129 Best Wedding Songs: from Upbeat and Fun to Romantic and Slow

A funky and joyful crowd-pleaser, perfect for an upbeat first dance or even a wedding exit song. The endless key changes at the end will have everyone smiling and singing along.

A song that needs no introduction. Unmistakable from its very first notes, this 80s pop favourite was chosen by Harry and Meghan for their first dance.

OK, it's an obvious choice, but this early Bruno Mars song has a quirky charm to it. And it definitely lends itself to some fun, newlywed choreography too if that’s your style.

Queen's first number 1 hit in the US and a timeless classic ever since, this is a great choice for a fun-loving crowd.

Released in 1980, this song has enjoyed a second wind in recent years due to its feel-good groove and endearing lyrics – a beautiful choice to welcome in married life.

A low-key intro and verse just for the bride and groom followed by a HUGE sing-a-long chorus? It's the perfect formula for creating those first dance memories.

Take your wedding dance out of this world with this soft house anthem from the unlikely duo of Coldplay and the late Avicii.

Luther Vandross' first hit single is a toe-tapping, funk favourite with a bass line to get guests of every age on the dancefloor. You'll never want it to stop!

Shooting straight to number one in 2011, this club anthem combines the powerhouses of Rihanna and Calvin Harris. Guaranteed to have your guests bouncing in no time.

Performed live by Elbow at the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games, the euphoric climax of this song is guaranteed to get guests bonding.

The iconic crooner knows how to share the love! Kick off your wedding music with this 1964 favourite.

A timeless classic which will have your guests swaying in time and giving you both adoring eyes in seconds!

One of the oldest wedding songs on this list, and one of greatest vocals of all time – a sentimental, bluesy number which might prompt a few tears.

A perennial wedding favourite, L-O-V-E is a short, sweet, jazzy love song which will be widely familiar due to its regular use on TV and film.

If you want your guests bobbing and singing along, Stand By Me is a well-known classic which will keep the mood light and appeal to all ages.

Serenade your bride with this romantic classic that Clapton wrote when waiting for his fiancee to get dressed up for a special night.

Keep things intimate and soulful with this finger-clicking classic that is guaranteed to put a smile on everyone's face.

A guaranteed tear-jerker! If you're looking for that delicate, intimate wedding song moment, this acoustic Fleetwood Mac cover has to be the one.

A feel-good hit which everyone loves, and the perfect song to capture the optimism and hope of your big day.

For fans of rom-coms and big band standards, this Grammy Award-winning cover from Harry Connick Jr was a huge success after its use in 'When Harry Met Sally'.

Written for his wife-to-be in 2017, this song was number 1 in the UK, the USA and 16 other countries around the world and continues to dominate wedding song lists.

This upbeat floor filler will have your guests itching to join you on the dancefloor, so if you’re nervous about all eyes being on you, a song like this might take the pressure off.

The ultimate slow dance song with romantic lyrics and passionate vocals that has proved to be hugely popular amongst UK newlyweds.

While Levitating may not seem an obvious wedding song choice, take a closer look at the lyrics and you’ll find it’s actually pretty perfect. Use it as a fun first dance song or simply slide it into your evening playlist.

If you're ready to show off your steamy, Latin moves together to impress your guests then get those hips moving to Señorita. It doesn't get smoother than this!

Throw your hands up in the air to this anthem whether you’re exiting the ceremony or having your first dance. Euphoric and epic, this song will lift everyone's spirits in joyous celebration.

The fourth single from Ben Howard and his first big hit in the UK Singles Chart has powerful lyrics which never fail to resonate on the dancefloor.

This centrepiece from 'A Star is Born' is a tender love song perfect for soundtracking your first slow dance as a married couple.

A more modern choice, this light-hearted, danceable track has been a surprise favourite at weddings in recent years.

This banger charted in 2013 and Hozier's brooding vocals have captured love and infatuation on the dancefloor ever since.

Give your sensitive side some edge with this Arctic Monkeys favourite, the ideal wedding song for fans of a band normally used to tearing up the dancefloor!

Charge your glasses – and all your emotions – for the most euphoric and pulsating of wedding dance songs, famously used in Grey's Anatomy.

A big hit from Dublin's finest alternative rock quartet that has been relentlessly requested by newlyweds since its release in 2015. Bring tissues.

A huge hit from 2014, Vance Joy (really James Keogh) delivers this upbeat indie classic that hits just the right tone for folk-lovin' couples.

This rousing, foot-stomping single from the band's second album suits any couple that want their party to hit the ground running.

Like audible sunshine, this song is guaranteed to light up any first dance – and, quite rightly, shine the spotlight on the beautiful bride!

An iconic anthem from the 2nd best-selling album in British history, few other songs will have guests singing along with each other this quickly.

This dark but delicate acoustic number is a favourite with indie fans looking for a softer number to open their wedding celebrations.

After a brief love affair with queen of pop, Taylor Swift, Matty Healy and the 1975 were everywhere on TikTok in 2023. Chocolate is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

This swinging indie anthem is perfect for a learned dance routine or a gentle, newlywed sway to share a special moment before the party kicks in.

Bon Jovi's best-selling single in the UK, made famous from the film 'Romeo is Bleeding', is a rasping rock ballad that will send shivers down your guests' spines.

Featured in the film 'Armageddon', this intimate ballad's unforgettable chorus and screaming vocals will have your guests arm-in-arm, air grabbing in no time!

This tear-jerker was surely written purely to celebrate love on your perfect day. Expect adoring looks, swaying guests and sincere smiles.

Get everyone singing along with Kings of Leon’s 2008 hit Sex on Fire. The song spent three weeks at number one back in the day and continues to get guests on their feet in 2024.

The track that screams 'PARTY' for every generation! As funky now as it was when it hit the top of the charts in 1964, its a guaranteed party starter.

A wedding dance for the rock purists who want to scream and head-bang their way through their reception. Guaranteed to get guests air-guitaring!

This rock-laden twist on a traditional wedding song was used in Adam Sandler's 'The Wedding Singer'. Just don't listen too closely to the lyrics.

It's hard to beat Foo Fighters when it comes to the niche world of futuristic rock love songs – and this is a belter to mark your special moment!

One of the most successful singles of all time, there won't be a dry eye in your venue if you go with this epic ballad's swelling melodies, euphoric solos and soaring vocals.

This song was actually written as a wedding gift by Cure lead singer Robert Smith for his fiancée, making it the perfect choice for rock fans on their special day.

Originally written by The Bee Gees for Marvin Gaye, this has become a Dolly classic and an all-time favourite for country-lovin' couples' wedding song!

Shania Twain's first top 10 hit in the UK packs all the emotional and lyrical punch you need for a wedding song.

Country romance at full throttle – as close to riding off into the sunset as you might get for a last dance! Reportedly a favourite of Taylor Swift's.

The pinnacle of modern country serenade, this 2017 release is a popular choice with younger country fans looking for a beautiful story-based ballad.

This 2006 song from Heartland is written from the perspective of the father of the bride, so it’s the perfect father daughter dance song.

Surveys say this air-grabbing ballad is the most popular song choice for UK newlyweds' first dance. But don't be put off – this is one EPIC song!

A song written on Valentine's Day and performed by Urban on his wedding day to Nicole Kidman. This is an A-list wedding song choice.

Early Taylor Swift that we all love the best – a true-life love tale that will keep things fun and light but has plenty of potential on the dancefloor.

Flawless, romantic country pop at its finest! Check out the video if you need to see how this can play out at your wedding.

A real-life power couple delivering a real life power ballad. Brace for epic drum parts and lavish lyrical statements of love - just what you ordered!

A true classic, this is perfect for a slow, romantic start and a rousing, crowd-pleasing finish. Easy to chant along even if you don't know the words.

This timeless, Scottish anthem of devotion is guaranteed to have your guests clapping, marching and chanting along before the first chorus even arrives.

There are few things more fun for your first dance than you and your mates trying to hit those classic The Darkness high notes.

A sing-a-long belter that hasn't lost an ounce of its charm over the last 40 years, this is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and dancefloor-filler in equal measure.

Gather your bridesmaids. Gather your ushers. And prepare for the dance-off to end all dance-offs with this iconic summer favourite from 'Grease'.

Written for his second wife, Marcia (Caroline reportedly fitted the melody better – sure, Neil), this is a favourite for all ages that demands gang vocals and smiles all round.

This 2003 chart-topping smash hit still packs a massive punch and will have you and your guests shimmying throughout (and, no doubt, attempting to rap).

Get your claps ready and your FRIENDS nearby - this is the perfect choice for the couple looking for a more inclusive wedding song. *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap*

Throw it back to the 80s with this crowd-pleasing tune from the smash hit movie Dirty Dancing. Fully choreographed routine and lifting stunt optional.

The biggest single of 1987 and an absolute banger to this day. A great choice for a fun-loving, 80s obsessed couple.

Recreate your own 'You've Got Mail' scene with this Stevie Wonder classic that bridges the wedding vows and the dancefloor beautifully.

Is there a better wedding duet in the world!? Sing your heart out and mime your way through 3 minutes of musical, Motown bliss.

A beautiful way of celebrating your stunning bride. You might even get some of that Temptations choreography going before the end too.

This 1964 hit from Martha & The Vandellas was co-written by Marvin Gaye and spent two weeks at no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Get your groove on with this 3.5 minute musical smile. Warning: expect outbreaks of spontaneous hugging and impromptu dance moves.

A fun choice for a couple with a long engagement!? It's time to celebrate and what better way to do that than soundtracked by The Supremes.

This Oscar-nominated love song demands lots of swaying and shimmering lights - order the extra large disco ball for this one!

Guaranteed to please your oldest and youngest guests in equal measure, this is a truly ageless classic - upbeat but not annoying, sentimental but not cheesy.

Always fun to dance too, this 1966 number 1 hit is essentially your wedding promises wrapped in funky, crowd-pleasing, Motown packaging.

A touching and romantic Motown ballad drenched in sentiment and opportunities for spinning your new husband or wife and swaying with adoring guests.

A big feel-good first dance – not too slow but still effortlessly romantic. "You are the best thing that ever happened to me", should sum up why you’re marrying each other.

Technically, Stevie Wonder wrote this song about his newborn baby, but it's equally applicable to a lovely bride. And you can’t spend enough time on your wedding day giving her the spotlight.

This soft, slow and romantic number could be used as a first dance song, played as the bride or groom walks down the aisle or even during the signing of the register.

Millennials may remember this from 1990s hit The Parent Trap. It's a stunning, joyous, key-change-packed celebration of a song that will capture all the joy and excitement of your special day.

Ranked the 60th greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone, a classic upbeat love song like this will never age. Easy to dance to and fun, this one won’t let you down.

Written for Bublé's then girlfriend, Emily Blunt, its upbeat but slow enough to make for an easy two-step with your new husband or wife.

Winner of 2016's Grammys Song Of The Year, this has been hovering near the top of any wedding song list ever since with its beautiful sentiment for a strong marriage.

Bob Dylan's original has been covered by numerous famous faces including Billy Joel and Kelly Clarkson, but Adele's powerful version has really stood the test of time.

Made famous by the 'Twilight' films, Perri's hit is an emotional, piano-led ballad with a killer vocal line and mesmerising chorus.

From Jack Johnson's 2005 first album, In Between Dreams, this sweet love song was huge at the time and still one of the most common wedding song requests.

If you want to make the dancefloor "hot just like an oven", it's Gaye's Grammy-winning anthem that you need. Prepare for the occasional bump and frequent grind.

This bluesy ballad from one of the all-time queens of R&B is full of heart, stunning melodies and strutting bass lines.

It’s not surprising that this 2016 hit is still a popular wedding song. Ideal for the church or your reception party.

Released in 2012 and featured in Jennifer Lawrence's 'Silver Linings Playbook', this gentle, affectionate track is the acoustic kiss-on-the-cheek of a wedding song.

Cuteness warning on this one! A rough and ready, acoustic treat for the couple leaning to more of a folky, festival wedding.

The ultimate slow build of a first dance or wedding entrance song, packed full of sincere lyrics - and tambourine! One for a couple that want to say "that's OUR song" for years to come.

A super-catchy, lilting, freestyling track which took 2008 by storm and spent 76 weeks in the Top 100. A guaranteed feel-good anthem.

This candlelight cover of The Calling's 2001 rock hit captures the intimacy of your wedding day in 3 minutes of piano-based gorgeousness.

A song that has never left the public consciousness since Leonard Cohen's original was released in 1984, this gentle, waltzing song is hard to beat.

Released in 1970 and featured in Moulin Rouge and Rocketman, this is a song of the ages. This is Ellie Goulding's acoustic version but you might prefer the original.

This stripped back love song is simply perfect for your spouse-to-be – whether you’re looking to set a romantic backing track for your ceremony or in search of the perfect first dance melody.

Gorgeous lyrics (“pack up loneliness, hello tenderness”) and an easy tune to pick up, so those who haven’t heard it before will be singing along in no time.

If you can put aside the John Lewis Christmas advert with Monty the Penguin, Real Love is the perfect first dance song. At just two minutes, it's ideal if you feel awkward about dancing for too long.

A slightly more obscure choice from Ed Sheeran; Tenerife Sea is an unreleased track from his 2014 album, x. This song made it into the UK Top 100, peaking at 62, despite the fact it has never been released as a single.

One of the most feel-good movie songs of all time, this is a beautiful, plodding statement of forever love and friendship.

This Oscar-winning classic from Phil Collins is a sugary-sweet string of promises with a belting chorus.

Penned by Elton John, this is surely peak Disney when it comes to love songs. Make sure you hand out plenty of lighters for that swelling, sing-a-long key change chorus.

One for the real life Prince Charmings and Sleeping Beauties. This old school Disney favourite will have your guests waltzing around the dancefloor.

Still as emotional now as it was on first viewing in 1991, this Disney ballroom-style love song has kick-started many a couple's married life. Beauty-ful.

Start your new life together with this topical Disney favourite. Instructions for use: once started, sway and cry for 3 minutes.

For some their wedding day feels like a fairy tale. Go full Disney vibes with True Lives Kiss from Enchanted. It will bring major movie magic to proceedings and is the perfect start to your happily ever after.

A great choice as a surprise for a Disney-loving bride, and a guaranteed reaction from your guests for your first kiss on the dancefloor!

An intimate, music box-style, orchestral throwback favourite for the Disney purists. Leave your ugly sisters outside and sway with your prince.

Disney romance at full throttle - and you can't do much better for sheer emotion and appropriate wedding day sentiment.

A sweet and funny love song sung by Adam Sandler in 'The Wedding Singer' (1998) to confess his love to Drew Barrymore's character on a plane.

A hit from 'The Greatest Showman' released in 2017, this duet is full of longing and best performed on an aerial hoop.

This country-infused bop is guaranteed to lift the feel-good factor in the room – and maybe even get you a cheeky snog!

Inject some garage house vibes into proceedings with these funk-filled driving beats from the Croydon siblings. Vibes guaranteed.

"Save your troubles for another day" and get your fingers snapping and your hips popping. This characteristically percussive Jackson song is five minutes of funk heaven on the dancefloor.

This euphoric stealth-banger from Katy Perry channels full hands-in-the-air-like-you-just-don't-care energy and will have your guests bouncing from the first chorus.

Sometimes you just need to sway to a massive power ballad and scream along with your friends and family. There are few better ways of doing that than with the Priestess of Pop herself and this iconic love song. Try it if you don't believe us!

Smooth as silk and the perfect sentiment for your special day, Vandross' 1998 ballad sets the tone for a love-filled occasion with your brand new husband or wife.

This beautiful reworking of this London duo's original dance anthem makes for an ethereal addition to any evening. Whether walking down the aisle or finishing the night, this classic will elevate your celebrations above and beyond what you ever imagined.

Take a moment away from the wall-to-wall party bangers to grab your bride and do what George has told you to do for a minute. Another winner from this Hertford hit machine.

One for the acoustic singer-songwriter lovers, this 2018 Number 1 hit will pull at your guests' heart strings and get even those still sat at the tables swaying in their seats.

This 1965, smooth-as-glass British number 1 is a guaranteed crowd favourite. If your guests can hit the high notes in the final section, they all deserve another drink!

This underrated, soulful groove from the King of Schmooz himself is real mood-raiser and a great alternative choice if you're looking to avoid the wedding 'classics'.

For the full-throttle romantics, Train's Pat Monahan has hit the nail on the head with this gentle, meandering, acoustic ballad.

If you're looking for cosmic-scale expressions of love from Middlesborough's finest, then look no further than this raw, soaring 2018 ballad.