Wedding Songs

Wedding songs are the perfect way to round off your special day. At your evening reception, the wedding songs you select will set the tone for the rest of the night and, if chosen carefully, will create the perfect mood for everyone attending.

You can be romantic, slushy, upbeat, classical or anything for that matter – they’re your wedding songs remember! And remember – probably the most essential aspect of your wedding songs is choosing that all-important first song.

First things first, you need to decide if you’re having a band to perform your wedding songs. Some people will have both a DJ and a wedding band, whereas some may just go for one of those options.

Now we’ll take you through the two main steps – choosing your band and selecting your wedding songs.

Choosing your wedding band

If you’re booking a jazz band to play at your reception but want your first dance to be ‘Rock DJ’ by Robbie Williams, chances are the band not going to be able to accommodate. Be aware of the instrumentation and style of the band you’re booking and realise what limitations this might have on what they can play.

Although many bands may be able to learn a special song just for you, it’s often easiest to pick a first dance song that is already in their play list.

Here are some wedding band providers you might like to try:

Choosing your wedding songs – the first dance

Most first dance tracks are songs which mean something special to the happy couple. Maybe a song you both listened to when you were first dating or one that reminds you of a special event.

Below is a selection of suggested first dance songs that have been chosen with the instrumentation of popular wedding bands in mind.

Romantic wedding songs

Can’t take my eyes off you – Andy Williams

Every breath you take – The Police

Every thing I do – Brian Adams

Groovy kind of love – Phil Collins

Have I told you lately – Rod Stewart

Love is all around – Wet Wet Wet

My girl – Temptations

Stand by me – Ben E King

When you say nothing at all – Ronan Keating

You do something to me – Paul Weller

Upbeat wedding songs

Brown eyed girl – Van Morrison

I’ll be there for you – The Rembrandts (Friends theme)

I’m a believer – The Monkeys

Walkin’ on sunshine – Katrina and the waves

Power Ballad wedding songs

Angels – Robbie Williams

Baby can I hold you – Tracy Chapman

She’s the one – Robbie Williams

Unchained melody – The Righteous Brothers

Classical wedding songs

Ave Maria – Gounod

Minuet For String Quartet – Boccherini

Sleepers Awake – Bach

Symphony No.6 – Pastoral – Beethoven

Choosing your wedding songs – the main play list

Having a wedding band perform your wedding songs is a great option. They make the songs sound much more real and ‘for the moment’. Your wedding songs are more likely to stay in the minds of everyone at your wedding if a live band performs them.

In most cases you’re best leaving the choice of wedding songs for the main play list up to the band. They’ll be well experienced at choosing wedding songs to suit your guests and will often finalise their play list once they get to the event and see their audience.

We’ve carefully selected a few wedding entertainment options for your big day. Have a look round at the various choices and think about how great your wedding day could be with live performances. Especially now that you know your wedding songs!