The first song you hear as a married couple. Five questions on energy, setting, and sound. Three picks with a reason for each.
Your three recessional songs.
Ranked by how well they match your answers.
Not seeing your song? Julie plays 255 songs live. Browse the full repertoire, or name any song when you send your date. With at least six weeks' notice she can learn one that isn't on the list.
Most couples need 60 to 90 seconds of music for the walk back up the aisle. Julie can start a song at its strongest moment instead of the intro, and play until the last of the wedding party has passed the back row.
The recessional is the music for the walk back up the aisle, right after the kiss and the pronouncement. It is the shortest piece of ceremony music and usually the loudest: it tells the room the ceremony is over and the celebration has started.
Go brighter than your processional. The walk in is about anticipation, so it tends to be slow and tender. The walk out is release. Pick something with a faster tempo or a bigger sound than the song you walked in to, so the contrast does the work.
Match the setting, then push it one step. In a church or a formal ballroom, a classical recessional such as Mendelssohn's Wedding March or Handel's Hornpipe sounds right and still feels celebratory. In a relaxed or outdoor ceremony you can go straight to Motown or a pop song people know from the first two notes.
Pick the moment in the song, not just the song. Nobody hears the intro of a recessional. The chorus or the hook should land as you turn to face your guests. A live musician can start there, which is the main advantage over a recording on a speaker.
Think about who follows you. If a large wedding party walks out behind you, choose a song with enough length and energy to carry them too. If it is just the two of you, a short burst of something joyful is enough.
Recessional FAQ
What is a wedding recessional?
The recessional is the music played as the newly married couple walks back up the aisle at the end of the ceremony, followed by the wedding party and usually the officiant and family. It starts right after the pronouncement and the kiss.
What is the most traditional recessional song?
Mendelssohn's Wedding March is the traditional recessional, in the same way Wagner's Bridal Chorus is the traditional processional. Beethoven's Ode to Joy, Handel's Hornpipe from the Water Music, and Purcell's Trumpet Tune are the other classical standards.
Can the recessional be a pop or Motown song?
Yes, and in relaxed or outdoor ceremonies it is now more common than classical. Songs like Signed, Sealed, Delivered, You Make My Dreams, or Marry You work well on solo violin or piano because the melody is recognizable within a few notes.
How long should the recessional song be?
Usually 60 to 90 seconds of music is played, even if the full song is three or four minutes. A larger wedding party needs a little more. Live musicians end the song naturally when the last person reaches the back, instead of fading out a recording.
Should the recessional be different from the processional?
Yes. Using the same song for both makes the end of the ceremony feel like a repeat of the start. A faster, brighter recessional marks the change from ceremony to celebration.