Original content: COPY Wedding Reception Songs Of All Time
Choosing your wedding reception songs can be a tricky process. You want to choose songs that you like, but you want your guests to like them too. You want to create a playlist that’s unique and noticeable, but you also want to deliver music that people are familiar with and can dance to.
These concepts seem to contradict each other. It seems hard but with our guidance and a few samples, you’ll find that perfect balance.
Brides Often Ask
How Many Songs Do You Need for a Wedding Reception?
Determining how many songs for a wedding reception is actually pretty easy. Unless you’re playing Pink Floyd’s epic 20 minute Shine On You Crazy Diamond, the average song length is 3 minutes. Decide how long you want people to be out on the dance floor and do some simple division.
- 3-hour reception? That’s 60 songs.
- 4-hour reception? That’s 80 songs.
However, you should probably plan for some downtime for speeches and for the DJ to take a break.
What Songs Do You Need For a Wedding Reception Playlist
Of course, in addition to the general list of songs to be played during the reception and any music for dancing, many couples also include a list of songs to sing at a wedding. This is a great way to engage your guests, not only on the dance floor!
- Bride and Groom entrance song
- Bridal Party entrance song
- Parents of the Bride entrance song
- Parents of the Groom entrance song
- Bride and Groom first dance song
- Mother-Son dance song
- Father-Daughter dance song
- Bridal party dance song
- Cake cutting song
- Cocktail hour songs
- Dinner song playlist
- Dance songs
- Garter Toss Song
- Bridal Bouquet Toss Songs
- Last Dance Song
What music will you have at your reception?
Anonymous quiz
- A DJ playing fun, danceable songs
- The coolest playlist completed by me and my fiance
- My best friends band jamming out their hits
- A professional wedding band
Vote to see results
What music will you have at your reception?
A DJ playing fun, danceable songs58.01 %The coolest playlist completed by me and my fiance34.75 %My best friends band jamming out their hits2.23 %A professional wedding band5.01 %Voted : 2515Fun Wedding Songs for Wedding Reception
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Regardless of how many obscure songs end up on your wedding reception songs list, including a few upbeat familiar hits is always a good idea. Everybody wants to dance at your wedding but coaxing those first few couples to shake their nerves is sometimes a little bit of a stubborn process. Choosing a few wedding songs from this fun list gets toes tapping and encourages couples to hit the floor.
- Somebody Like You – Keith Urban
- Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO ft. Lauren Bennett, GoonRock
- Celebration – Kool & The Gang
- Feel So Close – Calvin Harris
- Best Day Of My Life – American Authors
- Dance With Me Tonight – Olly Murs
- She Looks So Perfect – 5 Seconds of Summer
- Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera
- This Is What It Feels Like – Armin van Buuren ft. Trevor Guthrie
- Get The Party Started – Pink
- Good Feeling – Flo Rida
- Rock Your Body – Justin Timberlake
- I’m Gonna Be – The Proclaimers
- Super Bass – Nicki Minaj
- All About That Bass – Meghan Trainor
- Me Too – Meghan Trainor
- Chained To The Rhythm – Katy Perry
- Popular Song – MIKA ft. Ariana Grande
- This Is How We Do – Katy Perry
- Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen
Love Songs For Wedding Reception
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No list of good wedding reception songs would be complete without a few love ballads. These are a few reliable go-to songs that are perfect for first dances, father and bride, or just a moment of romance for the entire crowd. There’s really no such thing as too many love songs at a wedding, so feel free to get greedy with this category.
- I Will Follow You Into The Dark – Death Cab for Cutie
- Magic – Coldplay
- I Found Love (Cindy’s Song) – BeBe Winans
- I Do (Cherish You) – 98º
- Tonight I Celebrate My Love – Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack
- Just The Way You Are – Bruno Mars
- Fly Me To The Moon (live in Paris) – Diana Krall
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Katharine McPhee
- A Whole New World – Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle
- Before I Fall in Love – CoCo Lee
- Have I Told You Lately That I Love You – Rod Stewart
- L.O.V.E. – Michael Buble
- The Power Of Love – Celine Dion
- This I Promise You – NSYNC
- Truly Madly Deeply – Savage Garden
- The Moment – Kenny G
- The Wedding Song – Kenny G
- Autumn Leaves – Paula Cole
- Let Me Love You – Mario
- Dilemma – Nelly ft. Kelly Rowland
Classic Wedding Reception Songs
There are a few traditional wedding reception songs that you’re naturally going to second guess because they’re so cliche. Well, they’re cliche for a reason. For one reason or another, this particular category of wedding reception music strikes a chord with the crowd. Maybe it’s the lyrics, maybe it’s the music, or maybe it’s a sweet tradition that’s been passed down the generations. Whatever the reasons, these songs are great choices for your reception playlist.
- Here and Now – Luther Vandross
- As Time Goes By – Dooley Wilson
- Crazy Love – Van Morrison
- Grow Old With Me – Mary Chapin Carpenter
- Never Too Much – Luther Vandross
- La Vie en Rose – Edith Piaf
- Stand by Me – Ben E. King
- The Best Is Yet to Come – Frank Sinatra
- Up Where We Belong – Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
- You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
- You’re My Best Friend – Queen
- My Girl – The Temptations
- Respect – Aretha Franklin
- Last Dance – 1978
- Superstition – Stevie Wonder
- Crazy – Gnarls Barkley
- California Dreaming – The Mamas and the Papas
- Ain’t No Stopping Us Now – McFadden & Whitehead
- Great Balls Of Fire – Jerry Lee LewisWhat’d I Say – Ray Charles
Popular Pop Wedding Reception Songs
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New wedding songs can be complicated if you have multiple generations at your wedding reception. Don’t feel bad. At all. It’s perfectly fine to choose a few top-40 singles or even a few that haven’t hit the radio just yet. The only rule is that have to know enough to the younger crowd that they’re on their feet and enjoy wedding receptions dances. The older couples can sit this one out. Pop music may come and go quickly, but your top wedding reception songs will be today’s hits.
- I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas
- Can’t Stop the Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
- Ice Cream – Mika
- Somebody That I Used To Know – Gotye
- We Are Young – Fun
- Paradise – Coldplay
- A Sky Full Of Stars – Coldplay
- Marry You – Bruno Mars
- Safe And Sound – Capital Cities
- This Is What You Came For – Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna
- Get Lucky – Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams
- Let’s Shut Up & Dance – Jason Derulo, LAY, NCT 127
- Sugar – Maroon 5
- Last Friday Night – Katy Perry
- Shake It Off – Taylor Swift
- Can’t Feel My Face – Weeknd
- This is How We Do It – Montell Jordan
- Better Together – Jack Johnson
- Mi Gente – J Balvin, Willy William
- Taki Taki – DJ Snake
Best Oldies for a Wedding Reception
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After Cardi B has had her turn, it’s time for a few wedding party songs that cater to mom and dad’s generation. You can’t go wrong with a few classic crooners or some boot-tapping country wedding songs. This category is nice because there are both fast and slow songs to dance to and everyone is at least a little bit familiar. Listen to a few of these by yourself and you may not fully appreciate it. But, play them in front of a crowd and you quickly agree that these are some of the best wedding reception songs out there.
- Fly Me to the Moon – Frank Sinatra
- You’ll Be In My Heart – Phil Collins
- No Matter What – Calum Scott
- Mama’s Hand – Queen Naija
- You Are Loved – Josh Groban
- A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
- Can I Have This Dance – Anne Murray
- Ain’t That a Kick in the Head – Dean Martin
- You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman – Aretha Franklin
- Dancing Queen – ABBA
- Gimme, Gimme, Gimme! – ABBA
- Uptown Girl – Billy Joel
- Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
- Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Frankie Valli
- September – Earth, Wind & Fire
- Forever Young – Rod Stewart
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) – Stevie Wonder
- Bust a Move – Young MC
- Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees
- I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Frank Sinatra
Top Country Wedding Reception Songs
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There are some great classic country songs, but even top-40 radio stations are playing the current country these days. It’s a growing segment of music that’s managed to cross a lot of genres. Some are stereotypically sad, but there are more than enough good times and dance tunes to set the party off.
- Keeper of the Stars – Tracy Byrd
- Amazed – Lonestar
- Bless the Broken Road – Rascal Flatts
- Hey Pretty Girl – Kip Moore
- Meanwhile Back At Mama’s – Tim McGraw
- Speak to a Girl – Tim McGraw ft. Faith Hill
- Forever and For Always – Shania Twain
- When You Kiss Me – Shania Twain
- Copperhead Road – Steve Earle
- I Need You – LeAnn Rimes
- She’s Everything – Brad Paisley
- I Hope You Dance – Leann Womack
- My little girl – Tim McGraw
- Daddy’s Angel – Anthony Carter
- I Loved Her First – Heartland
- Through the Years – Kenny Rogers
- My Wish – Rascal Flatts
- Boot Scootin’ Boogie – Brooks & Dunn
- Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker
- Country Girl (Shake It For Me) – Luke Bryan
The best way to approach songs for wedding dinner choices is diversity. Instead of picking 100% songs that you love, make sure to sprinkle in some wedding standards and a few classics for other generations.