It doesn’t matter who you are, at some point, everyone has imagined the first dance at their wedding. But the thing that usually sticks out, more than the whoever they will be dancing with, is the wedding songs they’ll choose.
Band or DJ, first wedding song or tracks for the whole night – choosing the music to go with your wedding is a big task. While your Spotify playlists might have hundreds of different tracks, you’ve only got one night, so choosing the right songs for the right moments is key!
The music frames your wedding, so getting it right is vital.
Wedding Entrance Songs
Once the ceremony is over, photos have been taken and the guests are settled into the reception venue, it’s time for the couple to arrive. Undoubtedly, you’ll want to arrive with a bang, and these are some of today’s most popular wedding entrance songs.
Happy – Pharrell Williams
Oscar-nominated, Grammy-winning and 2014’s top-selling single, Happy tops the list of most popular wedding entrance songs. Even just the opening bars make everyone’s ears prick up and spirits perk. Happy by name, happy by nature.
Dancing in the Moonlight – Toploader
It’s hard to believe that Dancing in the Moonlight is only 20 years old. It’s more divisive than some people realise, but it’s become ingrained in British culture. Never underestimate this song’s power to help you make an entrance.
Shape of You – Ed Sheeran
The newest of our selection of wedding entrance songs, Shape of You is also the best-selling. With over 2 billion streams and over 40 million units sold, if you’re looking for a crowd-pleaser, this is the way to go.
First Dance Songs
This is the real big choice of the night. After the food’s done with and everyone’s had a few drinks, it’s time for the newly married couple to hit the dancefloor. This fills some people with dread, the idea of cutting shapes in front of everyone they know is the opposite of their idea of a good time. While it used to be traditional to have a slow dance with the first song, some of the best viral videos on the internet are couples’ first dance routines.
You Never Can Tell – Chuck Berry
One of the weird things about Pulp Fiction is that, despite the movie being a violent, expletive-filled ride from start to finish, the dance routine is one of its most memorable scenes. This couple started off with a bit of light Elton before switching it up with some moves inspired by the Tarantino classic.
Gangnam Style – Psy
Gangnam Style by Psy holds the title of the first video on YouTube to reach 1 billion views. That was a strange summer, there had never been a song like it to reach that high in the UK charts. While this video hasn’t reached nearly a billion views, it’s a fantastic example of exactly how big you can go with a first dance.
I Put a Spell on You – Screaming Jay Hawkins
You don’t have to be a fantastic dancer to make your first dance unique. The groom here is a professional magician with a flair for the dramatic, so rather than going all out on an extravagant routine, the couple stuck to their strengths. Watch it to the end for a spectacular finish.
How’s It Played
Choosing your music is a huge decision for anyone planning a wedding. But as well as choosing all the tracks, you’ve got to decide how the music is going to be played. Some options are pricier than others, but they all have their unique charms.
String Trio
While a string trio probably won’t have everyone feverishly dancing through the night, they can be an elegant way of giving your guests some live music. While the first thing that comes to mind is probably classical music, they usually take requests and can learn some more modern tracks – while saving you money compared to if you hired a full band.
Silent Disco
Silent discos are a great, modern addition to the wedding game. While they’re a little less common, hiring a silent disco can really make your wedding memorable. The best thing about them is that you get two channels of music going at once, which means you’ve got a much higher chance of pleasing everyone as they dance ‘til the early hours.
Live Accompaniment
If you want a bit of live music but going for a full ensemble is a bit expensive, why not consider hiring a soloist to accompany a DJ?. A live saxophonist or guitarist, for example, can liven up a reception more than you’d think, giving your wedding a party vibe recorded tracks can’t always give.
