got a list of 70 ideas from genres spanning classic, modern, and unconventional to help you choose!

What Is A Recessional Song?

The recessional starts after you’ve read your handwritten vows, rings have been exchanged, and your officiant has declared you married. When the DJ hits play on your recessional song, it means it’s time for your grand ceremony exit. 

Image by Rachel Dibs Photography.

Recessional Song Ideas 

Rock Recessional Songs  

Something to Talk About – Bonnie Raitt

Let’s give them something to talk about / Now that we know it, let’s really show it, darlin’ / How about love, love, love, love?

You’re My Best Friend – Queen

It’s you you’re all I see / Oh, you’re the best friend that I ever had / You’re my sunshine and I want you to know

Accidentally In Love — Counting Crows

Never ever end of all this love / But there’s no escaping your love, oh / We’re accidentally in love

Marry Me — Train

Forever can never be long enough for me / Today and everyday marry me / You wear white and I’ll wear out the words I love you

Better Together — Jack Johnson

Well, it’s always better when we’re together / There’s no combination of words I could put on the back of a postcard / Love is the answer, at least for most of the questions in my heart

All You Need Is Love — The Beatles

All you need is love / There’s nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be / Love is all you need

Can’t Stop Loving You — Van Halen

And no matter what you say or do you know my heart is true, oh-oh / I can’t stop lovin’ you

Image by Emily Robinson Photography.

Pop Recessional Songs

Best Day of my Life – American Authors

We danced with monsters through the night / This is gonna be the best day of my life / No limits, just epiphanies

Unconditionally — Katy Perry

I will love you unconditionally / I’ll take your bad days with your good / Open up your heart and just let it begin

On Top Of The World — Imagine Dragons

If you love somebody / ‘Cause I’m on top of the world, ‘ey 

Grow As We Go — Ben Platt 

Ooh, who said it’s true that the growing only happens on your own? / You don’t ever have to leave / You can change right next to me

Adore You — Harry Styles

I’d walk through fire for you / Just let me adore you / You don’t have to say you love me I just wanna tell you somethin’ lately you’ve been on my mind

Lucky — Jason Mraz

Lucky I’m in love with my best friend / Lucky we’re in love in every way / You make it easier when life gets hard

Crazy Little Thing Called Love — Michael Bublé

This thing called love, I just can’t handle it / Crazy little thing called love

Image by LIT Photography.

R&B And Soul Recessional Songs

Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours — Stevie Wonder

You got my future in your hands / Signed, sealed, delivered, I’m yours / That’s why I know you’re my heart’s only desire

This Will Be — Natalie Cole

This will be, an everlasting love / Loving you, is some kind of wonderful / And no one, no one can take the place of you, ooh

The Way You Make Me Feel – Michael Jackson

You give me fever like I’ve never ever known / The way you make me feel / Just promise, baby, you’ll love me forevermore

Love On Top – Beyoncé

Now everybody asks me why I’m smiling out from ear to ear / Every time you touch me I just melt away / You’re the one I love

Forever — Chris Brown

Breaking the rules, me and you, you and I / It’s like I waited my whole life for this one night / Forever, ever, ever (ever) 

No One — Alicia Keys

You and me together through the days and nights / No one, no one, no one can get in the way of what I feel for you

Higher & Higher — Jackie Wilson

Your love, lifting me higher / I’m so glad, I’ve finally found you / Yes that one, in a million girls

Classical Recessional Songs

Ode To Joy — Beethoven

Wildest Dreams — Taylor Swift Cover by Duomo

Wedding March — Felix Mendelssohn

Toccata Organ No. 5 — Charles-Marie Widor 

Image by Mike Meller.

Indie And Folk Recessional Songs

Golden Days — Whitney

Cause I’m searching for those golden days / Those golden days keep you hanging on

You’ve Got The Love — Florence + The Machine

I know I can count on you / But you’ve got the love I need to see me through / You’ve got the love 

Your Are the Best Thing — Ray LaMontagne

You are the best thing / When I say this love will never fade away / Hearts are strong, and our hearts are kind

Electric Love — BØRNS

Baby, you’re like lightning in a bottle / You make my heart beat like the rain / Baby, your electric love 

Life Is Better With You — Michael Franti & Spearhead

Every day’s not Valentine’s but you make it feel like most of the time / I know just one thing is true, life is better with you 

Baby I’m Yours — Arctic Monkeys

Baby, I’m yours (baby, I’m yours) / And I’ll be yours (yours) until the stars fall from the sky / I’m gonna stay right here by your side”A

Sky Full of Stars — Coldplay

‘Cause you’re a sky, ’cause you’re a sky full of stars / I’m gonna give you my heart / ‘Cause you get lighter the more it gets dark

Image by Wedding and Waves.

Country Recessional Songs

10,000 Hours — Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber

I’d spend 10, 000 hours and 10,000 more oh, if that’s what it takes to learn that sweet heart of yours / When you think about your forever now, do you think of me?

I Want Crazy — Hunter Hayes

I want “can’t sleep, can’t breathe without your love” / We’re the kind of crazy people wish that they could be, yeah / Who needs to play it safe in love?

Everyday — Dave Matthews Band

I push up love, love everyday / I’m gonna take my chances on everyday / All you need is love

Forever And Ever, Amen — Randy Travis

This love that I feel for you always will be / As sure as I live, this love that I give is gonna be yours until the day that I die / I’m gonna love you forever and ever forever and ever, amen

Cowboy Take Me Away — The Chicks

Cowboy take me away fly this girl as high as you can into the wild blue / Closer to heaven above and closer to you / I wanna grow something wild and unruly

I Wanna Love Somebody Like You — Keith Urban

Now I wanna love somebody, love somebody like you / When you put your arms around me you let me know there’s nothing in this world I can’t do / I wanna be the man that you run to, whenever I call on you

How Forever Feels — Kenny Chesney 

Saved two months, bought a little diamond tonight’s the night, feels like perfect timin’ / I wanna know how forever feels

The perfect DJ and playlist can help transition your guests from your ceremony to the dance floor. Ready to find yours? We’ve rounded up wedding DJs from around the world just for you. Or maybe you’re searching for a wedding photographer who can capture that “we just got married” vibe perfectly? Either way, we’re here to help you find your dream vendor team.

Image by Epic Love Story.