There are plenty of great songs for a romantic wedding, but where does one start? Well, at Encore, we’ve made things easy for you. We’ve hand-selected 10 incredibly romantic songs, new and old, that would make even Cupid proud!
You can read about them and get inspiration below.
Need more general advice on planning your wedding music? Read our Ultimate Guide to Hiring Wedding Musicians.
At Last
- Made famous by: Etta James, Eva Cassidy, Joni Mitchell, Beyoncé
- Perfect act: Singer, Jazz Duo, or String Quartet
- Most memorable line: “And here we are in Heaven, For you are mine at last”
First performed in 1941, and most famously sung by the incomparable Etta James, this song has truly stood the test of time. And for good reason: we can’t think of a song that captures so perfectly the feeling of meeting your soulmate for the first time.
On Shuffle, performing a masterful rendition of Etta James’, At Last
Can’t Help Falling In Love
- Made famous by: Elvis Presley, Haley Reinhart, Michael Bublé, Twenty One Pilots
- Perfect act: Singer, Acoustic Duo, or Violinist
- Most memorable line: “Take my hand, take my whole life too / For I can’t help falling in love with you”
One of the truly classic romance songs, a reliable tear-jerker, and an utterly beautiful tribute to falling in love. Can’t Help Falling In Love is a deceptively simple song at first glance, with only 16 lines of lyrics and 8 chords. But, its enduring appeal is undeniable—the melody alone is enough to make an audience swoon, never mind those heartrending lyrics!
Soul To Soul Acoustic with a gorgeous reimagining of Elvis’ timeless love song
A Thousand Years
- Made famous by: Christina Perri, Boyce Avenue, The Piano Guys
- Perfect act: Singer, Pianist, or Harpist
- Most memorable line: “Time has brought your heart to me / I have loved you for a thousand years”
You simply can’t have a list of wedding songs without including A Thousand Years. The waltz-like timing means it works brilliantly for a first dance; the uplifting lyrics are ideal for walking down the aisle to; the joyous melody is the perfect mood-setter for the signing of the registry. It’s almost as if this song was made for weddings. And if you’d prefer an instrumental version, that sounds just as enchanting as the original.
Laura Erby performing a show-stopping cover of Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years
Ave Maria
- Made famous by: Pavarotti, Michael Bublé, Sheku Kanneh-Mason
- Perfect act: Singer, Classical Guitarists, or Cellist
Although the lyrics are in Latin, and it was composed way back in 1825 by Schubert, the romance of this song will not be lost on anyone who hears it. The soaring sound of a singer or musician performing this piece is truly something to behold. This fact was not lost on the Royals: over 29 million people witnessed Sheku Kanneh-Mason perform a breathtaking rendition of Ave Maria at the royal wedding of Meghan and Harry.
An incredibly moving arrangement of Ave Maria for classical guitar and cello, by Tye Austin
Bloom
- Made famous by: The Paper Kites
- Perfect act: Singer, or Acoustic Duo
- Most memorable line: “Oh, the whole world it is sleeping / But my world is you”
A lesser-known love song, this rustic tune by Australian band The Paper Kites could melt even the coldest of hearts. The lyrics are poetic and filled with romantic images, painting a remarkably accurate picture of what it’s like to be in love. For those of you who are after an authentic vision of romance, this one’s for you.
Thinking Out Loud
- Made famous by: Ed Sheeran, The Temptations, Boyce Avenue
- Perfect act: Singer, Acoustic Duo, or A Cappella Group
- Most memorable line: “And darling I will be loving you ’til we’re 70, And baby my heart could still fall as hard at 23”
Smooth, full of great lyrics, and simply made for those hopeless romantics out there. Ed Sheeran’s love ballad, Thinking Out Loud, dominated the charts for months after it was released, and has since become a regular staple at weddings everywhere. Plus, due to it’s soulful melody, it translates well for almost any type of performance, whether sung by a solo singer, harmonised by a duo, or expanded to a larger group.
You Say We Play—pitch perfect in this tightly harmonised cover of Thinking Out Loud
Beyond
- Made famous by: Leon Bridges
- Perfect act: Singer, Pop Band
- Most memorable line: “O me o my I can’t explain / She might just be my everything”
A beautifully emotional song—Bridges wonders what a future life might be like with his lover. The lyrics capture how it feels when you know deep down someone is right for you. Musically, it’s deep and totally heartfelt. The perfect music for tying the knot, especially when you already know the answer to the question asked in the song: “Will she be my wife?”
Lovely Day
- Made famous by: Bill Withers, alt-J, Luther Vandross, Diana Ross
- Perfect act: Singing Guitarist, or Function Band
- Most memorable line: “Just one look at you / And I know it’s gonna be / A lovely day”
A stone-cold classic by one of the kings of Soul and R&B, Bill Withers. An ideal selection for injecting some romance into the dancing portion of the wedding, it’s also just as great when paired down for an acoustic rendition on piano or guitar. The song is a celebration: every day is a lovely day when you’re with the one you love.
Liam Paul with a stripped-down acoustic cover of Lovely Day by Bill Withers
Lucky
- Made famous by: Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat, Ximena Sariñana
- Perfect act: Pop Duo
- Most memorable line: “I’m lucky I’m in love with my best friend / Lucky to have been where I have been”
Love works in mysterious ways, and none more so than when you fall in love with a best friend. Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat memorialise this most picturesque of love stories in this charmingly upbeat duet. Out of all the songs on this list, this one will have your guests whistling the tune for at least a few hours after it’s finished.
All Of Me
- Made famous by: John Legend, Il Divo, Boyce Avenue
- Perfect act: Singing Pianist, String Quartet
- Most memorable line: “I give you all, all of me / And you give me all, all of you”
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more intensely emotional dedication to the passion of loving someone than John Legend’s All Of Me. The words are a proposal, a promise, and a powerful affirmation of undying love.
Niche nail a powerful string quartet arrangement of John Legend’s All Of Me
Cover image courtesy of Leia Fae Photography