Best Wedding Reception Songs

Weddings can be stressful for a DJ. You want to make sure that you have the perfect wedding playlist to set the tone for the day. In this article, we will discuss the best wedding reception songs to help you deliver a great night’s entertainment.

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Wedding Ceremony Music

You may be asked to play music during the wedding ceremony, or for the bride walking down the aisle. Some of the top wedding ceremony songs include traditional wedding hymns, classical wedding music, and romantic wedding ballads. Some popular wedding ceremony songs include:

“Bridal Chorus” – Wagner
“Ave Maria” – Franz Schubert
“Canon in D” – Johann Pachelbel
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” – Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwoʻole
“The Wedding March” – Felix Mendelssohn
“Trumpet Voluntary” – Jeremiah Clarke
“Ave Verum Corpus” – Mozart
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream Op. 61: IX. Wedding March” – Felix Mendelssohn
“Cello suite No. 1” – Bach
“The Swan (Le Cygne)” – Saint Saens

Wedding Breakfast – Background Music

While the wedding party are enjoying their meal, or as the evening guests arrive, you will want some gentle music playing in the background. This will help to set the mood and make people feel relaxed. Popular wedding breakfast songs include:

Don’t Know Why – Norah Jones
Love Yourself – Justin Bieber
I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
Everglow – Coldplay
I Miss You – Beyoncé
Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Rae
Warwick Avenue – Duffy
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman – Aretha Franklin
Stay With You – John Legend
I’m Not the Only One – Sam Smith
Beyoncé – Halo
Bee Gees – How Deep Is Your Love
Diana Ross and Lionel Ritchie – You Are So Beautiful
Always Be My Baby – Mariah Carey
Hold You in My Arms – Ray Lamontagne
How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
I Will Follow You Into the Dark – Jasmine Thompson
Photograph – Ed Sheeran
Skinny Love – Bon Iver
The Way You Look Tonight – Tony Bennett

First Dance Song

The first dance is always a memorable moment for a bride and groom. If they don’t choose any music for the rest of the night, this is the one moment where they will want to ensure that the music is perfect.

Here are some of our top picks for first dance songs:

Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
You Are The Best Thing – Ray Montagne
At Last – Etta James
All of Me – John Legend
A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
Make You Feel My Love – Adele
I Won’t Give Up – Jason Mraz
Everything – Michael Buble
Better Together – Jack Johnson
Amazed – Lonestar
Come Away With Me – Norah Jones
First Day of My Life – Bright Eyes
Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
Lucky – Jason Mraz, Colbie Caillat
Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
Marry Me – Train
Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
Crazy Love – Van Morrison
I’m Yours – Jason Mraz

Father – Daughter Dance

Often, the Bride will like to have a dance with her father after the first dance. It’s a tradition. The bride honoring her love and gratitude for her father, who has given her away. The father-daughter dance is a touching moment that can be made even more memorable with the perfect song choice.

Here are some of our favorite father-daughter dance songs:

Heartland – I Loved Her First
Tim McGraw – My Little Girl
Bob Carlisle – Butterfly Kisses
Rascal Flatts – My Wish
Temptations – My Girl
Chuck Wicks – Stealing Cinderella
Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World
Stevie Wonder – Isn’t She Lovely
Dixie Chicks – Landslide
Frank Sinatra – The Way You Look Tonight
Zac Brown Band – The Man Who Loves You The Most
Scott Thomas Laughridge – This Dance
Celine Dion – Because You Loved Me
Jason Blaine – Dance With My Daughter
John Mayer – Daughters
Lee Ann Womack – I Hope You Dance
Phil Collins – You’ll Be In My Heart
Paul Simon – Father And Daughter
Camilia Cabella – First Man
Jennifer Smestad – Half The Man
Darius Rucker – It Won’t Be Like This For Long
Krystal Keith – Daddy Dance With Me
Al Martino – Daddy’s Little Girl
Michael Buble – Forever Now
Alan Jackson – You’ll Always Be My Baby
Tom Petty – Wildflowers
Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl
Rod Stewart – Forever Young
Sammy Kaye & His Orchestra – Daddy
Nat King Cole – Unforgettable

Wedding Reception Songs

Now onto the main event: the evening reception. Not all couples will choose their music – they might just leave it up to you. It’s a good idea to have a playlist of go-to songs to pick from that will work at most general weddings, and get those guests on the dancefloor.

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Here’s the top 100 requested wedding songs from 2021:

(Source: DJ Event Planner: – https://www.djeventplanner.com)

Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Earth, Wind and Fire – September
Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline
Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk
Usher – Yeah!
Walk The Moon – Shut Up And Dance
Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’
Killers – Mr. Brightside
ABBA – Dancing Queen
Cupid – Cupid Shuffle
Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling
DJ Casper – Cha Cha Slide
Flo Rida – Low
Bon Jovi – Livin’ On A Prayer
Spice Girl – Wannabe
OutKast – Hey Ya!
V.I.C. – Wobble
Justin Timberlake – Can’t Stop The Feeling!
Garth Brooks – Friends In Low Places
Beyonce feat. Jay-Z – Crazy In Love
Miley Cyrus – Party In The U.S.A.
Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz – Get Low
Backstreet Boys – Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)
Bruno Mars – 24k Magic
Bruno Mars – Marry You
Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl
Elvis Presley – Can’t Help Falling In Love
Ed Sheeran – Perfect
Chris Stapleton – Tennessee Whiskey
Luis Fonsi feat. Daddy Yankee – Despacito
B-52’s – Love Shack
Kenny Loggins – Footloose
AC/DC – You Shook Me All Night Long
Toploader – Dancing In The Moonlight
Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris – We Found Love
Dexys Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen
Shania Twain – Man! I Feel Like A Woman!
Dua Lipa feat. DaBaby – Levitating
Taylor Swift – Shake It Off
Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It
Frank Sinatra – The Way You Look Tonight
Beatles – Twist And Shout
Nelly – Hot In Herre
Chris Brown – Forever
LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem
Temptations – My Girl
Sister Sledge – We Are Family
Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud
Maroon 5 – Sugar
Pitbull feat. Kesha – Timber
Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J Balvin – I Like It
Sir Mix-A-Lot – Baby Got Back
N’Sync – Bye Bye Bye
Toto – Africa
Old Crow Medicine Show – Wagon Wheel
John Legend – All Of Me
Daryl Hall & John Oates – You Make My Dreams (Come True)
Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar On Me
Don Omar feat. Lucenzo – Danza Kuduro
Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want To Have Fun
Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)
House Of Pain – Jump Around
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
Backstreet Boys – I Want It That Way
Lizzo – Truth Hurts
Lou Bega – Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of..)
Animal House – Shout
Jack Johnson – Better Together
Luke Combs – Beautiful Crazy
The Weeknd – Blinding Lights
Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama
Diana Ross / Marvin Gaye – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Pharrell Williams – Happy
Village People – Y.M.C.A.
Beyonce – Love On Top
Bryan Adams – Summer Of ’69
Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
Taio Cruz – Dynamite
Pink – Raise Your Glass
Pitbull – Fireball
Wild Cherry – Play That Funky Music
Ben E. King – Stand By Me
Shakira – Hips Don’t Lie
Kool & The Gang – Celebration
Kygo and Whitney Houston / Steve Winwood – Higher Love
Cobra Starship – You Make Me Feel
Rednex – Cotton Eye Joe
Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now
DJ Snake feat. Lil’ Jon – Turn Down For What
Zac Brown Band – Chicken Fried
Etta James – At Last
Natalie Cole – This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)
Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road (Remix)
Thomas Rhett – Die A Happy Man
Foundations – Build Me Up Buttercup
Kanye West- Gold Digger
Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive
Justin Timberlake – Sexyback
Lady Gaga – Just Dance

Conclusion

These are some of the best, most requested songs at weddings that should be a great source for any DJ. Whether you’re looking for wedding first dance songs, background music, or simply wedding party songs to get the crowd dancing, there’s something here for everyone!

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FAQs

Do I need to play background music at a wedding?

There is no requirement to play background music at a wedding, but many couples choose to include it as part of their wedding day activities. Playing music during the wedding ceremony or reception can help set the tone and mood for the event.

How do I choose the right wedding songs?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best wedding songs will vary depending on the couple’s personal taste and wedding style. Some key factors to consider when choosing wedding songs include the first dance, whether you want upbeat or slower-tempo music, and songs that hold special meaning to the couple.

What are some popular wedding songs?

Popular wedding songs vary depending on the couple’s taste and style, but some timeless classics include “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley, “At Last” by Etta James, and “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees. Other popular wedding songs include modern hits like Bruno Mars’ “Marry You” and Justin Timberlake’s “Sexyback.”

What song gets everyone to the dance floor?

There is no definitive answer to this question, as the song that gets everyone to the dance floor will vary depending on the wedding crowd’s taste and preference. However, some popular wedding songs that are known to get people dancing include “Shout” by the Isley Brothers, “Y.M.C.A.” by the Village People, and “I Like It” by Cardi B, Bad Bunny, and J Balvin.

What is the most played song at a wedding?

There is no definitive answer to this question, as wedding songs will vary depending on a number of factors, including wedding theme and crowd taste. However, some popular wedding songs that are commonly played at weddings include “At Last” by Etta James and “All Of Me” by John Legend. Other popular wedding songs include current hits like “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper and “Marry You” by Bruno Mars.

How many songs should I play at a wedding?

There is no magic number of songs to play at a wedding, as the number of songs will vary depending on the wedding timeline and the couple’s personal preference. However, a good rule of thumb is to play a few songs during the wedding ceremony and wedding reception, as well as several songs for the first dance and other wedding dances. Additionally, it is important to consider any special requests or must-play songs from the couple or wedding guests.

How do I make a DJ wedding playlist?

The most important thing is to speak to the couple well in advance, find out what they like and don’t like, what wedding songs are special to them and make sure you have a good selection of music to suit all tastes. You can use wedding song playlist tools like iWedPlanner and Spotify to help you create the perfect DJ wedding playlist.

How many songs do you need for a wedding reception?

The number of songs you need for a wedding reception will depend on the wedding timeline and the couple’s preference. However, a good rule of thumb is to play 15-20 songs per hour of reception time. This will ensure there is enough music to keep the wedding guests entertained throughout the event.

What are some do’s and don’ts for wedding DJs?

Some do’s for wedding DJs include being well-prepared with a variety of music to suit all tastes, making sure all equipment is in good working order, and being professional and courteous at all times. Some don’ts for wedding DJs include playing songs with explicit lyrics, drinking alcohol during the event, and becoming too involved in wedding activities.

Best Wedding Reception Songs