300 Best Wedding Songs for Each Moment of your Wedding Day - Zola Expert Wedding Advice (2024)

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 co*cktail 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!

Table of Contents

Wedding Songs by Activity

• Songs for the Bachelor Party
• Songs to Get Ready To
• co*cktail Hour Songs
• Wedding Processional Songs
• Songs to Walk Down the Aisle To
• Wedding Ceremony Songs
• Wedding Recessional Songs
• Wedding Party Entrance Songs
• Newlywed Entrance Songs
• First Dance Songs
• Parent Dance Songs
• Reception Songs to Dance To

Wedding Songs by Genre

• Modern Wedding Songs
• Country Wedding Songs
• Christian Wedding Songs
• Classic Wedding Songs
• Fun Wedding Songs
• Indie Wedding Songs
• Gospel Wedding Songs

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

This might be a pre-wedding activity, but an epic bash like your bachelor or bachelorette party calls for an equally epic playlist. Head straight to Zola’s Ultimate Bach Party playlist on Spotify to listen to our carefully curated picks, or dive into the following song ideas for some extra inspiration.

Curated Zola picks on Spotify: Ultimate Bach Party

1. First Class — Jack Harlow
2. Ferrari — James Hype
3. Work — Rihanna
4. Sorry — Justin Bieber
5. Me, Myself & I — G-Eazy
6. Roses — The Chainsmokers
7. Hands to Myself — Selena Gomez
8. Fast Car — Jonas Blue
9. Stay — Kygo
10. My House — Flo Rida
11. Bang My Head — David Guetta
12. Sugar — Robin Shulz
13. Lean On — Major Lazer
14. I’M ON ONE — Drake
15. All My Friends — Snakehips
16. On My Mind — Ellie Goulding
17. Where Are Ü Now — Jack Ü
18. How Deep Is Your Love — Calvin Harris
19. The Sound — The 1975
20. Middle — DJ Snake
21. Love Myself — Hailee Steinfeld
22. Be Right There — Diplo
23. Focus — Ariana Grande
24. Desperado — Rihanna
25. 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!

26. Marry You — Bruno Mars
27. The Cure — Lady Gaga
28. A Moment Like This — Leona Lewis
29. Chapel of Love — The Dixie Cups
30. Love On Top — Beyoncé
31. Levitating — Dua Lipa ft. DaBaby
32. It Wasn’t Me — Shaggy ft. Rik Rok
33. Shut Up and Dance — Walk the Moon
34. Love Story — Taylor Swift
35. Run the World (Girls) — Beyoncé
36. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! — ABBA
37. These Words — Natasha Bedingfield
38. All You Need Is Love — The Beatles
39. We Found Love — Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris
40. Oh, Pretty Woman — Roy Orbison
41. You’ve Got the Love — Florence + The Machine
42. Rather Be — Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne
43. I Do — Colbie Caillat
44. Respect — Aretha Franklin
45. Baila Conmigo — Selena Gomez
46. Love Yourself — Justin Bieber
47. Ain’t No Other Man — Christina Aguilera
48. Anywhere — Rita Ora
49. I Say A Little Prayer — Aretha Franklin
50. 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.

Curated Zola picks on Spotify: Processional Songs

51. Canon in D (Pachelbel’s Canon) — Brooklyn Duo
52. Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World — Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
53. A Thousand Years (Christina Perri) — The Piano Guys
54. A Day Without Rain — Enya
55. Marry Me — United Guitar Players
56. Feels Like Home — Edwina Hayes
57. Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley) — Vitamin String Quartet
58. A Million Dreams (The Greatest Showman) — Taylor Davis
59. XO (Beyoncé) — Midnite String Quartet
60. Beyond — Leon Bridges
61. Here Comes the Sun — The Beatles
62. Butterflies — Kacey Musgraves
63. Sea of Love — Cat Power
64. Largo (From “Xerxes”) — Handel
65. Higher Love — James Vincent McMorrow
66. Begin Again — Piano Tribute Players
67. Thinking Out Loud (Ed Sheeran) — Vesislava
68. Can’t Take My Eyes Off You — Trio Comodo
69. All I Want Is You (U2) — Bridesmaids Quartet
70. Light My Fire — Threeds
71. First Day of My Life — Bright Eyes
72. Collide — Tiana Major9
73. We Could Happen — AJ Rafael
74. Hoppípolla — Sigur Rós
75. 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.

76. Bridal Chorus — Richard Wagner
77. All of Me (John Legend) — Daniel Jang
78. Hallelujah — Vitamin String Quartet
79. Can’t Help Falling in Love — Haley Reinhart
80. Wedding March — Mendelssohn
81. Despacito (Luis Fonsi) — Brooklyn Duo
82. A Sky Full of Stars — The Piano Guys
83. Amazing Grace — Bridesmaids Quartet
84. Come Away With Me — Vitamin String Quartet
85. 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.

86. The Secret Wedding (From “Braveheart”) — David Arkenstone ft. Kathleen Fisher
87. Hampshire — Adrian Johnston
88. Wedding — Frederic Chopin
89. Sicilienne — Maria Theresia von Paradis
90. The Meeting — John Powell
91. Attraversiamo — Dario Marianelli
92. Your Song — United Guitar Players
93. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You — United Guitar Players
94. Rhythm of Love — Bridesmaids Quartet
95. 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!

96. Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) — Stevie Wonder
97. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough — Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
98. Accidentally In Love — Counting Crows
99. For Once in My Life — Stevie Wonder
100. Crazy Little Thing Called Love — Queen
101. Wedding Day — Bee Gees
102. My Sweet Lord — George Harrison
103. Adore You — Harry Styles
104. Happy — Pharell Williams
105. Treasure — Bruno Mars
106. Outro — M83
107. We Go Together — John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (Greece)
108. Walking On a Dream — Empire of the Sun
109. Beautiful Day — U2
110. Never Going Back Again — Fleetwood Mac

co*cktail Hour Songs

If you’re hosting a co*cktail 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.

Curated Zola picks on Spotify: co*cktail Hour Songs

111. Here Comes the Sun — Nina Simone
112. Home — Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros
113. Stubborn Love — The Lumineers
114. Easy Living — Billie Holiday
115. Lucky — Jason Mraz ft. Colbie Caillat
116. Sway — Michael Bublé
117. Rhythm of Love — Plain White T’s
118. Fever — Peggy Lee
119. I Feel It Coming — The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk
120. Let’s Fall In Love — Diana Krall
121. At Last — Etta James
122. The Way You Look Tonight — Tony Bennett
123. Love Like This — Natasha Bedingfield
124. Red Dirt Road — Brooks & Dunn
125. Misty — Johnny Mathis

Wedding Party Entrance Songs

Your guests will be looking forward to the reception once the ceremony and co*cktail 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.

126. Can’t Stop the Feeling — Justin Timberlake
127. Take Me Out — Franz Ferdinand
128. I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor — Arctic Monkeys
129. Hey Ya! — OutKast
130. I Gotta Feeling — The Black Eyed Peas
131. Firework — Katy Perry
132. Raise Your Glass — P!nk
133. Sugar — Maroon 5
134. Just Dance — Lady Gaga
135. 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.

136. Love Me Like You Do — Ellie Goulding
137. Rollercoaster — Bleachers
138. SexyBack — Justin Timberlake
139. Everything Is Awesome — Tegan and Sara
140. Starving — Hailee Steinfeld
141. Let’s Get It Started — The Black Eyed Peas
142. 24K Magic — Bruno Mars
143. On Top of the World — Imagine Dragons
144. Bring Em Out — T.I. ft Swizz Beatz
145. 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.

Curated Zola picks on Spotify: First Dance Songs

146. Thinking Out Loud — Ed Sheeran
147. You Are the Best Thing — Ray LaMontagne
148. Can’t Help Falling in Love — Elvis Presley
149. Sweetest Devotion — Adele
150. I Will — The Beatles
151. It Had to be You — Dooley Wilson
152. Sparks — Coldplay
153. Stay In My Corner — The Arcs
154. The Best Is Yet to Come — Frank Sinatra
155. 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.

Curated Zola picks on Spotify: Parent Dance Songs

156. What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong
157. Your Song — Elton John
158. Gracie — Ben Folds
159. Brown Eyed Girl — Van Morrison
160. Isn’t She Lovely — Stevie Wonder
161. It’s For My Dad — Nancy Sinatra
162. My Wish — Rascal Flatts
163. Stand By Me — Ben E. King
164. A Song For Mama — Boyz II Men
165. 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.

Curated Zola picks on Spotify: Songs for the Dance Floor

166. I Wanna Dance with Somebody — Whitney Houston
167. Lose Control — Missy Elliot
168. Suavemente — Elvis Crespo
169. On the Floor — Jennifer Lopez ft. Pitbull
170. My Girl — The Temptations
171. Play That Funky Music — Wild Cherry
172. This Is What You Came For — Rhianna ft. Calvin Harris
173. Havana — Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug
174. Billie Jean — Michael Jackson
175. Boogie Shoes — KC & The Sunshine Band
176. Forever — Chris Brown
177. Footloose — Kenny Loggins
178. Uptown Funk — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
179. Shake It Off — Taylor Swift
180. 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

181. Butterflies — Kacey Musgraves
182. Sunflower — Post Malone
183. Lover — Taylor Swift
184. Treasure — Bruno Mars
185. Sweet Creature — Harry Styles
186. Let’s Shut Up & Dance — Jason Derulo
187. Boom Clap — Charli XCX
188. Born To Be Yours — Imagine Dragons ft. Kygo
189. Can’t Feel My Face — The Weeknd
190. One Kiss — Calvin Harris ft. Dua Lipa
191. A Sky Full of Stars — Coldplay
192. Heatstroke — Calvin Harris ft. Young Thug, Pharrell Williams, and Ariana Grande
193. Coloring Outside the Lines — MisterWives
194. 10,000 Hours — Dan + Shay, Justin Bieber
195. Lucky — Jason Mraz ft. Colbie Caillat

Country Wedding Songs

196. Million Miles — Kody West
197. Pretty Heart — Parker McCollum
198. That’s the Way Love Goes — Merle Haggard
199. Looking for Love — Johnny Lee
200. Friends in Low Places — Garth Brooks
201. Wagon Wheel — Darius Rucker
202. Honey Bee — Blake Shelton
203. Tennessee Whiskey — Chris Stapleton
204. Country Girl (Shake It For Me) — Luke Bryan
205. Better Together — Luke Combs
206. Rhinestone Cowboy — Glen Campbell
207. The Chair — George Strait
208. Don’t Take Her She’s All I Got — Tracy Byrd
209. You Look So Good in Love — Merle Haggard
210. She Won’t Be Lonely Long — Clay Walker

Christian Wedding Songs

211. God Gave Me You — Dave Barnes
212. Always Only You — Josh Wilson
213. Commitment — Sanctus Real
214. You Say — Lauren Daigle
215. When I Say I Do — Matthew West
216. Hold Me — Jamie Grace ft. TobyMac
217. Till I Found You — Phil Wickham
218. You Love Me Anyway — Sidewalk Prophets
219. Butterfly Kisses — Bob Carlisle
220. Hundred More Years — Francesca Battistelli
221. Good Day for Marrying You — Dave Barnes
222. The Heart — NEEDTOBREATHE
223. The King is Coming — Newsboys
224. Made to Love — TobyMac
225. I Promise (Wedding Song) — CeCe Winans

R&B/Soul Wedding Songs

226. Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You — Lauryn Hill
227. Let’s Get married — Jagged Edge
228. Sweet Love — Anita Baker
229. I Can’t Do Without You — George Jackson
230. If I Ain’t Got You — Alicia Keys
231. Make You Feel My Love — Adele
232. Ain’t Nobody — Chaka Khan, Rufus
233. Let’s Stay Together — Al Green
234. That’s How Strong My Love Is — Otis Redding
235. I Believe in You and Me — Whitney Houston
236. Lovely Day — Bill Withers
237. Rich Girl — Lake Street Dive
238. You Sexy Thing — Hot Chocolate
239. Lovey Dovey Kinda Lovin’ — Brenton Wood
240. Just the Two of Us — Grover Washington, Jr. ft. Bill Withers

Classic Wedding Songs

241. You’re My Best Friend — Queen
242. Stayin’ Alive — Bee Gees
243. Don’t Stop Believin’ — Journey
244. Boogie Nights — Heatwave
245. Love Train — The O’Jays
246. Love Shack — The B-52’s
247. September — Earth, Wind & Fire
248. Sweet Caroline — Neil Diamond
249. I Want You Back — Jackson 5
250. We Are Family — Sister Sledge
251. This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) — Natalie Cole
252. Better Together — Jack Johnson
253. Happy — Pharrell Williams
254. Superstition — Stevie Wonder
255. Stand By Me — Ben E. King

Fun Wedding Songs

256. Party Rock Anthem — LMFAO ft. Lauren Bennett
257. Chained to the Rhythm — Katy Perry
258. Groove Is in the Heart — Deee-Lite
259. Moves Like Jagger — Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera
260. Good Feeling — Flo Rida
261. Crazy — Gnarles Barkley
262. We Are Young — Fun. ft. Janelle Monáe
263. Get Lucky — Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams
264. Last Friday Night — Katy Perry
265. Doo Wop (That Thing) — Lauryn Hill
266. Raspberry Beret — Prince
267. I Feel For You — Chaka Khan
268. You Should Be Dancing (Saturday Night Fever soundtrack) — Bee Gees
269. Got to Get You Into My Life — Earth, Wind & Fire
270. Theme From Shaft (Remastered) — Isaac Hayes

Indie Wedding Songs

271. Fade Into You — Mazzy Star
272. Sweetest Thing on This Side of Heaven — Papa Bear & His Cubs
273. In My Baby’s Arms — The California Honeydrops
274. Coming Home — Leon Bridges
275. Still Together — Mac DeMarco
276. Baby — Ariel Pink
277. My Kind of Woman — Mac DeMarco
278. Feels Like Heaven — Ariel Pink
279. Best to You — Blood Orange
280. Dreams — The Cranberries
281. Skinny Love — Bon Iver
282. Strawberry Swing — Frank Ocean
283. Still Into You — Paramore
284. 1901 — Phoenix
285. Electric Feel — MGMT

Rock Wedding Songs

286. Fell in Love With a Girl — The White Stripes
287. (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party) — Beastie Boys
288. Howlin’ For You — The Black Keys
289. With or Without You — U2
290. Our Love — Gary Clark Jr.
291. Sweet Child O’ Mine — Guns N’ Roses
292. Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town — Talking Heads
293. Nothing Else Matters — Metallica
294. Start Me Up — Rolling Stones
295. You Shook Me All Night Long — AC/DC
296. Should I Stay Or Should I Go — The Clash
297. Can’t Stop — Red Hot Chili Peppers
298. Jump — Van Halen
299. Bitch, I Love You — Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
300. 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.