Beautiful Broadway and West End love songs
If you love theatre, these wedding songs encapsulate true love in the unique way that only showtunes can. From the early musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein to the modern movie musicals of The Greatest Showman and La La Land; from the classic to the obscure, there are so many perfect Broadway tunes to incorporate into your wedding day.
All I Ask of You
This promise of devotion from The Phantom of the Opera is one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most romantic songs. What a beautiful processional choice. The Music of the Night is another favourite of mine.
Tale as Old as Time (Beauty and the Beast)
One Hand, One Heart
The pretend wedding song from West Side Story would make a lovely processional song.
“Make of our hands one hand, Make of our hearts one heart, Make of our vows one last vow, Only death will part us now, Make of our lives one life, Day after day, one life, Now it begins, now we start, One hand, one heart, Even death won’t part us now, Make of our lives one life”
Other beautiful songs from West Side Story are Somewhere and Tonight.
A Whole New World
For Disney fans, this is a classic love song from Aladdin which is included in the 1992 animated version, the 2011 live-action and the stage show. Being a 90s child, the original is still my favourite.
A Heart Full of Love
Les Miserables is my West End Musical of choice and I have seen it numerous times; although I was always rooting for Eponine. An instrumental version of this intimate song between Cosette and Marius is perfect for the wedding prelude.
If I Loved You
From the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, Carousel, this is a typical ‘not’ love song. I have a particular fondness for the musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein as they were the focus of my dissertation at university. The instrumental version of this can be used at various points throughout the wedding day—a ceremony prelude, or during cocktail hour or dinner.
Edelweiss
Contrary to popular belief, this infectiously catchy tune is not an Austrian folk song but was composed for the Broadway musical, The Sound of Music, by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein Sound of Music. Sung by Christopher Plummer in the film. The duet, Something Good, between Plummer’s character and Julie Andrews is one of my other favourite choices.
Seasons of Love
Jonathon Larson’s Pulitzer winning musical ‘Rent’ was a huge success, but its creator never got to see it staged, passing away the morning of its first performance.
How do you measure? Measure a year?/In daylights/In sunsets/In midnights/In cups of coffee/In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife/In five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes/How do you measure a year in a life?/How about love?
Sun and Moon/The Last Night of the World
This is by the same composers as Les Miserables; Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil. They based their tragic love story on Puccini’s Madame Butterfly. Sun and Moon is the beautiful romantic duet at the beginning of Kim and Chris’ relationship after he asks to see her again. Try an instrumental as a ceremony prelude or during your wedding breakfast dinner.
Falling Slowly
Sung by Glen Hansard for the musical Once. This bitter-sweet song is a great way to combine an indie-folk vibe with your love of musical theatre. It’s ideal for a unique and romantic processional.
I Will Always Love You
From The Bodyguard. Really a breakup song when you listen to the lyrics but still an extremely romantic tune.
Come What May
Moulin Rouge was my first non-Disney musical film, and I loved it! Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film was modern, glitzy and exciting. In it, A poor Bohemian poet in 1890s Paris falls for a beautiful courtesan and star of the Moulin Rouge nightclub. This song works beautifully on the piano.
City of Stars
From the American musical film where a jazz pianist (Ryan Gosling) falls for an aspiring actress in Los Angeles (Emma Stone)
Suddenly Seymour
One of the most beloved duets in musical theatre with lyrics that celebrate loving someone for exactly who they are. The instrumental version makes a somewhat offbeat processional song.
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What are your favourite Musical Theatre songs?
Rachel Jones The Kent Pianist 
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