10 Best Guitar Songs for a Wedding Ceremony

Guitar music adds a romantic, intimate touch to a wedding ceremony (especially a classical guitar). If you're playing guitar at a wedding or you're just planning a wedding and you want some song ideas for the service, I've put together a list of 10 that are go-to tracks in this category. They'll work perfectly for any special moment during the ceremony.

1. "Canon in D" by Johann Pachelbel

• Why It’s Great: A classic wedding track, "Canon in D" has a beautiful chord progression that sounds great on the guitar, either as strummed chords or fingerpicking arpeggios. There are plenty of tracks you can play but we also have a guitar lesson embedded below.

2. "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles

• Why It’s Great: This track is light, warm, and joyful — an especially good fit for an outdoor or morning wedding. It can be played in a conventional strumming pattern or a fingerpicking arrangement.

3. "Can’t Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley

• Why It’s Great: This piece is tender, heartfelt, and guitar friendlly, with a melody that is simple but moving. It works well as a solo guitar performance.

4. "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri

• Why It’s Great: There are several different ways to play this on the guitar, including a lead note pattern which is covered in the lesson below.

5. "Marry Me" by Train

• Why It’s Great: The melody in this song is simple, making it an ideal background song for marriage vows or even a gentle recessional.

6. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole (acoustic version)

• Why It’s Great: This is a gentle and almost nostalgic song that sounds beautiful on acoustic guitar. The lesson below covers easy easy strumming version.

7. "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen (acoustic version)

• Why It’s Great: The song can easily be adapted to acoustic guitar, though piano might be a better fit. If you're going to just play the track, there are plenty of great covers. I especially like Lucy Thomas's rendition (embedded below).

8. "All of Me" by John Legend

• Why It’s Great: An acoustic guitar arrangement of this song is ideal for the processional or vow exchange.

9. "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton

• Why It’s Great: This classic love song has a slow, gentle rhythm that fits perfectly with the ambiance of a wedding. The melody is one of Eric Clapton's most recognizable lead electric guitar segments, so of course adding this in would make it better. Either way, it's can be adapted to acoustic guitar or piano in simpler form.

10. "I’m Yours" by Jason Mraz

• Why It’s Great: Upbeat, relaxed, and sweet, this Jason Mraz track is ideal for a modern wedding. Its lighthearted rhythm adds a touch of fun to the ceremony, and transfers very well to an acoustic guitar without much complexity.

Tips for Choosing Ceremony Music:

• Consider the Venue: Some songs resonate better in outdoor settings, while others are suited to indoor acoustics.
• Keep the Tempo Gentle: Songs with a relaxed, steady rhythm work well for processional or vow moments.
• Consider Fingerpicking and/or a Classic Guitar: Subtle fingerpicking patterns, especially on classical guitars, can sound really good in a wedding.
• Personalize the Choices: Think of songs that have meaning for you and your partner; adding a personal touch makes the ceremony even more memorable.

These are some of the best songs for a wedding ceremony, especially if you're wanting them played live on an acoustic guitar. If you're hiring someone to play, they'll certainly be able to handle these songs. If you have questions or want to suggest a song to add to this list, let us know in the comments section below. We'll see you there!

More Guitar Song Roundups