The recessional is the song that plays right after the kiss, when the two of you walk back up the aisle as a married couple. It only lasts about a minute, but it sets the mood for everything after: cocktail hour, photos, and the party.
Most couples spend weeks choosing the processional and pick the recessional the week before. I get it. But this is the moment your guests start celebrating, so it deserves a song that makes everyone smile.
Here are the recessional songs I would pick, sorted by style. A few of them I play live on acoustic guitar, so you can have the real thing instead of a speaker.
Upbeat Wedding Recessional Songs
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) by Stevie Wonder
- You Make My Dreams by Daryl Hall & John Oates
- Marry You by Bruno Mars
- Lovely Day by Bill Withers
- Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- Happy by Pharrell Williams
- Best Day of My Life by American Authors
- Can’t Stop the Feeling! by Justin Timberlake
- Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves
- Home by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
- Love on Top by Beyoncé
- This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) by Natalie Cole
Recessional Songs I Play Live
These come from my live song list. On acoustic guitar they sound joyful without being loud, which matters when your guests are sitting right next to the aisle.
- Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer, the recessional I played most this year. Two of my 2026 couples walked back up the aisle to it, sung live on acoustic guitar.
- September by Earth, Wind & Fire
- Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon
- Dancing Queen by ABBA
- Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars
- Love Shack by The B-52’s
- Come and Get Your Love by Redbone
- Stand By Me by Ben E. King
If your song isn’t on my list, send it to me. I learn special requests for my couples.
Country Wedding Recessional Songs
- Love Story by Taylor Swift
- Forever and Ever, Amen by Randy Travis
- Chicken Fried by Zac Brown Band
- Head Over Boots by Jon Pardi
- Die a Happy Man by Thomas Rhett
- Life Is a Highway by Rascal Flatts
- Meant to Be by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line
Traditional and Classical Recessional Music
- Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Felix Mendelssohn
- Hornpipe from Water Music by George Frideric Handel
- La Réjouissance from Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel
- Ode to Joy by Ludwig van Beethoven
- Toccata from Organ Symphony No. 5 by Charles-Marie Widor
- Spring from The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi
- Rondeau by Jean-Joseph Mouret
Mendelssohn is the classic choice. If you want something a little less expected, the Mouret Rondeau sounds like a royal exit.
Recessional Songs for a Church or Catholic Ceremony
Many churches only allow sacred or classical music during the ceremony, and some ask that their own organist plays. Check with your parish before you pick a pop song. These work well when the rules are strict:
- Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (sung to the Ode to Joy melody)
- Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Johann Sebastian Bach
If your church allows it, an acoustic guitar version of a pop song is a gentle way to honor both.
How to Pick Your Recessional Song
- Pick something faster than your processional. You want your guests clapping.
- The first 10 seconds matter most. Choose a song with a strong opening, or ask your musician to start at the chorus.
- Plan for about a minute. That is how long it takes to walk back up the aisle with your wedding party behind you.
- Think about what comes next. The recessional leads straight into cocktail hour, so it helps when one musician plays both.
Still choosing the rest of your ceremony music? Here are my songs to walk down the aisle to and my first dance songs.
Imagine your recessional, performed live
Found your song? I can play it live with vocals and guitar the second you kiss, a moment your guests will feel rather than just hear.
Recessional Song Questions
What is the wedding recessional?
The recessional is the music that plays after the officiant pronounces you married, as the two of you walk back up the aisle. Your wedding party and families follow you out.
How long should a recessional song be?
Plan for about a minute to a minute and a half. A live musician can start right on the kiss and end the song when the last person leaves the aisle.
Can the recessional be a different style than the processional?
Yes. Most couples go soft for the processional and upbeat for the recessional. The change in energy tells your guests the party has started.
Can you play our recessional live and DJ the reception?
Yes. That is my Signature Hybrid: live vocals and acoustic guitar for the ceremony and cocktail hour, then a full DJ set for the reception, all from one performer.
