Since getting married, one of the questions I get asked most often is what songs we chose for our wedding.
Before getting married myself, I thought wedding music mostly meant choosing a first dance song and giving the DJ a few requests. It wasn’t until I started filling in the ceremony questionnaire from our registrar that I realised quite how many different music choices we’d need to make throughout the day.
Suddenly we needed songs for walking down the aisle, signing the register and walking back out again as a married couple. We were also told that because we were having a civil ceremony rather than a church wedding, we couldn’t have hymns or religious music, which ruled out a few ideas straight away.
Then there was the drinks reception, the evening entertainment, the first dance and even the last song of the night.
Looking back, the songs we chose ended up telling our story better than I realised at the time. Some were linked to important memories, some reminded us of people we love and others reflected the different influences we both brought into the day.
So if you’re planning your own wedding and wondering how many songs you’ll actually need, here’s every music moment from our wedding day, what we chose and why.
Just looking for the songs?
I’ve included a summary of every song and music choice from our wedding day at the end of this post.
Otherwise, keep reading for the stories behind each choice and where each song was used during the day.
Guest Arrival Music
Our choice: Live acoustic music (instrumental) by Sean Jackson
This is one of the wedding music moments that people don’t always think about, but it’s actually the first thing your guests experience when they arrive.
Before anyone has walked down the aisle, guests are finding their seats, saying hello to family members they haven’t seen for years and taking everything in. At our wedding, that meant the beautiful lake views at Canada Lodge and Lake. There were the ceremony flowers, the candles, the aisle, the arch and all those little details we’d spent months planning.
The music playing during that time quietly sets the atmosphere for everything that follows.
We had Sean Jackson playing live acoustic music as our guests arrived. This felt particularly special because Sean was headlining at The Live Lounge in Cardiff on the very night my husband and I met. Having him there on our wedding day felt like bringing our story full circle.
For the ceremony itself, we wanted things to feel soft and relaxed. Sean played instrumental guitar music while guests arrived and took their seats, which created a lovely atmosphere without being distracting.
One thing I loved about having a live musician is that Sean wasn’t there for just one moment. He played as guests arrived, provided the music for the ceremony itself and then carried on into the drinks reception afterwards. For us, it was one of the best investments of the day because it carried the atmosphere right through from the first guest arriving to everyone making their way out onto the patio after the ceremony.
Walking Down the Aisle
Our choice: More Than Words (Instrumental) by Extreme
This was the song we used for both our wedding party and my own entrance.
Some couples choose one song for their wedding party and a completely different song for the bride’s entrance to create a real “here comes the bride” moment. We decided not to do that.
Our wedding party were children and teenagers, so I wanted to keep everything as simple as possible. I didn’t want anyone worrying about counting steps, timing their entrance to a particular part of a song or suddenly changing the music halfway through.
Our flower girl, who was just 18 months old, walked in first, followed by our five year old ring bearer. Then came four of my nieces, aged 11, 13, 17 and 19. They all entered individually in age and height order. By the time one had reached the middle of the aisle, the next was making their entrance, so it felt like one continuous moment rather than lots of separate walks. My other niece was due to be part of the ceremony too, but was unwell and couldn’t be there on the day.
I then walked in with my mum.
My dad had recently passed away, so I gave my mum the honour of giving me away. She made me incredibly proud that day and it remains one of my favourite memories from the ceremony.
We chose More Than Words by Extreme, played as an instrumental version on acoustic guitar by Sean Jackson.
There wasn’t a complicated reason behind it. I simply loved the song.
I’ve always loved acoustic guitar music. My dad taught himself to play guitar and was in a band, so there has always been something emotional about hearing a guitar played live.
Hearing that song played on acoustic guitar while I walked down the aisle with my mum felt like the perfect fit for that moment. Sean played it without the lyrics, which made it feel soft and understated.
The longer I listened to it, the more emotional I felt. By the time it was my turn to walk in with my mum, I was already trying very hard not to cry.
One thing I learnt while planning our wedding is that not every song choice needs a deep meaning. Some couples spend hours analysing lyrics, but I mostly chose songs based on how they made me feel.
That said, there is something rather fitting about starting married life with a song called More Than Words. I didn’t choose it because of the lyrics, but looking back I like the idea that marriage is about far more than saying the right words. It’s about everything that comes afterwards too.
Signing the Register
Our choices:
- Thinking Out Loud (Instrumental) by Ed Sheeran
- All of Me (Instrumental) by John Legend
- Can’t Help Falling in Love (Instrumental) by Elvis Presley
While we signed the register, Sean played three instrumental songs that all meant something to us for different reasons.
The first was Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran.
For years, I’d imagined this might be my first dance song. I’ve always loved Ed Sheeran and, as somebody who loves acoustic guitar music, it had been on my wedding playlist long before I was actually planning a wedding.
In the end, we chose a different song for our first dance, but I still wanted Thinking Out Loud to be part of the day, so signing the register felt like the perfect place for it.
The second song was All of Me by John Legend.
This choice takes me straight back to a weekend in London when my husband and I were still engaged. I was really missing him at the time and was walking along the South Bank with my oldest niece when we passed a busker singing All of Me. Standing there singing along, I remember feeling quite emotional. Of course, I filmed it on my phone and immediately sent the video to him.
It’s funny how certain songs become attached to little moments in your life. Every time I hear that one, I’m taken straight back to that weekend and remember how much I missed him.
Our final signing song was Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley.
This one was a nod to my parents. Growing up, we listened to a lot of Elvis, 50s music and old rock and roll, and I loved hearing the stories that came with that era. Watching films like Jailhouse Rock became part of that too.
It was actually a toss up between Can’t Help Falling in Love and Love Me Tender, but in the end we went with the first. It felt like the perfect Elvis song to include in a wedding ceremony.
Looking back, I think that’s one of the reasons I loved having a live musician. Hearing songs that already meant something to us played live made the whole ceremony feel much more personal.
Walking Back Out
Our choice: Love Story by Taylor Swift
This was the point where the mood changed from emotional to celebration.
We’d said our vows, signed the register and all the serious bits were done, so it felt like the perfect moment to swap the softer ceremony music for something much more upbeat.
We chose Love Story by Taylor Swift for our song for walking back out.
I’ve always loved country music and have been line dancing since I was 17, so Taylor Swift’s earlier country-inspired music was already a favourite of mine long before I started planning a wedding. Love Story is upbeat, instantly recognisable and felt like the perfect soundtrack for that moment.
Up until this point, all of our ceremony music had been instrumental because we wanted the focus to be on the ceremony itself and those quieter, more emotional moments. Walking back out felt completely different. This was our chance to celebrate, so rather than playing another instrumental version, Sean sang the lyrics live and the whole atmosphere changed.
The music felt louder, faster and more upbeat, with guests smiling, clapping and celebrating as we made our way back down the aisle.
Drinks Reception
Our choice: Live acoustic music (instrumental) by Sean Jackson
The drinks reception was where we really wanted to recreate the atmosphere of Live Lounge, the Cardiff venue where my husband and I first met.
While we disappeared off for family photos, couple photos and group shots, our guests were free to mingle, enjoy the views across the lake and catch up with people they hadn’t seen for years.
It was a beautiful summer’s day, so many guests spent time outside on the patio enjoying drinks, Nigerian small chops, and sweet treats. They also made the most of the scenery around Canada Lodge and Lake. At the same time, Lucy Daniels was creating live illustrations of guests while Sean continued performing acoustic music.
It was exactly the atmosphere we had hoped for. A bit like spending a summer afternoon at Live Lounge Cardiff, with acoustic music playing in the background while everyone caught up over a few drinks in the sunshine.
Rather than giving Sean a strict set list, I sent him a playlist beforehand to give him a feel for the sort of music I liked and then trusted him to do what he does best.
It wasn’t about choosing exact songs or building a minute-by-minute set list. It was more about capturing that Live Lounge feeling. If you’ve ever listened to BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge or spent an afternoon in Live Lounge Cardiff, you’ll probably know exactly the sort of sound I was aiming for.
The playlist included songs such as Valerie, American Boy, Better Together, Stand By Me, Save Tonight, Dreams and Wonderwall. It was less about choosing exactly what he should sing and more about creating a particular atmosphere.
If you’d like to see the full playlist I sent Sean, I’ve shared it in a separate post.
One of my favourites was hearing Sean sing More Than Words again. During the ceremony, he had played it as an instrumental, but at the drinks reception he sang the lyrics. Standing outside as Mrs Asamu, surrounded by family and friends, hearing the full song performed live was lush.
Wedding Breakfast Entrance
Our choice: No song
After our drinks reception, all of our guests were invited into the dining room while we headed off for some final photos by the lake. Once we returned, we had a few moments to ourselves outside before being introduced as the new Mr and Mrs Asamu.
Everyone cheered as we entered the room and we made our way to our sweetheart table. It was a lovely moment, but I still remember there being a tiny pause afterwards. The cheering stopped, we sat down and there was almost a sense of, “What happens next?”
At the time, I genuinely didn’t know wedding breakfast entrance songs were a thing. Nobody asked us for one and it wasn’t part of any of our planning conversations.
Since then, I’ve seen loads of TikTok videos where couples are introduced into the room to a favourite song. Suddenly, it made sense. The music keeps the energy going after the applause and helps bridge the transition into the meal.
It’s not something I regret because our entrance still felt special, but it is one of those things I wish I’d known about while planning.
Cake Cutting
Our choice: No song
Unlike our wedding breakfast entrance, this was a conscious decision rather than something we didn’t know about.
Our cake cutting took place during the wedding breakfast while guests were eating dessert, so it wasn’t a big staged moment with everyone gathered around watching.
We simply cut the cake, had a few photos taken and carried on enjoying the day.
I’ve been to weddings where the cake is moved into the centre of the room, the DJ makes an announcement and a song plays while everyone gathers around. If you’re planning to make the cake cutting a feature of the day, I can absolutely see why that works.
For us, though, it felt like such a short tradition that we were happy to keep it simple. We didn’t need the extra attention or stress as there was no risk of somebody trying to move a cake across the room and accidentally creating a wedding disaster!
Because our cake cutting was more of an intimate moment, I don’t think a song would have added much. It suited the relaxed approach we took to that part of the day.
Room Turnaround
Our choice: Live Afrobeats music by Morack Official
After the wedding breakfast, our venue needed time to transform the room ready for the evening reception.
This was when our white starlit dance floor was installed, the IFEMI light-up letters were put into place and the room started its transition from wedding breakfast to evening party.
Rather than letting the room turnaround become a lull in the day, we wanted to keep everything feeling intentional and start building excitement for the evening party.
By this point, guests had enjoyed the softer acoustic ceremony music and the Live Lounge inspired drinks reception. Now it was time to lift the energy.
If there was one thing I was learning, it was that Nigerians know how to bring the party.
This felt like the perfect opportunity to introduce more Afrobeats into the day. Some guests stayed inside to enjoy Morack Official’s live performance, while others gathered outside watching Steve Taylor Magic.
It worked really well because the atmosphere naturally started to shift. The music felt livelier, the entertainment became more interactive and people were already getting into party mode before they even stepped onto the dance floor.
For some of our guests, it was probably their first proper introduction to Afrobeats too, which felt quite fitting because they were about to hear a lot more of it once the DJ started later that evening.
First Dance
Our choice: Only You by Ric Hassani
For years, I’d imagined my first dance might be Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran, which is why it ended up appearing earlier in the ceremony instead.
When it came to choosing the song we would actually dance to, we wanted something that reflected both of us and the mix of influences that had shaped the day. That’s how we ended up choosing Only You by Nigerian artist Ric Hassani.
My husband is Nigerian and by this point in the day we’d already introduced guests to Afrobeats through Morack Official’s performance during the room turnaround. Choosing a Nigerian artist for our first dance felt completely natural.
The song itself is romantic, the lyrics are beautiful and it suited the atmosphere we wanted to create for our first dance.
The setup was simple. My husband stood waiting on the dance floor while the opening chords played, thoroughly enjoying being the centre of attention! He then held out his hand and I walked onto the dance floor to join him.
We’d spent the week before the wedding practising a little routine in our living room. Nothing too ambitious. We just wanted to avoid standing there awkwardly swaying from side to side.
What still makes me laugh is that even though we knew the routine wasn’t particularly long, it felt even shorter on the night. We somehow ended up doing the dance twice because neither of us was quite ready for it to be over.
We’d always planned to invite everyone else onto the dance floor halfway through. Our wedding was about bringing people together, not making everyone stand and watch us dance for three minutes.
Evening Party
Our choice: A mix of Afrobeats and chart favourites
By the time the evening party began, we knew the music needed to reflect both sides of our wedding. We’d spent much of the day listening to acoustic guitar music during the ceremony and drinks reception, so it felt right that the evening brought more of my husband’s Nigerian influences into the celebration.
We had a lot of Nigerian guests, so Afrobeats was always going to play a big part in the evening. I’d say the music probably ended up being around a 60/40 split between Afrobeats and chart favourites, which felt like a good balance for our mix of guests and the atmosphere we wanted to create.
Rather than giving our DJ from Obsession Entertainment a strict running order, we both sent over playlists to give him a feel for the music we loved and trusted him to read the room on the night.
I sent across a few songs I knew would get me onto the dance floor, including Show Me Love by Robin S, which has been my favourite song for years. It always reminds me of holidays with friends and instantly makes me want to dance. I also requested A Bar Song (Tipsy) because I’d taught a line dance to it at my hen party, along with Saturday Night, which my sister, nieces and I all danced to together. And of course, there had to be some Spice Girls. I was born in the 80s and grew up in the 90s, so not including them was never really an option.
My husband sent over a selection of Afrobeats artists he wanted included throughout the evening, including Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, Rema, Kizz Daniel and Asake. Together, those playlists gave our DJ a really good understanding of the type of evening we were hoping to create.
If you’d like to see the Afrobeats playlist we shared with our DJ, I’ve added it in a separate post.
What I liked most was that the music never felt as though it was switching between “his songs” and “my songs”. Everything blended together naturally, and the dance floor reflected that too. One minute there would be a group singing along to a chart favourite, and the next there would be a crowd dancing to Afrobeats.
Last Song of the Night
Our choice: A surprise from the DJ
Everyone talks about the first dance, but very few people think about the last song of the night. Yet it’s arguably the final memory guests take away with them as they collect their bags, say their goodbyes and make their way home.
The funny thing is, we didn’t choose ours. Our DJ decided to play Only You by Ric Hassani again.
The song had already been part of one of the biggest moments of the day as our first dance, so hearing it again at the very end brought everything full circle without us even planning it.
A few people told me afterwards that they’d never heard the song before but have since downloaded it themselves.
I love that. Of all the songs we played throughout the day, that’s the one people still mention to me now.
Our Wedding Songs at a Glance
If you’ve skipped straight here, here’s a quick summary of every song and music choice from our wedding day.
| Wedding Moment | Our Choice |
|---|---|
| Guest arrival music | Live acoustic music (instrumental) by Sean Jackson |
| Wedding Party Entrance | More Than Words (Instrumental) – Extreme |
| Bride Entrance | More Than Words (Instrumental) – Extreme |
| Signing the Register – Song 1 | Thinking Out Loud (Instrumental) – Ed Sheeran |
| Signing the Register – Song 2 | All of Me (Instrumental) – John Legend |
| Signing the Register – Song 3 | Can’t Help Falling in Love (Instrumental) – Elvis Presley |
| Walking Back Out | Love Story – Taylor Swift |
| Drinks Reception | Live acoustic set by Sean Jackson [Live Lounge Wedding Playlist] |
| Wedding Breakfast Entrance | No song |
| Wedding Breakfast | Venue background music |
| Cake Cutting | No song |
| Room Turnaround Entertainment | Live afrobeats set by Morack Official |
| First Dance | Only You – Ric Hassani |
| Evening Party | Mix of Afrobeats and chart favourites [Afrobeats Wedding Party Playlist] |
| Last Song of the Night | Only You – Ric Hassani |
If you’ve made it this far, you’ll know that most of these songs weren’t chosen because they were popular wedding songs. Behind almost every choice was a memory, a person, a place or a moment that meant something to us.
From the night we met at Live Lounge Cardiff to the songs that reminded me of my dad, every choice became part of the story of our day.
That’s why I always recommend starting with songs you genuinely love rather than searching for the perfect wedding playlist. The stories behind the songs are often what make them memorable.
I’ll be sharing plenty more from our Welsh-Nigerian wedding here on Teacups & Glitter, from music and entertainment to food, styling and the personal touches that made the day feel like us.
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