20 Best Choices for Nontraditional Wedding Processional Song

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Let’s face it – “here comes the bride” gets boring really quickly, and the last thing you want your wedding to be is boring. Here are some best picks of interesting, romantic, and modern wedding processional song for you to walk down the aisle with.

20 Best Choices for Nontraditional Wedding Processional Song

Marry Me by Train

This one is pretty self-explanatory based on the title, but the specific line “today and every day” is a poignant reminder that love and marriage take effort. Marry Me is the perfect song for a couple who wants to keep their love strong day in and day out for the rest of their lives.

I Choose You by Sara Bareilles

A soft and upbeat song about commitment and love, this is the perfect tune to use in your wedding. Even the music video is about weddings – it shows two different people proposing to their future spouses, with the special help of Sara Bareilles herself!

Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Israel “Bruddah Iz” Kamakawiwo'ole

This classic cover of Dorothy’s wonderful, wistful song from The Wizard of Oz is a favorite for every kind of event from baby showers to graduations, so why not use it for your wedding? It’s certain to get everyone a little misty eyed.

The Wind by Cat Stevens

This gentle folk tune is not specifically about love, but it makes for a sweet alternative to your typical wedding processional song. It’s great because it’s pretty, but not overwhelming or distracting. After all, it’s the bride who needs to shine when she walks down the aisle!

Magic by Colbie Caillat

A soft and heartwarming song, Magic by Colbie Caillat perfect captures what it feels like to be in love. Describing the sensation of only being able to pay attention to your beloved above everything else, this song is perfect for when the happy couple is the focus of everyone in the room.

I’m Kissing You by Des’ree

You may recognize this song from Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. A slow, emotional song, I’m Kissing You will likely bring tears to your guests’ eyes before the ceremony has even started. In any case, it’s a beautiful, tender, and romantic choice for a wedding processional.

Love by Matt White

This little tune is bright and cheery, and, as you can probably tell from the title, it is perfectly appropriate for a ceremony that celebrates the beauty and wonderment of love.

Fidelity by Regina Spektor

Perhaps a less conventional choice, this song tells a story of opening up and allowing oneself to be vulnerable and fall in love. Spektor’s light, ethereal vocals make a perfect backdrop for walking down the aisle. It’s magical and mystical, while remaining modern.

Wedding Song by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

This slow song is perfect for a steady, even walking down the aisle that leaves plenty of time for the bride’s dress to be photographed and admired. Sure, it’s probably been used by numerous couples before, but it’s still a sweet love song.

Better Together by Jack Johnson

The quick, clever words in this song are juxtaposed with the simplicity of its chording and message. This is a feel-good alternative to heavier or more formal wedding processional song.

Photograph by Ed Sheeran

This is an especially touching choice for any couple that has to deal with lengthy periods of separation. There’s also a special added meaning in that a wedding is a situation where a lot of photographs are taken and memories are made together.

Moon River by Henry Mancini (Sung by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s)

This delightfully romantic classic is perfect for film lovers and ordinary dreamers alike. Although it’s famous for its presence in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, it’s also perfect for a happy, dreamy wedding.

You Are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne

This 70s-inspired song from 2008 is passionate and funky. The style is timeless, and it makes for a great semi-throwback. It’s also super sentimental in all the right ways – and even if it’s a little too much for the ceremony itself, it’s definitely at least worth considering for the first dance!

Hallelujah by k. d. lang

Written by Canadian poet Leonard Cohen, this melancholic song has a lot of Bible references and rich textual resonance. Also, have we mentioned that it’s absolutely beautiful?! Hallelujah is haunting and familiar, but never becomes cliché.

A Thousand Years by Christina Perri

Probably best known for its presence on the Twilight movie soundtrack, this is also a perfectly wonderful member of wedding processional song. You don’t have to be a vampire lover to appreciate this anthem of devotion and commitment.

Somewhere Only We Know by Lily Allen

A much less angsty sounding cover of the original song by Keane, this version of Somewhere Only We Know is a sweet and gentle love song for walking down the aisle. Building a sense of sanctuary within another person is a key part of a marriage, and this song captures that fully.

Heartbeats by Jose Gonzalez

This gentle, calming, and beautiful song would be a wonderful accompaniment to walking down the aisle. Jose Gonzalez’s guitar skills are impeccable, and the acoustic sound of his music makes for a simple yet profoundly rich song.

First Day of My Life by Bright Eyes

An uncharacteristically positive song for this band, First Day Of My Life really plays to the idea of starting a new life together as a married couple. The song is light and gentle, bringing a hopeful and happy spirit to any wedding.

Walking on Sunshine by Katrina & The Waves

This one might have the bride dancing down the aisle, but it’s such a happy, sweet classic that it’s totally worth breaking the tradition of the slower, more humdrum “here comes the bride” type of wedding processional song.

Can’t Help Falling In Love by Ingrid Michaelson

It’s a classic song, but this slow, emotional rendition by Ingrid Michaelson lends a bit of gravitas that is perfect for a wedding ceremony while retaining the sweet, ardent message of the original.