12 Best Italian Wedding Songs to Play at Your Wedding
Whether you’re jetting off to sunny Italy for your wedding, or you’d like to pay homage to your family’s heritage, an Italian-themed wedding brings a certain level of romance with it. However, if you’re trying to keep things as Italian as possible, you’ll also want to make sure that the music acting as a soundtrack to your big day is Italian as well. From the procession right through to the reception, keeping on-theme will really add that certain special feeling to each event. It’s fair to say that when we think of Italian wedding songs, our minds go in one of two directions; hymns and opera. And, while these are ideal for the quieter, romantic parts of the day, they are hardly going to fill the dancefloor as your wedding moves from night to day and your guests want to get boogying! Luckily, there are plenty of other Italian songs that are upbeat, energetic, and are guaranteed to keep your guests dancing into the early hours. Below, we’ll take a look at 12 of the best Italian wedding songs to play at your wedding. We’ll break these down into sections, following the day as events unfold and making it easier for you to determine what song would best fit with each part of your special day.
The Wedding Procession – Best Italian Songs to Walk Down the Aisle To
As you wait in the wings, waiting for your guests to rise to their feet so they can see you walking down the aisle in your beautiful wedding dress, a procession of Italian music will really capture the poignancy of the moment. Each of the four songs we’ve chosen below is perfect for playing as you make your way down the aisle to your future spouse. Pick one of these and you’re almost guaranteed to have your guests shedding the occasional tear as well.
The Intermezzo – Cavaleria Rusticana
Written in 1890 by Pietro Mascagni, this song became an almost instant success. It’s still performed all over the world at classical music concerts and, thanks to the spring-tingling strings, it’s one of the most popular wedding processional songs to date. If you’re looking for a slow, graceful, regal entrance, The Intermezzo is definitely a strong contender.
Ave Maria
While this song is hugely popular within Italian culture, it was actually composed by Franz Schubert, who came from Germany. This makes it a wonderful choice if you’re an Italian marrying a German! There aren’t many people who won’t immediately recognize this song, and its romantic melody makes it a superb choice for a wedding procession.
The melody, lyrics, and outstanding vocals will also resonate with your guests and really set the mood for the imminent ceremony.
O Sole Mio
The origins of this song still remain unknown to this day, although it has been used to provide a stereotypical cliche of Venice for many years in multiple advertising campaigns.
The reasons for this are also unclear, as the composers of this song (Eduardo di Capua and Giovanni Capuro) are both from Naples!Origins and advertising campaigns aside, “O Sole Mio” is a powerhouse of romance. It is slow and majestic, making it perfect for walking down the aisle.
The Overture – Aida
This song is an instrumental piece that is derived from an opera. Composed by Giuseppi Verdi, the melody gradually builds into a swelling climax.
This song is ideal if you’re looking for something a little less romantic and a little more awe-inspiring!
The Wedding Recession – Best Italian Songs for Couples Leaving the Ceremony
You’ve done it, you’ve finally said you’re “I dos” and you’ve married the love of your life. Now you need a piece of Italian music to accompany the smile that’s beaming across your face. From classical music to something more contemporary, below you’ll find the perfect Italian wedding recessional song.
Allegro – La Primavera
If you’re after something classic and traditional, you don’t need to look any further than La Primavera. Also known as “The Four Seasons”, there are very few people who won’t immediately recognize this famous piece of classical, Italian music. It’s joyful and bright and will capture the mood perfectly as you walk back down the aisle hand in hand with your husband or wife.
Nel Blu Dipinto di Blue (Volare)
Ever since its composition in 1958, Volare has been performed by a plethora of highly-talented singers.
The list includes Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Andrea Bocelli, and Luciano Pavarotti. It was also performed by the famous flamenco band “Gypsy Kings” which really gave it a new lease on life. Whichever version you like the best, one thing is for certain; the romantic lyrics and spirited melody are ideal for the wedding recessional.
That’s Amore – Dean Martin
It’s a safe bet that, as soon as you read the title of this song, you started singing it in your head! This is one of the most popular Italian wedding songs ever and, while not strictly Italian, it is the perfect choice for an Italian-American wedding. It’s also an upbeat, modern classic that everybody knows and loves. So, as you make your way back down the aisle, all of your guests will be singing along!
Funiculi Funicula
This is a traditional, Neapolitan song with a lively, upbeat melody. It was composed in 1860 by Peppino Turco and Luigi Denza, who were considered the musical giants of their day. It has a celebratory feel to it, which is what makes it such a perfect choice for your wedding recessional.
Sciuri Sciuri
The title of this song translates into “flowers”, so not only is it perfect for an Italian wedding but it’s great if you’ve got a floral theme for your day as well.
In the Sicilian dialect, the chorus translates to “Flowers all year long, the love you gave me comes back to you”. Romantic? Definitely!Accompanying the lyrics, there is a passionate melody that oscillates between minor and major keys. This gives it an upbeat tempo that is ideal for a wedding recessional.
The Wedding Reception – Italian Songs That Will Get Your Guests Dancing!
Whether you’re looking to inject a couple of Italian songs into your playlist or you’re looking for the perfect Italian song for your first dance, each of the songs below are ideal.
Tarantellas
This song comes with a bit of folklore behind it. It is said that dancing any tarantella will immediately heal the bite of a lethal spider.
Now, while this isn’t very romantic, this Italian song is upbeat and is a great choice for enticing your guests onto the dance floor.
Te Amo
This was a 1977 hit for Italian singer Umberto Tozzi. If you’ve got any older Italian relatives at your wedding or anybody that enjoys vintage music, this is a fantastic choice. It also features romantic lyrics that are perfect for your wedding day or a more upbeat first dance.
Arrivederci Roma
The title of this song translates to “Goodbye Rome” and it’s a classic Italian song that, while not upbeat, is perfect for when you want to start winding the party down at the end of the night. It’s also a great choice for a father and daughter dance, or a mother and son dance. The lyrics are sure to inspire emotions as they say goodbye to their son or daughter and send them off into married life.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, you have a good few options available to you when looking for Italian wedding songs.
From classical music to floor-filling tracks, you’ll have no trouble punctuating your day with some carefully chosen Italian songs.One thing it is worth doing, however, is researching the lyrics of each song you choose before committing to it.
The last thing you want to do is accidentally offend an Italian speaking guest with some distasteful lyrics you didn’t realize were being played!
