[Wedding Ceremony & Reception BGM] Recommended Songs and How to Choose Them by Scene!
There are countless decisions that brides and grooms need to make as they prepare for their wedding and reception.
Background music is one of them!
With so much to get ready, many couples may find they just can’t get around to choosing songs.
However, music plays a crucial role in the reception, and the atmosphere of the venue can change dramatically depending on the tracks you choose!
In this article, we’ll highlight recommended songs—focusing on tracks that are actually popular at receptions—and share tips for selecting music for each scene.
We’ve arranged everything in the order of a typical reception schedule, so please read along while imagining the flow of the day.
- [Leaving the room] Popular wedding songs for different scenes at wedding ceremonies and receptions
- [Entrance Music] Popular Wedding Songs by Scene for the Ceremony and Reception
- [Wedding Reception] Recommended BGM and Popular Songs for Photo Rounds
- [Wedding Reception BGM] Recommended Songs for Bouquet and Gift Presentation
- [2026 Edition] Upbeat Songs to Play at Your Wedding: Recommended Popular Tracks
- [Wedding] A collection of love songs perfect for end credit movies
- [Farewell to Guests] Popular Wedding Songs by Scene for Ceremonies and Receptions [2026]
- [Bouquet Presentation] Popular Wedding Songs for Different Scenes at Wedding Ceremonies and Receptions
- [Wedding BGM] Touching! Recommended songs perfect for a friend’s speech
- [Wedding Songs] Popular Wedding Tracks for People in Their 20s: Recommended BGM Selections
- [Wedding BGM] Recommended songs for the ring bearer and flower girl’s entrance
- Popular Japanese Wedding Songs Ranking [2026]
- [Tearjerker Songs] Recommended for Weddings! Wedding Songs That Will Stir Emotions
Bouquet Presentation (1–10)
Motherkariyushi 58
This is the debut single by Kariyushi 58, a four-piece band from Okinawa.
Written and composed by vocalist Shingo Maekawa as an expression of gratitude to his mother, it was released in July 2006.
The title, which means “mother” in the Okinawan dialect, leaves a strong impression.
The lyrics, filled with deep love and gratitude toward his mother as well as his own self-reflection, resonate with many listeners.
The song won the Newcomer Award at the 2006 Japan Cable Awards.
In 2016, a novel of the same name by Hiro Arikawa was also published, drawing attention.
It’s a perfect choice for presenting a bouquet to thank one’s parents, sure to fill the entire venue with emotion.
A Bouquet for YouUtada Hikaru
This is the theme song of the NHK morning drama series “Toto Nee-chan.” It’s a track by Hikaru Utada, marking her return after five and a half years.
The lyrics strongly convey the desire to “send a bouquet along with feelings of gratitude,” making it perfect for the bouquet presentation at a wedding.
Its bright sound, which isn’t overly sentimental, will help elevate the emotional moment.
Bouquet presentation (11–20)
Trumpet VoluntaryJeremiah Clark
This is a classic celebratory piece whose brilliant tones instantly elevate the atmosphere of any venue.
Included around 1700 in the keyboard music collection A Choice Collection of Ayres, it features a memorable melody that imitates the bright sound of the trumpet, and has been performed by many distinguished artists such as Maurice André and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Since it was played at the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, it has been cherished as a wedding standard.
It’s an effective choice for moments when you want to energize the scene—such as a brisk, processional entrance or honoring achievements at an awards ceremony.
Exit (11–20)
A song worthy of concluding a moving wedding reception!
The closing scene proceeds without a hitch, and at last the bride and groom make their exit. By this point, the emotion in the venue should be at its peak. To heighten that blissful, celebratory mood even more, a grand and dazzling piece is ideal for the exit. It’s perfect if you can choose a song that evokes the couple taking a bold first step together toward their future!
Exit (1–10)
Love On TopBeyoncé
A gem of R&B that sings gratitude and joy for a loved one over a bright, uplifting melody.
Its warm, ’80s-inspired arrangement and majestic choral work brilliantly capture a heart brimming with happiness.
Beyoncé’s commanding vocal prowess shines throughout, and the way the song channels rising emotion through four key changes is breathtaking.
A track from the album “4,” it has garnered numerous music awards since its release in September 2011, winning Best Traditional R&B Performance at the 2013 Grammy Awards.
Overflowing with blessings for a couple embarking on a new chapter together, this song is an ideal choice as a wedding recessional number.
Marry YouBruno Mars
This work is notable for its breezy beat and Bruno Mars’s captivating vocals.
With lyrics themed around an impromptu marriage, it’s brimming with a cheerful, “let’s do something crazy” vibe.
Included on the 2010 album Doo-Wops & Hooligans, it became a hit around the world, reaching No.
85 on the Billboard Hot 100 and selling over two million copies.
Its playful lyrics and refreshing melody feel delightful, and it’s also popular as a recessional song at weddings.
It’s the kind of track that’s sure to bring smiles to guests’ faces as they celebrate the newlyweds’ send-off.
PerfectEd Sheeran
A gem of a love song whose warm, melody line brimming with deep affection and blessings resonates in the heart.
Inspired by Ed Sheeran’s real-life relationship with his wife, the feelings he weaves are filled with hope for a happy future with the one you love.
The sweeping melody that unfolds in the chorus and the gentle tones of the acoustic guitar create a remarkable harmony.
Released from the album ÷ in March 2017, it later spawned a duet version with Beyoncé and a collaboration with Andrea Bocelli.
It became a massive hit, topping charts around the world.
Perfect for a wedding recessional, this song helps create a joyful moment where the bride and groom and their guests can share in the emotion together.
Better TogetherJack Johnson
An acoustic sound and warm vocals make this a soothing love message song that celebrates the preciousness of everyday life spent together.
Woven with simple words, the lyrics convey feelings too many to fit on a postcard, sepia-toned memories captured in photographs, and gratitude for the happy times shared.
Included on Jack Johnson’s third album, “In Between Dreams,” it was released as a single in the UK in February 2006, reaching No.
24.
It was later featured in the Season 2 finale of the British TV drama “Gavin & Stacey,” winning the hearts of even more listeners.
Used for a wedding recessional, its gentle melody can deliver to your guests a hope-filled vision of the future you’ll walk together with your loved one.