Acoustic Guitar Songs for Your Wedding Ceremony: Processional, Entrance, and Recessional
Almost any song can be played on acoustic guitar at a wedding ceremony, but some fit each moment better than others. Below are ideas organized by the four parts of a ceremony, from a Cincinnati crew that plays ceremony guitar. Use them as a starting point, then swap in the songs that mean something to you.
Which songs work for the prelude while guests are seated?
Prelude music should be calm and familiar, and it runs 15 to 30 minutes while guests arrive. Instrumental versions of soft pop and folk songs work well:
- Blackbird (The Beatles)
- Fast Car (Tracy Chapman)
- Landslide (Fleetwood Mac)
- Banana Pancakes (Jack Johnson)
- Yellow (Coldplay)
What are good processional songs on acoustic guitar?
Processional songs should be steady and easy to walk to. Pick something with a clear, slow pulse:
- Canon in D (Pachelbel)
- Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles)
- Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley)
- Bloom (The Paper Kites)
Which song should play for your entrance?
Your entrance song is the one most guests remember, so choose the song that matters most to you as a couple. Popular choices on guitar include A Thousand Years (Christina Perri), Perfect (Ed Sheeran), and Make You Feel My Love (written by Bob Dylan, covered by Adele). A ceremony guitarist can arrange the song so the strongest part lands as you reach the front.
What are upbeat recessional songs for acoustic guitar?
The recessional is a celebration, so go faster and brighter:
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered (Stevie Wonder)
- You Make My Dreams (Hall and Oates)
- I'm Yours (Jason Mraz)
- Wedding March (Mendelssohn), for a classic exit
Can a guitarist learn a song that is not on their list?
Most professional ceremony guitarists will, with enough notice. Send the songs at least a few weeks before the wedding, along with the exact version you love, since covers and live versions can differ a lot from the original. Ask whether learning new songs costs extra.
How do you choose the right ceremony guitarist in Cincinnati?
Ask to hear them play a ceremony piece, ask how they time songs to the walk, and ask whether they bring sound equipment for outdoor ceremonies. Evan, who owns Monorail Sound, plays ceremony guitar across Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Dayton and learns the songs couples send him. Read more about our ceremony music, or compare formats in our guide to guitar, string quartet, or piano.