What are the best times you’ve experienced at weddings? One of them is probably those “hold my drink” moments when you hear that song and suddenly, the dance floor turns into your stage. But if you’re not the dancing type, you must have at least responded to a particular song you love on your besties’ wedding night.

A wedding expert states that “those three-minute connections can turn out to be the most memorable moments in a wedding.” In this article, we’ll list some of the best songs you need to have for your wedding reception.

Keep in mind that every couple’s wedding should be different. You can find over 3 million songs categorized as wedding playlists on Spotify. You have to think of your guests, as the list can be extensive, from your grandparents to your 4-year-old niece. You have to think about the tunes that not only go with your varied guests but also what they’re going to like, and that is difficult to achieve. But don’t worry, as it only takes these tips to complete it.

Know that it is usually a popularity contest

Spotify knows what songs are most added by users as wedding playlists, let’s look at the top 10:

1. “All of Me” by John Legend
2. “Thinking Out Loud,” by Ed Sheeran
3. “Marry You,” by Bruno Mars
4. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” by Whitney Houston
5. “Uptown Funk,” by Mark Ronson, featuring Bruno Mars
6. “Crazy in Love,” by Beyoncé, featuring Jay Z
7. “Don’t Stop Believin’,” by Journey
8. “A Thousand Years,” by Christina Perri
9. “I’m Yours,” by Jason Mraz
10. “Hey Ya!” by OutKast

Nothing is surprising about this list. There’s a collection of fun, up-tempo songs like ‘Uptown Funk’ and ‘Hey Ya!’. There’s also a good collection of romantic wedding songs that suit weddings like ‘Marry You’ and ‘I’m Yours.’ And don’t forget John Legend’s ‘All of Me’ that’s been popular from the start as it’s about how much he adores Chrissy Teigen. Isn’t that the sentiment you want as a bride on her wedding day?

If you think some songs are overplayed on the radio like Pharrell’s “Happy.” These songs are still great additions to your wedding as most of your guests have probably heard them and represent feel-good tracks. They encourage your guests to sing and dance and are also appropriate for the kids.

Crossovers are fun

Pop. Rock. Hip-hop and Country. A mix of these genres serves as an excellent reception playlist. Anything goes with weddings, and you should mix up the genres most of the time. The focus is to make people happy and put them in a dancing mood.

While you and your BFFs may have organized an entire dance move for Billie Eilish’s ‘Bad Guy,’ your mom and her buddies may have an equivalent with Cindy Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.’ So we recommend putting Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton, Pitbull, and B.I.G in a playlist together and you won’t be disappointed during your reception.

Get Them to Dance

At this point, you’ve probably started stockpiling your playlist with your jams, but choose carefully which one should be at the top of your list. It’s better to kick off the dance floor with the right tone, and that tone is party time! Your playlist should encourage people to dance. Start with a bright, party tune that guides your guest out of hesitations and insecurities and leads them into a warm, safe place to boogie all night long.

The Wedding Songs You Need to Have

If you’re struggling to get started, don’t worry, as we have listed 25 ideas of the cheesiest music ever and with some sing-along songs.

Cheesy Dance Songs

You need to make sure your party starts with a bang. Some seriously cheesy playlist below is the trick to get your guests to the dance floor.

1. “I Want You Back,” by The Jackson 5
2. “Dancing Queen,” by ABBA
3. “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” by Beyoncé
4. “Footloose,” by Kenny Loggins
5. “Y.M.C.A.,” by the Village People

Classic rock

The classic rock tunes never go out of style and will certainly liven the dance floor up. Let your guests rock the dance floor with these all-time classics.

1. “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” by Queen
2. “Walk This Way,” by Aerosmith
3. “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” by Guns N’ Roses
4. “Livin’ on a Prayer,” by Bon Jovi
5. “Bat Out of Hell,” by Meat Loaf

90’s and 00’s Pop

Next, let’s take a trip down memory lane into the golden years of pop. These tunes will make your guests feel super nostalgic that they won’t resist dancing and singing along. 

1. “Bye Bye Bye,” by ‘NSYNC
2. “TiK ToK,” by Kesha
3. “All Star,” by Smash Mouth
4. “Oops!…I Did It Again,” by Britney Spears
5. “Hot in Herre,” by Nelly

Sing-along songs

As the evening draws to a climax, your guests should be ready to bust out some music. It’s time to switch into songs that you know your guests will love to sing along to!

1. “Don’t Stop Believin’,” by Journey
2. “Tubthumping,” by Chumbawamba
3. “Sweet Home Alabama,” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
4. “New York, New York,” by Frank Sinatra
5. “Red Red Wine,” by UB40

Romantic slow songs

Before we end the night, it’s time to turn down the beat and take things slow. After all, everyone here is celebrating your new love journey.

1. “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” by Aerosmith
2. “Thinking Out Loud,” by Ed Sheeran
3. “You’re Beautiful,” by James Blunt
4. “You’re Still the One,” by Shania Twain
5. “Make You Feel My Love,” by Adele

Making the perfect wedding reception playlist is like painting an art form, and it takes taste and planning ahead. You want to ensure that every part of the celebration is accounted for. Your roster needs to have something that all your wedding guests will enjoy, from classic tracks to modern pop tunes. It’s a big demand.