Wedding Ceremony Music Ideas for Violin: Romantic Songs for Every Moment
Music is one of the most memorable parts of a wedding ceremony. From the moment guests begin arriving to the final walk back down the aisle, the right music can completely shape the atmosphere of the celebration.
Live violin is especially beautiful for weddings because it can sound elegant, romantic, emotional, modern, or energetic depending on the song. Couples can choose traditional wedding music, contemporary pop songs, film music, classical pieces, or songs that have a personal meaning to them.
As a professional wedding violinist performing throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, and Southern California, I have had the opportunity to perform many different styles of ceremony music. Here are some of my favorite wedding ceremony music ideas for violin, organized by each part of the ceremony.
Pre-Ceremony Violin Music
The wedding experience begins before the processional.
Pre-ceremony music, also called wedding prelude music, is typically performed while guests arrive, find their seats, and wait for the ceremony to begin. This is a wonderful opportunity to create a romantic atmosphere while incorporating several songs you love.
Beautiful pre-ceremony violin song ideas include:
Young and Beautiful - Lana Del Rey
Lover - Taylor Swift
Perfect - Ed Sheeran
A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
La Vie en Rose
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Fly Me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra
So Easy - Olivia Dean
Ocean Eyes - Billie Eilish
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Can't Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley
River Flows in You - Yiruma
Pre-ceremony music does not necessarily need to consist entirely of traditional wedding songs. Modern music performed on violin can create an elegant atmosphere while still reflecting your personality.
Wedding Party Processional Songs for Violin
The processional is one of the most important musical moments of the ceremony.
Many couples select one song for the wedding party and a separate song for the bride or couple's entrance. Choosing two different songs can create a beautiful musical transition and make the main entrance feel even more significant.
Some beautiful wedding processional songs for violin include:
A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
Enchanted - Taylor Swift
Lover - Taylor Swift
Perfect - Ed Sheeran
Love Story - Taylor Swift
Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
Canon in D - Johann Pachelbel
Can't Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Until I Found You - Stephen Sanchez
Everything Has Changed - Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran
Halo - Beyoncé
For a more cinematic ceremony, instrumental arrangements of movie scores and contemporary instrumental music can also work beautifully.
Bride Entrance Songs for Violin
The bride's entrance is often the most emotional moment of the wedding ceremony.
Your entrance song does not have to be a traditional bridal processional. One of the advantages of having a live wedding violinist is the ability to transform a favorite contemporary song into an elegant instrumental arrangement.
Some popular and romantic bride entrance songs for violin include:
Can't Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley
Young and Beautiful - Lana Del Rey
A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
All of Me - John Legend
Perfect - Ed Sheeran
Lover - Taylor Swift
Enchanted - Taylor Swift
Until I Found You - Stephen Sanchez
La Vie en Rose
At Last - Etta James
Halo - Beyoncé
Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
When selecting your entrance music, consider choosing a song that has an emotional connection to your relationship rather than simply selecting a song because it is traditionally associated with weddings.
Classical Wedding Violin Music
Classical music remains a beautiful choice for couples who want a timeless or formal ceremony.
Some classic wedding violin music ideas include:
Canon in D - Johann Pachelbel
Bridal Chorus - Richard Wagner
Wedding March - Felix Mendelssohn
Air on the G String - Johann Sebastian Bach
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - Johann Sebastian Bach
Ave Maria - Franz Schubert
Clair de Lune - Claude Debussy
Classical violin music can work particularly well for church ceremonies, formal ballroom weddings, estate weddings, and elegant garden ceremonies.
You can also combine classical and contemporary music. For example, guests might arrive to classical violin before the ceremony transitions into modern songs for the wedding party and bride's entrance.
Modern Wedding Songs That Sound Beautiful on Violin
One of my favorite things about performing violin for weddings is turning familiar contemporary songs into instrumental arrangements.
Songs that might not immediately seem like traditional wedding music can sound completely different when performed on violin.
Some modern songs that work especially well include:
Die With a Smile - Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
Young and Beautiful - Lana Del Rey
Lover - Taylor Swift
Enchanted - Taylor Swift
Perfect - Ed Sheeran
All of Me - John Legend
Love Me Like You Do - Ellie Goulding
Halo - Beyoncé
Ocean Eyes - Billie Eilish
So Easy - Olivia Dean
Until I Found You - Stephen Sanchez
Stargazing - Myles Smith
Modern violin arrangements are a wonderful option for couples who want their ceremony to feel elegant without being overly traditional.
Songs for a Unity Ceremony, Prayer, or Special Ceremony Moment
Some wedding ceremonies include a unity candle, sand ceremony, religious prayer, cultural tradition, or another special moment.
Soft violin music can accompany these portions of the ceremony without distracting from what is happening.
Songs for these moments can include:
River Flows in You - Yiruma
A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
Can't Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley
Perfect - Ed Sheeran
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
La Vie en Rose
Instrumental worship or religious music
A meaningful song selected by the couple
The music should generally remain soft during this portion so that it complements the ceremony rather than becoming the main focus.
Wedding Recessional Songs for Violin
After the couple is officially married, the mood usually changes completely.
The recessional is the perfect opportunity to choose something upbeat, joyful, and celebratory.
Some fun wedding recessional songs for violin include:
Love Me Like You Do - Ellie Goulding
Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
Marry You - Bruno Mars
Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder
You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates
Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
Stargazing - Myles Smith
Love Story - Taylor Swift
This Will Be - Natalie Cole
Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves
For electric violin, upbeat recessional music can be especially exciting and creates an energetic transition from the ceremony into cocktail hour.
Should You Choose Solo Violin or Violin With Backing Tracks?
Both can work beautifully depending on the atmosphere you want.
Solo violin creates a romantic, intimate, and timeless sound. It is particularly beautiful for smaller ceremonies, churches, gardens, and quiet settings.
Violin with instrumental backing tracks creates a fuller sound and works especially well for contemporary pop, R&B, film music, and larger outdoor weddings.
An amplified electric violin can also help ensure that guests can hear the music clearly throughout a larger ceremony space.
How Many Songs Do You Need for a Wedding Ceremony?
Every wedding is different, but a typical ceremony may include music for:
Pre-ceremony guest arrival
Family or grandparents
Wedding party processional
Bride or couple's entrance
Unity ceremony, prayer, or another special moment
Recessional
You do not necessarily need a different song for every person entering.
For example, the wedding party may all enter during one song before transitioning into a separate selection for the bride.
A professional wedding musician can also extend, shorten, repeat, or naturally end a song depending on how long the processional takes.
How to Choose Your Wedding Ceremony Violin Music
Start by thinking about how you want each part of the ceremony to feel.
The pre-ceremony music might be soft and romantic. The processional can gradually become more emotional. The bride's entrance can feature the most meaningful song of the ceremony, followed by an upbeat recessional once you are officially married.
Most importantly, choose music you genuinely love.
Your wedding ceremony does not need to sound exactly like anyone else's. Some of the most memorable weddings combine traditional elements with contemporary songs and personal favorites.
Live Wedding Violinist in Los Angeles and Orange County
Live violin can create a beautiful soundtrack for every part of your wedding ceremony, from the first guests arriving to your walk back down the aisle as newlyweds.
I provide live wedding violin music throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, and Southern California, including pre-ceremony music, processionals, bride entrances, ceremony music, recessional songs, cocktail hour entertainment, and receptions.
My performances can include acoustic or electric violin, professional backing tracks, amplification, and customized song selections depending on the wedding and venue.
If you are looking for a wedding violinist in Los Angeles, Orange County, or Southern California, visit AbigailShelton.com to learn more and inquire about availability for your wedding date.