It’s always a challenge when you’re trying to put on your thinking cap to figure out what your wedding entrance song should be. Should you pick your favourite childhood track or a socially acceptable classic? How unique should you try to be? What works and what doesn’t?
So after I give you this list, I’d love to hear your own suggestions on the comments below.
Here, I’ve recorded a list of ten songs which I performed across Ireland in 2024 on piano for bridal entrances. I’ve made a short recording of each to help you imagine the atmosphere that each piece of music creates. Thus, it is my hope that this list will help you feel more confident in your choices as you plan your big day.
1. Can’t Help Falling in Love
Elvis’ most wedding associated song is a timeless classic, and for good reason. It’s gentle, it’s completely appropriate and it’s simply beautiful. It’s such a reliable song for your entrance and I enjoy drawing out the meandering melody on piano.
2. Here Comes the Sun | The Beatles
A more uptempo song from the Fab Four that absolutely everyone knows. In my opinion, choosing something that’s instantly recognisable is generally more important than trying too hard to pick something radically different for the sake of being different.
3. Nuvole Bianche | Ludovico Einaudi
Ludovico Einaudi is here to stay for weddings in 2025 and beyond. This is frequently requested for piano as it has a nostalgic yet simple, almost hypnotic quality to it. A perfect piece of music for seeing the bridal party from the door to deck.
4. In Dreams | Howard Shore (The Lord of the Rings)
Anyone familiar with Howard Shore’s stunning track from one of my favourite movies, The Lord of the Rings, will instantly know this piece. It’s wondrous, haunting, hopeful and signals pure love. It’s a great choice for walking down the aisle to.
5. Everywhere | Fleetwood Mac
I performed this song for a summer wedding and I hadn’t thought of it before as an entrance song but wow, did it work! Slowed down, it gives a gorgeous energy to your wedding atmosphere, setting it off on the right foot.
6. How Long Will I Love You | Ellie Goulding
I’ve performed this one from Ellie Goulding many times at weddings and it has a subdued, hymnal quality to it. It’s perfect as a lowkey entrance that doesn’t want to make too much of a fuss.
7. The Real Slim Shady | Eminem
This was a treasure as an entrance song and it was used for the boys rather than the girls. So the groom and groomsmen walked up, ahead of the bridal party, to Eminem’s alter ego signature song and it resulted in uproarious laughter from the gathered family and friends. Great for injecting a little humour into proceedings.
8. Always You | Caroline Kay
I hadn’t heard this gem from Irish singer Caroline Kay before and it’s a little more niche. But it’s beautiful on piano and it’s a great example of the type of song that you can use if you’re very particular about your setlist. Songs which are off the beaten track can hold their own as well as any other.
9. Simply The Best | Tina Turner
Technically Bonnie Tyler’s song and properly titled ‘The Best’, I had the honour of accompanying the highly professional Maria Fitzgerald of weddingsinger.ie (yes, I accompany singers and other instrumentalists from time to time) and I particularly enjoyed performing this hit as the bride walked up a church aisle.
10. A Million Dreams | The Greatest Showman
An uplifting song from The Greatest Showman, this song works perfectly as a bridal entrance song with a hopeful, dreamlike melody. It’s a good example of using a musical number from a modern classic as a wedding song.
This list is not remotely exhaustive and isn’t trying to be. It’s simply a list of songs that I particularly enjoyed arranging for piano and delivering to many happy couples in 2024. The point of this list is to give you the courage and confidence to be yourself, choose the song that you actually want and not what you think you should. Simultaneously, it should be clear from this list that people generally lean towards safe bets for their wedding entrance song because these are what work! No two ways about it so make it something personal, memorable, recognisable but don’t be afraid to be a little experimental with these limits.
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. What would your ideal song for your wedding entrance be and why?
