Trendy Wedding Music Ideas For 2023 From First To The Last Dance

Music sets the tone and ambiance of your big day, from the walk down the aisle to the last dance. And you want the right mood with your guests involved throughout the event rather than zone out. The good thing is that there are tons of wedding music ideas to choose from, but the downside is that making a selection from the lot is tough. In this post, you will find unique wedding music songs suitable for all your wedding moments. Go through this list and craft a playlist that works for all the dances, dinner, background music, and even songs to avoid.

Best Wedding Music 2023

Guests are ready to get it on the dancefloor with everywhere opening up, and only the best wedding music will do. Singers aren’t slowing down either with new releases from artists like Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and even Coldplay’s anthem. However, there are less popular bands primed to become favorites like Tyler Shaw’s “When you’re home”, “The way I love you” by Passenger, “Fall into me” by Forest Blakk, and others.

1. Morgan Evans – Things That We Drink To
2. Clare Dunn – More
3. Jake Owen – Made For You
4. Tyler Shaw – When You’re Home
5. Sara Bareilles – I Choose You
6. Passenger – Fall Into Me
7. Justin Bieber – All Around Me
8. Lee Brice – I Don’t Dance
9. Taylor Swift – Love Story
10. Justin Timberlake – Mirrors
11. Forest Blakk – Fall Into Me
12. Ed Sheeran – Perfect

Wedding Ceremony Music

The basics of choosing the best wedding ceremony music ideas are knowing the moments of the ceremony and how many songs you need.

• Also, you must check with your wedding ceremony venue and see if there are music restrictions. This is particularly important for religious and traditional weddings.
• Then consider your relationship history and the artists you connect to the most over time or songs that make you think of each other when they play.
• It is vital to read the lyrics and ensure they are suitable for all ages yet meaningful to you both.
• You can also opt for organ or piano wedding music.
• Another thing to consider is cohesion, so choose songs in line with your theme or make a genre for the ceremony song list.

However, don’t be afraid to explore and personalize your ceremony by privately getting together with your partner and choosing songs that best represent how you feel about them.

1. Pachelbel – Canon in D
2. Etta James – At Last
3. Fleetwood Mac – Songbird
4. The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun
5. Christina Perri – A Thousand Years
6. Israel Kamakawiwo’Ole – Somewhere Over The Rainbow
7. Adele – Make You Feel My Love
8. Stevie Wonder – Isn’t She Lovely
9. Elton John – Your Song

Classic First Dance Music Ideas

Classic and good wedding music ideas for the first dance should first be judged by their lyrics. It should be enjoyable, romantic, and decent. The length of the songs is also important. They should either be too long to bore your guests or too short that photographers don’t have enough time to take all the mushy shots. Your classic wedding first dance songs should be between three and four minutes, and the rhythm should be appropriate for a slow dance.

1. Lonestar – Amazed
2. Dooley Wilson (Casablanca) – As Time Goes By
3. Stevie Wonder – As
4. Etta James – At Last
5. Elvis – Can’t Help Falling In Love
6. Ray Charles – Come Rain or Come Shine
7. Luther Vandross – Here and Now
8. The Flamingos – I Only Have Eyes for You
9. Billy Joel – Just the Way You Are
10. Bright Eyes – First Day of My Life

Wedding Reception Music Ideas

Wedding music ideas for reception are a major reflection on the two of you as a couple. There are many popular wedding music categories during the reception, from the grand entrance to cocktail hour music to dinner and dance. Get creative and play some of your favorites. The beat genres to choose from include jazz, acoustic, electronic, oldies, Motown, alternative rock ballads, or instrumental wedding music ideas. The songs should be either slow, upbeat, romantic, or music that lets the guests mingle and communicate with each other.

1. Carl Carlton – Everlasting Love
2. Natalie Cole – This Will Be
3. U2 – Beautiful Day
4. Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered
5. Katrina & the Waves – Walking on Sunshine
6. James Brown – I Got You
7. Dave Matthews Band – So Right
8. Kevin Rudolf – Let It Rock
9. Barry White – You’re The First, My Last, My Everything
10. Beyonce – Crazy in Love

Wedding Dinner Music Ideas

The perfect wedding dinner music idea has four traits. These include a mix of genres, tempo varieties, combined songs of the popular and unknown, and a cohesive vibe that ties up the details. These parameters are important because there are many generations at your event from the grandmas to toddlers. You should also think about top wedding music that people want to hear and throw a few unknown jams in the mix. The wedding dinner music is a time to incorporate your theme, and music taste and tell your love story. Also, remember that guests would probably be eating and mingling, so you want something that won’t be too much of a distraction to them.

1. Franki Valli – Can’t Take My Eyes Off You
2. Ben E. King and The Drifters – This Magic Moment
3. Elton John – Your Song
4. The Supremes – Baby Love
5. Israel Kamikawiwo’ole – Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What A Wonderful World
6. The Shirelles – Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
7. The Beatles – Something
8. The Drifters – Save the Last Dance for Me
9. Mary Wells – My Guy
10. Frank Sinatra – Strangers In The Night
11. The Drifters – Under The Boardwalk

Wedding Background Music

The background wedding music is that song you play while other activities are ongoing at the wedding. The songs shouldn’t be disruptive or too upbeat. Background wedding music 2023 goes outside of the standard wedding playlist. Incorporate songs that bring back memories of the dating stages. You can also call in your favorite bands or opt for instrumental music. Jazz, rock, pop, or indie music are best for this part, but tone it down on danceable songs. We suggest starting with slow songs to transition the atmosphere, then finishing with slightly upbeat music that would lead guests to the dance floor.

1. Percy Sledge – When a Man Loves a Woman
2. Nat King Cole – When I Fall in Love
3. John Mayer – XO
4. Stevie Wonder – You Are the Sunshine of My Life
5. Phil Collins – You Can’t Hurry Love
6. Jewel – You Were Meant for Me
7. The Once – You’re My Best Friend
8. John Mayer – Your Body is a Wonderland

Mother Son Dance Music

When choosing mother-son dance songs, reflect on the relationship you have with your mom. However, there are no rules cast in stone for songs to pick when you can go with your personality and the lyrics that suit you best for the big day. The song should be about 10 minutes long in total, a bit upbeat and danceable or slow, and should easily transition from one song to the next on the playlist.

1. Rod Stewart – Forever Young
2. Meghan Trainor – Mom
3. John Lennon – Beautiful Boy
4. Jason Mraz – 93 Million Miles
5. Josh Groban – You Raise Me Up
6. Lucas Graham – Mama Said
7. Paul Todd – The First Lady in My Life
8. The Band Perry – Mother Like Mine

Father-Daughter Wedding Song Ideas

Wedding music ideas for father-daughter dance are few, so you want to make sure that you are doing it right. Read the lyrics and ensure that it is not more romantic love than parental. Also, the tune must be the right pace to work for you on the dance floor — not too fast or slow. The song selection should capture your feelings with a sweet and sentimental undertone. Lastly, you can go with a playful list if both of you love to joke around.

1. Elton John – Can You Feel the Love Tonight
2. Bob Carlisle – Butterfly Kisses
3. Krystal Keith – Daddy Dance With Me
4. Beyonce – Daddy
5. Priscilla Ahn – Dream
6. Paul Simon – Father and Daughter
7. Holly Dunn – Daddy’s Hands
8. The Beach Boys – Forever
9. Heartland – I Loved Her First
10. Drake White – The Best Is Yet To Come

Last Dance Wedding Music Ideas

Whether you are opting for classic or contemporary wedding music, your last wedding dance should be either a popular romantic ballad or upbeat music. But the chosen genre should reflect your taste as a couple. You can choose a slow song if you want an intimate last dance with your spouse. But for couples that want to exit with a bang, consider a high-energy song that all the guests can dance to.

1. Frank Sinatra – I Remember You
2. Judy Garland – I Can’t Give You Anything But Love
3. Ella Fitzgerald – Cheek To Cheek
4. The Beatles – Besame Mucho
5. Heatwave – Always And Forever
6. Frank Sinatra – All The Way
7. Doris Day – I’ll See You In My Dreams
8. Ella Fitzgerald – I’ve Got A Crush On You
9. The Spaniels – Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight
10. Frank Sinatra – How Do You Keep The Music Playing

Do Not Play Music For The Wedding

The truth is that many popular so-called wedding songs send negative messages about love. They rather talk about sex, infidelity, heartbreak desperation, subjugation, or stalking. Others are so vulgar that children and adults may become uncomfortable. It is always best to keep your playlist clean, classy, and perfect. Songs like “Every breath you take” by The Police, “I’ll always love you” cover by Whitney Houston, “Make you feel my love” by Adele, and “Marry you” by Bruno mars, should never make it to your playlist.

1. Kool & The Gang – Celebration
2. Sister Sledge – We Are Family
3. DJ Casper – Cha Cha Slide
4. Nelly – Hot in Here
5. The Village People – YMCA
6. The Police – Every Breath You Take
7. Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive
8. Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On
9. The B-52s – Love Shack
10. Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart

We have curated a playlist of the best wedding music ideas for your big day in this post. We also gave tips and guides on how to select what suits you best per wedding moment. If you want to know what songs to avoid, you are also in the right place. Check out this post and get inspired to create an enjoyable wedding music list.