22 Jewish Wedding Songs, from Erev Shel Shoshanim to Hava Nagila

What songs are played at a Jewish wedding?

The processional is often "Erev Shel Shoshanim" or "Dodi Li", the moment the glass breaks is followed by "Siman Tov u'Mazal Tov", and the reception erupts with "Hava Nagila" for the hora and the chair lift. "Od Yishama", the traditional wedding song of joy, keeps the dance circle going.

Songs for the chuppah processional

1. "Erev Shel Shoshanim": the most popular Jewish processional melody.
2. "Dodi Li": a setting of words from the Song of Songs.
3. "Ani L'Dodi": another Song of Songs setting, for the bride's entrance.
4. "Yerushalayim Shel Zahav", Naomi Shemer: "Jerusalem of Gold".
5. "Bashana Haba'ah": a hopeful Israeli song about the year to come.
6. "Sunrise, Sunset", from Fiddler on the Roof: sung at the wedding in the show.
7. "Canon in D", Pachelbel: a favorite at Jewish weddings too.

Hora and celebration songs

8. "Hava Nagila": the song for the hora and the chair lift.
9. "Siman Tov u'Mazal Tov": the song of congratulations, sung after the glass breaks.
10. "Od Yishama": the traditional wedding song of joy, with words from Jeremiah.
11. "Hevenu Shalom Aleichem": a joyful greeting song.
12. "Tzena, Tzena": an upbeat Israeli folk dance.
13. "Mayim Mayim": the Israeli circle dance.
14. "Am Yisrael Chai": an anthem of joy and pride.

Fiddler on the Roof and Yiddish favorites

15. "To Life (L'Chaim)", from Fiddler on the Roof: a toast set to music.
16. "Matchmaker", from Fiddler on the Roof: playful and fun.
17. "Do You Love Me?", from Fiddler on the Roof: sweet for long-married parents.
18. "Bei Mir Bistu Shein", The Andrews Sisters: the 1930s Yiddish swing hit.
19. "Tumbalalaika": the Yiddish folk riddle song.

Songs for the parents

20. "Di Mezinke Oysgegebn": for the mezinke dance, when parents marry off their youngest child.
21. "My Yiddishe Momme", Sophie Tucker: a tribute to a Jewish mother.
22. "Oyfn Pripetshik": the tender Yiddish song of learning the alphabet, for grandparents.

Where the music fits in a Jewish wedding

• Tisch and badeken: before the ceremony, friends sing wordless melodies (niggunim) as the groom is led to veil the bride.
• Processional: the families and couple walk to the chuppah, often to "Erev Shel Shoshanim" or "Dodi Li".
• Circling: in many weddings the bride circles the groom seven times, usually to a soft melody.
• Breaking the glass: the groom stamps on a glass, everyone shouts mazel tov and the band starts "Siman Tov u'Mazal Tov".
• Hora: the couple are lifted on chairs while "Hava Nagila" and "Od Yishama" play.

Klezmer and Israeli music at the reception

Many bands open the dancing with a klezmer set, with clarinet, violin and accordion leading freylekhs and bulgars, before moving into Israeli dance songs and then pop. A good Jewish wedding band reads the room and switches between a hora medley and the dance-floor hits younger guests want.

Songs for the couple's entrance

After the ceremony the couple spends a few minutes alone in yichud, then enters the reception to a big, joyful song. Many choose an upbeat hora melody or a pop anthem, and guests often form two lines to clap them in.

The seven blessings in song

The seven blessings, the sheva brachot, recited under the chuppah are sometimes sung by a cantor, and some couples ask friends or relatives to sing one blessing each. Ask your rabbi or cantor which melodies they know well.

How long should the hora be?

Most bands play a hora set of 15 to 20 minutes, building from a slow circle to a fast medley. Plan the chair lift for the middle of the set, make sure strong friends are ready to lift, and give the photographer a heads-up. For a smaller crowd, ten minutes is plenty.

Jewish wedding songs for the first dance

Many couples choose a Hebrew love song like "Dodi Li" or a modern favorite in English. For more ideas, see our first dance songs, and for a bar or bat mitzvah in the family, our bar and bat mitzvah songs.

Jewish wedding songs for the candle-lit dinner

During dinner, soft instrumental versions of "Erev Shel Shoshanim", "Yerushalayim Shel Zahav" and "Bei Mir Bistu Shein" give the room a warm, familiar sound without interrupting conversation, before the band brings the energy back up for the next hora set.

Jewish wedding songs for an interfaith wedding

At an interfaith wedding, a single hora set and the glass breaking are often the moments both families love most. Mix "Hava Nagila" and "Siman Tov" with songs from the other family's tradition, and explain the customs in the program so every guest can join in.

A song written for your wedding

A personalized song can tell your story: how you met, your families and the blessing you want to give each other. Couples play it during the first dance or at the end of the night.

How to create a wedding song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: acoustic, pop, folk and more.
2. Add both your names.
3. Share three moments from your story together.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Celebrate your simcha with a song about your story: create a song and hear four previews for free.