The perfect wedding playlist should fill your venue’s dancefloor, elevate the mood, and be imbued with your unique style of romance… but let’s back up a little. How do you build your ultimate wedding playlist? Luckily, we know just the people to ask.
Read on as our favourite wedding entertainers tell us their go-to tunes to take you from aisle to reception in style. Whether your vibe is classic Motown, alternative love songs, or top of the pops, your wedding song list should be filled with tracks that complement your wedding aesthetic and, of course, put you in the celebratory mood!
For more handy wedding entertainment tips and advice, check out our ultimate go-to guide to wedding music. And if you’ve got some music tips (or stories!) to share, send us a DM over on the Easy Weddings Instagram — we love sharing your suggestions with our wonderful wedding community!
Here are our top wedding songs ideas according to our favourite entertainers:
Aisle walk songs
Your aisle walk is one of the most sentimental and romantic moments in your wedding celebration. Most couples opt for a song of special significance to them that features a slow, steady tempo. The classic aisle number “Here Comes The Bride” has 78 beats per minute (BPM) which makes for the perfect aisle walk speed.
There’s no reason that you can’t choose a more up-tempo song for a less formal vibe. Alternatively, many modern, upbeat songs also have an acoustic version or cover by another artist. An excellent example is Talking Heads’ new wave classic, This Must Be the Place, which has been acoustically covered by The Lumineers and LAUREL in softer, slower formats.
Here are the top aisle walk songs as chosen by our favourite suppliers:
- 1000 Years by Christina Perri (Pluck & Strum)
- Can’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis (The Knots Live Entertainment)
- Lean On Me by Bill Withers (The Knots Live Entertainment)
- You Are The Reason by Calum Scott (The Knots Live Entertainment)
- La Vie En Rose by Édith Piaf (Artela Music)
- Wedding March by Mendelssohn (Artela Music)
- This Old Love by Lior (Liam Griffith Music)
- Make You Feel My Love by Adele (Liam Griffith Music)
- The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face By Roberta Flack (Nova DJs)
- A personalised unique love song created just for you! (Bespoke Wedding Songs)
Post ceremony songs
During the signing of the wedding documents and directly after the ceremony, most couples opt for happy music that hints at the celebration ahead! Think cheerful yet unobtrusive bops that are romantic but not overly sentimental. These songs are for your guests, as opposed to your aisle song, which is purely for you and your partner.
Here are the top 10 post-ceremony songs as chosen by our favourite suppliers:
- Signed Sealed Delivered, I’m Yours by Stevie Wonder (Vanessa Krumma Music)
- This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) by Natalie Cole (Vanessa Krumma Music)
- Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye(Vanessa Krumma Music)
- Home by Edward Sharpe (Vanessa Krumma Music)
- You Are The Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne (Nova DJs)
- Stand By Me by Ben E. King (Nova DJs)
- Lovely Day by Bill Withers (Nova DJs)
- You Shook Me All Night Long by ACDC (Nova DJs)
- Wild Love by James Bay (Nick Read)
- Beyond by Leon Bridges (Nick Read)
Cocktail hour songs
Cocktail hour takes place after the ceremony and is an opportunity for your guests to mingle while you slip away for some photos. The music for this portion of the day should be fun and upbeat, with some easy-listening classics to ease your guests in for the evening. This is music to sip champagne and enjoy some canapés to.
Here are the top 8 cocktail hour songs as chosen by our favourite suppliers:
- Bloom by The Paper Kites (April Cello)
- Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding (April Cello)
- Yellow by U2 (April Cello)
- Love Story by Taylor Swift (April Cello)
- About Damn Time by Lizzo (Craig Francis Music)
- Don’t Start Now by Dua Lipa (Craig Francis Music)
- Senorita by Shawn Mendez (Vanessa Krumma Music)
- Superstar by Jamelia (Komodo Music)
- Follow Me by Uncle Cracker (Komodo Music)
- Daydream Believer by The Monkees (Komodo Music)
Reception songs
The formalities are done, and the party portion of your wedding has commenced. Receptions are characterised by love, fun, and celebration — and your song list should match! A good rule of thumb to ensure everyone has a good time is to include a mix of genres in your playlist. Speak to your entertainment provider and try to keep an open mind. While Abba’s Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) might not be on high rotation for your everyday commute playlist, but there’s no denying it’ll get everyone, from the best man to your nanna, on the dancefloor.
Here are the top 10 reception songs as chosen by our favourite suppliers:
- Take Me Home Country Road by John Denver (Komodo Music)
- I Want It That Way by Backstreet Boys (Komodo Music)
- I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor (Craig Francis Music)
- Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond (Craig Francis Music)
- Gimme Gimme Gimme by ABBA (Primary DJ)
- Man! I Feel Like a Woman by Shania Twain (Primary DJ)
- Untouched by The Veronicas (Primary DJ)
- Stayin’ Alive by Bee Gees (Primary DJ)
- Hey Ya by Outkast (Nova DJs)
- Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson ft Bruno Mars (Nova DJs)
First dance songs
The first dance is traditionally the last formality of a wedding, so you’ll want it to be a memorable moment. While the first dance was once always set to a sentimental tune, more couples are giving this tradition a cheekier, more upbeat twist. Want the best of both worlds? Plan a romantic waltz that transitions into a funkier dance style of your choice! If you’re the proud owner of two left feet, there is no shame in bringing in a choreographer to bring your vision to life.
- To Build a Home by Cinematic Orchestra (The Night Creatures)
- You Give Me Something by James Morrison (Vanessa Krumma Music)
- Simply The Best by Noah Reid — an acoustic cover of the Tina Turner classic — (Vanessa Krumma Music)
- Someone Like You by Van Morrison (Vanessa Krumma Music)
- Your Song by Elton John (Ben and Vee)
- At Last by Etta James (Ben and Vee)
- Feels Like Home by Chantal Kreviazuk (Ben and Vee)
- This I Promise You by Ronan Keating (Southern Vibes DJ & MC Service)
- I Won’t Give Up by Jason Mraz (Southern Vibes DJ & MC Service)
- Unforgettable by Nat “King” Cole (Southern Vibes DJ & MC Service)
There you have it…
There is our go-to list of top wedding songs for every milestone in your celebration, according to our favourite entertainers. Of course, music is incredibly subjective and personal. It’s your day, so be sure to fill the soundtrack with your most loved and meaningful tunes. Your entertainment vendor will always take into account your musical preferences, so don’t be shy about letting them know what you like!
