The Top Songs to Add to Your Wedding Playlist, According to DJ Experts!

Now that we have entered peak wedding season, (May-October), DJing experts from CD Pool have provided the ultimate wedding playlists for your reception that is guaranteed to keep the dance floor hopping with happy guests.

CD Pool analysed Spotify API data, exploring 2117 playlists with the keyword “wedding” to compile 4 playlists that reflect the atmosphere at different stages of the wedding reception. CD Pool has suggested that the No. 1 song to include in your wedding playlist is “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston, a guaranteed floor filler that appeared in over 320 playlists on Spotify, making it the most popular wedding-related track.

From CD Pool: “Every wedding celebration is unique. However, in most cases, a wedding reception often involves a cocktail hour, the couple’s first dance, the floor filler portion and the final dance between the entire wedding party. All of these require a perfectly curated playlist that sets the tone. A standard wedding reception consists of 4 to 5 hours of music – around 80 to 100 songs. This DJ playlist should be tailored to the newlyweds and act as the ‘soundtrack’ to their love story.

Most Popular Cocktail Hour Songs

While the newly married couple, their families and the wedding party get their photos taken, the other guests will be entertained by a cocktail hour to get them in the right mood for the rest of the festivities. For this portion of the day, the playlist should include fun bops that still exude a chill vibe suitable for casual drinks and conversation.

This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole

You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne

Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) – Stevie Wonder

My Girl – The Temptations

Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison

Beyond – Leon Bridges

You Make My Dreams (Come True) – Daryl Hall & John Oates

For Once In My Life – Stevie Wonder

Dreams – 2004 Remaster – Fleetwood Mac

Lovely Day – Bill Withers

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye

How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) – 2019 Remaster – James Taylor

Here Comes The Sun – Remastered 2009 – The Beatles

L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole

Love On Top – Beyoncé

Full playlist can be found here.

Most Popular First Dance Songs

The newly married couple’s first dance can be a nerve-wracking experience since it is just two people on the dance floor for the entire song. The chosen song for the first dance should be able to reflect the love the couple has for each other, often a slow and powerful balad that tells a love story and captures the magic of a wedding.

Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran

At Last – Etta JamesPerfect – Ed Sheeran

All of Me – John Legend

Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley

Everything – Michael Bublé

Can’t Help Falling in Love – Haley Reinhart

You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagneI Get to Love You – Ruelle

Say You Won’t Let Go – James Arthur

The One – Kodaline

Beyond – Leon Bridges

Stand by Me – Ben E. King

This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole

You Are The Reason – Calum Scott

Full playlist can be found here.

Most Popular Wedding Floorfillers Songs

Following the first dance that is exclusive to the married couple, the rest of the wedding party and guests are finally able to get onto the dance floor. During this portion of the reception, the wedding playlist is almost exclusively exciting, cheery and energetic music. To make the tracks family-friendly, choose non-explicit songs or ones that have been edited for radio.

I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) – Whitney Houston

Hey Ya! – OutkastDancing Queen – ABBA

Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars) – Mark Ronson

Mr. Brightside – The Killers

Yeah! (feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris) – Usher

Wannabe – Spice Girls

Shut Up and Dance – WALK THE MOON

Dancing in the Moonlight – Toploader

Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

Crazy In Love (feat. Jay-Z) – Beyoncé

Low (feat. T-Pain) – Flo Rida

Hips Don’t Lie (feat. Wyclef Jean) – Shakira

Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey

I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas

Full playlist can be found here.

Most Popular Last Dance Songs

At this point, the wedding reception is beginning to die down. The last dance is a chance for all of the guests to gather on the dance floor one last time and make lasting memories before saying goodbye to the newlyweds. Whichever song you choose should be joyous and work as a solid farewell to the rest of the guests.

At Last – Etta JamesDon’t Stop Believin’ – Journey

One More Time – Daft Punk

Shut Up and Dance – WALK THE MOON

This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole

(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life – Bill Medley

Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) – Whitney Houston

Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran

Stand by Me – Ben E. King

Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars) – Mark Ronson

Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Green Day

Closing Time – Semisonic

Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton

We Are Family – Sister Sledge

Full playlist can be found here.”

Methodology

CD Pool analysed Spotify API data, exploring 2117 playlists related to these keywords: “wedding cocktail hour” “wedding first dance” “wedding floor fillers” and “wedding last dance”.