by Amy Gold
Popular wedding songs are almost as varied as the couples themselves. The music for your wedding should be a reflection of your personalities and should fit in with the overall feel of the day. Music chosen for the ceremony itself may have restrictions depending on the rules of the church or other venue, but the reception is where you can usually let your own touch shine through.
Most couples choose traditional religious or classical music for their ceremonies and then veer over to pop standards for the reception. Many churches won't allow secular music, so you need to check ahead of time to make sure a particular song is allowed at the ceremony. Of course, nothing is as important musically as your choice of first dance songs.
When a couple is first introduced as husband and wife and enters their reception together, it is a magical moment, usually capped off by their very first dance. This is a moment that requires a great deal of thought and there are many popular wedding songs that can give you just the right feel on your big day. No matter what you opt for, be sure it is something you both agree on so the moment is truly special.
Among the most frequently chosen first dance songs is Etta James' classic "At Last." It speaks to the exhilaration that a couple feels when they have each finally found that special someone. Another great choice is Frank Sinatra's version of "The Way You Look Tonight," which many grooms choose to pay tribute to their beautiful bride.
Still other popular wedding songs include "What A Wonderful World," "Unforgettable" and "Wonderful Tonight." With a sweet sense of romance, these lovely songs have brought just the right touch to many weddings over the years, appealing to people of every generation. They can also carry a personal connection if they were used at your parents wedding or were a favorite of a deceased loved one.
There are more modern choices too, from the 1950s feel of "Unchained Melody" to Harry Connick Jr.'s classic take on "It Had To Be You." "Endless Love," "All My Life" and "Because You Loved Me" are all perfect choices for first dance songs. You might even want to compile a mix of favorite parts of each to create something truly unique.
For a more current feel, you could go with Bryan Adams' lovely "Everything I Do" or Shania Twain's "From This Moment On." When it comes to popular wedding songs, there is almost no limit. If you have a song that is special to the two of you, you may want to go with that. Or you might even want to liven things up and go against the beat with a spirited, fast-paced song, depending on your dancing ability.
Your wedding is one of the most important moments of your life, so you want to make sure that every detail is covered, including the music. With a little thought and the right choice, you'll have a day to remember and ensure that it is pitch perfect from start to finish!
To give you some ideas for what to choose for your first dance song, the list below includes many long-time favorite wedding staples plus other classic oldies love songs that are the perfect musical accompaniment to any romantic setting.
- You Made Me Love You - Al Jolson - 1913
- Embraceable You - Nat "King" Cole - 1944
- Moonlight In Vermont - Margaret Whiting - 1945
- Some Enchanted Evening - Perry Como - 1949
- Unforgettable - Nat "King" Cole - 1952
- Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley - 1956
- Fascination - Jane Morgan - 1957
- Chances Are - Johnny Mathis - 1957
- When I Fall In Love - Nat "King" Cole - 1957
- Fever - Peggy Lee - 1958
- Hawaiian Wedding Song (Ke Kali Nei Au) - Andy Williams - 1959
- Misty - Johnny Mathis - 1959
- I Only Have Eyes For You - The Flamingos - 1959
- Come Rain or Come Shine - Ray Charles - 1960
- At Last - Etta James - 1961
- Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley - 1962
- So This Is Love - The Castells - 1962
- Down The Aisle (Wedding Song) - Patti LaBelle And Her Blue Belles - 1963
- So Much In Love - The Tymes - 1963
- Wonderful! Wonderful! - The Tymes - 1963
- Everybody Loves Somebody - Dean Martin - 1964
- Chapel Of Love - The Dixie Cups - 1964
- The Best Is Yet To Come - Frank Sinatra - 1964
- The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra - 1964
- I'm Into Something Good - Herman's Hermits - 1964
- L-O-V-E - Nat "King" Cole - 1964
- And I Love Her - The Beatles - 1964
- P.S. I Love You - The Beatles - 1964
- I Got You Babe - Sonny and Cher - 1965
- Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers - 1965
- When A Man Loves A Woman - Percy Sledge - 1966
- Cherish - The Association - 1966
- Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli - 1967
- I Was Made To Love Her - Stevie Wonder - 1967
- Happy Together - The Turtles - 1967
- Dream A Little Dream Of Me - Mama Cass - 1968
- I Will - The Beatles - 1968
- Something - The Beatles - 1969
- (They Long To Be) Close To You - Carpenters - 1970
- We've Only Just Begun - Carpenters - 1970
- If - Bread - 1971
- Your Song - Elton John - 1971
- The Wedding Song (There Is Love) - Paul Stookey - 1971
- My Love - Paul McCartney and Wings - 1973
- You Are The Sunshine Of My Life - Stevie Wonder - 1973
- You're the First, the Last, My Everything - Barry White - 1975
- Love Will Keep Us Together - Captain and Tennille - 1975
- My Eyes Adored You - Frankie Valli - 1975
- You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker - 1975
- Feelings - Morris Albert - 1975
- The Polish Wedding Song - Bobby Vinton - 1976
- Love Theme From A Star Is Born (Evergreen) - Barbra Streisand - 1977
- How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees - 1977
- Maybe I'm Amazed - Wings - 1977
- Just the Way You Are - Billy Joel - 1978
- Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton - 1978
- You're The One That I Want - John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John - 1978
- You're In My Heart (The Final Acclaim) - Rod Stewart - 1978
- Could I Have This Dance - Anne Murray - 1980
- The Rose - Bette Midler - 1980
- Endless Love - Diana Ross and Lionel Ritchie - 1981
- Up Where We Belong - Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warrens - 1982
- Through The Years - Kenny Rogers - 1982
- Tonight, I Celebrate My Love - Peabo Bryson/Roberta Flack - 1983
- True - Spandau Ballet - 1983
- Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper - 1984
- I Want To Know What Love Is - Foreigner - 1985
- In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel - 1986
- Always - Atlantic Starr - 1987
- Lady In Red - Chris DeBurgh - 1987
- Someone Like You - Van Morrison - 1987
- What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong - 1988
- Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins - 1988
- Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler - 1989
- It Had To Be You - Harry Connick, Jr. - 1989
- Our Love Is Here To Stay - Harry Connick, Jr. - 1989
- Don't Know Much - Linda Ronstadt/Aaron Neville - 1989
- Eternal Flame - Bangles - 1989
- All My Life - Linda Ronstadt/Aaron Neville - 1990
- Here And Now - Luther Vandross - 1990
- (Everything I Do) I Do It for You - Bryan Adams - 1991
- I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston - 1992
- Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme) - Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle - 1993
- Have I Told You Lately - Rod Stewart - 1993
- I Swear - All-4-One - 1994
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight - Elton John - 1994
- I Could Fall in Love - Selena - 1995
- I Finally Found Someone - Barbra Streisand and Bryan Adams - 1996
- Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion - 1996
- Grow Old With Me - Mary Chapin Carpenter - 1996
- Marry Me - Neil Diamond and Buffy Lawson - 1996
- I Do (Cherish You) - 98 Degrees - 1998
- I Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith - 1998
- All My Life - K-Ci and JoJo - 1998
- From This Moment On - Shania Twain - 1998
- You're Still The One - Shania Twain - 1998
- You Had Me From Hello - Kenny Chesney - 1999
- Amazed - Lonestar - 2000
- By Your Side - Sade - 2001
- This I Swear - Nick Lachey - 2003