Top 10 Wedding Ceremony and First Dance songs

Wedding Guitarist Blog: my top 10 most requested songs for the wedding ceremony/first dance - and some alternative choices

Choosing the music you want at your wedding is a tricky thing! Making your own song selections is the norm now, particularly at civil ceremonies but also at more traditional church weddings. While the bride may opt to enter the ceremony to the traditional Bridal Chorus performed by an organist, there is still usually space for some music before the ceremony, during the signing of the register, and as the married couple exit.

As a live guitarist and singer, I'm often booked to perform at the wedding ceremony. When I meet with couples to discuss the music, I'd say 90% of couples aren't sure what music they want - so if you're planning your wedding and scratching your head, wondering what on earth you should choose - don't despair! You're in the majority.

Jo & Mark's first dance at The Great Tythe Barn, Tetbury

  

A question that crops up time and time again when I speak to couples is "what songs have other people chosen?" This can good be a good starting point if you have no idea which songs to pick. It may be also a good guide as to which songs you don't want! Eliminating the most popular songs may be a good idea if you want something more unusual. You may stumble across a gem of a song that fits perfectly. Look out for my next blog: Top 10 most unusual wedding ceremony/first dance songs I've played. The perfect song for the ceremony or first dance will ideally be one that:

• you both like (although the bride will usually have the final word when it comes to her entrance music!)
• sets the atmosphere you're looking for (romantic? upbeat?)
• has lyrics that are meaningful to you
• reminds you of a significant moment in your relationship

If you manage to find a song that fills all the above criteria - well done! Realistically it's pretty difficult to find one that ticks all boxes, so if you find one that fulfils two out of four, you're onto a winner.

Steph & Tom's first dance at Hunstile Organic Farm

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Without further ado, here's my top 10 list of the most requested songs. I've also included an alternative option for each song in a similar style, for those looking for something a little less popular:

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#10 - Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran

Only released two years ago, this song became an instant wedding favourite with it's beautiful lyrics and classic melodies. Ed's soulful voice and skilful songwriting come to the fore on this track, and I'm certain it'll be a popular choice for years to come.

Download "Thinking Out Loud" on my acoustic wedding album

See also: Tenerife Sea by Ed Sheeran

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#9 - Let's Stay Together by Al Green

Heartfelt, soulful, timeless - this song is a popular pick, with lyrics that perfectly express what the wedding day is all about. From the first line "I, I'm so in love with you" to the chorus "Loving you whether times are good or bad, happy or sad" - it's almost like all your wedding vows wrapped up in a neat musical package!

See also - At Last by Etta James

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#8 - A Thousand Years by Christina Perri

Another modern song to make the top 10 list, this has been one of my most requested at wedding ceremonies over the last couple of years. The soaring chorus melody and beautiful lyrics make this a firm favourite with the hopeless romantics!

Download "A Thousand Years" on my acoustic wedding album

See also: Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding

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#7 - Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles

Uplifting and positive, this is a lovely song to have at any point during the wedding ceremony. Works perfectly for the bridal entrance, during the signing of the register or the exit of the married couple. However if you're superstitious and hoping for a sunny day, you may not want to choose this and jinx the weather!

See also: All You Need is Love by The Beatles

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#6 - Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Stevie Wonder

This is the perfect song for the wedding ceremony exit - upbeat, joyful and the perfect confirmation song that you're officially a married couple! Also works really well as a first dance song if you want something to get the party started rather than a slow dance - although be warned, you may have to bust out some dance moves in front of your wedding guests!

See also - For Once in My Life by Stevie Wonder

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#5 - Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley (aka Falling In Love With You)

A little while back I made a recording of this song in a modern acoustic style, and it seemed to instantly connect with people - quickly becoming far and away my most popular video on YouTube with well over 100,000 views to date. Heartfelt and timeless, there's just something about the melodies in this song that touch the soul. If you like my version and would like to use it at your wedding, please show your support by downloading using the link below (grabbing the mp3 via YouTube is illegal and it only costs 99p to do it the legal way!)

Download "Can't Help Falling In Love" on my acoustic album

See also: Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton

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#4 - I'm Yours by Jason Mraz

It seems amazing to me that this song was released in 2008 - it's nearly 10 years old! It still feels fresh as ever and remains a very popular pick at weddings. "I'm Yours" - the perfect sentiment, what more do you need to say?!

See also: I'd Rather Be With You by Joshua Radin

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#3 - Stand By Me by Ben E. King

So, we move into the top 3 with this classic soul track. Recorded in the early 60's, this song remains as popular today as ever - it's one of those tunes where everyone knows the chorus lyrics, no matter their age! A genius moment in songwriting history, and Ben E. King's incredible soulful vocals are the icing on the cake. Another great song for the recessional (exit song) at the wedding ceremony.

See also: Wonderful World by Sam Cooke

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#2 - Better Together by Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson's chilled out voice, laid-back guitar style and knack for writing interesting/unusual but universally appealing lyrics all contribute to this modern classic. "It's always better when we're together" - of course it is, that's why you're getting married! It's one of my favourite songs to play at weddings - a genius piece of songwriting, and one that will continue to be popular for years to come I'm sure.

See also - Somewhere over the Rainbow by Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole

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#1 - (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher by Jackie Wilson

And the no.1 goes to the brilliant Jackie Wilson! This song has all the elements to make it the perfect wedding song - it works brilliantly at the ceremony, or as a funky upbeat first dance song. Jackie Wilson's soaring voice and the infectious energy in the song is perfect to get everyone feeling upbeat and happy. I think it's popularity at weddings is also down to the fact that it's not necessarily as well known as some of the other songs on the list, so while it's a familiar song to hear, it doesn't feel tired or overplayed. It's one of my favourite songs to play at weddings!

Download Higher and Higher on my acoustic album

See also - My Girl by The Temptations

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 Pat McIntyre is a singer and acoustic guitarist from Bristol, UK. An experienced live performer and music aficionado, Pat is available to book for weddings and other events. For more information about booking Pat for your wedding, click here - or get in touch here.

Wedding Guitarist blog: Advice/hints & tips on booking live wedding music

It's mid-April and things are starting to hot up here in Bristol... and I'm not just talking about the weather. Us folks in the wedding industry are readying ourselves for the Summer season. I've had a few beautiful Spring weddings already, but the real fun starts next month!

With a couple of weeks before my next wedding, I was doing a bit of admin and chatting with brides-to-be, and it occurred to me that many of the same questions come up time and time again. So I thought I'd put together a little blog post about booking a live musician such as myself. I'm getting married myself next year, so I can completely empathise with brides and grooms-to-be who are planning their big day! If there's one thing I can definitely help with, it's music... so, from my personal experiences, here's my hints & tips - and things to avoid - when booking a live musician for your wedding.

Pre-booking: Finding a musician

When arranging your wedding entertainment, finding the right musician is undoubtedly the hardest bit. Everyone's wedding planning experience is different. Some people will know exactly what they want, some have a rough idea of how the day will pan out, and some don't know where to start! There's a bewildering choice of wedding suppliers, and music is no exception.

Budget

Yes, it's a dull and practical place to start, but the first thing you should do is set a limit for how much you can afford on entertainment. I've read bridal magazines that suggest you should set by at least £2000 for entertainment - but then I've read blogs and articles that put the figure nearer £650. Although us wedding musicians don't like to admit it, we are usually one of the later considerations when it comes to budget. Essentials such as the dress, the venue, flowers and photography are always going to take priority - so I don't ever take offence when people say my prices are over their budget, because I know how quickly costs can add up! 

I would take advice from magazines and websites with a pinch of salt - your budget is as much as you can afford. Set a figure you're happy with - if you come in under budget, brilliant, but also be prepared to go a little over budget if you find a band or musician you really love. 

What time of day is best for live music?

This is another factor which will affect what type of musician you choose. An obvious time for music is during the evening - I'll look at this in a moment, but there's lots of options for the daytime too. I'll approach this question purely from my position as a singer and guitarist - I get bookings for all parts of the wedding day, so this is just my personal opinion on what works best. 

Every wedding schedule is different, but most commonly I'm booked to play at the wedding ceremony and following drinks reception. This always works well in my experience - as guests arrive I'll play 20 minutes or so of music to set a relaxed atmosphere, then I'll play during the ceremony and for an hour or so afterwards, before guests head in for the wedding breakfast. 

Cheers!

If you hadn't thought about the time following the ceremony, you may well want to consider booking someone like myself to entertain guests while you're having photos taken, and people are having refreshments. It can be a great way to fill the gap between the ceremony and wedding breakfast. This is especially true if you're lucky enough to hold your wedding outdoors with good weather. Something about acoustic guitar and sunshine just works! 

Another increasingly popular option which works really well at weddings is afternoon tea. What's better than sitting outdoors on a warm British Summer day with a cup of Earl Grey and a slice of cake, or a lovely cream tea?! Live acoustic music is a perfect accompaniment for this kind of setup. 

Live wedding ceremony music - tips 

• most live musicians will take requests, so if you have a particular song in mind for the walk down the aisle, and/or the exit of the married couple, ask if they can play your song. I send the bride and groom an mp3 version of their song at their request, so that they can hear how my acoustic version will sound.

• bear in mind that the walk down the aisle often doesn't take very long! Most songs are 3-4 minutes long, and the walk is often less than a minute. In this case, I would adapt the length of the song to suit, so that it ends at an appropriate moment.

• the signing of the register is another nice time to have a couple of songs - in my experience this usually takes about 5 minutes, so time to have a couple of songs played. Again, for my weddings I welcome song requests. 

Evening entertainment

I think many people would love to have a great band play at their wedding - but it can be difficult to pick one. The internet is great for finding people, but you really need to see them live to get a flavour of what they do. This can be a bit tricky for dedicated wedding bands - because they're always at weddings! 

One of the best ways of finding a band is by word-of-mouth recommendation. Maybe you saw a band at a friend's wedding, or people were raving about a band they saw at someone else's event. If you've found someone on the internet, see if they have any public performances you can go to. For a good function band, you should realistically be expecting to pay in the region of £1000-£1500+ 

DJ's again are a tricky one - there's many out there of varying quality (I have a couple of recommendations on my site for DJs) and unfortunately you don't really have the option of seeing them do their thing before the big day (unless you've seen them at a friend's wedding). So again, word-of-mouth is your friend here, and if you are booking someone you found on the internet, try to meet up with them to get an idea of their personality. You can usually expect to pay around £400 for a good DJ. Make sure they have good quality equipment which is PAT tested yearly, and bear in mind that some venues will require public liability insurance. These two points apply to bands and musicians as well. 

*sales pitch* You may not associate an acoustic guitarist with the evening party, but my acoustic guitar/vocal style works really well if you're after some high quality live evening entertainment which won't break the bank. I regularly play at a couple of late-night venues in Bristol, so I know which tunes to play to get everyone up on the dance floor! *sales pitch over!* 

 

I hope that some of this blog is helpful if you're planning your wedding and looking for live music. Good luck with your search for the perfect musician, and of course please do get in touch if you're considering my acoustic guitar/singing for your wedding day!

Blog Part 2 - Common mistakes/Things to avoid

Written by Pat McIntyre, singer & acoustic guitarist from Bristol.

Playing live acoustic music at the Wedding Tweet Ups - Goldbrick House, Bristol

Tonight I played some live acoustic music at Goldbrick House, Bristol for the Bristol Wedding Tweet Up. The Tweet Up is an informal get-together arranged by Kirsten aka The Little Wedding Helper for people in the wedding industry. It's a good excuse for us all to get together, have a glass of bubbly, some canapés and a good chinwag!

Goldbrick House is a lovely venue on Park Street in the centre of Bristol. I've played a couple of weddings there before, but never been up on the top level before (the Orangery). It's absolutely beautiful with some great views.

Here's my set lists from tonight:

Bob Marley - Three Little Birds
Eagle Eye Cherry - Save Tonight
George Ezra - Budapest
Zutons/Amy Winehouse - Valerie
Jack Johnson - Better Together
Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
Tom Odell - Grow Old With Me
Beatles - Here Comes The Sun
Otis Redding - (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
Blackstreet - No Diggity
Ed Sheeran - Don't
Bastille - Pompeii
Avicii - Wake Me Up

Pharrell - Happy
Stevie Wonder - Superstition
Killers - Mr Brightside
George Ezra - Blame It On Me
Stealers Wheel - Stuck In The Middle With You
Daft Punk - Get Lucky
Lumineers - Ho Hey
Bob Marley - Stir It Up
Jackson Five - I Want You Back
Oasis - Wonderwall
Tracey Chapman - Fast Car
Van Morrisson - Brown Eyed Girl
Ben E King - Stand By Me

Wedding Music Ideas - Acoustic Guitarist and Singer

A quick thought or two on having live music at a wedding...

Being an acoustic guitarist and singer, I know how much a live musician can add to the wedding day. My most common bookings are for the wedding ceremony and the following drinks reception - two parts of the day where live acoustic guitar and vocals just works so beautifully.

Acoustic guitar adds a really personal touch at wedding ceremonies

There are many options for your wedding day if you're looking for live musicians. Maybe you want a string quartet to provide a beautiful rendition of your song at the ceremony. Strings are a lovely accompaniment to a more traditional ceremony.

I've found that my modern style of acoustic guitar has been really popular in recent times. I think a lot of people instantly associate wedding guitarists with classical guitarists - a guy sat in a corner plucking a classical guitar, playing the old standards. My style is totally different... think more Ed Sheeran, Jason Mraz - I sing and play acoustic guitar and I think it really helps set the tone for the wedding day. You can check out some videos here:

When I'm playing at the wedding ceremony, I usually have some specific songs requested by the bride and groom. I can learn most songs on the acoustic guitar (I've not been beaten yet, and I've had some obscure requests!) - and this provides a unique, memorable way of including some live music at the wedding ceremony.

Many people now follow their ceremony with a drinks reception - maybe serving champagne or afternoon tea while guests mingle, and the wedding couple have photographs taken. I think this is when an acoustic guitar set really comes into it's own. It gives guests a focal point, and some entertainment in the afternoon. There's often about an hour - an hour and a half gap between the ceremony and the wedding breakfast, and I love providing some music for people to listen to. It's particularly great in the Summer, outdoors on a warm sunny day.

An upbeat acoustic set is a great way to kick off the evening party

Of course, the other time at a wedding when live music comes into it's own is at the evening party. I'm sure everyone would love to book a band, but it's not always that easy. There's so many bands out there - of varying quality! And with varying price ranges. You get what you pay for, as a rule, unless you can get a mate's band to do a cheap favour for you. But generally, you're going to need to set aside an absolute minimum of £1000 for a good band to perform on the wedding night.

This is where I come in! Booking me offers a very budget-friendly option, and I guarantee that guests will be entertained, up on the dance floor and singing along. I play out in Bristol most Friday and Saturday nights when I'm not booked for weddings, so I know exactly what songs to play to get the crowd up on their feet. From old classics like the Beatles and Van Morrisson through to modern artists like Bastille, Ed Sheeran and Jessie J, my repertoire is large and varied.

Click to browse my online repertoire

Sometimes I'll be booked as a warm-up, before a DJ or band - and sometimes I'll be the main event! Either way, I love playing at the evening party and helping make it a night to remember (or forget... depending on how well the champers is flowing!!)

I hope this blog gave you some ideas - if you're planning your wedding day and thinking about entertainment, maybe this will inspire you to book me and my guitar on your big day! You can get in touch with me here: Pat McIntyre - Guitarist For Weddings

Live Wedding Guitar Songs

I've been recording some live footage at this Summer's wedding events and have started to get around to putting some of it on YouTube. I've set up a playlist which you can watch below... and I'll be continually adding to this as an when I upload more footage :)