Sheffield music choices for your wedding ceremony and reception

Sheffield is famous for many things, but in particular its great music. And, the best part is: there’s something for everyone! Whether your love story has its origins at Corp or the Leadmill, on the Bolehills or up Stanage Edge… there’s a musician for everyone and music to suit every vibe.

As a Sheffield wedding celebrant, it’s my job to help people create wedding ceremonies that feel 100% totally like them. In line with that, here’s some suggestions of songs you could incorporate into your wedding to pay homage to your glorious hometown. Whether Sheffield is where you’re from, or where you’ve chosen, read on for auditory inspiration!

Sheffield love songs for weddings

Pulp – Modern Marriage

Not only is Pulp one of the most famous musical acts to ever come out of Sheffield, but arguably one of the most famous creations to ever come out of Sheffield, full stop. (Other than the steel ingenuity stuff obvs). And they’ve made my job incredibly easy with the song Modern Marriage.

The first verse is a set of what Jarvis Cocker describes as “(an attempt at) wedding vows more suited to the modern age”. Alongside playing the song, you could also reference a couple of these vows – it’s always nice to know your partner isn’t going to sleep with your best friend or eat the last bit of cereal, I find – or use the lines from the chorus acknowledging that marriage is scary, and exciting, and that you promise to make the marriage work:

"Baby, we have lived together / now we'll do it all forever / Hold my hand, don't ever let it go / Close your eyes, hold tight, and here we go"

(And on a different note, if you’re hoping to have more modern vows at your wedding, I have a step-by-step vow writing guide here.)

ABC – The Look of Love

I can hear the keys now, can’t you?

ABC originated in Sheffield, and their most famous song is also a great choice for a wedding. It’s well-known, everyone can bop to it, and it’s hella appropriate, because you’ll be giving heart-eyes to each other all day. There’s even a "hip hip hooray" in there!

Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar On Me

From yet another exceptional Sheffield musical export, Def Leppard, this song is a dancefloor bop. But it would work perfectly in a ceremony too – imagine a euphoric walk back up the aisle to this!

Self Esteem & Moonchild Sanelly – Big Man

Firstly, let’s call out the elephant in the room: I know, I know, technically Rebecca Lucy Taylor is from Rotherham – but she’s very vocal about her love of Sheffield so let’s claim her as a local success story and be happy about it please, ok? I mean, she wore that iconic Meadowhall dome bra at Glastonbury didn't she?!

Big Man is a song about equal partnership and secure, safe love, and I think it would make a perfect wedding song.

Joe Cocker – With a Little Help from My Friends

Of all the versions of this song, this cover always gives me a lump in my throat – the guitars, the gritty voice, the absolute feeling of it. It’s a beautiful recording and a perfect choice for a Sheffield wedding, recorded by a Sheffield legend.

Heaven 17 – Temptation

This is pure 80s joy – the synths, the falsetto, the call-and-response. It’s a song about the high stakes but even higher reward of loving someone, and don’tcha think that’s pretty damn perfect for your wedding day? Also, it mentions adorable creatures, so it seems doubly fitting if you’re having a furry friend as a part of your ceremony.

Human League – Don’t you want me?

Ok, sure. Are the Human League from Sheffield? Yes. But is this song romantic? No. However, is it an absolute tune, which will get everyone singing and shimmying? Yes. And isn’t that what it’s all about?

Arctic Monkeys – Baby, I’m Yours

Arctic Monkeys have many a croon to choose from (he’s good at it, that Alex Turner) but a crowd pleaser is their cover of Baby, I’m Yours – which is also from early in their career, when their Sheffield accents are at their most powerful.

A frequent favourite is I Wanna Be Yours. Who wouldn’t swoon at the lyric, “I wanna be your vacuum cleaner”? (And, of course, I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor will always be a good choice, no matter what.)

Bring Me the Horizon – mother tongue

If you’re into rock and metal, you can’t do much better than Sheffield boys Bring Me The Horizon. Many might argue that Follow You is their main love song, but mother tongue is a song about the lead singer’s wife, and on an album called ‘amo’ – ‘love’ in Portuguese, her mother tongue. The song is all about love transcending language barriers – isn’t that lovely?

More Sheffield musicians you could use in your wedding…

And that’s just the TIP of the iceberg, friends! There’s loads more musicians and bands from Sheffield that you could choose from – including Toddla T, Reverend and The Makers, Milburn, Little Man Tate, and more.

Is there anyone I’ve missed? (And are you scandalised I haven’t listened to any of Richard Hawley’s solo stuff?)

If you’re looking for recommendations, part of my job as a Sheffield wedding celebrant is to help you make your ceremony a joyous representation of both of you and what you want; and this includes the music, amongst other things.

If you want to chat, I’d love to - you can get in touch here.

Or click that lovely button down there, if you prefer:

BOOK A CHAT WITH MEG