2022 Wedding Playlist Song Ideas & Inspiration

Band Playing at a Wedding Reception: Hitched, Bride and Groom Dancing: Hey Wedding Lady, Wedding Guests Dancing in a Group: Wedding Estates

Picking wedding songs sounds like a lot of fun at first, but as brides and grooms realize just how many songs they need to pick, the process can start to feel overwhelming.

The good news is you can’t make a wrong choice! The best wedding songs are ones that are meaningful to the couple. However, certain songs do evoke certain moods, and they can completely transform the feeling of your wedding day, so the process of picking songs is one you shouldn’t rush.

From your ceremony until the last guest leaves your reception, these wedding playlist song ideas and inspiration will help you pick the perfect tunes for your big day.

Ceremony

There’s a lot more to ceremony music than choosing a song for the bride’s walk down the aisle. How many songs you choose for the wedding ceremony will depend on the size of your wedding party and guest list. Your ceremony sets the tone for your entire wedding day, so songs should be chosen carefully. If you want to make your ceremony extra special, consider a live quartet or harpist.

As Guests are Seated

It’s all about setting a romantic mood as guests are being seated. If you want a modern playlist, some of our favorites include:

• “Paper Rings” by Taylor Swift
• “Stuck With U” by Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber
• “Watermelon Sugar” by Harry Styles
• “Lego House” by Ed Sheeran
• “The Most Beautiful Thing” by Bruno Major

If you want to appeal to the older generations at your wedding, consider tunes like:

• “My Girl” by The Temptations
• “For Once in My Life” by Stevie Wonder
• “L-O-V-E” by Nat King Cole
• “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra and Count Basie
• “All You Need Is Love” by The Beatles

You may also want to consider themed music, depending on your wedding décor. For example, you might play country tunes at a farm wedding, or you may want to incorporate some classic French love songs at a European-styled event.

Processional

The processional is when everyone in the wedding party walks down the aisle. This includes:

• Officiant
• Grandparents
• Parents
• Groom
• Wedding party
• Ring bearer
• Flower girl
• Bride

Wedding songs without words are popular because they can be looped and faded to accommodate the length of your processional. Try tunes from favorites like The Piano Guys, or look to classic masters, like Beethoven and Mozart.

The bride should have her own song as she walks down the aisle. “Here Comes the Bride” is an obvious choice, but couples can choose any song that’s meaningful to them. A few modern favorites include:

• “At Last” by Etta James
• “Over The Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
• “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele
• “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars
• “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles

If you want to make the moment extra special, brides can choose a song that is a complete surprise to their partner waiting at the end of the aisle.

Incorporating things like signing marriage certificates or pouring sand into your ceremony? Consider playing a song in the background as guests wait for you to finish.

Recessional

Songs for the recessional and receiving line can be more celebratory and lighthearted than the songs chosen for the first part of the ceremony. Some songs that can be played immediately after the couple is officially announced include:

• “When I’m 64” by the Beatles
• “Best Love Song” by T-Pain
• “Marry You” by Bruno Mars
• “Love Me Like You Do” by Ellie Goulding
• “Oh! You Pretty Things” by David Bowie

Cocktail Hour

During the cocktail hour, songs should melt into the background as guests mix and mingle. Save wedding songs to dance to for your reception.

If you’re hiring a DJ, ask them to customize a playlist so you can focus on the more important songs at your wedding. If you’re doing the music yourself, consider putting on a Pandora playlist like:

• Frank Sinatra
• Hotel Costes Radio
• Portishead Radio
• Coffee House Covers Radio
• Yacht Rock

Reception

There’s a lot of songs to think about when it comes to the reception, whether you’re creating a wedding playlist for your DJ, you are hiring a live band, or you’re DIYing the music yourself. Here are some of the things you’ll want to consider.

Grand Entrance

Make sure you choose a grand entrance song! You may decide to choose a different song for each member of your wedding party, or have one song for your wedding party as a whole with a different song for the couple. This is the perfect chance to let everyone’s personality shine through. You can play songs like the Marvel Avengers Theme, "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé and JAY-Z, or "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO.

Dinner

Some couples choose to play music during dinner and some don’t. If you do decide to play music, follow the same rules you would follow during the cocktail hour—play mellow tunes that melt into the background.

Cake Cutting

There are a lot of fun songs you can play while you cut the cake! A few to consider include:

• “How Sweet It Is” by James Taylor
• “Sugar, Sugar” by The Archies
• “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by Eurythmics
• “Cake” by Flo Rida and 99 Percent
• "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" by Four Tops

Special Dances

Make sure special dances are extra special by choosing the right music. Songs choices for the bride and groom include:

• "All of Me" by John Legend
• "Maybe I’m Amazed" by Paul McCartney
• "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper
• "We are Man And Wife" by Michelle Featherstone
• "History in the Making" by Darius Rucker

Wedding songs for mother and son include:

• “Forever Young” by Rod Stewart
• “Beautiful Boy” by John Lennon
• “Mama Said” by Lucas Graham
• “The First Lady in My Life” by Paul Todd
• “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion

Wedding songs for father and daughter include:

• “Father and Daughter” by Paul Simon
• “My Girl” by The Temptations
• “You'll Be in My Heart” by Phil Collins
• “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
• “Daddy's Little Girl” by The Shires

Want grandparents to cut a rug on the dance floor? Want to honor your parents with a special dance? Make sure you choose songs for them too!

Dancing and Partying

Feel free to create your own wedding playlist to get everyone dancing that’s full of songs you love, but don’t forget to sprinkle in some tunes that older generations will appreciate. Traditional party songs, like “The Electric Slide” can get people on the dance floor, but don’t feel like you have to play them if it’s not the vibe you want at your party.

Ask your DJ for advice, if you have one, as they know the best wedding songs that bring people out on the dance floor. You may also want to consider specific songs for things like the garter and bouquet toss.