Timeless Classics: The Best Wedding Songs of All Time

Music is a huge part of your wedding. It allows you to inject a sense of personality into your big day and share something you love with people who mean a lot to you. But choosing music for all the different aspects of the day while also ensuring you have enough crowd-pleasing classics can be stressful. So, to help you tick one thing off your wedding to-do list, we’ve put together this guide on the best wedding songs.

What Makes a “Timeless” Wedding Song?

The most ‘timeless’ wedding songs stand the test of time and don’t age. But they should also ideally have appropriate lyrics, broad appeal with your guests, and be easy to dance to.

But the biggest must is that your wedding music should reflect you as a couple. So, an acoustic or ‘clean’ version of your favourite song, although maybe not conventional, could be the best wedding song for you.

Ceremony Classics That Never Date

If you’re looking for classic wedding songs, you can’t go wrong with any of these pieces:

• Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin, Richard Wagner - the ‘here comes the bride’ soundtrack will never date.
• ‘Spring’ Four Seasons, Vivaldi – the up-tempo beat of this piece sets a warm
  and welcoming tone for your big day, perfect as guests take their seats.
• The Arrival of Queen Sheba, Handel – a great piece for brides aiming to
  make a showstopping entrance.
• Canon in D, Pachelbel – this all-time classic wedding song is a great choice
  for the recessional.

If you’re keen to have something more modern, some of our favourite romantic wedding songs include:

• A Thousand Years, Christina Perri – the original version of this song is
  perfect as it is, but a stripped-back instrumental version also works
  perfectly.
• Can’t Help Falling in Love, Haley Reinhart – an updated version of the Elvis
  classic, Reinhart’s stunning voice is sure to silence the crowd.
• Taylor Swift, Everything Has Changed ft. Ed Sheeran – a great one for
  Swifties, this loved up hit with Ed Sheeran is sure to be a huge hit.

If your music tastes are less generic, never fear, as an instrumental version of your favourite track can make for one of the best wedding songs of all time. Some of our alternative top picks for a ceremony with impact include:

• Nothing Else Matters, Metallica – A great choice for rock fans, the romantic
  lyrics of this track create a moving atmosphere.
• First Day of My Life, Bright Eyes – Ideal for relaxed weddings with indie vibes.

First Dance Favourites Through the Decades

With the ceremony music sorted, it’s time to move on to the all-important first dance. Some of the best wedding songs for a first dance are timeless classics that stand the test of time, so below we take you through a few of our favourite from different decades:

‘60s

These songs from the swinging sixties offer a timeless feel that is sure to start the evening off on the best note:

•  At Last, Etta James
• Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
• I Only Want to be with you, Dusty Springfield

‘70s

Some of our favourite hits from the ‘70s include:

• This Will Be (An Everlasting Love), Natalie Cole
•  Wonderful Tonight, Eric Clapton
•  Your Song, Elton John

‘80s

From classic ballads to more upbeat numbers, the ‘80s offers rich pickings for your first dance:

•  Time After Time, Cyndi Lauper
•  Take My Breath Away, Berlin
•  I Just Called to Say I Loved You, Stevie Wonder

‘90s

If you’re keen to jump on a current trend for all things 1990s, you can’t go wrong with these hits:

•  2 Become 1, Spice Girls
•  This Kiss, Faith Hill
•  Always, Bon Jovi

Dinner and Cocktail Hour: Set the Mood

Choosing your ceremony and first dance songs is all about picking tracks that really mean something to you. But when choosing background music for food and drinks, the best wedding songs create a pleasant ambience without dominating or preventing conversation.

Thinking about your wedding theme can help, as you can choose music that ties in. For example, for a boho wedding, classic indie and folk tunes offer the perfect background music, while for a more modern wedding, acoustic versions of modern pop songs can work well.

Another great option is to hire musicians, as this provides a real talking point for your day. Jazz musicians can often cover a range of genres, creating a memorable ambience that has wide appeal without being overbearing.

Guaranteed Floor-Fillers for the Party

The best wedding songs for the evening are those that get everyone off their feet and on the dancefloor. Although this can vary from wedding to wedding, some of the most tried-and-tested wedding anthems to keep the party going include:

•  Dancing Queen, Abba
•  Grease Medley
•  Dirty Dancing Medley
•  I Wanna Dance with Somebody, Whitney Houston
•  Sweet Caroline, Neil Diamond
•  Mr Brightside, The Killers
•  Livin’ on a Prayer, Bon Jovi
•  Shake It Off, Taylor Swift
•  Shut Up and Dance, Walk The Moon
•  Don’t Stop Believing, Journey
•  Happy, Pharrell Williams
•  Proud Mary, Tina Turner
•  Come On Eileen, Dexys Midnight Runners

 Last Dance and Send-Off Songs

When it comes to choosing the best wedding songs to end the party, the perfect pick is a classic track that gets everyone singing along, rather than a dancefloor filler. Some of our favourites include:

•  Angels, Robbie Williams
•  Wonderwall, Oasis
•  I Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston
•  Never Forget, Take That

Building Your Playlist the Smart Way

To help you build the perfect party playlist for your big day, follow these top tips:

•  Organise your music by theme, era or genre to ensure a good flow through the night
•  Choose tracks you love
• If your playlist is not hitting the right note, don’t be afraid to mix it up -hadditional tracks or allowing a few requests might be all that’s needed to get the party back on track
•  If you’re having a band and using a playlist in between, don’t repeat tracks
•  If you’re having a DJ, share your music preferences and any must-play tracks with them, but then leave them to it
•  Get your guests involved by having an ‘add to playlist’ note on your RSVPs.

Why The Moat House Hits the Right Notes?

Our stunning Manor House offers the perfect setting for a wide range of weddings. We pride ourselves on delivering bespoke packages tailored to your exact requirements, to ensure you get the wedding of your dreams. So, whether you’re planning a traditional day complete with resplendent choral music, a boho wedding with the best of indie rock or a modern masterpiece and the latest and greatest hits, we’re here to help make it happen.

Download our wedding brochure to find out more.

Book A Stay

If you really want to make sure your playlist hits the right note, book a stay at The Moat House.

Relax in our sumptuously appointed bedrooms, explore our stunning lake setting and sample the food in our award-winning restaurant, all while compiling the tracks that will help make your wedding a day to remember.

Book now