Ready to add another string to your bow? In this post, we’re looking at our top 10 violin songs for a wedding!
We’ve also added a bit of information about each song, as well as accompanying videos from the talented violinists of Encore, to keep you informed, as well as inspired.
So, whether you’re just at the stage of deciding on what kind of music you’d like for your wedding, looking to hire a musician, or you’ve already hired your violinist and you’re wondering what kind of music would suit, this is the violin wedding songs list for you. We’ve also catered for all tastes: the genres of pop, classical music, jazz, and folk are all included!
If you’ve not yet booked a violinist for your wedding ceremony and you’re looking at having one, we’d recommend taking a gander at some of the fantastic violinists available to book on Encore. We have over 297 violinists available throughout the UK—so no matter if you’re up in Inverness, or down in Dover, we’ve got you covered.
Contents
- Pop songs for violin
- Classical wedding songs for violin
- Folk wedding songs for violin
- Jazz wedding songs for violin
- How much do violinists cost?
Need advice on planning your wedding music? Read our Ultimate Guide to Hiring Wedding Musicians
Pop
All of Me by John Legend
All of Me was John Legend’s first number-one single in the United States, and it’s not hard to see why. After its premiere on Oprah, it had a meteoric rise in the charts, and in the world’s collective imagination. Tender and heartfelt, this ballad will melt the hearts of all those within earshot with its striking piano-lead chords and melody. It’d be a good idea to have some tissues on hand for when this one is played.
A Thousand Years by Christina Perri
Originally recorded for the Twilight franchise, this song has taken on a life all of its own. It’s been covered by everyone from the Piano Guys to New Found Glory, showing just how well it works on any instrument. The melodious nature of the song makes it super well-suited to violin, and perfect for walking down the aisle to. Instantly recognisable, but still very romantic!
Perfect for a first dance—Lauren Hinds performing A Thousand Years in this wonderful live video
Get Lucky by Daft Punk
It’s one of the best-selling songs of all time, and has quickly become a party favourite with its expert blend of pop and disco. The pristine product of a fruitful collaboration between Daft Punk, Nile Rodgers, and Pharrell Williams, Get Lucky has everything you could want in a song. An infectious melody, unstoppable toe-tapping rhythms, and a truly memorable hook—probably best to leave this for after the ceremony!
Classical
Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel
Written somewhere between 1680 and 1706, the ubiquity of Pachelbel’s Canon in D (known affectionately as Pachelbel’s Canon) at wedding ceremonies only really started in the 1980s. The song itself would likely have been lost to time, if it wasn’t for a 1968 recording by the Jean-François Paillard chamber orchestra. That recording brought the piece out of relative obscurity, and into weddings everywhere. Its soothing melody and calm, walking bass line have secured Pachelbel’s place in history and classical musician’s repertoires everywhere.
Méditation (Thaïs) by Jules Massenet
From the opera Thaïs by French composer, Jules Massenet, Meditation has become something of a staple for concert soloists, and thought of as an ideal post-concert encore piece (and a nice break after the intensity of a violin concerto). It’s been played by famous violinists such as Itzhak Perlman, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Joshua Bell, and Nicola Benedetti. A slow and thoughtful piece, you really can’t go past it when it comes to violin repertoire.
A beautiful rendition of Méditation by violinist, Rusanda Panfili
Salut d’Amour by Edward Elgar
The beauty of some pieces is the story behind them. Salut D’Amour is no exception. The piece was written by Elgar as a gift for his fiancée as an engagement present. And it must’ve worked: they got married the following year. Aside from that, the piece was only sold for two guineas to the publishers at Schott—a rort considering just how famous the piece was to become in the following years. Its sonorous melody makes it perfect for the violin, and has become a favourite of audiences the world over.
Jazz
All of Me by Frank Sinatra
A classic jazz standard, the song was first introduced to the world by singer, Belle Baker. By the time Belle had finished singing the song for the first time, she was already in tears. She knew then just how powerful the tune was, and the numerous singers and covers that have popped up since attest to its ability to stir emotions. Frank Sinatra recorded the song a few times, each time with a different arrangement. However, it had the most success when he recorded his definitive version in 1954.
A nicely upbeat version of All of Me, by Laci Olah—great if you’ve noisy relatives!
What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
Probably the song most usually associated with the legendary singer and trumpeter, Louis Armstrong, it led him to become the oldest act to top the UK charts in 1968. It was also made famous by singer Eva Cassidy, who performed it in her last public performance. It has all the hallmarks of a classic: a beautiful melody, touching lyrics, and a perfectly balanced structure. It also sounds simply fantastic on violin!
Folk
Haste to the Wedding
Haste to the Wedding is a jig, and is found in the music of both Scottish and Irish musical traditions. It’s often played at ceilidhs, and has been arranged for many different instruments and combinations: it’s well-suited to just about anything! Apparently, the tune originally comes from County Donegal in Ireland, but was perhaps most famously noted as being played by a marching band in front of thousands for the wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert way back in 1840.
A Red, Red Rose
Written by the Scottish poet Robert Burns, the lyrics to the song were set to a traditional Scots melody that the publisher, Pietro Urbani, apparently heard sung by a young girl in the country. The appeal of the song has been wide-ranging, especially for the potency of the lyrics. Bob Dylan once selected the lyrics of the song as the ones that had the biggest effect on his life. The melody of the song is tender and caressing, much like the verse of Burns himself.
A Red, Red Rose, performed by the Arta String Quartet (or trio in this case)—it sounds even better with two extra musicians!
How much do violinists cost?
Most violinist prices range from £180 to £300, on average costing around £250. Arranging a violinist for your wedding day is almost always cost-effective—especially when compared to hiring a string quartet or function band (which often cost upwards of £1000)! As a guide, the price of booking a violinist are as follows:
- Starting Price: £189
- Average Price: £230
- High-end Price: £400
And that’s it for now! The only problem is that there are so many more fantastic wedding songs for violinists we haven’t covered here. The solution: get in touch with any one of our incredible wedding violinists! They will no doubt have a deep knowledge of all the tunes in their song list, and can give you insight into what kind of songs will work best for your big day.
If you’re already sorted with a violinist for your wedding but looking for entertainment for later in the day, we have thousands of acts ready to make music sweet to the ears and the soul (plus dancing feet)! Why not take a look at some of those brilliant wedding acts—we’ve got everything from Ceilidh bands, to Jazz duos, to singing ukulele players.
Cover image courtesy of Jessica Lawless