Wondering what songs to add to your wedding playlist? Music plays a BIG part in setting the mood and creating an atmosphere of celebration. Every part of your wedding day is being planned for maximum memories and emotion. And your wedding playlist is no different. There’s nothing like the right song to bring tears to your eyes during a sentimental moment or get everyone letting loose and on their feet when you want to kick things into full party mode. That’s why choosing your wedding playlist can mean so much to your celebration.
Your Wedding Playlist Sets the Mood
You’ve been probably making playlists most of your life. There’s nothing like playing DJ and getting all of your favorite songs together. But your wedding playlist is a little different. Of course, you’re going to want your absolute favorite songs, the ones you say “that’s my jam” every time they play, included in your special day. That’s a given. However, if you’re playing host to a large number of guests at your wedding, it’s important to take others’ preferences into account.
Just think how much grandma’s face will light up if you play the song she used to sing to you when you were a little one. Sitting down with your partner and coming up with songs that are meaningful for every part of the wedding can be an activity that you do together. There’s literally of millions of songs out there to choose from, so why not add the ones that mean the most to you and your loved ones?
Keep That Awesome Wedding Energy Flowing with Your Wedding Playlist
When you are coming up with songs to add to your playlist you should think about the people who will be attending and what you want to see happen at your reception. If you want to have hours of dancing then you need to pick songs that will keep everyone hyped up!
Welcome Wedding Playlist Input
Although you’ll have favorite songs that are non-negotiables, there’s benefits to having others provide some input. Your DJ will have invaluable advice on the songs that all-time favorites and some of the newest songs that can give your wedding a fun, trendy vibe. Having a mix of different eras of music can keep things from getting stale. Sometimes the songs they recommend might not be your absolute favorite, but it’s a good idea to notice a difference between, “I wouldn’t have thought of that song,” and “I cannot stand listening to even five seconds of that song.” You definitely don’t want any of the latter, even if they are crowd favorites. The good news is with the virtually limitless options out there, you’re sure to find a good compromise of songs you love and songs your guests will enjoy.
HINT: Guestie includes a seamless wedding guest song request feature, which allows guests to make song suggestions that will immediately sync with your Spotify playlist. So you can effortlessly include your guests favorites without lifting a finger.
If you haven’t started picking out those important songs yet, don’t worry, here’s a few favorites to get you inspired and excited.
The Wedding Playlist Standards
Think back to all the weddings you’ve attended. There are probably a few songs you’ve heard at every single one. And there’s good reason for that. They’re universally loved and emotion-filled. These songs are timeless and appropriate for just about any kind of wedding you can think of:
“Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presly
“The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
“A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri
“Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey
“Happy” by Pharrell Williams
The Throwbacks
Every good wedding playlist has a few oldies! Not only will these engage the guests who are from different generations, but who doesn’t like some throwbacks. Here’s a few suggestions from classic music eras.
1950’s
“Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole
“That’s Amore” by Dean Martin
“Shout” by The Isley Brothers
“This Magic Moment” by The Drifters
1960’s
“My Girl” by The Temptations
“Good Vibrations,” by The Beach Boys
“Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond
“Respect” by Aretha Franklin
“The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
“Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison
“Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley
“Twist And Shout” by The Beatles
1970’s
“You are the Sunshine of My Life,” by Stevie Wonder
“September” by Earth, Wind & Fire
“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
“Dancing Queen” by ABBA
“We Are Family” by Sister Sledge
“Good Times” Chic
“Stayin’ Alive” Bee Gees
1980’s
“I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston
“(I’ve had) The Time of My Life” by Jennifer Warnes
“Footloose” by Kenny Loggins
“Africa” by Toto
“Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley
“1999” by Prince
1990’s
“I Want It That Way” by Backstreet Boys
“I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” by Aerosmith
“This Is How We Do It” by Montell Jordan
“Wannabe” by Spice Girls
“I’ll Be There for You” by The Rembrandts
“All The Small Things” by Blink-182
“Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” by Will Smith
“All Star” by Smash Mouth
2000’s
“Just Dance” by Lady Gaga
“Yeah!” by Usher feat. Lil’ Jon & Ludacris
“Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” by Beyoncé
“You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne
“Mr. Brightside” by The Killers
“The Sweet Escape” by Gwen Stefani
“I Gotta Feeling” by Black Eyed Peas
“Party In The U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus
The Fill the Dance Floor Picks
All weddings are unique, but we all know there’s going to be dancing. Remember, you want everyone on the dance floor moving and grooving. The dance floor songs should be something everyone knows!
“I Want to Dance with Somebody” by Whitney Houston
“Perfect” by Ed Sheeran
“Uptown Funk” by Marc Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
“Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé
Don’t Forget the Line Dances
Group line dances might seem silly, but they can also be loads of fun and make for especially memorable moments. It will be even more fun if you share the songs that will be group dances before the wedding. This will give guests a chance to brush up on their dance moves.
Hint: Use your Guestie message boards to conveniently update guests with this info. You could even include a link to the YouTube dance tutorial.
“Cha Cha Slide” by Mr. C
“Cupid Shuffle” by Cupid
“Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus
“Cotton Eye Joe” by Rednex
“YMCA” by The Village People
“Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus
“Macarena” by Los Del Rio
Songs to Dance with Parents
Dancing with your parents is one of the sweetest and most memorable parts of the night. Many people have childhood songs that they’ve had picked out for decades! If you don’t have one yet, consider these classics.
“Butterfly Kisses” by Bob Carlisle
“Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac
“Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World” by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo
“You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban
“Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion
First Dance Songs
The most memorable song of the night will be your first dance song. Check out these songs to get the ideas flowing! Many of these are first dance classics.
“At Last” by Etta James
“All of Me” by John Legend
“How Long Will I Love You” by Ellie Goulding
“You and Me” by Lifehouse
“Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton
Popular Songs from 2021-2022 to keep things timely
The classics are great, but people are definitely going to want to hear something new and trendy! You can put a list of recent hits together with your friends or partner, or you can use these suggestions!
“Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift
“Speechless” by Dan + Shay
“Love Again” by Dua Lipa
“Follow You” by Imagine Dragons
“Dancing on Dangerous” by Sean Paul
Whatever songs you choose, you’re sure to have an amazing wedding experience. Don’t forget to sign up for Guestie and upload your wedding guestlist. It’s the fun, easy, virtual way to connect your guests and stay connected with everyone in one convenient online spot.
