Choosing the soundtrack to a wedding has got to be one of the most challenging tasks when planning the perfect wedding. There is no perfect wedding song list and everyone’s tastes are different. However, if you’re looking for a starting point, I’ve curated a list of what I believe to be some of the best and most popular wedding songs. Let’s break them down by theme and timings.
Popular Wedding Ceremony Songs
The wedding ceremony is the first event of the day where everyone comes together to celebrate the marriage. As a musician, I believe nothing beats the atmosphere of perfectly timed music as you watch the bride walk down the aisle. Many people tend to lean towards softer, more intimate, and beautiful wedding songs. Here are a few examples I see often:
Walking Down the Aisle Ceremony Songs
- Canon in D – Johann Pachelbel
- A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
- Bridal Chorus (“Here Comes the Bride”) – Richard Wagner
- Perfect – Ed Sheeran
- Marry Me – Train
- All of Me – John Legend
- Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
- I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
- At Last – Etta James
- Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
These definitely my most requested 10! Though I LOVE it when couples suggest somethijng a bit different. If you’ve got a song that you think is a great wedding song – drop me a message!
Returning Down the Aisle Ceremony Songs
After the vows have been exchanged and the ceremony is complete, the couple’s exit should be just as memorable. Afterall, it’s time to party! I feel something upbeat, or funny is a great idea! (just perhaps not ‘Crashed The Wedding – Busted’)
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) – Stevie Wonder
- You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oates
- Best Day of My Life – American Authors
- Happy – Pharrell Williams
- On Top of the World – Imagine Dragons
- Marry You – Bruno Mars
- Love on Top – Beyoncé
- Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
- Everything – Michael Bublé
- Lovely Day – Bill Withers
- It Must Be Love – Madness (I broke the rules and added this one as an 11th!)
The aim of the returning down the Aisle ceremony songs is to kickstart the evening!
Wedding Reception Songs
The wedding reception is the warm up to the evening, where guests mingle, chat, and enjoy refreshments. I believe the drinks reception needs to be a blend of calming songs and upbeat (but not too upbeat wedding songs!)
- Marry You – Bruno Mars
- Better Together – Jack Johnson
- L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole
- Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Rae
- Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
- Ho Hey – The Lumineers
- Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
- Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
- Banana Pancakes – Jack Johnson
- I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
- Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars
- Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
- Happy Together – The Turtles
- The Way I Am – Ingrid Michaelson
- Kiss Me – Sixpence None the Richer
Those are some of the most popular wedding reception songs. These songs are great in a happy atmosphere. But mixing it up with a few slower ones is definitely a good idea!
Wedding Evening Songs
The evening reception is where the real party starts. From the first dance to the last song of the night, the music should reflect the couple’s personalities and keep the guests entertained. I’ve broken 50 songs down into their categories.
Wedding First Dance Songs
The first dance is one of the most intimate moments of the whole wedding day. A couple should pick a song that really means something to them.
- Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
- You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
- Make You Feel My Love – Adele
- Your Song – Elton John
- Amazed – Lonestar
- I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
- Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
- Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
- All My Life – K-Ci & JoJo
- How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
Wedding Father-Daughter Dance Songs
The father-daughter dance is another emotional highlight of the evening. Here are some heartwarming songs for this special moment:
- My Girl – The Temptations
- Butterfly Kisses – Bob Carlisle
- Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
- I Loved Her First – Heartland
- Daughters – John Mayer
- Unforgettable – Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole
- Daddy’s Little Girl – Michael Bublé
- The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
- You Are So Beautiful – Joe Cocker
- Father and Daughter – Paul Simon
Wedding Mother-Son Dance Songs
The mother-son dance is equally special. Here are some beautiful wedding song choices:
- What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
- A Song for Mama – Boyz II Men
- Forever Young – Rod Stewart
- Simple Man – Lynyrd Skynyrd
- You’ll Be in My Heart – Phil Collins
- Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler
- Hero – Mariah Carey
- Humble and Kind – Tim McGraw
- Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
- God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
Wedding Party and Dance Floor Songs
Once the formal dances are over, it’s time to get everyone on the dance floor. Here are some crowd-pleasers:
- Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- Shut Up and Dance – Walk the Moon
- I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) – Whitney Houston
- September – Earth, Wind & Fire
- Can’t Stop the Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
- Hey Ya! – OutKast
- Dynamite – Taio Cruz
- Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
- 24K Magic – Bruno Mars
- Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
These songs are guaranteed to get guests of all ages up and dancing, ensuring a lively and fun reception.
Wedding Last Dance Wedding Songs
The last dance of the night is a chance to close out the celebration on a high note. Here are some great choices:
- (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life – Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
- Closing Time – Semisonic
- Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
- Save the Last Dance for Me – Michael Bublé
- Last Dance – Donna Summer
- Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
- Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
- Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
- Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
- Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Green Day
I beleive it should be something that everyone can belt out! Make this one of the best wedding songs in the evening
Wedding Timeless Classics and Modern Hits
I had a list of about 30/40 extras that I couldn’t fit on here. So I thought I’d make another bonus list including some timeless classics and some more modern wedding songs
Timeless Classics
- Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers
- Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Frankie Valli
- Stand by Me – Ben E. King
- La Vie en Rose – Édith Piaf
- Moon River – Audrey Hepburn
- Wonderful World – Sam Cooke
- At Last – Etta James
- You Send Me – Sam Cooke
- In My Life – The Beatles
- The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
Modern Wedding Songs
- Love on Top – Beyoncé
- Adore You – Harry Styles
- Lover – Taylor Swift
- Speechless – Dan + Shay
- Tenerife Sea – Ed Sheeran
- 10,000 Hours – Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber
- Butterflies
Finding the right musician for your wedding
As discovered, there are a LOT of potential wedding songs (103 listed above!). However you should pick songs that mean something to you, not the songs that are popular (unless they happen to be the same!) It’s important you find a wedding guitarist who is eager to learn and discover new material – and one thats going to put the time into crafting a great arrangemnt to your favourite songs.
My favourite part performing at a wedding, is the unique requests (and the cermony of course). If you’re curious as to whether I could tackle a song, please get in touch! I’d love to work with you on making your special day even more memorable.