For a couple's entrance, most people pick one piece of music per moment: a classical piece or a gentle love song for the ceremony, in a church, a registry office or a humanist ceremony, then an upbeat hit for the entrance into the reception. Three settings matter more than taste: length, since the walk takes one to two minutes, tempo, and the venue's rules, which you check with the officiant at a church. Here are ideas for each moment, and the case of a song written about you.
You will rework the wedding playlist ten times. But two tracks stay in people's memories: the one you walk towards the ceremony to, and the one you enter the reception to, to applause. It is the first thing your guests hear from you that day.
What makes a good entrance song
Length first. An entrance rarely lasts more than two minutes: choose a track whose best part arrives quickly, or ask the DJ to start it at the right spot. Then tempo: at the ceremony, a slow beat lets you walk without rushing; in the reception, a fast one gets guests to their feet. Finally the venue: a church, a registry office and a reception hall have neither the same rules nor the same sound system.
And a criterion people forget: the song should say something about you. The track playing the night you met beats the number one on every wedding playlist, which your guests have already heard at three weddings this summer.
A great entrance is not won on the most famous track, but on the first ten seconds.
Entrance song ideas, moment by moment
In church: the classics that carry
For the bride's entrance, the "Bridal Chorus" from Wagner's Lohengrin remains the reference, alongside Pachelbel's "Canon in D" and the "Air" from Bach's Suite No. 3. Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" suits the exit better. A secular song such as "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen is not accepted everywhere: ask the vicar or minister before printing it in the order of service.
At the registry office: short and light
A civil ceremony is brief. In England and Wales, a civil ceremony may not include any religious music or readings, so check your choices with the registrar when you book. Where it is possible, classic love songs work beautifully, such as "At Last" by Etta James, "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton or "Your Song" by Elton John. A portable speaker is often enough, as long as someone other than you presses play.
At a humanist or outdoor ceremony: total freedom
With no venue constraints, anything goes, and this is where couples dare most. Common choices include "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" in Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's version, "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran, or a piano version of a track that matters to you. Outdoors, plan for a musician or a sound system tested the day before: a crackling speaker spoils everything.
The entrance into the reception: getting guests on their feet
Here the goal is energy. "Marry You" by Bruno Mars, "Happy" by Pharrell Williams, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" by Stevie Wonder or "Can't Stop the Feeling!" by Justin Timberlake get people clapping from the intro. For something more personal, many couples choose a hit from the year they met: friends recognise it, and they know why.
Your own song, written about you
The last route: a song that tells your story, with both your first names in the chorus. Guests realise by the second line that the lyrics are about you, and the entrance becomes a moment of its own. Parents give this too: our page on a song for a daughter's or son's wedding shows how.
A custom entrance song, in practice
You tell your story, or the couple's if it is a gift, in a form: the two first names, how they met, two or three memories, the style. You read and correct the lyrics before paying, then our music AI composes and performs 2 full tracks, two different pieces of music, in minutes. For an entrance, choose a style that suits the moment: a ballad or gospel for the ceremony, disco or dance soul for the reception. With The Platinum (€13), the same song arrives in two different styles of your choice, for example a gentle version for the ceremony and an upbeat one for the party. Listen to the Platinum demo to hear the result.
A tip: ask the DJ to start the song just before the chorus, so your names land as you walk through the door. The MP3 can be downloaded from the first plan, and the three plans are laid out on the homepage; give the file to the DJ a week ahead. If the wedding party is giving it to you, our article on the best man and maid of honour wedding song gives them the running order. And for the whole celebration, see our page on a custom song for a wedding.
The mistakes that ruin an entrance
- A track whose chorus arrives in the third minute: you will be seated before it starts.
- Forgetting to clear the music with the church or registry office: discovering a refusal on the morning is too late.
- Leaving the launch to "somebody": name one person, with the file on their phone and a copy with the DJ.
- Setting the volume in an empty hall: a full room absorbs sound, so go up a notch or test with guests present.
- A song whose lyrics are about a break-up over a pretty melody: everyone understands English lyrics, and they will notice.
Cost and timing, no detours
An existing song costs nothing extra if the DJ or the venue's sound system plays it. A musician or a small ensemble for the ceremony is booked months ahead and costs hundreds of euros. A songwriter who writes a bespoke song usually asks €150 to €600 and several weeks. At Tubissime: €5, €8 or €13, delivered in minutes. The detail is in how much a custom song costs, and our guide to a custom wedding song covers the other moments of the big day, from the first dance to karaoke.
Frequently asked questions
What song should I choose for a wedding entrance?
A classical piece in church (Wagner, Pachelbel, Bach), a gentle love song at the registry office or a humanist ceremony, and an upbeat hit for the reception entrance. The best choice is still a track that says something about you: the one from the night you met, or a song written about your story.
How long does a wedding entrance last?
One to two minutes in general, the time to walk up the aisle or across the hall. Choose a track whose best part comes quickly, or ask to start it just before the chorus.
Can I use a modern song in church?
It depends on the parish: many prefer sacred or classical music during the service. Ask the officiant during the preparation, and keep the modern song for the exit or the reception entrance.
Can we enter to a song with our names in it?
Yes. A custom song tells how you met with your two first names in the chorus, and the MP3 goes to the DJ like any other track. With The Platinum you get the same song in two different styles of your choice, for example a gentle one for the ceremony and an upbeat one for the reception.
Key takeaway
A good entrance comes down to three settings: a track whose best part arrives quickly, music cleared with the venue, and one person named to start it. For the rest, choose what feels like you: a classic, the hit from the year you met, or a song that sings your names. Your guests will mostly remember your smiles.