Your wedding playlist, according to DJ experts

DJ at decks pointing to cheering crowd

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 four playlists that reflect the atmosphere at different stages of the wedding reception. The suggested No. 1 song to include in your wedding playlist is I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston, a guaranteed floorfiller that appeared in over 320 playlists on Spotify, making it the most popular wedding-related track.

"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." - CD Pool

bride and bridesmaids with cocktails

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.
  1. This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) - Natalie Cole
  2. You Are the Best Thing - Ray LaMontagne
  3. Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) - Stevie Wonder
  4. My Girl - The Temptations
  5. Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
  6. Beyond - Leon Bridges
  7. You Make My Dreams (Come True) - Daryl Hall & John Oates
  8. For Once In My Life - Stevie Wonder
  9. Dreams - 2004 Remaster - Fleetwood Mac
  10. Lovely Day - Bill Withers
  11. Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye
  12. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - 2019 Remaster - James Taylor
  13. Here Comes The Sun - Remastered 2009 - The Beatles
  14. L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole
  15. Love On Top - Beyoncé 

first dance

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.
  1. Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
  2. At Last - Etta James
  3. Perfect - Ed Sheeran
  4. All of Me - John Legend
  5. Can't Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley
  6. Everything - Michael Bublé
  7. Can't Help Falling in Love - Haley Reinhart
  8. You Are the Best Thing - Ray LaMontagne
  9. I Get to Love You - Ruelle
  10. Say You Won't Let Go - James Arthur
  11. The One - Kodaline
  12. Beyond - Leon Bridges
  13. Stand by Me - Ben E. King
  14. This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) - Natalie Cole
  15. You Are The Reason - Calum Scott

wedding brides on dancefloor with their guests

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 on to 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.
  1. I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) - Whitney Houston
  2. Hey Ya! - Outkast
  3. Dancing Queen - ABBA
  4. Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars) - Mark Ronson
  5. Mr. Brightside - The Killers
  6. Yeah! (feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris) - Usher
  7. Wannabe - Spice Girls
  8. Shut Up and Dance - WALK THE MOON
  9. Dancing in the Moonlight - Toploader
  10. Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
  11. Crazy In Love (feat. Jay-Z) - Beyoncé
  12. Low (feat. T-Pain) - Flo Rida
  13. Hips Don't Lie (feat. Wyclef Jean) - Shakira
  14. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
  15. I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas

people on dance floor with red heart balloons

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.
  1. At Last - Etta James
  2. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
  3. One More Time - Daft Punk
  4. Shut Up and Dance - WALK THE MOON
  5. This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) - Natalie Cole
  6. (I've Had) The Time Of My Life - Bill Medley
  7. Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
  8. I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) - Whitney Houston
  9. Thinking out Loud - Ed Sheeran
  10. Stand by Me - Ben E. King
  11. Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars) - Mark Ronson
  12. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) - Green Day
  13. Closing Time - Semisonic
  14. Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
  15. We Are Family - Sister Sledge 

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