Pianist | Keyboard player | Teacher

Wedding songs for piano, jazz duo and rock/pop cover band

Wedding songs can be classical, contemporary, jazz, rock, pop and any other genre. Having played at weddings and events for many years, I have a song for every occasion—and every part of every occasion. I have wedding songs for solo piano, which are ideal for the ceremony and cocktail party. Even more, when I play with cellist Samantha, or cellist/double-bass player/jazz singer Phyllipa. Even more when I’m playing with the Dordogne’s own rock/pop wedding band, SouthWest.

Wedding ceremony music

When you sit down to plan the music for your wedding ceremony, these are the times you will need to consider:

  1. Five to 10 minutes while your guests are getting settled
  2. The Processional (a short piece, depending on the size of the room or garden)
  3. A short interlude during the signing of the Register
  4. The Recessional (after which the guests file out)

Ceremony music often includes classical pieces, like Bach’s Bach’s Prelude in C, or C Minor, or Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, and the ever-popular Canon in D by Pachelbel. A contemporary classic, like Comptine d’un autre été by Yann Tiersen is also ideal, or Gymnopédie Nº1 by Eric Satie.

The Processional or Recessional song is often a special request with great meaning for the Bride and/or Groom. If there’s a song that’s not on the setlist, I will happily learn it for you at no extra charge (time allowing). Additional pieces carry a reasonable additional charge.

Wedding songs for the reception

Here are the songs I prepared for wedding receptions in 2019. (Instant French lesson: The drinks party is called the “Vin d’honneur” here.) I went for a mix of beautiful contemporary songs and jazz standards, with a focus on and romance. This music is designed to provide a loving ambience for you and your guests. Singalongs are not unknown. And sometimes, dancing.

If you are booking me as a solo pianist, I am yours for the whole day. I will play up to 2.5 hours and am happy to change locations—usually once, and occasionally twice. Ask for more details when you email me in a moment.

La vie en rose

Come away with me

Comptine d’un autre été

Perfect Day

More than words

The nearness of you

Me and Mrs Jones

Take 5

My baby just cares for me

Georgia on my mind

She’s always a woman

Don’t know why

Summertime

Dream a little dream of me

Sympathique

Tu verras

The girl from Ipanema

The look of love

All of me

I get a kick out of you

Autumn leaves

Cantaloupe Island

Promenade sentimentale

Gymnopédie Nº 1

Fly me to the moon

Can’t help falling in love

All of me

Thinking out loud

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free

It must be love

Killing me softly

Perfect

Chasing cars

Somewhere only we know

We are the champions

Don’t stop me now

Your song

Can you feel the love tonight

You’ve got a friend in me

Blackbird

In my life

All the things you are

As time goes by

Ain’t no sunshine

At last

One flight down

Left bank two

From Russia with love

We have all the time in the world

A thousand years

Life on Mars

What a wonderful world

Jazz(ish) wedding songs in a duo

When playing with either Phyllipa or Samantha, we can draw on an even wider selection of music. Sometimes playing alone, sometimes together. Availability can be limited, as we are all professionals with commitments to multiple projects. So the earlier you book, the better.

Rock/pop wedding songs with an all-live band

wedding songs
SouthWest can play without repeating a song for over four hours.

I have written a blog post with my solo piano set list for weddings, for 2021 and beyond. Feel free to leave a public comment there to let me know what I’m missing. I’m using that post as a notebook for my reference, because… you know… pieces of paper. (I have a ridiculous number of envelopes with songs written on the back. This will be tidier.)