Photo by Maria Rao Photography

For as long as humans walked the terra firma, the sea has always ensnared the imagination. Entire poems, novels, and works of art have been made about the scintillating beauty of the surf and sand.  

Beach wedding ceremonies in Portugal are so romantic! Join the special beach wedding ceremony occasion, with an opportunity to include some of the best beach wedding ceremony songs, brought to you by Portugal Wedding Guide!

Your choices in beach wedding songs are like the ocean trenches: seemingly bottomless. Check out 19 must have wedding songs for your beach destination wedding in Portugal: 

“Hawaiian Wedding Song,” Andy Williams

This one is such a no-brainer; your parents may have even used this for their beach wedding. Lifted from the 1926 operetta Prince of Hawaii, “Hawaiian Wedding Song” has been covered by everyone from Elvis Presley and Julie Rogers to Andy Williams. The latter scored the most popular version though, peaking at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

“Wedding Song,” Angus & Julia Stone

"We are gonna build a life together / You and I, forever and ever / And we'll, we'll make babies on the beach / Under the stardust…” So the lyrics go to this starry-eyed Angus & Julia Stone song, whose title says it all. You can get away with stuffing your wedding playlist full of A&J tunes. In fact, wedding bands like to perform “Big Jet Plane.”

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World,” Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

Get your wedding singer to strum a ukulele like Israel Kamakawiwo’ole in his singular mashup of Great American Songbook staples “Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World.” A ubiquity in many movie soundtracks, including Meet Joe Black and 50 First Dates, this is an awesome choice to walk the sandy aisle to. (Then again, many other couples might have latched on to this idea already.)

“Better Together,” Jack Johnson

“Better Together,” the first cut on Jack Johnson’s debut album In Between Dreams, checks all the marks in terms of beach wedding songs. Soulful guitar (ukulele in the Hawaiian version), frisson-inducing lyrics, heart-melting voice—there’s a reason why Jack chose this to open his album. You can make it your wedding reception opener or the background music on your wedding videos too.  

“I’m Yours,” Jason Mraz

Jason Mraz escaped the one-hit wonder curse when he came up with “I’m Yours” in 2008. The song was inescapable in the summer of that year, and the summers that followed. Like Israel’s songs, “I’m Yours” features some mean ukulele-work, and you should know that ukulele equals beach romance by this point. Plus, the words, “this is our fate, I’m yours,” is a wedding vow that tramples a thousand clichés.

“Lose Your Way,” Sophie B. Hawkins

Forget the ukulele. Especially if your wedding is a lakeside, rather than a seaside, affair, Sophie B. Hawkins’ banjo-imbued 1999 single “Lose Your Way” could be the perfect song for you. This was featured on the Dawson’s Creek soundtrack, after all. Also, given Sophie’s Sapphic lovelife, it’s a great suggestion for LGBT beach weddings.

“The Sea,” Morcheeba

In this triphop classic, Morcheeba talks about leaving her soul down by the sea. A staple of many a chillout compilation album, “The Sea” is just the tune to play during cocktails.

“Pure Shores,” All Saints

To 90s kids at your wedding party, it would be difficult not to recognise the not-of-this-earth sounds of “Pure Shores,” British girlband All Saints’ contribution to The Beach soundtrack. Featuring production by William Orbit, the same man who engineered Madonna’s—whose “La Isla Bonita” is not a bad choice for your wedding—critically acclaimed Ray of Light album, “Pure Shores” will take you to the depths of watery dreamscapes.

"Orinoco Flow," Enya

Sail away, sail away, sail away to Enya’s trademark hit. “Orinoco Flow” could be the recessional music you’ve been looking for. 

“Kokomo,” The Beach Boys

So your wedding is not held in the fabled beach destinations name-dropped in this Beach Boys song. So what? Sand is sand anywhere you go, so go ahead and live vicariously on your wedding. Released in 1989, “Kokomo” is one of The Beach Boys’ last mainstream hits. If you prefer an older tune by them, “Wouldn't It Be Nice” is a necessity.

“Here Comes The Sun,” The Beatles 

“Here Comes The Sun” may be the closest thing to a summertime, beachy song The Beatles have ever penned—if you discount “Yellow Submarine,” that is. This Abbey Road cut should be sitting pretty in your beach wedding party playlist.

“One Love,” Bob Marley

Reggae and the beach dovetail with each other. So what better to seal your union than a song from the King of Reggae himself? If you’re going to pick one from his huge discography, let it be “One Love.” “Could You Be Loved” is a close second though.

"Summer Wind," Frank Sinatra

Frankie, the legend that he is, hits all the right notes at weddings, regardless of where they are held. For your beach wedding, consider his 1966 hit “Summer Wind.”

"Sailing," Christopher Cross

While you may want to reserve this for your yachting honeymoon, it’s also a good song to make your first dance to. This single won the Grammy for Song of the Year in 1981, while the self-titled album where it was taken bagged Album of the Year.

"The Tide Is High," Blondie

It would be a good idea to play this during the kinky portion of the reception, i.e. the garter toss.

"Under the Boardwalk," The Drifters

Covered by Bette Midler in that tearjerker of a movie Beaches, this classic from 1964 is a tribute to that great staple of coastal life: the boardwalk.

"Rockaway Beach," The Ramones

If you’re a couple who wants some edge to the proceedings, it’s a good choice to have your wedding band play this punk ode to the seashore.

“Sea of Love,” Phil Phillips

Trivia: Phil Phillips wrote this song for the object of his affection while he was serving as a bellboy in Louisiana. “Sea of Love” became a hit record for not only Phillips, but the many musicians who have revived it over the years. It saw renewed interest in the 1980s with The Honeydrippers’ cover, which hit number 3 on the Hot 100 chart.

"Walkin' on Sunshine," Katrina and the Waves

On any other day, it’s the perfect picker-upper, especially on the way to work. On your wedding day, it’s a party smasher. It’s time to feel good!

Guest Writer

Deborah Jones

Deborah Jones is a content creator and an article, press release and blog post writer who enjoys the freedom of working from home. She  loves to travel, eat and chasing stories about people and life.