The Ultimate Wedding Music Timeline
- Henry Clark
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Planning your wedding music can feel like a lot. There’s the ceremony, the drinks reception, the wedding breakfast, the evening party… and somehow you’ve got to make it all flow.
Good news: we’ve played over 1,000 weddings across Yorkshire and the UK, and we know exactly what works — and what doesn’t.
Here’s a simple, one-page wedding music timeline you can use to plan the soundtrack to your entire day. It’s downloadable, screenshot-able, and genuinely one of the most useful tools for couples planning a wedding in 2025.
Your Wedding Music Timeline (Step-by-Step)
1. Guest Arrival — 20–30 minutes of chilled music
Set the tone as guests walk in. Think acoustic covers, relaxed indie, soft pop or mellow classics.
Song vibe ideas:
Jack Johnson
Ben Howard
Lighthouse Family
The Lumineers
John Mayer
Pro Tip: If you're using a device for your music playlists make sure all music id downloaded, airplane mode is on, you're fully charged and have an adaptor (not all venues have Bluetooth or WIFI)
2. Aisle Song — The moment everything stops
This is your big moment. Choose something meaningful, emotional, or completely unexpected — whatever reflects you
SWB often performs:
Can't Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
Still the one – Shania Twain
I Get To Love You – Ruelle
3. Signing the Register — 2–3 songs
This usually takes longer than couples expect. Choose 2–3 songs that keep the vibe warm and relaxed.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered – Stevie Wonder
On Top Of The World – Imagine Dragons
1,2,3,4– Feist
Ideas: romantic acoustic covers or chilled indie favourites.
4. Exit Song — big smiles + big energy
You’re officially married — time for something upbeat.
Great choices:
This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
You Make My Dreams Come True – Hall & Oates
Best Day of My Life – American Authors
5. Drinks Reception — 1–2 hours
Guests are mingling, champagne is flowing, photos are happening. You want music that feels fun but not overpowering.
Options:✔ Playlist curated by you✔ Acoustic duo/trio performance✔ A chilled DJ set
Vibe: indie-pop, acoustic covers, easy singalongs.
6. Wedding Breakfast — background atmosphere
Not silence. Not club level. Just the right blend to keep things warm while guests chat.
We recommend:
Acoustic indie
Singer-songwriter
Soft 90s/00s nostalgia
Acoustic pop punk covers
7. First Dance — your way, your vibe
This sets the tone for the evening party. We often perform a slow intro → full band drop which gets the dancefloor packed instantly.
Most requested first dances in 2024/25:
Baby I'm Yours – Arctic Monkeys
First Date (slow intro version) – Blink-182
Still Into You – Paramore
8. Band Set 1 — Let the party begin
This is where SWB do our thing: indie, rock, pop-punk, 90s/00s nostalgia, singalong bangers and more.
Goal: get everyone on the dancefloor — not just the millennials (though we love them the most).
9. DJ Break — keep the energy rolling
We keep the room bouncing with your favourite tunes while guests grab drinks, food, and a breather.
You can:✔ Send us a playlist✔ Give us “must-plays” or “no-plays”✔ Add on our pro DJ package and let us read the room (we’ve got you)
10. Band Set 2 — full send!
This is the big one — the “everyone loses their minds” set.
Expect:
Blink-182
The Killers
Wheatus
Kings of Leon
Linkin Park
Pop-punk nostalgia
Indie bangers
Crowd anthems
This is where we bring the chaos (the good kind).
11. Final Song — the perfect ending
Finish strong with a moment you’ll remember forever.
Our most requested last songs:
Mr Brightside – The Killers
Don’t Look Back In Anger – Oasis
Love Story – Stone Roses
Angels – Robbie Williams
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Green Day
Choose something meaningful — or something everyone can scream.
Download the Timeline guide
Save this for PDF guide with all the info in a handy and easy to ready PDF
Want SWB to Handle the Music For Your Whole Day?
We offer optional add-ons you can bolt on anytime:
Afternoon acoustic options
DJ package
Early arrival/Late finish
PA + mic hire for speeches
Live sax add-on
Early arrival
You can build the exact wedding soundtrack you want — no stress, no hassle.
Planning Your Wedding? We Can Help
If you’d like a hand shaping your music timeline, picking your first dance, or keeping the dancefloor full all night:
👉 We can hold your date for 7 days — no obligation. Just click the link below, drop us a message and we’ll check availability.
Final Tip
Your wedding soundtrack is more important than people realize…but when you get it right? Your day flows, your guests have the best time, and the dancefloor becomes the heart of the night.
If you want help making that happen — you know where we are.