How to Choose Your Bridal Entrance Song

The bridal entrance song is the one that will stay with you longest. Years after the wedding, you will hear it and be taken straight back to that moment, the doors opening, the room turning, everything changing. It deserves serious thought.

Start with the feeling, not the song

Before you open Spotify or ask your friends what they walked down the aisle to, ask yourself what you want to feel in that moment. Emotional and tender? Joyful and upbeat? Quietly confident? The feeling comes first, and the song follows. A song that moves you to tears at home might not be what you want when you are walking towards someone you love, or it might be exactly that. Only you know.

Think about the words

When I arrange a song for acoustic guitar, the melody carries all the emotion. But many couples know the lyrics by heart, and those words matter. Think about whether the lyrics of your chosen song tell a story that reflects your relationship. "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis is beautiful, and the words are perfect for a ceremony. "Every Breath You Take" by The Police is gorgeous as an arrangement but the lyrics are about obsession rather than love, which surprises some couples when they think it through.

Popular choices that work beautifully on acoustic guitar

In over 20 years of playing at weddings, I have arranged hundreds of songs for bridal entrances. Some that I find work particularly well as acoustic arrangements:

Fleetwood Mac, The Chain (the quieter opening section)
Ed Sheeran, Thinking Out Loud
The Beatles, Something
Taylor Swift, Lover
Elvis Presley, Can't Help Falling in Love
Christina Perri, A Thousand Years
John Legend, All of Me
Bon Iver, Skinny Love

Can you choose something unusual?

Absolutely. I have arranged songs from film soundtracks, television themes, folk songs, hymns, and pieces that have a very personal meaning to a couple that no one else would guess. The only question is whether the arrangement works for the moment, and that is something I will work through with you when we meet.

Come and listen before you decide

This is one of the reasons I always invite couples over to the house before the wedding. You can sit and listen to me play several options, hear what they actually sound like as acoustic arrangements rather than the original recordings, and make your choice with confidence. Most couples find that hearing the music played live makes the decision much easier.

If you are planning a wedding in Worcestershire or the surrounding counties and would like to discuss your ceremony music, get in touch and we can arrange a time to meet. I would love to help you find the right song.

Stuart Toogood is an acoustic wedding guitarist based in Worcestershire, available across the Midlands for weddings, private events, and celebrations of life. With over 20 years experience and approximately 450 weddings performed, he specialises in contemporary acoustic arrangements for wedding ceremonies, drinks receptions, and wedding breakfasts. Read more about Stuart or enquire about your date.

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Questions answered

Frequently asked questions

Can I walk down the aisle to a modern pop song?

Absolutely, and many couples do. Modern songs by Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Taylor Swift, and others work beautifully as acoustic arrangements for a bridal entrance. The key is whether the song has the right feel for the moment and enough melodic content to translate well to solo guitar. I can play any of your shortlist options so you can hear how they actually sound before deciding.

What if my chosen song is very short?

Most ceremony entrances last between 45 seconds and two minutes depending on the length of the aisle and how many guests there are. I always discuss this with couples beforehand, if a song is short, I will loop sections or play a slightly extended version. You will never walk faster than you want to because the music runs out.

Do you need to know the entrance song well in advance?

It is best to confirm your ceremony songs at our pre-wedding meeting, which usually takes place a few months before the wedding. That gives me time to arrange and rehearse anything I do not already play. The earlier the better for unusual requests, but most popular choices are already in my repertoire.

Can I have a different song for each ceremony moment?

Yes, and most couples do. Many choose one song for the entrance, a different piece for the signing of the register, and something else for the exit. We work through all of these at our pre-wedding meeting and plan exactly what gets played when.