If there is such a thing as a perfect love song, then Grammy award-winner Ed Sheeran probably wrote it. Certainly more than a few of his songs come to mind when thinking about wedding-worthy tunes.
His heartfelt lyrics and impeccable vocals make him one of the best modern love song singers around. Perhaps that’s why he has sold more than 150 million records worldwide and has a wealth of Top 10 hits since releasing his debut album in 2011.
If you’re not sure which tracks to choose, we can help. We’ve put together a list of the best Ed Sheeran wedding songs of all time for every phase of your special day.
Best Ed Sheeran Wedding Songs for Every Part of Your Big Day
From your walk down the aisle to exiting the reception and everything in between, there’s definitely an Ed Sheeran song for that.
Here’s our list of the 21 best Ed Sheeran wedding songs as well as our suggestions on when to use them.
Best ballads
A worldwide hit, this 2014 love song became the first track ever to spend an entire year on the U.K.’s Top 40 chart. The Grammy-winning song, which is all about ageless love that deepens and grows over the years, is one of Sheeran’s best romantic ballads.
The singer himself has referred to Thinking Out Loud as a perfect “walking down the aisle song.” If you’ve already picked out a song for your wedding processional, this beautiful ballad would also make an amazing choice for your first dance together as husband and wife.
Best lyric: “Take me into your loving arms; Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars; Place your head on my beating heart.”
2. Perfect
This No. 1 hit for Sheeran was written for the woman who is now his wife as evidenced by the heartfelt and poignant lyrics and vocals. The singer, in an interview, said inspiration for the lyrics stemmed from a visit to singer James Blunt’s house in Ibiza. He quickly booked some studio time and fleshed out his idea into what would become one of the most popular love songs of 2017.
Ideal for your first dance together as husband and wife, Perfect’s success carried over into the following year when it snagged the best-selling song of 2018 title with roughly 1.3 million copies sold.
Best lyric: “I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets; To carry love, to carry children of our own.”
How Would You Feel almost didn’t make 2017’s ÷ (Divide) album. Written by Sheeran after a visit from his girlfriend (who is now his wife), he recorded the song on his iPhone and e-mailed it to her. He then forgot all about it and it wasn’t until his girlfriend reminded him about it 18 months later that he recorded it at the last minute for his album.
The song, which features a guitar solo by John Mayer, would make a great first dance song.
Best lyric: “I’ll be taking my time, spending my life; Falling deeper in love with you; So tell me that you love me too.”
4. Kiss Me
Even though it was not released as a single, Kiss Me, from his 2011 album +, still managed to hit U.S. and U.K. charts. Sheeran has since said that Kiss Me was his effort to write a wedding song. Inspiration came when his godparents asked him to write a song to perform on their wedding day.
Not only would this be a great first dance song, you could use it for your walk down the aisle or even as your final dance of the night.
Best lyric: “My heart’s against your chest; Your lips pressed to my neck; I’m falling for your eyes.”
5. Afterglow
Despite the name of this song released at the end of 2020, this track isn’t attached to his album of the same name. “It’s not the first single from the next album, it’s just a song I love, and hope you love too,” Sheeran wrote about the unexpected release on Instagram. Like most of his newer love songs, the track appears to be inspired by his wife, Cherry Seaborn.
Afterglow would be another great choice for a first dance song but would also work for a reception entrance song.
Best lyric: “So alone in love like the world had disappeared; Oh, I won’t be silent and I won’t let go; I will hold on tighter ’til the afterglow; And we’ll burn so bright ’til the darkness softly clears.”
6. Tenerife Sea
Tenerife Sea is a love song inspired by being at the Grammy Awards after-party, when he would have preferred to be alone with his then-girlfriend. The song features acoustic guitar-work and multi-tracked vocals for a lovely layered effect of Sheeran’s voice.
This song would be amazing played as an instrumental for your processional but would also work well for a first dance song, especially if you’d rather have a more unique track than the more traditionally chosen Perfect or Thinking Out Loud.
Best lyric: “Should this be the last thing I see; I want you to know it’s enough for me; ‘Cause all that you are is all that I’ll ever need.”
After getting married in 2019, Sheeran announced his plan to semi-retire to his Suffolk estate to enjoy life with his wife and future children. Love in Slow Motion, one of his best love songs written as a married man, is all about taking the time to slow down and be in the moment with his wife.
This song could also be used as an instrumental for your walk down the aisle or you could use the pre-chorus and chorus for your grand entrance at your reception.
Best lyric: “And I wanna love tonight; One on one by the candlelight; Over and over, we spend our lives; Living fast forward, but not tonight.”
This piano-driven ballad from 2021’s was obviously inspired by his gratitude to his wife. The song might not be as amazing as Perfect or Thinking Out Loud, but the lyrics are sweet and creative and combined with beautiful orchestral sections, was made for waltzing.
Men, if you’re looking for a song to dedicate to your bride during the reception, this one won’t disappoint.
Best lyric: “And I know you could fall for a thousand kings; And hearts that could give you a diamond ring; When I fold, you see the best in me; The joker and the queen.”
9. Hearts Don’t Break Around Here
Despite not being an official single from the 2017 album ÷ (Divide), Hearts Don’t Break Around Here was still a Top 20 track in the U.K. The song describes the vulnerability of falling in love and how rewarding the experience is when you find “the one.”
This song would be lovely for a first dance or as your final dance before leaving the reception.
Best lyric: “I feel safe when you’re holding me near; Love the way that you conquer your fear; You know hearts don’t break around here.”
10. Wake Me Up
Wake Me Up may not have been one of Sheeran’s massive hits, but the sweet, heartfelt lyrics should still make this a contender for your wedding day. The song talks about loving someone from the moment you wake up until you fall asleep again.
Another option as a first dance song, this is also a great track for the groom to dedicate to his bride.
Best lyric: “And you will never know; Just how beautiful you are to me.”
Best duets
If you love the song Perfect, but want a slightly different variation for your wedding, this touching duet with Beyoncé could be just the ticket. This acoustic version of ‘Perfect’ took Sheeran back to the top of the charts with the song hitting No. 1 in both the U.K. and the U.S.
The duet is suited well to the bride and groom’s first dance, but could be used at any point during your special day.
Best lyric: “Darlin’, just hold my hand; Be your girl, you’ll be my man; And I see my future in your eyes.”
2. Perfect Symphony ft. Andrea Bocelli
This orchestral version of Perfect took Sheeran to the top of the charts yet again in December 2017. This time, Sheeran teamed up with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli to feature Italian vocals with the fuller sound of an orchestra behind them.
Perfect for couples who want to add some romantic multicultural flavor to their special day, this song is ideal for your first dance or your walk down the aisle.
Best lyric: “But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own; And in your eyes, you’re holding mine.”
This duet with Taylor Swift appeared on her 2012 album Red. This Top 10 hit, which was written by Swift and Sheeran in Swift’s backyard, is a sweet look at how you can meet someone and fall in love in an instant. This folk-pop gem is a great song choice for couples’ grand entrance to the reception or for an upbeat first dance as husband and wife.
Best lyric: “All I know is you held the door; And you’ll be mine and I’ll be yours; All I know since yesterday; Is everything has changed.”
Rudimental teamed up with Sheeran for this uptempo Top 20 hit. The song, which is about being there for someone through thick and thin, makes it a great choice for newly married couples. This uptempo track would be ideal for a grand entrance at your reception or as a song to get people up on the dance floor after dinner.
Best lyric: “Let my love in, let my love in; Lay your heart on me.”
From 2019’s No. 6 Collaborations Project, Best Part of Me features American singer YEBBA. The acoustic love ballad works as a first dance song for couples looking for a song that is less well known than Sheeran’s huge hits.
Best lyric: “‘Cause, baby, the best part of me is you; Lately, everything’s making sense too; Baby, I’m so in love with you.”
Best uptempo songs
1. Shape of You
This international No. 1 hit was not only the first song to reach more than three billion streams on Spotify, it was the best-selling song of 2017. While not a love ballad, this is still a great song for a wedding.
While you won’t want to use it for your first dance, it’s a song that will definitely get people up on the dance floor thanks to its R&B vibe with a heavy dose of pop. It would also work for making a grand entrance at your reception.
Best lyric: “Girl, you know I want your love; Your love was handmade for somebody like me; Come on now, follow my lead.”
2. Galway Girl
Sheeran teamed up with Irish folk band Beoga to produce this lively Celtic tune which was a Top 10 hit in the U.K. This may not be a romantic ballad, but it’s a song that will get people’s toes tapping, making it a no-brainer for your reception playlist.
Best lyric: “But she fell in love with an English man; Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by the hand; Said, “Baby, I just want to dance.””
Looking for more high-energy songs for your reception? This 2017 song certainly fills the bill.
Castle on the Hill debuted at No. 2 on the U.K. Singles Chart just behind Shape of You, making Sheeran the only artist in UK chart history to debut in the top two positions in the same week.
The track finds Sheeran reminiscing about his childhood and hometown all to a very danceable beat.
Best lyric: “I still remember these old country lanes; When we did not know the answers; And I miss the way you make me feel, and it’s real; When we watched the sunset over the castle on the hill.”
4. Shivers
A Top 10 hit in the U.K. and the U.S., Sheeran wrote Shivers as soon as the Divide tour wrapped. “It was written over the course of three days which is very different for me, but I felt it was too special to get wrong,” Sheeran said in an Instagram post. “I hope you like it, I bloody love it.”
Ideal for getting the party started, Shivers is the perfect track to get your guests grooving on the dance floor.
Best lyric: “I wanna be that guy, I wanna kiss your eyes; I wanna drink that smile, I wanna feel like I’m; Like my soul’s on fire.”
The synth-pop rhythm of the 2021 single Overpass Graffiti, is sure to get your guests in the mood to move. While not a romantic ballad, this song, which was released in October of 2021, is great for a party. Use it as an entrance song or add it to the evening’s playlist to get people up and dancing.
Best lyric: “I will always love you for what it’s worth; We’ll never fade like graffiti on the overpass.”
