“Here comes the bride, matching her stride, with her glad father who’s bursting with pride. She’s dressed in white, pure, clean, and bright, a lovely picture of all that is right.”
So goes the English lyrics to “Here Comes the Bride,” a melody that has traditionally accompanied Western weddings since Victorian England. The tune is actually called “Bridal Chorus,” a song written in 1850 by German composer Richard Wagner for his opera Lohengrin.
Wagner’s lyrics translate like this: “Led here in faith, draw near with joy, love’s guardian angel will watch over you! Joined in a bond none can destroy, now you are one in your love ever true!”
It’s in the wedding scene between Elsa and Lohengrin, and in the opera, their marriage is doomed to fail, so it’s a bit ironic that it’s been such a wedding mainstay.
There’s also the alternative lyrics you might have learned at summer camp: “Here comes the bride, so fat and wide, tear down the church doors, to get her inside.”
Another historically popular processional is Felix Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March,” written in 1842 to accompany a production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This soaring melody has been a favorite in movie weddings, such as Up, Nanny McPhee, Just Married, and Four Weddings and a Funeral, among others.
One thing you can say about both of these traditional wedding marches is they just feel old, tired, and clichĆ©. Picking the right music for you and your significant other can be a challenge. Let’s face it, there’s a lot of music to choose from.
Lately, for the processional, people have picked songs such as “I Choose You” by Sara Bareilles or Kina Grannis’ version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” as heard in Crazy Rich Asians. If you’re a little bit country, “Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts might be right up your red dirt road. Other solid choices include Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” and Taylor Swift’s “Lover.” An old but not ancient alternative is “At Last” by Etta James. Beatles fans often pick “Here Comes the Sun.” And let’s not forget Adele’s “Make You Feel My Love” or John Legend’s “All of Me.” I like “Marry You,” which is upbeat one from Bruno Mars.
Wedding season is coming up, so I asked a couple of my DJ friends if they had suggestions for songs for the various parts of a wedding, and I’m guessing any DJ you ask will have their own favorites. You can connect to local DJs at theknot.com/marketplace/wedding-djs-san-luis-obispo-ca.
Here are DJ Rachael Joyous‘ suggestions:
Processional: “Marry Me” by Train; “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You” by Haley Reinhart; “I Love You Always Forever” by Betty Who.
Recessional: “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer; “Chapel of Love” by The Dixie Cups; and “Star Wars Coronation March” by John Williams.
Reception grand entry: “The Johnny Carson Tonight Show Theme”; “Here Comes the Bride” by Bobby Morganstein.
Couple’s first dance: “Through the Eyes of Love” by Melissa Manchester; “Love of my Life” by Brian McKnight; or “Stay With You” by John Legend.
Father-daughter dance: “Butterfly Kisses” by Bob Carlisle; “Unforgettable” by Natalie and Nat King Cole; “I Loved Her First” by Heartland.
Bouquet toss: “Get Down On It” by Kool and the Gang; “Move Bitch” by Ludacris; or “Single Ladies” by Beyonce.
Cake cutting: “Sugar Sugar” by The Archies; “Cut the Cake” by the Average White Band.
Farewell Dance: “Time of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes.
“Most weddings are unique, and couples have meaningful song lists they like to incorporate into their special day together,” Joyous noted. She can be reached through spotoneventservices.com.
Prior to COVID, DJ Malik Miko Thorne did a lot of weddings, but these days he’s “semi-retired.” The owner of the quirky retail shop A Satellite of Love is still reachable at weddingwire.com/biz/malik-miko-weddings-san-luis-obispo/93e8257c2fb547ae.html.
These are his go-to picks:
Processional: Richard David James’ instrumental piano piece “Avril 14th” released under the name Aphex Twin.
Vows: “Green” by Hiroshi Yoshimura.
Recessional: “This Must Be the Place” by Talking Heads.
First dance: “Brindo” by Devendra Banhart.
Father-daughter dance: “Daughter” by Loudon Wainwright III.
Mother-son dance: “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan.
Bouquet toss: “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” by Etta James.
Garter toss: “Mannish Boy” by Muddy Waters.
Cake cutting: “Candy” by Nat King Cole.
Congratulations, you crazy kids! Mazel tov! Ī
Contact Arts Editor Glen Starkey at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Weddings 2025.