How to Pick the Best Song for Your Wedding Video
Updated: 5 days ago
Have you ever wondered how wedding videographers choose the songs that make their wedding films feel so emotional, exciting, and cinematic?
Finding the best song for a wedding video isn't as simple as picking a song you like and putting it over the footage. When I'm editing a wedding film, I look at several different things before I decide whether a song is going to work.
Over time, I've developed a four-stage process that I use when choosing music for wedding videos:
Distinctive Beat
What the Couple Likes
Layering
Feeling and Visualization
These four things help me narrow down thousands of potential songs into something that actually works for the wedding, the couple, and the story I'm trying to tell.
So if you're wondering what are the best wedding songs, what are some good wedding songs, or even what are the most popular wedding songs, here's how I approach finding the right music for a wedding film.
1. Start With a Distinctive Beat
The first thing I listen for in a song is the beat.
Not every beat is the same, though. There are usually two different types of beats that I pay attention to.
The first is the main beat or rhythm of the song.
This is the consistent rhythm that gives the song its structure. It's the beat you naturally find yourself following when you listen.
The second is what I like to think of as the distinctive or secondary beat.
This might be a particular drum hit, guitar strum, percussion sound, vocal change, or another musical element that gives the song some extra personality.
Those little moments can be extremely useful when you're editing.
Why Does the Beat Matter?
When I'm editing a wedding film, I want the music to help guide the visuals.
For example, if the main beat happens at regular intervals, I can use those moments as opportunities to transition between shots.
One song I used in a wedding film had a main beat that was roughly every five seconds.
That gave me a natural rhythm to work with.
I could show one shot for a few seconds, transition on the beat, show another shot, and continue building the sequence.
Of course, I don't cut every single shot exactly on the beat. Sometimes a shot needs to last longer because something important is happening.
But having a recognizable beat gives me a framework.
That's one of the reasons I look for songs that have a rhythm I can actually edit to.
2. Think About What the Couple Likes
The second stage is probably one of the most important:
What does the couple actually like?
A wedding film is about the couple. The music should feel like it belongs to them.
Some couples love guitar.
Some prefer piano.
Some love violin.
Others might prefer something more modern, electronic, cinematic, or energetic.
If a couple tells me they love acoustic guitar, that immediately narrows down the music search.
Instead of searching through thousands of songs, I can start looking specifically for songs that feature guitar.
That's a huge advantage.
Ask the Couple About Their Music
If you're a wedding videographer, don't be afraid to ask the couple questions about music before the wedding.
You could ask:
What artists do you both like?
Do you prefer male or female vocals?
Do you like acoustic guitar?
Do you prefer piano?
Do you like emotional songs?
Do you want something upbeat?
Are there any songs that are special to you?
Are there any genres you don't like?
You don't necessarily need them to give you the exact song.
Sometimes knowing the style of music they enjoy is enough.
The goal isn't always to find their favorite song.
The goal is to find a song that feels like them.
3. Look for Songs With Layers
This is probably one of my favorite parts of choosing music for a wedding film.
I call it layering.
When I'm looking for music, I like songs that have different elements that can be separated or emphasized throughout the edit.
I usually think about three main layers:
Vocal
The singer.
Instrumental
The main musical backing of the song.
Instruments
Individual instruments or musical elements that can stand out from the rest of the track.
And then there's another extremely important layer:
Real Wedding Audio
The actual voices and sounds recorded during the wedding.
That could be:
The officiant
The bride
The groom
Wedding vows
Speeches
Parents
Friends
Laughter
Cheers
Live musicians
When you combine these elements, your wedding film becomes much more than a music video.
Why Audio Layering Makes a Wedding Film More Interesting
Imagine you're editing a sequence.
The singer is performing the first part of the song.
Then you lower the music.
Suddenly, you hear the officiant speaking.
Then the song comes back.
A few seconds later, you hear the groom's voice.
Then the singer returns.
Then the music builds.
This creates a conversation between the music and the actual wedding day.
Instead of having a song playing continuously underneath the entire video, you're creating a constantly changing audio experience.
That's one of the things that can make a wedding film feel much more cinematic.
Don't Forget Live Instruments
This is where layering can get really interesting.
I filmed a wedding where there was a saxophone player performing during the reception.
Instead of treating the saxophone as just background audio, I wanted to make it part of the music in the wedding film.
I found the song being used in the wedding and then looked for a saxophone version of the song.
I could then work that saxophone sound into the original music.
Now the saxophone wasn't just something happening in the background.
It became another layer of the soundtrack.
When that instrument comes through, it feels connected to the actual wedding.
It also makes the music feel much more personal to that specific couple and that specific day.
That's the kind of detail that can take a wedding video to another level.
What If You Don't Have Separated Vocals and Instruments?
Some music providers offer versions of songs where the vocals and instrumental tracks can be separated.
If your music library provides those options, that's extremely useful for editing.
If it doesn't, there are also tools that can separate vocals and instrumental tracks.
Try using this tool:Â
However, always make sure your music license allows you to manipulate the music for your intended project.
The goal isn't necessarily to completely remix the song.
It's simply to give yourself more control over the soundtrack while you're editing.
4. Choose a Song Based on Feeling
The final stage is the hardest one to explain because it has less to do with technical editing and more to do with feeling.
I think of this as visualization.
I'll listen to a song and close my eyes.
Then I ask myself:
What does this song make me feel?
Does it make me feel:
Happy?
Positive?
Excited?
Romantic?
Nostalgic?
Emotional?
Energetic?
For a wedding film, I usually want the music to create a positive emotional response.
The song doesn't necessarily need to be extremely happy.
It just needs to feel like it belongs with the story of the wedding.
Can a Song Make You Cry?
Absolutely.
I've had situations where the couple themselves reacted emotionally to a song.
That's a huge sign that the music is working.
One of the best ways to know whether you've found the right song is to stop thinking like an editor for a second.
Just listen.
Imagine the couple.
Imagine their wedding day.
Imagine the bride walking down the aisle.
Imagine the groom seeing her for the first time.
Imagine their family members crying.
Imagine everyone dancing at the reception.
Then ask yourself:
Does this song make me see those moments in my head?
If it does, you might have found something special.
What Are Some Good Wedding Songs?
If you're searching for what are some good wedding songs, I recommend starting with music libraries made for filmmakers rather than immediately searching for popular commercial music.
Some resources worth exploring include:
These services allow filmmakers to search through music based on different styles, moods, genres, and other characteristics.
For a wedding filmmaker, this can be much more useful than simply searching "popular wedding songs."
You're looking for a song that can actually work with your footage.
Musicbed Wedding Song Recommendations
Here are some Musicbed tracks worth exploring if you're looking for inspiration:
After the War
A track worth checking out when you're looking for a more cinematic direction.
Wherever I Go
Another track to explore when looking for music that can work with a wedding-film style edit.
Ouroboros
Houndstooth
Pages
Brighter
Kings and Queens
You Can't Break Love
These aren't meant to be a definitive ranking of the best wedding songs. They're examples of the types of music you can explore when you're trying to find a soundtrack for a wedding film.
Artlist Music to Explore
You can also explore these Artlist tracks that were used as references for this guide:
Music catalogs can change over time, so always check the current track page and licensing terms before using a particular song in a wedding film.
What Are the Most Popular Wedding Songs?
If you're searching for what are the most popular wedding songs, it's worth remembering that popularity isn't necessarily the most important factor for a wedding film.
A song can be incredibly popular and still be completely wrong for a particular couple.
Instead, ask:
Does the couple like it?
Does it fit the footage?
Does it have a beat I can edit to?
Does it have interesting layers?
Does it create the right emotion?
Can I legally use it?
Those questions will usually get you much closer to the right song.
What About Wedding Dance Songs?
Wedding dance songs are a little different because you usually want to capture the energy of the reception.
When you're editing dancing footage, look for music that gives you opportunities to cut quickly and showcase different moments.
You can cut between:
The couple dancing
Parents dancing
Friends dancing
Guests laughing
Wide shots of the dance floor
Close-ups
Live musicians
People celebrating
The beat becomes particularly important here.
A song with a strong rhythm can make a dance-floor sequence feel much more energetic.
Don't Forget the Original Wedding Audio
One of the biggest mistakes I see when people think about wedding videos is focusing entirely on the music.
Music is important.
But the actual voices from the wedding are often what make the film personal.
A bride saying something to her groom can mean more than any song.
A groom's vows can completely change the emotion of a sequence.
A parent giving a speech can tell the story of the couple better than a music track ever could.
That's why I like thinking of the soundtrack as multiple layers:
Music + Vocals + Instruments + Wedding Audio
When those layers work together, the result can feel much more personal.
How I Would Choose a Song for Your Wedding
If I were helping a couple choose music for their wedding film, I'd start by asking them what they like.
Then I'd narrow the choices based on:
1. Their music taste
What styles and instruments do they enjoy?
2. The beat
Does the song give the editor opportunities to transition between shots?
3. The layers
Can the vocals, instruments, and real wedding audio work together?
4. The feeling
Does the song make you feel the way you want your wedding film to feel?
If a song checks all four boxes, it's probably worth seriously considering.
One Last Tip: Don't Overthink It
Sometimes you'll listen to dozens of songs and nothing feels right.
Then you'll hear one song and immediately think:
"That's it."
That's usually the song worth exploring.
You should still make sure the licensing works and that the song fits the footage, but your first emotional reaction can be incredibly useful.
Wedding filmmaking is technical, but it's also creative.
You can understand beats, transitions, audio mixing, camera movement, color grading, and editing techniques.
But at the end of the day, you're trying to make someone feel something.
That's what the music is there to help you do.
Final Thoughts
So, when I'm choosing a song for a wedding video, I generally go through four stages:
1. Distinctive Beat
Does the song give me a rhythm that I can edit around?
2. Couple's Preference
Does the music actually fit the couple?
3. Layering
Can I combine vocals, instruments, the instrumental track, and real wedding audio?
4. Feeling & Visualization
Does the song make me visualize the wedding and feel the emotion I want the viewer to experience?
That's my process for finding the best song for a wedding video.
There isn't one song that's perfect for every wedding. The right song is the one that fits the couple, the footage, the story, and the emotion you're trying to create.
And if you're a wedding videographer or wedding film editor, I hope this process helps you find music that makes your next wedding film even better.
If you're planning your own wedding and looking for someone to capture the day, you can learn more about Stay EnGaged wedding videography below.
Stay EnGaged — Wedding Videography & Wedding Films
