There is so much joy in a wedding, and music is a big part of it.
Last month, we asked readers to submit their favorite wedding songs. As I read hundreds of submissions, I could feel the excitement and joyous nostalgia of readers reminiscing about their own first dances or fun moments on the dance floor.
“September” by Earth, Wind and Fire was the most popular song, with 5.6 percent of submissions featuring it.
Disco was perceived as the best genre for intergenerational enjoyment, with songs that everyone knows, even people who were born long after the ’80s. Among them are “We are family” by Sister Sledge, “Stay alive” of the Bee Gees and “Celebrationby Kool & the Gang. (Although Boston’s David Williams said that when the DJ plays “Celebration,” he “he heads for the exit.”)
For a first dance song, readers love Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love” and Etta James’ “At Last.”
And what is the most popular song (so far) at a 2023 wedding? “I Just Wanna Rock” by Lil Uzi Vert. It’s inescapable, and for good reason.
Here are 22 reader-recommended wedding songs from around the world, from New York to the Netherlands.
Davido, ‘Fall’
This is one of those special songs that immediately floods you with a feeling of peace and joy. “Fall” is a staple African wedding/party anthem that celebrates pampering your lover and recognizing the changes you need to make to meet them halfway.
Jephthah Prempeh, The Bronx, New York
Ben E. King, ‘Count On Me’
Our first dance at our wedding reception. Every time I hear it I want to hug my wife and dance.
Guy Valentine, Ottawa
Parliament, ‘Flash Light’
You’ll see the over-50s make their best moves for this.
Dana Duffy, Bloomington, Indiana
Beyoncé, ‘The Virgo Rhythm’‘
“Virgo’s Groove” was my summer anthem of 2022. It’s the modern interpretation of a feel-good disco song that everyone can enjoy, whether they’re jumping in their seats or having fun on the dance floor.
Rebecca Kim, Brooklyn, New York
Jesse Powell, ‘You’
“You” is a beautiful love song about a man sharing how much he loves his future wife. Powell is also an underrated R&B artist who didn’t get enough flowers before he died last year.
Keisha Clark, Chicago
Babyface, ‘Every time I close my eyes’
The lyrics capture the beauty of black love, which is often trivialized but rarely articulated in a way that captures my understanding of it. I can’t imagine “jumping the broom” without hearing, “And every time I close my eyes, I thank the Lord that I have you.”
Katherine Tinsley, Chicago
Toploader, ‘Dancing in the moonlight’
It’s very catchy and the lyrics are easy to follow.
Sandra Tan, Brooklyn, New York
Rihanna-We found love’
This song was also in our wedding film when we were walking through the old streets of Utrecht, it was a nice contrast between the modern upbeat music and the classical buildings.
Firdaus Mohamed Hoesein, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Britney Spears, ‘Toxic’
It’s throwback to us ’90s kids (memories are always great for getting people on the dance floor), and the song is old enough that our parents still know it.
Hannah Rivers, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Etta James, ‘Finally’
We got married in Ravello on the Amalfi coast. A relatively small event (50 people), but attendees from all over the world. A year earlier we heard a lounge singer in London and finally encouraged her to sing at our wedding. Stepping out of the shadows, she sang Etta James’ “At Last” and brought everyone to tears.
Rodney ConlonToronto
Elvis Presley, ‘I can’t help but fall in love’
Our wedding song was “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” It’s one that has really held up through time, place, and culture. A song written in 1961 is constantly being re-recorded in fresh new ways: the most popular version among my friends is not the Elvis original, but the original. Cover by Kina Grannis. What other song has as much cachet among disparate demographics like white boomers and Asian-American millennials like my wife and me? And if this doesn’t sound impressive, consider: despite its well-deserved place on the Mount Rushmore of American rock ‘n’ roll, how many other Elvis songs have instant recognition among today’s millennials than “Can’t Help Falling in Sees it”. has?
Andrew Min, New York
Earth, Wind and Fire, ‘September’
It’s special because it came out when I was in high school. I have danced it at so many weddings. Everyone knows that, no matter what age, and she gets everyone on the dance floor.
Kathryn Watson, Washington
Barry White, ‘My first, my last, my everything’
For my boyfriend and I, if we were to decide to get married, this would be the perfect song to get the party started! We met when we were 17 and 18 in the fall of 1971, our first year in college, fell in love as we knew him, then broke up when he went to France for a year at the end of the summer before our junior year. A lifetime later, in 2016, we reconnected on social media and fell head over heels in love with the adults we grew up as.
Constance Malone, Roswell, Georgia.
Wacka Flocka Flame, ‘No Hands’
“Giiirl, drop it on the floor, I love how your booty is coming!”
Evelina Kurayeva, Queens, New York
Elvis Crespo, ‘Gently’
A staple for every Latin event, party, wedding, anything. And everyone will go crazy with their best merengue steps.
Elizabeth Ortiz, Queens, New York
“Michael Jackson, ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’
I have DJed at over 600 weddings. Favorite fast song: “The Way You Make Me Feel” by Michael Jackson. Favorite slow song: Easy by The Commodores.
Steve Rader, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Natalie Cole, ‘This will be (an eternal love)’
Walking down the aisle to Natalie Cole’s “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” is one of my favorite memories of my wedding: my husband was crying at the front, I went down arm in arm with my parents, my brother and sister-in-law walked in front while my bridal party and all our friends and family applauded, danced and laughed in surprise at such a happy song to open the day. One of our friends still texts every time this song comes on the radio, reminiscing about that happy moment, and he always makes me smile. I love the optimism and joy of the song for a wedding! And for me it has been an eternal love.
Bethany Sullivan, Sydney, Australia
Stevie Wonder, ‘My eyes don’t cry’
Here in the Detroit metro area, every wedding includes “the hustle” done to Stevie.
Cheryl Voglesong, Troy, Mich.
MGMT, ‘Electric Sensation’
I worked as a wedding DJ in the 2010s, and the best approach to a crowded dance floor was to vary the beats, genres, and artists to keep people guessing what was playing next. In the middle of the event, when people are a bit tired but still want to dance, I would play Daft Punk or MGMT for them to take a breather and enjoy these smooth beats.
Anastasia Bannikova, Phoenix
Jagged edge, ‘Let’s get married’
It is clear and specific: celebrate the occasion and the idea of weddings.
Reba Liverman, Seattle
Whitney Houston, ‘I want to dance with someone’
Oh, do your feet start to hurt in those heels? If you sit down and this song comes on, you have no choice but to get back up.
Jessie Palatucci, Washington
Luther Vandross, ‘Never Too Much’
It’s a song that makes your heart fill and then melt with love.
Jeremiah Feather, Brooklyn, New York