Jewish wedding songs: a frum list for the chuppah, the badeken and the dancing

Music carries a chasuna from one stage to the next. The niggun at the badeken, the slow song as the chosson walks to the chuppah, the burst of Siman Tov after the glass breaks, the hours of dancing — every family remembers which song was playing at which moment. If you are planning a wedding, or just want the sound of one, this guide to Jewish wedding songs walks through the evening in order.

Customs differ between communities and families, and the band will have its own suggestions, so treat this as a map rather than a rulebook.

Kabbolas panim and the tish

The evening usually begins with the chosson's tish: the chosson sits with his father, his Rebbe or Rosh Yeshiva and friends, and the men sing. Songs here are often slow niggunim, and in chassidish circles the niggunim of the family's chassidus. Many chossonim say a short dvar Torah that is deliberately interrupted by singing.

The badeken

The chosson is danced, with singing, to the badeken. A favourite here is Od Yishama ("Od yishama b'arei Yehuda… kol sasson v'kol simcha, kol chosson v'kol kallah") — the words come from Yirmiyahu and from the sheva brachos, and there are many tunes for it. Some families have a special niggun passed down for this moment.

Walking to the chuppah

This is where the slow, emotional songs come in. Commonly chosen songs include:

• Mi Adir ("Mi adir al hakol, mi baruch al hakol, mi gadol al hakol, hu yevarech es hachosson v'es hakallah") — sung in many communities as the chosson walks down, with words taken from the old chuppah liturgy.
• Mi Bon Siach — another classic chuppah piyut, especially in chassidish weddings.
• Keili Atah and other slow songs with words from Tehillim or tefillah; many couples choose a newer slow song by a favourite singer.

Ask the band or singer for options. Most have a set they recommend and can play a short sample for each.

Under the chuppah

The chuppah itself is mostly words — the brachos, the reading of the kesubah, the sheva brachos — and music is usually soft or silent. In some communities a chazzan sings parts of the brachos.

Breaking the glass

Before the glass is broken, many have the custom to sing or say Im Eshkacheich Yerushalayim ("If I forget you, Yerushalayim…"), remembering the Churban even at the height of joy. Then the glass breaks and the whole room bursts into Siman Tov u'Mazal Tov, and the music turns fast.

The first dancing set

When the chosson and kallah enter the hall after the yichud room, the band plays its first big dance set. Popular choices include Od Yishama again (fast this time), Keitzad Merakdin ("How does one dance before the kallah?" — from the Gemara in Kesubos), Asher Bara (from the sheva brachos), and a medley of current freilach songs. Chassidish weddings often feature long sets of fast Yiddish and Hebrew songs.

The second set and mitzvah tantz

After the meal there is usually a second dancing set. At many chassidish weddings the night ends with the mitzvah tantz, where a badchan calls up family members and rabbonim one by one, each holding a gartel — a solemn, beautiful moment with its own traditional niggunim.

Where to hear these songs

If you want to listen before choosing — or just enjoy the music — Kall Video has a Wedding category and channels that post live music from real Jewish weddings, such as Shea's Music Page, Der Muzikant and Hasidic Wedding Videos. You can hear how each band plays the classic songs, all inside a kosher player with no comments and no outside recommendations.

For a simcha video or slideshow, Kall Music lets you build your own instrumental background track and export it as an MP3, and Kall Editor puts it together with your clips in the browser.

Planning tips

• Decide on the chuppah song early. It is the one people remember most, and your band may want to rehearse it.
• Write down the order. Give the band a short list: badeken, walk to chuppah, after the glass, first set opener.
• Ask about the mitzvah tantz niggunim if your family has specific ones.
• Invitations next. When the music is sorted, Kall Simcha handles invitations, RSVP and table seating for free — see our chasuna invitation wording guide.

Mazel tov!