The Best Wedding Reception Songs for Each Part of the Wedding Night

August 24, 2020
|In Wedding Event, Musicians & DJs
|By Project Party

Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials! While there are plenty of other wedding-related details to focus on planning, one that’s often overlooked is the importance of selecting the right music for every part of your reception. Music can set the tone for your wedding reception, so it’s important to pick just the right tunes.

The music industry is massive, which means that you have thousands of songs to choose from. However, the downside to so many choices is that many people don’t know where to begin. Fortunately for you, we’ve compiled a list of the top wedding reception songs for every part of your night. Check out our choices below:

Wedding Entrance Music

After the wedding ceremony, your guests will head to cocktail hour while the bridal party typically takes pictures. Your guests won’t see you again until you make your grand entrance to the reception. This entrance is when you’ll be introduced as a married couple to your guests at the party. Some couples transition right into their first dance from this grand march entrance, while others delay the first dance until after dinner.

Regardless of how you intend to structure your wedding entrance, typically the bridal party walks out to one song, and the married couple walks out to their own song. The music you choose will set a tone for how the rest of the night will proceed. Here are some classic walkout songs for the bridal party that will get the party going:

  • “I Gotta Feeling,” by the Black Eyed Peas
  • “Walk This Way,” by Aerosmith
  • “Forever,” by Chris Brown
  • “The Final Countdown,” by Eurpoe
  • “Good Feeling,” by Flo Rida
  • “On Top of the World,” by Imagine Dragons
  • “Can’t Stop the Feeling!,” by Justin Timberlake
  • “Celebration,” by Kool & The Gang
  • “This is How We Do It,” Montell Jordan
  • “Shut Up And Dance,” Walk The Moon

Here’s a list of classic walkout songs for the newlyweds to make their reception entrance to:

  • “Crazy in Love,” by Beyonce ft. Jay-Z
  • “Best Day of My Life,” by American Authors
  • “All You Need is Love,” by the Beatles
  • “Love on Top,” by Beyonce
  • “Sugar” by Maroon 5
  • “Say Hey (I Love You),” by Michael Franti & Spearhead
  • “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love),” by Natalie Cole
  • “Happy,” by Pharrell Williams
  • “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” by Queen
  • “It Takes Two,” by Rob Base & D.J. E-Z Rock

First Dance Music

Arguably one of the most iconic dances you’ll have on your wedding night is your first dance as a married couple. As with your walkout music, there’s a host of different options that you can choose from for your first dance song. Try to think of a song that means something to you and your future spouse.

If you need help coming up with a song, here are 10 top first dance songs from a variety of genres:

  • “Marry Me,” by Train
  • “Perfect,” by Ed Sheeran (there are also two other versions of this song, one featuring Beyonce and one featuring Andrea Bocelli)
  • “God Gave Me You,” by Blake Shelton
  • “All of Me,” by Ed Sheeran
  • “Everything,” by Michael Buble
  • “At Last,” by Etta James
  • “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” by Elvis Presley
  • “I Am Yours,” by Andy Grammar
  • “Speechless,” by Dan + Shay
  • “Die a Happy Man,” by Thomas Rhett

Mother/Son and Father/Daughter Songs

Other important dances that typically take place during the reception include the mother/son dance and father/daughter dance. Here are some wedding reception songs for these two dances.

Mother/Son Dance:

  • “My Wish,” by Rascal Flats
  • “Home,” by Jack Johnson
  • “He Gets That From Me,” by Reba McEntire
  • “A Song for Mama,” by Boyz II Men
  • “Isn’t She Lovely,” by Stevie Wonder

Father/Daughter Dance:

  • “I Loved Her First,” by Heartland
  • “Dance With My Father,” by Luther Vandross
  • “My Little Girl,” by Tim McGraw
  • “There Goes My Life,” by Kenny Chesney
  • “Your Song,” by Elton John

Bouquet Toss Songs

At some point in the night, it’s traditional for the bride to throw a bouquet behind her back for the single ladies in attendance to try to catch. Of course, you’ll need to perfect tunes to have everyone gather on the dance floor. Here are five ideas:

  • “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It),” by Beyonce
  • “Ladies Night,” by Kool & The Gang
  • “Hey Ladies,” by the Beastie Boys
  • “Where Them Girls At,” by David Guetta, ft. Nicki Minaj, Flo Rida
  • “Only Girl in the World,” by Rihanna

Garter Toss Songs

If you’re participating in the garter toss tradition, you’ll need to pick the perfect song for your groom to find the garter and then toss it to the single men in attendance. Here are some song ideas:

  • “Pony,” by Ginuwine
  • “Drunk in Love,” by Beyonce, ft. Jay-Z
  • “Hot in Herre,” by Nelly
  • “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” by Def Leppard
  • “Sexy Can I,” by Ray J ft. Yung Berg

Conclusion

No matter what songs you pick, you should definitely consider the audience that will be in attendance. If you’re planning on having a lot of children at your wedding, it might be best to opt for the “clean” versions of your favourite jams. With that being said, your wedding reception music should be a reflection of who you are as a couple and the style you like to bring to the table. Happy planning!

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