Harper Blog

Creating the Ultimate Wedding Playlist

We've put together lists of our favourite tunes for different points in the day in order to help you create the ultimate wedding day playlist

Creating the perfect playlist for your wedding day needs a lot of thought and consideration. You’ll need to discuss this with your partner and decide on the vibe you want to create for the day.  It’s important that you both get each of your personalities and music tastes across. To help get your ideas going, we’ve put together lists of our favourite songs which are sure to get everyone on their feet.

Finding the music

It can be tricky plucking songs from memory and putting them on a playlist, so a good place to start is trawling through social media and online music platforms. Things like Spotify and Apple Music will have pre-made playlists for you to choose from. You can also have a look through Instagram and Tik-Tok for inspiration, search through the wedding hashtags to find some music ideas.

Wedding ceremony song ideas

You may have spent a long time discussing the first dance with your other half, but don’t neglect the other very important part of the day… your ceremony. You’ll need at least three pieces of music during this time (safer to have four, just in case): the procession of your bridal party into the ceremony; signing the register, having photographs and you leaving the ceremony as newlyweds. Here are a few of our top choice:

  •  Canon in D Major – Joahnn Pachelbel
  • You are the best thing – Ray Lamontagne
  •  Kissing you – Des’ree
  • Turning page – Sleeping at last (for the Twilight fans!)
  •  1,000 years – Christina Perri
  • At last – Etta James
  • All you need is love – The Beatles
  • When I fall in love – Nat King Cole
  • Over the rainbow – Judy Garland
  • Your song – Elton John
  • This will be (an everlasting love) – Natalie Cole

Check with your venue

Speak with the team at your wedding venue well in advance of your big day about all things music. Ask about what kind of sound system they have, if they have any sound limitations and how far the music will travel throughout the venue. Also, it’s always best to check who controls the music on the day, are you going to nominate someone from your wedding party or can one of the staff members take care of it? Having a run through is always advisable as well whether it be at home or at the venue. If you have a specific part of the song you’d like to walk down the aisle to, you’ll need to get the timings right. Account for the bridesmaids (and flower girl and page boy if they’re a part of your bridal party) who will walk before you at your ceremony.

First dance song suggestions

The most important dance you’ll ever have to do, so you need to get the music right. You won’t go wrong with one of these romantic first dance options – from the golden oldies to the contemporary greats:

  • Thinking out loud – Ed Sheeran
  • At last – Etta James
  • The way you look tonight – Frank Sinatra
  • Better together – Jack Johnson
  • Can’t take my eyes off you – Frankie Valli
  • Everything – Michael Buble
  • L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole
  • How long will I love you – Ellie Goulding
  • Just the way you are – Barry White (OR Bruno Mars…)
  • Make you feel my love – Adele
  • Better half of me – Tom Walker
  • Tenerife sea – Ed Sheeran
  • Like i’m gonna lose you – Meghan Trainor and John Legend

Speak with your DJ or band

If you’re having a DJ it’s a good idea to have a chat about your music before the big day. You can create a whole playlist to give to your DJ if you’d like more control over the music played, or you can give them a limited playlist and fro that they can gauge the type of music you like and get creative with the rest of the songs they play.

The same goes for if you’re having a live band, they usually have a repertoire of songs to play but if you’d like a specific set of tunes make sure you discuss this with them. Also bear in mind your band have probably played at a lot of weddings so they know all the crowd pleasers, so you may want to hand them the reigns when it comes to the songs played.

Last dance song ideas for your wedding reception

Don’t forget the last dance – you’ll want to finish the evening off on a high. Be it an old classic or a modern chart topper, this list should give you a good idea of the most popular songs –

  • Don’t stop me now – Queen
  • New York, New York – Frank Sinatra
  • Ain’t no mountain high enough – Diana Ross and the Supremes
  • She loves you – The Beatles
  • Mr brightside – The Killers
  • 500 miles – The Proclaimers
  • Hey Jude – The Beatles
  • Don’t stop believing – Journey
  • Champagne supernova – Oasis
  • Just the way you are – Barry White
  • Marry you – Bruno Mars
  • Come on Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners
  • Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
  • Dancing in the moonlight – Toploader

We've put together lists of our favourite tunes for different points in the day in order to help you create the ultimate wedding day playlist

Creating the perfect playlist for your wedding day needs a lot of thought and consideration. You’ll need to discuss this with your partner and decide on the vibe you want to create for the day.  It’s important that you both get each of your personalities and music tastes across. To help get your ideas going, we’ve put together lists of our favourite songs which are sure to get everyone on their feet.

Finding the music

It can be tricky plucking songs from memory and putting them on a playlist, so a good place to start is trawling through social media and online music platforms. Things like Spotify and Apple Music will have pre-made playlists for you to choose from. You can also have a look through Instagram and Tik-Tok for inspiration, search through the wedding hashtags to find some music ideas.

Wedding ceremony song ideas

You may have spent a long time discussing the first dance with your other half, but don’t neglect the other very important part of the day… your ceremony. You’ll need at least three pieces of music during this time (safer to have four, just in case): the procession of your bridal party into the ceremony; signing the register, having photographs and you leaving the ceremony as newlyweds. Here are a few of our top choice:

  •  Canon in D Major – Joahnn Pachelbel
  • You are the best thing – Ray Lamontagne
  •  Kissing you – Des’ree
  • Turning page – Sleeping at last (for the Twilight fans!)
  •  1,000 years – Christina Perri
  • At last – Etta James
  • All you need is love – The Beatles
  • When I fall in love – Nat King Cole
  • Over the rainbow – Judy Garland
  • Your song – Elton John
  • This will be (an everlasting love) – Natalie Cole

Check with your venue

Speak with the team at your wedding venue well in advance of your big day about all things music. Ask about what kind of sound system they have, if they have any sound limitations and how far the music will travel throughout the venue. Also, it’s always best to check who controls the music on the day, are you going to nominate someone from your wedding party or can one of the staff members take care of it? Having a run through is always advisable as well whether it be at home or at the venue. If you have a specific part of the song you’d like to walk down the aisle to, you’ll need to get the timings right. Account for the bridesmaids (and flower girl and page boy if they’re a part of your bridal party) who will walk before you at your ceremony.

First dance song suggestions

The most important dance you’ll ever have to do, so you need to get the music right. You won’t go wrong with one of these romantic first dance options – from the golden oldies to the contemporary greats:

  • Thinking out loud – Ed Sheeran
  • At last – Etta James
  • The way you look tonight – Frank Sinatra
  • Better together – Jack Johnson
  • Can’t take my eyes off you – Frankie Valli
  • Everything – Michael Buble
  • L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole
  • How long will I love you – Ellie Goulding
  • Just the way you are – Barry White (OR Bruno Mars…)
  • Make you feel my love – Adele
  • Better half of me – Tom Walker
  • Tenerife sea – Ed Sheeran
  • Like i’m gonna lose you – Meghan Trainor and John Legend

Speak with your DJ or band

If you’re having a DJ it’s a good idea to have a chat about your music before the big day. You can create a whole playlist to give to your DJ if you’d like more control over the music played, or you can give them a limited playlist and fro that they can gauge the type of music you like and get creative with the rest of the songs they play.

The same goes for if you’re having a live band, they usually have a repertoire of songs to play but if you’d like a specific set of tunes make sure you discuss this with them. Also bear in mind your band have probably played at a lot of weddings so they know all the crowd pleasers, so you may want to hand them the reigns when it comes to the songs played.

Last dance song ideas for your wedding reception

Don’t forget the last dance – you’ll want to finish the evening off on a high. Be it an old classic or a modern chart topper, this list should give you a good idea of the most popular songs –

  • Don’t stop me now – Queen
  • New York, New York – Frank Sinatra
  • Ain’t no mountain high enough – Diana Ross and the Supremes
  • She loves you – The Beatles
  • Mr brightside – The Killers
  • 500 miles – The Proclaimers
  • Hey Jude – The Beatles
  • Don’t stop believing – Journey
  • Champagne supernova – Oasis
  • Just the way you are – Barry White
  • Marry you – Bruno Mars
  • Come on Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners
  • Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
  • Dancing in the moonlight – Toploader

The Harper Team

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