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.
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Approximately how many songs do you recommend for a typical wedding reception?
A wedding reception is a journey, and the playlist needs to flow perfectly! Here’s my breakdown:
- Cocktail Hour: ~15-20 songs (chill but stylish vibes)
- Dinner: ~20-30 songs (romantic, smooth background tunes)
- Dancing: ~40-60 songs (high-energy hits to keep the floor packed!)
That’s about 80-100 songs total, but I come prepared with way more, so I can adjust to the crowd’s energy and requests on the spot! DJ Frizzie
Best Wedding Reception Songs
- At Last – Etta James
- Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
- Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
- I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Whitney Houston
- Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- Marry You – Bruno Mars
- All of Me – John Legend
- I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas
- Shut Up and Dance – WALK THE MOON
- Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
- I Just Called to Say I Love You – Stevie Wonder
- Perfect – Ed Sheeran
- Dancing Queen – ABBA
- A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
- I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
When choosing the best songs to play at a wedding reception, focus on selecting top wedding songs to dance to. Consider your guests’ preferences, blend various genres and eras, and prioritize upbeat tracks with catchy melodies. Including personal favorites and popular hits will ensure the dance floor stays packed and everyone has a great time.
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What music will you have at your reception?
A DJ playing fun, danceable songs
The coolest playlist completed by me and my fiance
My best friends band jamming out their hits
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Unique Wedding Reception Entrance Songs
- Marry You – Bruno Mars
- Crazy in Love – Beyonce ft. Jay-Z
- Happy – Pharrell Williams
- Can’t Stop the Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
- I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas
- Celebration – Kool & The Gang
- Love on Top – Beyonce
- Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) – Stevie Wonder
- Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO ft. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock
- Best Day of My Life – American Authors
- This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
- Dynamite – Taio Cruz
- Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and The Waves
- I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Whitney Houston
- Raise Your Glass – Pink
- Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
- 24K Magic – Bruno Mars
- I Believe in a Thing Called Love – The Darkness
- Hey Ya – OutKast
Find the perfect upbeat and celebratory wedding reception entrance songs to make a grand entrance as newlyweds. Choose a song that reflects your personality and gets everyone in a festive mood. Practice your entrance to ensure a smooth and confident walk down the aisle.
Wedding Reception Dance Songs
- 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
Regardless of how many obscure songs end up on your wedding reception songs list, including a few best wedding dance songs 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 wedding party songs list gets toes tapping and encourages couples to hit the floor.
Love Songs For Wedding Reception
- 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
No list of good wedding 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.
Classic Wedding Reception Songs
- 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
There are a few traditional wedding reception songs that you’re naturally going to second guess because they’re so cliche. Well, they’re cliches 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 wedding playlist.
Fun Wedding Songs For Reception
- Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- Can’t Stop the Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
- Happy – Pharrell Williams
- I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas
- Shut Up and Dance – WALK THE MOON
- Dancing Queen – ABBA
- 24K Magic – Bruno Mars
- Crazy in Love – Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z
- Celebration – Kool & The Gang
- Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO
When choosing fun songs for the reception, consider your guests’ preferences, mix different genres and eras, and opt for upbeat tracks with catchy melodies. Including personal favorites and crowd-pleasers in your wedding music playlist will keep the energy high and the dance floor packed.
Finding the right musician or DJ for your celebration is crucial. Browse the top professionals in the Wedding Forward Vendors Directory to create the ideal soundtrack for your special day.
Popular Wedding Reception Songs
- 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
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 reception 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.
Country Wedding Reception Songs
- 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
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.
From your first dance to the after-party, the right music makes your wedding unforgettable. As you search for the perfect venue, don’t forget to find the best wedding venue to ensure every detail is flawless!
New Reception Wedding Songs
Looking for fresh tunes to light up your reception? These wedding songs 2024 feature a mix of fun dance songs and timeless hits that will keep the party going. Discover the best wedding songs to dance to and make your celebration unforgettable!
- Good as Hell – Lizzo
- Levitating – Dua Lipa
- Shivers – Ed Sheeran
- About Damn Time – Lizzo
- Can’t Stop the Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
- Electric Love – BØRNS
- Dance Monkey – Tones and I
- Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- On Top of the World – Imagine Dragons
- I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Whitney Houston
Must-Play Pick: “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” – Justin Timberlake
If you’re looking to guarantee a packed dance floor, “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake is an absolute must-play. It’s an energetic and feel-good anthem that has everyone from your grandma to your best friend grooving.
Top Wedding Reception Exit Songs
Your grand exit is the perfect way to end your celebration on a high note! Whether you want a classic, romantic farewell or an energetic send-off, these best wedding songs will make your exit unforgettable. Here are some of the most popular wedding songs for your big send-off:
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) – Stevie Wonder
- Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
- You Make My Dreams – Daryl Hall & John Oates
- This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
- Marry You – Bruno Mars
- All You Need Is Love – The Beatles
- Happy – Pharrell Williams
- Best Day of My Life – American Authors
- Love on Top – Beyoncé
- We Found Love – Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris
Must-Play Pick: “You Make My Dreams” – Daryl Hall & John Oates
This upbeat classic is the perfect way to end your wedding on a high note! With its joyful melody and feel-good lyrics, it will have you and your guests dancing your way into married life with big smiles.
Brides Often Ask
What song gets everyone on the dance floor at a wedding?
The song that gets everyone on the dance floor: “Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars (high-energy and universally loved).
What song to open up the dance floor?
Best song to open the dance floor: “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” – Whitney Houston (fun, upbeat, and perfect for kicking off the party).
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.
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