A lot goes into wedding music planning, and one of the most common questions couples ask during this time is, “What are the most played songs at weddings?” Of course, you want to play not only your favorite songs but ones that all your wedding guests can enjoy, songs that create that intimate atmosphere quintessential of a wedding ceremony. Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud”, Bruno Mars’ “Marry You”, John Legend’s “All of Me”, and Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years” are the top most played songs at weddings.
These songs are timeless; you rarely would attend an intimate wedding without any of these playings in the background. That’s because they are romantic, with some sounding more like ballads.
However, today’s wedding songs have moved past ballads and can be enjoyed in virtually any genre, including pop and R&B. The lyrics make a song worthy of wedding music.
But here’s the thing. Any song that tells your love story is a great place to start when looking for the best wedding songs. These songs should bring back those romantic memories you’ve shared with your partner, and the lyrics should reflect what you feel for each other. Like you singing for your partner.
It doesn’t matter the tempo; again, it’s the lyrics and the effect they create that make a song worthy of being called a wedding song.
Also, it would be best to create separate playlists for different parts of the wedding, as song songs are more suited for some moods than others. Hence, popular wedding songs for the ceremony would differ from what you’ll hear during the wedding dance.
Most Played Songs At Weddings According To Spotify
Many DJs and DIY-ers have used Spotify to curate their wedding music playlists. So, Spotify, let us know what songs are great for your big day to remove the pain of creating your own wedding playlist from scratch.
Whether for the reception or first dance, here’s a list of the most-played wedding songs to create that romantic ambiance on your big day:
- Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
- I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
- A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
- Everywhere – 2017 Remaster – Fleetwood Mac
- Marry You – Bruno Mars
- How Sweet It Is – James Taylor
- Mess Is Mine – Vance Joy
- All Of Me – John Legend
- Stand By Me – Ben E. King
- Speechless – Dan + Shay
- When A Man Loves A Woman – Percy Sledge
- You Say – Lauren Daigle
- My Girl (Mono) – Otis Redding
- Before You – Benson Boone
- One Call Away (Acoustic) – Charlie Puth
- Perfect – Ed Sheeran
- Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Frankie Valli
- Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay – Otis Redding
- Crazy For You – Madonna
- Have I Told You Lately – Rod Stewart
- Your Song – Elton John
- It Had To Be You – Ray Charles
- True Companion – Marc Cohn
- Fall In Love – Bailey Zimmerman
- Glad You Exist – Dan + Shay
- Just The Way You Are – Bruno Mars
- (You Make Me Feel Like) – Aretha Franklin
- I Love You Always Forever – Donna Lewis
- Butterflies – Max, Ali Gatie
- I’ll Never Not Love You – Michael Bublé
- Just the two of us – Grover Washington, Jr., Bill Withers
- Through The Echoes – Paola Nutini
- Crazy Love – Michael Bublé
- Dive – Ed Sheeran
- Meant To Be – Bebe Rexha, Florida Georgia Line
- Somewhere Only We Know – Lily Allen
- Sugar – Maroon 5
- I say a little prayer. Aretha franklin
- Crazy Love – Van Morrison
- Never In My Wildest Dreams – Dan Auerbach
- Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell
- When I Fall In Love – Michael Bublé
- Dawns – Zach Bryan, Maggie Rogers
- Make You Feel My Love – Adele
- Fields Of Gold – Eva Cassidy
- Turning Page – Sleeping At Last
- So Beautiful (Single Edit) – James Morrison
- You – Dan + Ray
- Man! I feel like a woman
- First Times – Ed Sheeran
Most Played Wedding Songs For Each Moment Of Your Big Day
As I said, different grooves for different moods. So, let’s see what songs to play for each segment of your wedding day.
Most played Wedding processional songs
This is when the groom, parents, and wedding party enter the ceremony. The bride will come in last. Hymns are great for the wedding procession, but slow, popular pop tunes work excellently well. Generally, the song should be relaxed and emotion-evoking.
- “Canon in D” by Johann Pachelbel
- “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri
- “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles
- “Marry Me” by Train
- “At Last” by Etta James
- “The Wedding Song (There Is Love)” by Peter, Paul and Mary
- “Bridal Chorus” by Richard Wagner
- “Trumpet Voluntary” by Jeremiah Clarke
- “Wedding March” by Felix Mendelssohn
- “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
- “All of Me” by John Legend
- “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith
- “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley
- “Marry You” by Bruno Mars
- “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran
- “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran
- “Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts
- “From This Moment On” by Shania Twain
- “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers
- “Moon River” by Andy Williams
Most Played Wedding Songs To Walk Down The Aisle
Rather than the wedding procession, some couples may choose to walk down the aisle instead. Mellow tunes similar to processional music will also work here.
Popular wedding songs to walk down the aisle include:
- “Canon in D” by Johann Pachelbel
- “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri
- “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles
- “Marry Me” by Train
- “At Last” by Etta James
- “The Wedding Song (There Is Love)” by Peter, Paul and Mary
- “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley
- “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran
- “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran
- “All of Me” by John Legend
- “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith
- “From This Moment On” by Shania Twain
- “Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts
- “Moon River” by Andy Williams
- “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers
- “Marry You” by Bruno Mars
- “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
- “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton
- “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz
- “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Most Played Songs For The Wedding Ceremony:
A quiet, laidback love song is perfect for the wedding ceremony. Let it play in the background as you say your vows. The most played songs for the wedding ceremony include:
- “Ave Maria” by Franz Schubert
- “The Prayer” by Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion
- “Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley
- “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
- “The Rose” by Bette Midler
- “From This Moment On” by Shania Twain
- “Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler
- “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” by Elton John
- “Endless Love” by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
- “Everything I Do (I Do It for You)” by Bryan Adams
- “You Are the Love of My Life” by Sam Cooke
- “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel
- “Kiss From a Rose” by Seal
- “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
- “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole
- “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
- “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban
- “When a Man Loves a Woman” by Percy Sledge
- “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith
- “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton
Most Played Wedding Recessional Songs
As you exit the altar, followed by the wedding party, an upbeat song is what you want to play. This will set the mood for the reception that follows. Below are the most-played wedding recessional songs:
- “Wedding March” by Felix Mendelssohn
- “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” by Stevie Wonder
- “Love on Top” by Beyonce
- “You Make My Dreams” by Hall and Oates
- “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors
- “Happy” by Pharrell Williams
- “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake
- “I’m a Believer” by The Monkees
- “Beautiful Day” by U2
- “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and The Waves
- “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne
- “Celebration” by Kool & The Gang
- “Forever” by Chris Brown
- “Marry You” by Bruno Mars
- “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” by Natalie Cole
- “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” by The Darkness
- “You Are the Love of My Life” by Sam Cooke
- “Love and Marriage” by Frank Sinatra
- “All You Need Is Love” by The Beatles
- “I Got You (I Feel Good)” by James Brown
Most Played Wedding Party Entrance Songs
Most played wedding party entrance songs to set up the tone for the rest of the evening include:
- “I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas
- “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake
- “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- “Happy” by Pharrell Williams
- “Celebration” by Kool & The Gang
- “Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO ft. Lauren Bennett and GoonRock
- “24K Magic” by Bruno Mars
- “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon
- “I Want to Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston
- “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce ft. Jay-Z
- “I’m a Believer” by The Monkees
- “Love Shack” by The B-52’s
- “Don’t Stop the Music” by Rihanna
- “Raise Your Glass” by P!nk
- “Let’s Get It Started” by The Black Eyed Peas
- “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz
- “SexyBack” by Justin Timberlake
- “Yeah!” by Usher ft. Lil Jon and Ludacris
- “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams
- “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston
Pro tip: as the bride and groom, you may enter the reception to a song different from the wedding party. Depending on your taste, it could be romantic, slow, or otherwise goofy and upbeat. Whatever the case, your wedding entrance song can set the tone for the rest of the evening. “On Top Of The World” by Imagine Dragons and “Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé & Jay-Z are popular choices for wedding entrance songs.
Most Played Wedding Songs For Cake Cutting
Something upbeat and fun is what you want to play for the cake-cutting, and here are popular options:
- “Sugar” by Maroon 5
- “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)” by James Taylor
- “Love on Top” by Beyonce
- “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” by The Four Tops
- “Marry You” by Bruno Mars
- “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond
- “Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard
- “Happy Together” by The Turtles
- “L-O-V-E” by Nat King Cole
- “Love Never Felt So Good” by Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake
- “Everything” by Michael Buble
- “Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts
- “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
- “Come Away With Me” by Norah Jones
- “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne
- “I Choose You” by Sara Bareilles
- “You and Me” by Lifehouse
- “Endless Love” by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
- “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith
- “Have I Told You Lately” by Rod Stewart
Most Played Songs For Wedding Reception
The following top wedding songs will entertain your guests as they chat happily away over dinner:
- “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston
- “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon
- “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake
- “The Way You Look Tonight” by Sinatra
- “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
- “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond
- “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi
- “Celebration” by Kool & The Gang
- “Dancing Queen” by ABBA
- “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
- “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins
- “We Found Love” by Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris
- “Stayin’ Alive” by Bee Gees
- “The Twist” by Chubby Checker
- “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire
- “Happy” by Pharrell Williams
- “At Last” by James
- “I’m a Believer” by The Monkees
- “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams
Most Played Songs For The First Dance
The first dance is a special and highly intimate moment. As such, the first dance song should be slow with powerful lyrics, a song of immense sentimental value. Add some old’ Skool into the mix.
Popular songs for the first dance include the following in no particular order:
- “At Last” by Etta James
- “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley
- “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne
- “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran
- “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri
- “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith
- “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran
- “I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz
- “You Are the Love of My Life” by Sam Cooke
- “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers
- “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
- “All of Me” by John Legend
- “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton
- “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King
- “Come Away With Me” by Norah Jones
- “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli
- “When I Fall in Love” by Nat King Cole
- “My Girl” by The Temptations
- “Marry Me” by Train
- “Everything” by Michael Buble
Wedding Songs For Mother-Son Dance:
- “A Song for Mama” by Boyz II Men
- “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts
- “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
- “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
- “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban
- “Forever Young” by Rod Stewart
- “Days Like This” by Van Morrison
- “The Perfect Fan” by Backstreet Boys
- “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack
- “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)” by James Taylor
- “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
- “In My Life” by The Beatles
- “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King
- “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” by Stevie Wonder
- “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder
- “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac
- “Blessed” by Elton John
- “Through the Years” by Kenny Rogers
- “I’ll Always Love My Mama” by The Intruders
- “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole
Wedding Songs For Mother-Daughter Dance:
- “Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler
- “My Girl” by The Temptations
- “You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor
- “I Say a Little Prayer” by Aretha Franklin
- “The Best Day
- “When You Say Nothing at All” by Alison Krauss
- “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
- “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
- “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack
- “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban
- “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” by Roberta Flack
- “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion
- “I Turn to You” by Christina Aguilera
- “The Rose” by Bette Midler
- “You Are So Beautiful” by Joe Cocker
- “The Sweetest Thing” by Juice Newton
- “She’s Got a Way” by Billy Joel
- “Mama’s Song” by Carrie Underwood
- “Hero” by Mariah Carey
- “I’ll Stand By You” by The Pretenders
Wedding Songs For Father-Daughter Dance:
- “My Girl” by The Temptations
- “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder
- “Dance With My Father” by Luther Vandross
- “Butterfly Kisses” by Bob Carlisle
- “I Loved Her First” by Heartland
- “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
- “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
- “Father and Daughter” by Paul Simon
- “My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw
- “Have I Told You Lately” by Rod Stewart
- “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole
- “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack
- “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” by Stevie Wonder
- “You’ll Be in My Heart” by Phil Collins
- “The Times of Your Life” by Paul Anka
- “My Darling” by Wilco
- “In My Life” by The Beatles
- “The Way You Make Me Feel” by Michael Jackson
- “Wildflowers” by Tom Petty
- “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan
Wedding Exit Songs:
- “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey
- “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” by Stevie Wonder
- “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith
- “Happy” by Pharrell Williams
- “You Make My Dreams” by Hall & Oates
- “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne
- “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” by Natalie Cole
- “Love on Top” by Beyonce
- “Beautiful Day” by U2
- “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake
- “Marry You” by Bruno Mars
- “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay
- “The Way You Make Me Feel” by Michael Jackson
- “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz
- “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors
- “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses
- “Everything” by Michael Buble
- “Love on the Weekend” by John Mayer
- “All You Need is Love” by The Beatles
- “Don’t Stop the Music” by Rihanna
Such helpful input!