Wedding Playlist 101
A wedding has to be a memorable one. Your wedding is also your guests’ wedding. What do we mean by that? Well, we already know that if the music is not on point, your wedding, possibly the most expensive one, may suck without the right music!
An epic event like your wedding day calls for an equally epic playlist—from the moment you walk down the aisle to when you and your guests fill the reception dance floor, your music sets the tone for the day’s events. But with countless classic hits, chart toppers, and love anthems to choose from, picking the best wedding songs can feel overwhelming.
If you’ve been to your fair share of weddings, you’re probably familiar with the number one wedding song—the romantic ballad All of Me by John Legend—along with some of these popular wedding songs:
Thinking Out Loud — Ed Sheeran
A Thousand Years — Christina Perri
At Last — Etta James
Marry Me — Train
Can’t Help Falling in Love — Elvis Presley
But if you’re looking for a deeper dive into some musical inspiration, we’ve compiled the best wedding songs for every moment of the big day—from the ceremony and cocktail hour to your first dance and reception. We’ve also included the best wedding songs by genre to align with music tastes of all kinds!
Best Wedding Songs by Activity
Your wedding day will include a variety of different moments and activities, each calling for its own type of music (ie. you wouldn’t use the same tunes from your getting ready playlist for your wedding processional music!). Browse the list below for the best wedding songs for every moment of your big day, from walking down the aisle to the best reception songs to dance to.
Songs for the Bachelor/Bachelorette Party
- First Class — Jack Harlow
- Ferrari — James Hype
- Work — Rihanna
- Sorry — Justin Bieber
- Me, Myself & I — G-Eazy
- Roses — The Chainsmokers
- Hands to Myself — Selena Gomez
- Fast Car — Jonas Blue
- Stay — Kygo
- My House — Flo Rida
- Bang My Head — David Guetta
- Sugar — Robin Shulz
- Lean On — Major Lazer
- I’M ON ONE — Drake
- All My Friends — Snakehips
- On My Mind — Ellie Goulding
- Where Are Ü Now — Jack Ü
- How Deep Is Your Love — Calvin Harris
- The Sound — The 1975
- Middle — DJ Snake
- Love Myself — Hailee Steinfeld
- Be Right There — Diplo
- Focus — Ariana Grande
- Desperado — Rihanna
- Waiting for Love — Avicii
Songs to Get Ready To
The morning of your wedding is filled with excitement and anticipation, which calls for the perfect playlist to help shake off any jitters and set the tone for the day ahead. This mix of upbeat hits and nostalgic love anthems spans all decades and genres, and is sure to keep spirits high all morning long!
- Marry You — Bruno Mars
- The Cure — Lady Gaga
- A Moment Like This — Leona Lewis
- Chapel of Love — The Dixie Cups
- Love On Top — Beyoncé
- Levitating — Dua Lipa ft. DaBaby
- It Wasn’t Me — Shaggy ft. Rik Rok
- Shut Up and Dance — Walk the Moon
- Love Story — Taylor Swift
- Run the World (Girls) — Beyoncé
- Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! — ABBA
- These Words — Natasha Bedingfield
- All You Need Is Love — The Beatles
- We Found Love — Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris
- Oh, Pretty Woman — Roy Orbison
- You’ve Got the Love — Florence + The Machine
- Rather Be — Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne
- I Do — Colbie Caillat
- Respect — Aretha Franklin
- Baila Conmigo — Selena Gomez
- Love Yourself — Justin Bieber
- Ain’t No Other Man — Christina Aguilera
- Anywhere — Rita Ora
- I Say A Little Prayer — Aretha Franklin
- White Wedding — Billy Idol
Wedding Processional Songs
The wedding processional marks the beginning of the ceremony, when your family members, wedding parties, and/or flower girls and ring bearers make their way down the aisle. If you’ll have background music playing as guests are arriving, you’ll want to clearly differentiate your processional music as a signal that the wedding is beginning.
Whether you choose a traditional hymn or your favorite pop tune, your processional music is entirely up to you—browse Zola’s curated Spotify playlist or choose from our selection of soft instrumentals and upbeat, whimsical tunes below.
- Canon in D (Pachelbel’s Canon) — Brooklyn Duo
- Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World — Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
- A Thousand Years (Christina Perri) — The Piano Guys
- A Day Without Rain — Enya
- Marry Me — United Guitar Players
- Feels Like Home — Edwina Hayes
- Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley) — Vitamin String Quartet
- A Million Dreams (The Greatest Showman) — Taylor Davis
- XO (Beyoncé) — Midnite String Quartet
- Beyond — Leon Bridges
- Here Comes the Sun — The Beatles
- Butterflies — Kacey Musgraves
- Sea of Love — Cat Power
- Largo (From “Xerxes”) — Handel
- Higher Love — James Vincent McMorrow
- Begin Again — Piano Tribute Players
- Thinking Out Loud (Ed Sheeran) — Vesislava
- Can’t Take My Eyes Off You — Trio Comodo
- All I Want Is You (U2) — Bridesmaids Quartet
- Light My Fire — Threeds
- First Day of My Life — Bright Eyes
- Collide — Tiana Major9
- We Could Happen — AJ Rafael
- Hoppípolla — Sigur Rós
- This Feeling — Alabama Shakes
Songs to Walk Down the Aisle To
The song you walk down the aisle to sets the tone for your special day, and is an opportunity to choose something personal and meaningful to both you and your partner. While you might choose to keep your processional music the same for walking down the aisle, many couples prefer to select a different tune for the aisle moment. Check out our collection of romantic and uplifting songs that are sure to tug on heartstrings and make this moment a special one.
- Bridal Chorus — Richard Wagner
- All of Me (John Legend) — Daniel Jang
- Hallelujah — Vitamin String Quartet
- Can’t Help Falling in Love — Haley Reinhart
- Wedding March — Mendelssohn
- Despacito (Luis Fonsi) — Brooklyn Duo
- A Sky Full of Stars — The Piano Guys
- Amazing Grace — Bridesmaids Quartet
- Come Away With Me — Vitamin String Quartet
- Forever — Josh Vietti
Wedding Ceremony Songs
There are countless opportunities to set the mood with music on your wedding day, and the wedding ceremony itself is one of them! While some couples prefer to cut the music once they’re joined together at the altar, some opt to play soft instrumental music during the ceremony to add more depth to the moment. Find some of our favorite instrumental tunes for your ceremony below.
- The Secret Wedding (From “Braveheart”) — David Arkenstone ft. Kathleen Fisher
- Hampshire — Adrian Johnston
- Wedding — Frederic Chopin
- Sicilienne — Maria Theresia von Paradis
- The Meeting — John Powell
- Attraversiamo — Dario Marianelli
- Your Song — United Guitar Players
- Have I Told You Lately That I Love You — United Guitar Players
- Rhythm of Love — Bridesmaids Quartet
- And I Love Her — George Martin
Wedding Recessional Songs
Your wedding recessional—otherwise known as your wedding exit—is the moment when you and your partner walk back down the aisle as newlyweds, followed by the wedding party and guests. Your recessional song selection should reflect the joy and excitement of what just took place and set the tone for the reception to follow. Browse our list of celebratory tunes to make your grand exit with!
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) — Stevie Wonder
- Ain’t No Mountain High Enough — Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
- Accidentally In Love — Counting Crows
- For Once in My Life — Stevie Wonder
- Crazy Little Thing Called Love — Queen
- Wedding Day — Bee Gees
- My Sweet Lord — George Harrison
- Adore You — Harry Styles
- Happy — Pharell Williams
- Treasure — Bruno Mars
- Outro — M83
- We Go Together — John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (Greece)
- Walking On a Dream — Empire of the Sun
- Beautiful Day — U2
- Never Going Back Again — Fleetwood Mac
Cocktail Hour Songs
If you’re hosting a cocktail hour—the roughly hour-long break between the ceremony and the reception—a feel-good playlist that primes your guests for the party to come is a must. Keep your song choices light and uplifting for guests to enjoy while they mingle, and save the high-energy dance tunes until you hit the dance floor.
- Here Comes the Sun — Nina Simone
- Home — Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros
- Stubborn Love — The Lumineers
- Easy Living — Billie Holiday
- Lucky — Jason Mraz ft. Colbie Caillat
- Sway — Michael Bublé
- Rhythm of Love — Plain White T’s
- Fever — Peggy Lee
- I Feel It Coming — The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk
- Let’s Fall In Love — Diana Krall
- At Last — Etta James
- The Way You Look Tonight — Tony Bennett
- Love Like This — Natasha Bedingfield
- Red Dirt Road — Brooks & Dunn
- Misty — Johnny Mathis
Wedding Party Entrance Songs
Your guests will be looking forward to the reception once the ceremony and cocktail hour conclude, and what better way to kick things off than with a few epic entrance songs? Your wedding party entrance song calls for high-energy, celebratory tunes—here are some of our favorites.
- Can’t Stop the Feeling — Justin Timberlake
- Take Me Out — Franz Ferdinand
- I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor — Arctic Monkeys
- Hey Ya! — OutKast
- I Gotta Feeling — The Black Eyed Peas
- Firework — Katy Perry
- Raise Your Glass — P!nk
- Sugar — Maroon 5
- Just Dance — Lady Gaga
- Dynamite — Tai Cruz
Newlywed Entrance Songs
A moment like your first official appearance as newlyweds calls for the perfect entrance song. Whether you go for something loud and goofy or romantic and special, the following songs are guaranteed to make your reception kickoff memorable.
- Love Me Like You Do — Ellie Goulding
- Rollercoaster — Bleachers
- SexyBack — Justin Timberlake
- Everything Is Awesome — Tegan and Sara
- Starving — Hailee Steinfeld
- Let’s Get It Started — The Black Eyed Peas
- 24K Magic — Bruno Mars
- On Top of the World — Imagine Dragons
- Bring Em Out — T.I. ft Swizz Beatz
- Seeing Stars — Børns
First Dance Songs
You might be dancing in front of a crowd, but your first dance song should be one that’s personal to you and your partner. Keep reading for more of our favorite picks.
- Thinking Out Loud — Ed Sheeran
- You Are the Best Thing — Ray LaMontagne
- Can’t Help Falling in Love — Elvis Presley
- Sweetest Devotion — Adele
- I Will — The Beatles
- It Had to be You — Dooley Wilson
- Sparks — Coldplay
- Stay In My Corner — The Arcs
- The Best Is Yet to Come — Frank Sinatra
- You’re My Best Friend — Queen
Parent Dance Songs
Parent dances are an incredibly touching moment of the wedding day, but choosing the right song can be tough. It helps to reflect on your relationship with the parent you’ll be dancing with—what matters most is choosing a song that represents the bond you share. Browse our picks for sweet and sentimental songs below.
- What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong
- Your Song — Elton John
- Gracie — Ben Folds
- Brown Eyed Girl — Van Morrison
- Isn’t She Lovely — Stevie Wonder
- It’s For My Dad — Nancy Sinatra
- My Wish — Rascal Flatts
- Stand By Me — Ben E. King
- A Song For Mama — Boyz II Men
- I Hope You Dance — Lee Ann Womack
Reception Songs to Dance To
Your wedding reception playlist requires a balance of what you and your partner love and what your guests will enjoy, too. Regardless of what you choose, one thing’s for sure—they should make you want to dance! Our Songs for the Dance Floor playlist features songs that Zola couples have told us makes them want to get down, and the list below offers some extra inspiration.
- I Wanna Dance with Somebody — Whitney Houston
- Lose Control — Missy Elliot
- Suavemente — Elvis Crespo
- On the Floor — Jennifer Lopez ft. Pitbull
- My Girl — The Temptations
- Play That Funky Music — Wild Cherry
- This Is What You Came For — Rhianna ft. Calvin Harris
- Havana — Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug
- Billie Jean — Michael Jackson
- Boogie Shoes — KC & The Sunshine Band
- Forever — Chris Brown
- Footloose — Kenny Loggins
- Uptown Funk — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- Shake It Off — Taylor Swift
- Yeah! — Usher
Best Wedding Songs by Genre
The best songs for your wedding day are those that represent your relationship with your partner and are close to both of your hearts. Instead of confining yourself to tradition or what you think you “should” include, curate your playlist based on your unique tastes. No matter what type of music you fancy, use our list of the best wedding songs by genre to tailor your playlist to what you and your partner love most.
Modern Wedding Songs
- Butterflies — Kacey Musgraves
- Sunflower — Post Malone
- Lover — Taylor Swift
- Treasure — Bruno Mars
- Sweet Creature — Harry Styles
- Let’s Shut Up & Dance — Jason Derulo
- Boom Clap — Charli XCX
- Born To Be Yours — Imagine Dragons ft. Kygo
- Can’t Feel My Face — The Weeknd
- One Kiss — Calvin Harris ft. Dua Lipa
- A Sky Full of Stars — Coldplay
- Heatstroke — Calvin Harris ft. Young Thug, Pharrell Williams, and Ariana Grande
- Coloring Outside the Lines — MisterWives
- 10,000 Hours — Dan + Shay, Justin Bieber
- Lucky — Jason Mraz ft. Colbie Caillat
Country Wedding Songs
- Million Miles — Kody West
- Pretty Heart — Parker McCollum
- That’s the Way Love Goes — Merle Haggard
- Looking for Love — Johnny Lee
- Friends in Low Places — Garth Brooks
- Wagon Wheel — Darius Rucker
- Honey Bee — Blake Shelton
- Tennessee Whiskey — Chris Stapleton
- Country Girl (Shake It For Me) — Luke Bryan
- Better Together — Luke Combs
- Rhinestone Cowboy — Glen Campbell
- The Chair — George Strait
- Don’t Take Her She’s All I Got — Tracy Byrd
- You Look So Good in Love — Merle Haggard
- She Won’t Be Lonely Long — Clay Walker
Christian Wedding Songs
- God Gave Me You — Dave Barnes
- Always Only You — Josh Wilson
- Commitment — Sanctus Real
- You Say — Lauren Daigle
- When I Say I Do — Matthew West
- Hold Me — Jamie Grace ft. TobyMac
- Till I Found You — Phil Wickham
- You Love Me Anyway — Sidewalk Prophets
- Butterfly Kisses — Bob Carlisle
- Hundred More Years — Francesca Battistelli
- Good Day for Marrying You — Dave Barnes
- The Heart — NEEDTOBREATHE
- The King is Coming — Newsboys
- Made to Love — TobyMac
- I Promise (Wedding Song) — CeCe Winans
R&B/Soul Wedding Songs
- Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You — Lauryn Hill
- Let’s Get married — Jagged Edge
- Sweet Love — Anita Baker
- I Can’t Do Without You — George Jackson
- If I Ain’t Got You — Alicia Keys
- Make You Feel My Love — Adele
- Ain’t Nobody — Chaka Khan, Rufus
- Let’s Stay Together — Al Green
- That’s How Strong My Love Is — Otis Redding
- I Believe in You and Me — Whitney Houston
- Lovely Day — Bill Withers
- Rich Girl — Lake Street Dive
- You Sexy Thing — Hot Chocolate
- Lovey Dovey Kinda Lovin’ — Brenton Wood
- Just the Two of Us — Grover Washington, Jr. ft. Bill Withers
Classic Wedding Songs
- You’re My Best Friend — Queen
- Stayin’ Alive — Bee Gees
- Don’t Stop Believin’ — Journey
- Boogie Nights — Heatwave
- Love Train — The O’Jays
- Love Shack — The B-52’s
- September — Earth, Wind & Fire
- Sweet Caroline — Neil Diamond
- I Want You Back — Jackson 5
- We Are Family — Sister Sledge
- This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) — Natalie Cole
- Better Together — Jack Johnson
- Happy — Pharrell Williams
- Superstition — Stevie Wonder
- Stand By Me — Ben E. King
Fun Wedding Songs
- Party Rock Anthem — LMFAO ft. Lauren Bennett
- Chained to the Rhythm — Katy Perry
- Groove Is in the Heart — Deee-Lite
- Moves Like Jagger — Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera
- Good Feeling — Flo Rida
- Crazy — Gnarles Barkley
- We Are Young — Fun. ft. Janelle Monáe
- Get Lucky — Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams
- Last Friday Night — Katy Perry
- Doo Wop (That Thing) — Lauryn Hill
- Raspberry Beret — Prince
- I Feel For You — Chaka Khan
- You Should Be Dancing (Saturday Night Fever soundtrack) — Bee Gees
- Got to Get You Into My Life — Earth, Wind & Fire
- Theme From Shaft (Remastered) — Isaac Hayes
Indie Wedding Songs
- Fade Into You — Mazzy Star
- Sweetest Thing on This Side of Heaven — Papa Bear & His Cubs
- In My Baby’s Arms — The California Honeydrops
- Coming Home — Leon Bridges
- Still Together — Mac DeMarco
- Baby — Ariel Pink
- My Kind of Woman — Mac DeMarco
- Feels Like Heaven — Ariel Pink
- Best to You — Blood Orange
- Dreams — The Cranberries
- Skinny Love — Bon Iver
- Strawberry Swing — Frank Ocean
- Still Into You — Paramore
- 1901 — Phoenix
- Electric Feel — MGMT
Rock Wedding Songs
- Fell in Love With a Girl — The White Stripes
- (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party) — Beastie Boys
- Howlin’ For You — The Black Keys
- With or Without You — U2
- Our Love — Gary Clark Jr.
- Sweet Child O’ Mine — Guns N’ Roses
- Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town — Talking Heads
- Nothing Else Matters — Metallica
- Start Me Up — Rolling Stones
- You Shook Me All Night Long — AC/DC
- Should I Stay Or Should I Go — The Clash
- Can’t Stop — Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Jump — Van Halen
- Bitch, I Love You — Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
- Dancing in the Dark — Bruce Springsteen
Curating the perfect wedding playlist might feel daunting, but try to have fun with it! Focus on filling your playlist with songs that represent your unique love story and relationship. Now that you’ve got 300 songs to work with, we’re confident you’ll find something you love.