If you’re a huge fan of Ed Sheeran, like us, then you’ll definitely want to hear most or all these songs at some point during your wedding day, after all it’s your day!
Karina said, “Honestly, there’s an Ed Sheeran song for every part of your order of the day; whilst you and your entourage are getting ready, as you walk up the aisle, or for your first dance to name a few”.
Why do 2 of Harps love Ed Sheeran songs at a wedding?
Adel said, “Who wouldn’t, is the question we would ask! In our eyes Ed Sheeran songs are a truly ‘Perfect’, (pun intended) choice for creating a modern romantic vibe”.
Adel continued, “Some of the songs we have chosen from Ed Sheeran’s back catalogue, have really beautiful stories, which we have included below for you to read and consider including in aspects of your big day. Why not find a comfy chair, and get ready for an Ed Sheeran listening marathon, grab a pen and a piece of paper and start working up your play list for your wedding day…”
1. Perfect | Ed Sheeran
This song was written about Ed Sheeran’s fiancée who is now his wife. He wrote it after visiting his close friend James Blunt at their house in Ibiza. Ed and James were listening to Rap songs, and the word ‘jump’ started the whole song. Ed’s aim was to make a song that was better than ‘Thinking Out Loud’. He knew that it was special as soon as it had been recorded.
His brother collaborated with him on this song by doing backing string orchestration; a wish of their grandmother, to see them work together before she died. Here are what we believe to be some of the most romantic lyrics in the song.
Lyrics
I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets
To carry love, to carry children of our own
2. Thinking Out Loud
Ed Sheeran wrote ‘Think Out Loud’ for his girlfriend at the time Athina Andrelos who worked for Jamie Oliver. He actually wrote this song whilst in the kitchen and although his third album had been completely recorded, Thinking Out Loud was included at the very last minute. What a great afterthought!
Before it was recorded, Ed worked on the lyrics with co-writer Amy Wedge, who at the time was having financial difficulties. Once released, it became one of Ed’s best-selling songs. We hope Amy hasn’t had to worry about money since!
Lyrics:
I’m thinking out loud
Maybe we found love right where we are
3. Shape of You
Originally Ed Sheeran wrote this catchy track for Rihanna to sing. But, because the song included elements of his inspiration such as ‘Van the Man’ (Van Morrison), it was decided that Ed should record it himself.
He sent it through to the label last minute and they decided to release it on his album ‘Divide’. The back story of the relationship being more than just physical attraction. When you listen to the song closely, it is definitely romantic.
Lyrics:
Girl, you know I want your love
Your love was handmade for somebody like me
4. Photograph
‘Photograph’ was originally inspired by a long-distance relationship Ed Sheeran was having at the time he put pen to paper. However, when the song writing took place he changed it being about family relationships. The music video really brings this home and makes the song sound so special.
Lyrics:
We keep this love in a photograph
We made these memories for ourselves
5. Tenerife Sea
Tenerife Sea was inspired by the time when Ed and his girlfriend felt left out at the Grammy Awards ceremony. They just wanted to get away from the ceremony and spend time with each other. The title was inspired by his girlfriend’s eyes being blue like the sea in the ‘package holiday brochure’ they were looking through at the time. We wonder where they jetted off to – and can’t wait to go on vacation again some time soon….
Lyrics:
I want you to know it’s enough for me
‘Cause all that you are is all that I’ll ever need
6. Nancy Mulligan
‘Nancy Mulligan’ is the most adorable song about the true love story of Ed’s grandparents.
“Nancy Mulligan” is one of the most personal songs on the album, telling the story of how his grandparents, William Sheeran, a Protestant from Belfast, Northern Ireland and Nancy Mulligan (real name Anne Mulligan), a Catholic from Republic of Ireland, met, fell in love during the Second World War and then got married on the Wexford border.
Ed Sheeran said: “They got engaged and no one turned up at their wedding! He stole all the gold teeth in his dental surgery and melted them down into a wedding ring, and they wore borrowed clothes to get married, and just basically have this kind of Romeo and Juliet romance, which is like the most romantic thing. So I thought I’d write a song about it and make it a jig.”
Lyrics:
She took my name and then we were one
Down by the Wexford border
7. I Don’t Care
Ed Sheeran’s wife suggested a collaboration with Justin Bieber. Both couples had just married and she thought that it would be a great thing to do. And so the song ‘I Don’t Care’ was born.
Lyrics:
‘Cause I don’t care when I’m with my baby, yeah
All the bad things disappear
8. Afterglow
Ed Sheeran wrote on Instagram, “‘Afterglow’ is a song I wrote last year that I wanted to release for you. It’s not the first single from the next album, it’s just a song I love, and hope you love too.”
Lyrics:
I will hold on tighter ’til the afterglow
And we’ll burn so bright ’til the darkness softly clears
9. Galway Girl
Ed Sheeran says, “It was based on the fiddle player in Beoga, Niamh [Dunne]. She’s married to an Irishman, a friend of mine. I had the band in my house for an extra day so I was like, ‘what can I write about? She plays the fiddle in an Irish band… right, cool, let’s write a song about that.’ She inspired the first line but the rest of the song isn’t about anyone, I just made up a story.”
Lyrics:
You know, she played the fiddle in an Irish band
But she fell in love with an English man
10. How Would You Feel
This song almost wasn’t released, and here’s why… Ed Sheeran said in an interview, “I actually forgot the song existed,” he said. “I finished the album and I was going through notes and I said to my girlfriend, ‘What’s your favourite song on the album?’ She said, ‘You’ve forgotten it existed and I have it in my e-mail because I’m the only one you sent it to.’ So she picked it out from like, a year-and-a-half ago and I ended up recording it.”
We’re so glad he did!
Lyrics:
I’ll be taking my time, spending my life
Falling deeper in love with you
11. Best Part of Me
This song is written about Ed Sheeran, his wife and their relationship. Yebba who features on the track also relates to it as she feels the same about how lucky she is with her partner.
Lyrics:
Why the hell she love me
When she could have anyone else?
12. Kiss Me
Kiss me is a song about two best friends being in love. Ed Sheeran wrote this song for his godparent’s wedding. They both got married, then divorced their previous partners, but went on to help each other though both heartbreaks. One night, his mum had a birthday party, after the party on the subway ride home, his god father proposed to his now godmother. After 40 years of being best friends they realised they loved each other. So romantic
Lyrics:
Oh, kiss me, beneath the milky twilight
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
13. One
Ed Sheeran wrote this song for his teenage sweetheart; it was the final song that he wrote for her. He wrote this song in his dressing room on a guitar made out of old whiskey barrels, whilst on tour in Perth, Australia in 2011.
Lyrics:
Take my hand and my
Heart and soul, I will
Only have these eyes for you
14. Everything Has Changed
This song was written in some pretty unique circumstances!
Taylor Swift asked Ed Sheeran round to her house, so he could see her new trampoline. Ed bought his guitar and they wrote parts of the song whilst bouncing up and down on the trampoline, even though he claims that Taylor did most of the work.
Taylor went to extreme lengths to make sure the song wasn’t leaked before the release. She managed to have someone fly with the song, on an iPad, in a locked briefcase. Ed listened to it whilst staying in San Francisco and said that he liked it, and then the person flew back along with the iPad safely back in the briefcase, to tell Taylor what Ed had said!
Lyrics:
You’ll be mine and I’ll be yours
All I know since yesterday
Is everything has changed
We hope you have enjoyed reading our latest 2 of Harps blog and reading about our favourite top 14 Ed Sheeran songs to play on your wedding day – we just can’t wait to hear which ones you have chosen as we LOVE performing them all!
If you’re looking for more wedding music inspiration and ideas, we have plenty more music and wedding blogs here. https://2ofharps.com/our-latest-blogs/