Wedding Song Selections

“At Last my love has come along,
My lonely days are over, and
Life is like a song.”
~Etta James~

Music is such an important part of the wedding day. From the ceremony to the reception, music sets the mood and keeps your guests engaged. Did you know that the “Wedding March”, written by Felix Mendelssohn in 1842 and “Here Comes the Bride”, also known as the “Bridal Chorus”, written by Richard Wagner in 1850, was never meant to be played at a wedding? In fact, Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March” was composed for a production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Wagner’s “Here Comes the Bride” was written for the opera called Lohengrin. However, both pieces were believed to have been made popular for weddings following the nuptials of Princess Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria, and Frederick William IV of Prussia. The music accompanied her wedding ceremony on January 25th, 1858, in the Chapel Royal at St. James’ Palace.

When the time finally arrives and the bride and groom have decided upon whether to go with a live band, DJ or both, it is important to make certain song selections and send it to them a couple of weeks before the big day. It is also imperative that you make sure well beforehand that the entertainment providers that you choose will be able to meet your expectations. For example, the live band you choose may not be able to pull off some of the music you want them to play or the DJ may have the eighties glued to his brain. So please ensure that you do your homework well in advance.

It is no easy feat figuring out what piece of music to choose as the bride is making her way towards the groom during the ceremony, or the sort of tunes to select that would make all of your guests happy and on the dance floor doing the cha cha cha at the reception. Usually an experienced band or DJ will provide a variety of tunes that will make most people happy. That being said, there are specific songs that the bride and groom will want to include. For example, the first dance; father of the bride dance; mother of the groom dance; opening song following dinner; and of course, the song for the last dance of the evening.

Most song selections couples make have significant meaning behind them. It might be that song you danced to together for the first time. Maybe it was the tune that was playing when you took that amazing road trip. Whatever the case may be, it should be music that evokes memories, happiness and love. Here is a great list of the top 30 wedding songs posted by Town and Country you may want to consider a few of them if you’re absolutely stuck.

1. "HANDCLAP" BY FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS

2. "FEEL IT STILL" BY PORTUGAL THE MAN

3. "BLOW YOUR MIND" BY DUA LIPA

4. "BODY MOVES" BY DNCE

5. "THE CURE" BY LADY GAGA

6. "24K MAGIC" BY BRUNO MARS

7. "SWEET CREATURE" BY HARRY STYLES

8. "SHAPE OF YOU" BY ED SHEERAN

9. "DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT" BY TOPLANDER

10. "ME ENAMORÉ" BY SHAKIRA

11. "CITY OF STARS" BY RYAN GOSLING AND EMMA STONE, LA LA LAND

12. "A THOUSAND YEARS" BY CHRISTINA PERRI

13. “DESPACITO” BY LUIS FONSI AND DADDY YANKEE FT. JUSTIN BIEBER

14. "JUST HOLD ON" BY STEVE AOKI & LOUIS TOMLINSON

15. "COLD WATER" BY MAJOR LAZER (FEAT. JUSTIN BIEBER)

16. "CAN'T STOP THE FEELING!" BY JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

17. "COME ON EILEEN" BY DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS

18. "THINKING OUT LOUD" BY ED SHEERAN

19. "LOVE ON THE BRAIN" BY RIHANNA

20. "COUNTING STARS" BY ONE REPUBLIC

21. "WAKE ME UP" BY AVICII

22. "I FEEL IT COMING" BY THE WEEKEND (FEAT. DAFT PUNK)

23. "YOU MAKE MY DREAMS" BY HALL AND OATES

24. “STILL FALLING FOR YOU” BY ELLIE GOULDING

25. "GOOD GRIEF" BY BASTILLE

26. "LOVE ME NOW" BY JOHN LEGEND

27. "WE FOUND LOVE" BY RIHANNA FT. CALVIN HARRIS

28. "STAY" BY ZEDD & ALEISSA CARA

29. “BREATHING UNDERWATER” BY EMILI SANDÉ

30. "HO HEY" BY THE LUMINEERS

Oh, her eyes, her eyes make the stars look like they're not shinin'
Her hair, her hair falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful and I tell her everyday
Yeah, I know, I know when I compliment her she won't believe me
And it's so, it's so sad to think that she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me "Do I look okay?"
I sayWhen I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change 'cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for a while
'Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are
YeahHer lips, her lips, I could kiss them all day if she'd let me
Her laugh, her laugh she hates but I think it's so sexy
She's so beautiful, and I tell her everydayOh you know, you know, you know I'd never ask you to change
If perfect's what you're searching for then just stay the same
So don't even bother asking if you look okay, you know I'll sayWhen I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for a while
'Cause, girl, you're amazing
Just the way you areThe way you are
The way you are
Girl, you're amazing
Just the way you areWhen I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for a while
'Cause, girl, you're amazing
Just the way you are

Yeah

Most of the songs listed should definitely get your guests up and moving or at the very least tapping their toes. It’s important to remember a few things when you are choosing the music for your special day. You should always consider your guests and what they might appreciate since they are a big part of your day. There is nothing worse than an empty dance floor at a wedding reception. Different age groups have to be taken into consideration as well. Finally, pick songs that you absolutely love! It really lets your guests know who you are as a couple. This incredibly special day will be filled with many fond memories so your music should be a wonderful part of that day.