Soon you’ll have your happy ending, but maybe you’re still at a loss for what your wedding recessional song will be. It’s your real-life happily ever after, and the best way to end the ceremony is with an upbeat or romantic song playing like in many Disney movies.
We know it’s going to take only a few minutes for you and your spouse to walk as newlyweds towards a waiting limo or carriage. Make the moment more special with a song you love.
If you are getting married in a church or place of worship, check first with your officiant and determine which wedding recessional songs are acceptable.
The good news is that many places of worship are a bit more liberal these days. Officiants may allow love songs played in the place of traditional hymns.
If you’re having a secular wedding, your wedding recessional song choices are virtually limitless. However, you should take into consideration the presence of your family, relatives, and friends.
Avoid songs that are suggestive or have double meanings. Many couples think these are cool. Instead, choose a song everyone will like too. Remember, they’re celebrating with you!
If you asked singers and musicians to perform during your ceremony, give them enough time to familiarize themselves with your choices. They can even adjust the wedding recessional song for you by perhaps changing the beat or adjusting the length.
Also, request them to attend if you’re having a wedding rehearsal.
If you are leaning towards R&B songs for your wedding recessional, we do have a few suggestions for you. We’ve included fun songs from the fifties, sixties, and so on. Don’t discount the oldies. They’re classics and have great lyrics too.
Consider the following by Ben E. King from his song, “Stand By Me”:
“When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we’ll see
No, I won’t be afraid
Oh, I won’t be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me.”
Or, the following lines from Stevie Wonder’s “You Are the Sunshine of My Life”:
“You are the sunshine of my life
That’s why I’ll always be around
You are the apple of my eye
Forever you’ll stay in my heart.”
Did we pique your curiosity? If you’re unfamiliar with the old songs, check them out on the internet. You might discover the exact wedding recessional song you’re looking for.
As my father would say, “Now THIS is music. NOBODY writes songs like this anymore!”
What You'll Learn...
The 50s and 60s
I Got A Woman– Ray Charles (1954)
Ain’t That Love– Ray Charles (1957)
Hallelujah, I Love Her So– Ray Charles (1957)
You Send Me– Sam Cooke (1958)
At Last– Etta James (1960)
Stand By Me- Ben E. King (1962)
Baby, I Need Your Loving– Four Tops (1964)
I Feel Good– James Brown (1964)
L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole (1964)
Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch– Four Tops (1965)
How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You– Marvin Gaye (1965)
When A Man Loves A Woman– Percy Sledge (1966)
Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher And Higher– Jackie Wilson (1967)
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough– Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (1967)
With This Ring– Platters (1967)
You Send Me– Aretha Franklin (1968)
Build Me Up Buttercup– Foundations (1968)
You’re All I Need To Get By– Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (1968)
The 70’s
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours– Stevie Wonder (1970)
You Are Everything– Stylistics (1971)
Just My Imagination– The Temptations (1971)
Let’s Stay Together– Al Green (1972)
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life– Stevie Wonder (1972)
Could It Be I’m Falling In Love– The Spinners (1972)
Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love Babe– Barry White (1974)
My First, My Last, My Everything– Barry White (1974)
As– Stevie Wonder (1974)
Reasons– Earth, Wind & Fire (1975)
Oh What A Night- The Four Seasons (1975)
Everlasting Love– Natalie Cole (1975)
Inseparable– Natalie Cole (1975)
Orange Colored Sky– Natalie Cole (1975)
Always and Forever– Heatwave (1976)
Jump For My Love– The Pointer Sisters (1976)
Lovely Day– Bill Withers (1977)
Best of My Love– The Emotions, (1977)
September- Earth, Wind & Fire (1978)
I Do Love You– G.Q. (1979)
Forever Mine– The O’Jays (1979)
The 80’s
Just The Two Of Us– Bill Withers, Grover Washington Jr. (1980)
Love X Love– George Benson (1980)
Celebration– Kool & The Gang (1980)
When We Get Married– Larry Graham (1980)
Endless Love– Lionel Richie & Diana Ross (1981)
You’re My Latest, Greatest Inspiration– Teddy Pendergrass (1981)
Chaka Khan– Ain’t Nobody (1983)
Show Me– Glenn Jones (1984)
You Are My Lady– Freddie Jackson (1985)
Stevie Wonder, Overjoyed (1985)
Anita Baker – Sweet Love (1986)
Always– Atlantic Starr (1986)
So Amazing– Luther Vandross (1986)
Make It Last Forever– Keith Sweat feat. Jacci McGhee (1987)
Can You Stand The Rain– New Edition (1988)
Here And Now– Luther Vandross (1989)
Shower Me with Your Love– Surface (1989)
The 90’s
With You– Tony Terry (1990)
Save The Best For Last– Vanessa Williams (1991)
Love is a Beautiful Thing- Al Green (1993)
You Mean The World To Me– Toni Braxton (1993)
At Your Best (You Are Love)– Aaliyah (1994)
On Bended Knee– Boyz II Men (1994)
Crazy Love– Brian McKnight (1994)
Always and Forever– Luther Vandross (1994)
I’m Ready– Tevin Campbell (1994)
Love U 4 Life– Jodeci (1995)
Every Time I Close My Eyes– Babyface (1996)
You– Jesse Powell (1996)
Nobody– Keith Sweat (1996)
For You– Kenny Lattimore, (1996)
I Believe In You And Me– Whitney Houston (1996)
All My Life– K-Ci & JoJo (1997)
The Only One For Me Brian McKnight (1997)
They Don’t Know– Jon B. (1997)
Have You Ever– Brandy (1998)
Never Gonna Let You Go– Faith Evans (1998)
Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You– Lauryn Hill (1998)
Angel Of Mine– Monica (1998)
So Into You– Tamia (1998)
My Love Is Your Love– Whitney Houston (1998)
After All Is Said And Done– Beyoncé Knowles & Marc Nelson (1999)
Back At One– Brian McKnight (1999)
I Will Go with You– Donna Summer (1999)
Spend My Life With You– Eric Benet and Tamia (1999)
By Your Side– Sade (1999)
2000’s and Beyond
Once in a Lifetime– Craig David (2000)
Let’s Get Married– Jagged Edge, (2000)
Made To Love Ya– Gerald Levert (2001)
The Color Of Love– Boyz II Men (2002)
When I See U– Fantasia (2002)
Don’t Change– Musiq (2002)
If I Ain’t Got You– Alicia Keys (2003)
Crazy In Love- Beyonce Knowles ft. Jay-Z (2003)
When I Said I Do– Kenny Lattimore (2003)
Stay With You– John Legend (2004)
I’m In Love– Ginuwine (2005)
Be Without You– Mary J. Blige (2005)
Love You I Do– Jennifer Hudson (2006)
You For Me– Johnny Gill (2006)
No One– Alicia Keys (2007)
Your Joy– Chrisette Michele (2007)
Heaven Sent– Keyshia Cole (2007)
The Point of It All– Anthony Hamilton (2008)
Giving Myself– Jennifer Hudson (2008)
Here I Stand– Usher (2008)
I Found Love– BeBe & CeCe Winans (2009)
Together– Ruben Studdard (2009)
Got Me One– Keke Wyatt (2010)
Share My Life– KEM (2010)
Love All Over Me– Monica (2010)
Anthony David- 4Evermore (2011)
Love On Top– Beyonce (2011)
More Than You’ll Ever Know– Boyz II Men (2011)
Happily Ever After- Case (2011)
Real Love– Eric Benet (2011)
So In Love– Jill Scott ft. Anthony Hamilton (2011)
My Boo– Alicia Keys and Usher (2012)
A Couple Of Forevers– Chrisette Michele (2013)
Primetime– Janelle Monet ft. Miguel (2013)
You & I John Legend– (2013)
This is Love– Kelly Rowland (2013)
To Be Loved– Stacy Barthe (2013)
Marry Me– Jason Derulo (2014)
Fall For You– Leela Jame (2014)
Love Never Felt So Good– Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake (2014)
You’re My Darling- Leon Timbo (2016)
Why I Love You– MAJOR (2016)
I Choose You- Kiana Ledé (2017)
Another Love Song Ne-Yo (2017)
How Deep Is Your Love– PJ Morton ft. YEBBA (2017)
One Love– Chante Moore (2018)
A Good Night– John Legend (2018)
Love Like Yours And Mine– Peabo Bryson (2018)
Long As I Live– Toni Braxton (2018)
Butterflies– Queen Naija (2018)
Steady Love– India Arie (2019)
Closest Thing To Perfect– Jagged Edge (2019)
That’s What Love Can Do- Robin Thicke (2019)
Wrapping it Up
Now you have all these amazing R&B wedding recessional song ideas to choose from. Honestly, these songs are not only good for your wedding recessional. You can use many of these for your processional, candle lighting, sand ceremony, etc. For now, check out these songs, especially those unknown to you.
Consider your horizons broadened.
Ciao for now!