eleGALA tip

Get your guests out of their chairs and on the dance floor with these popular songs from throughout the ages:

“September” – Earth, Wind & Fire
“Crocodile Rock” – Elton John
“Listen to the Music” – Doobie Brothers
“Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey
“You Shook Me All Night Long” – AC/DC
“Livin’ on a Prayer” – Bon Jovi
“I Got a Feeling” – Black Eyed Peas
“Single Ladies” – Beyoncé
“Just Dance” – Lady Gaga
“Crazy In Love” – Beyoncé
“Raise Your Glass” – Pink

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Popular Ceremony and Reception Songs

Personalize your wedding from start to finish with memorable music and meaningful songs.

These categorized lists of popular wedding songs, both traditional and non-traditional, will help you build the ideal playlist for your ceremony and reception.

Popular Wedding Songs – Prelude Songs

  • “Adagio from Sonata in E-Flat” – Mozart
  • “Air” (from Water Music) – Handel
  • “Air On The G String” (from Orchestral Suite No. 3) – Bach
  • “Allegro from Brandenburg Concerto #4 in G” – Bach
  • “Nocturne In E Flat, Op. 9 No. 2” – Chopin
  • “Prelude To The Afternoon Of A Faun” – Debussy
  • “So This Is Love” (instrumental “Cinderella”) – David, Hoffman, Livingston
  • “Waltz” (from Sleeping Beauty Act 1) – Tchaikovsky

Popular Wedding Songs – Processional Songs

  • “Winter Largo, Four Seasons” – Vivaldi
  • “Oboe Concerto” – Handel
  • “Bridal Chorus” – Wagner
  • “Canon in D” – Pachabel
  • “Overture” (from Royal Fireworks Music) – Handel
  • “Air” (from Water Music) – Handel
  • “Trumpet Voluntary” – Jeremiah Clark
  • “To A Wild Rose” – MacDowell
  • “Pathetique Sonata” – Beethoven
  • “Gymnopedie, No. 1” – Satie

Popular Wedding Songs – Traditional Bride’s Entrance Songs

  • “Bridal Chorus” – Wagner
  • “Canon in D” – Pachabel
  • “Here Comes the Sun” – The Beatles
  • “Guitar Concerto in D Major” – Vivaldi
  • “Winter Largo, Four Seasons” – Vivaldi
  • “Trumpet Voluntary” – Jeremiah Clark
  • “Air” (from Water Music) – Handel
  • “Overture” (from Royal Fireworks Music) – Handel
  • “Canzon V” – Giovanni Gabrieli
  • “See The Conqu’ing Hero” – Handel
  • “Larghetto” (from Xerxes) – Handel
  • “Oboe Concerto” – Handel
  • “Toccata” – Monteverdi
  • “Te Deum” – Charpentier
  • “Sonatas For Organ, OP. 65, No. 3”
  • “Trumpet Tune” – Purcell
  • “Trumptet Concerto in D” – Telemann
  • “Promenade” – Mussorgsky
  • “To A Wild Rose” – MacDowell
  • “Pathetique Sonata” – Beethoven “Gymnopedie, No. 1” – Satie

Non-Traditional & Modern Bride’s Entrance Songs

  • “Hey Soul Sister” – Train
  • “You and I” – Ingrid Michaelson
  • “Only You” – Joshua Radin
  • “Love and Some Verses” – Iron & Wine
  • “Hearts & Bones” – Paul Simon
  • “Rhythm of Love” – Plain White T’s
  • “I Found a Reason” – Cat Power
  • “The Dress Looks Nice on You” – Sufjan Stevens
  • “They Bring Me to You” – Joshua Radin
  • “Oh, It is Love?” – Hellogoodbye

Popular Wedidng Songs – Recessional Songs

  • “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” – Stevie Wonder
  • “All You Need is Love” – The Beatles
  • “This Will Be (an Everlasting Love)” – Natalie Cole
  • “Autumn – Four Seasons” – Vivaldi
  • “First Movement from Brandenburg Concerto #1 in F” – J.S. Bach
  • “Hornpipe” (from Water Music) – Handel
  • “La Rejouissance” (from Royal Fireworks Music) – Handel
  • “Arrival of the Queen of Sheba” (from Soloman) – Handel
  • “Sonata in G” – Tartini

Non-Traditional & Modern Recessional Songs

  • “Home” – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
  • “5 Years Time” – Noah & The Whale
  • “Higher Love” – Steve Winwood
  • “Wouldn’t it be Nice” – The Beach Boys
  • “Somebody Like You” – Keith Urban
  • “Is This Love” – Bob Marley
  • “Beautiful Day” – U2
  • “Two of Us” – Beatles

Popular Wedding Songs – First Dance Songs

  • “Amazed” – Lonestar
  • “From This Moment” – Shania Twan & Bryan White
  • “At Last” – Etta James
  • “When You Say Nothing At All” – Allison Krause
  • “All My Life” – K-Ci & Jojo
  • “I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You” – Savage Garden
  • “Wonderful Tonight” – Eric Clapton
  • “It’s Your Love” – Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
  • “My Best Friend” – Tim McGraw
  • “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything” – Barry White
  • “Cross My Heart” – George Straight
  • “Way You Look Tonight” – Frank Sinatra
  • “Could Not Ask For More” – Edwin McCain Messenger
  • “Spend My Life With You” – Eric Benet & Tamia
  • “When I Said I Do” – Clint Black & Lisa Hartman-Black
  • “Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing” – Aerosmith/Mark Chestnutt
  • “True Companion” – Marc Cohen
  • “Here and Now” – Luther Vandross
  • “Everything I Do” – Bryan Adams
  • “What A Wonderful World” – Louis Armstrong
  • “I Finally Found Someone” – Barbra Striesand & Bryan Adams
  • “Truly, Madly, Deeply” – Savage Garden
  • “You Had Me At Hello” – Kenny Chesney
  • “Unchained Melody” – Righteous Brothers
  • “Could I Have This Dance” – Anne Murray
  • “It Had To Be You” – Harry Connick, Jr.
  • “I Do, Cherish You” – 98 Degrees/Mark Wills
  • “Because You Loved Me” – Celine Dion
  • “To Make You Feel My Love” – Garth Brooks
  • “Unforgettable” – Natalie Cole
  • “Keeper Of The Stars” – Tracy Byrd
  • “Endless Love” – Lionel Richie & Diana Ross
  • “Breathe” – Faith Hill
  • “You and I” – Eddie Rabbitt & Crystal Gayle
  • “Love of a Lifetime” – Firehouse
  • “All The Way” – Celine Dion & Frank Sinatra
  • “Valentine” – Martina McBride & Jim Brickman
  • “For You” – Kenny Lattimore
  • “Warm Love” – Van Morrison
  • “In Your Eyes” – Peter Gabriel
  • “When I Fall In Love” – Natalie Cole
  • “You Are So Beautiful” – Joe Cocker
  • “Always & Forever” – Heatwave
  • “Love Of My Life” – Jim Brickman
  • “Give Me Forever” – John Tesh & James Ingram
  • “Have I Told You Lately” – Rod Stewart
  • “I Swear” – John Michael Montgomery
  • “Just The Way You Are” – Billy Joel
  • “Love Of My Life” – Sammy Kershaw
  • “Angel Eyes” –- Jeff Healy Band
  • “Into The Mystic” – Van Morrison

Non-Traditional & Modern First Dance Songs

  • “Question” – Old 97’s
  • “Only You” – Joshua Radin
  • “Marry Me” – Train
  • “I’m Yours” – Jason Mraz
  • “Northern Sky” – Nick Drake
  • “You Are the Best Thing” – Ray Lamontagne
  • “Ice Cream” – Sarah MacLachlan
  • “Somebody Like You” – Keith Urban
  • “Crash” – Dave Matthews Band
  • “No One’s Gonna Love You” – Band of Horses
  • “Home” – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
  • “Wild Horses” – The Sundays
  • “Trouble” – Ray Lamontagne
  • “Love Song” – The Cure
  • “Kiss Me” – Sixpence None the Richer
  • “You’re Just Too Good To Be True” – Lauryn Hill

Our list of R&B Wedding Songs has even more great first dance songs!

Popular Wedding Songs – Father/Daughter Dance Songs

  • “Because You Loved Me” – Celine Dion
  • “Butterfly Kisses” – Bob Carlisle
  • “Daddy’s Hands” – Holly Dunn
  • “Daddy’s Little Girl” – Al Martino
  • “Daughter of Mine” – John McDermott
  • “Have I Told You Lately” – Rod Stewart
  • “Isn’t She Lovely” – Stevie Wonder
  • “Hero” – Mariah Carey
  • “My Girl” – Temptations
  • “My Special Angel” – Bobby Helms
  • “Sunrise Sunset” – Fiddler On The Roof
  • “The Men In My Little Girl’s Life” – Mike Douglas
  • “Through The Years” – Kenny Rogers
  • “Wind Beneath My Wings” – Bette Midler
  • “Turn Around” – Harry Balafonte
  • “Wild World” – Cat Stevens
  • “I Wish You Love” – Dean Martin

Non-Traditional & Modern Father/Daughter Dance Songs

  • “Forever Young” – Bob Dylan
  • “The One Who Knows” – Dar Williams
  • “Sweet Child O’ Mine” – Guns N’ Roses (or Cheryl Crow version)
  • “Changes” – Ozzy Osbourne

Popular Wedding Songs – Mother/Son Dance Songs

  • “A Song For My Son” – Bobby Morganstein
  • “A Song For Mama” – Boyz II Men
  • “Because You Loved Me” – Celine Dion
  • “I Am Your Child” – Barry Manilow
  • “I Wish You Love” – Natalie Cole
  • “Through The Years” – Kenny Rogers
  • “Times of Your Life” – Paul Anka
  • “You’re The Inspiration” – Chicago
  • “What A Wonderful World” – Louis Armstrong
  • “Wind Beneath My Wings” – Bette Midler

Popular Wedding Songs – Last Dance Songs

  • “Take Me Home Tonight” – Eddie Money
  • “As Times Go By” – Jimmy Durante
  • “Goodnight Sweetheart” – Spaniels
  • “Always & Forever” – Heatwave
  • “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)” – Green Day
  • “Hit The Road Jack” – Ray Charles
  • “I’ve Had The Time Of My Live” – B. Medley/J. Warnes
  • “Joy To The World” – Three Dog Night
  • “Let’s Get It On” – Marvin Gaye
  • “My Way” – Frank Sinatra
  • “Save The Best For Last” – Vanessa Williams
  • “The Last Dance” – Frank Sinatra
  • “That’s What Friends Are For” – Dionne Warwick
  • “Wonderful Tonight” – Eric Clapton
  • “Last Dance” – Donna Summer
  • “Na Na Hey Hey” – Steam
  • “Theme From New York, New York (Remastered Album Version)” – Frank Sinatra
  • “Taking You Home (LP Version)” – Don Henley
  • “Summer Wind (Remastered Album Version)” – The Frank Sinatra Collection
  • “What A Wonderful World” – Louis Armstrong

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