Sarah's Choice Entertainment Wedding Planning Resources

Wedding Songs & Special Dance Music Guide

Popular wedding dance songs, first dances, parent dances, family dances, anniversary songs, remembrance selections, private last dances and inspiration for creating a wedding soundtrack that feels like you.

Your Wedding. Your Music. Your Memories.

Need a little inspiration for your wedding reception? Whether you're looking for songs to pack the dance floor or trying to find the perfect song for a special moment, we've put together some of today's most popular wedding songs along with timeless classics and modern favorites.

Your wedding music should tell your story. There are no rules saying you have to choose the same songs everyone else uses or even include every traditional wedding dance.

With 30+ years of wedding entertainment experience, Sarah's Choice Entertainment knows that some of the best wedding memories happen when the right song meets the right moment.

🎶 Popular Wedding Dance Songs

Looking for songs that get people out of their seats and onto the dance floor? Here are some of today's most popular wedding dance-floor favorites:

  • Dancing Queen — ABBA
  • I Wanna Dance With Somebody — Whitney Houston
  • Pink Pony Club — Chappell Roan
  • September — Earth, Wind & Fire
  • Mr. Brightside — The Killers
  • Hotel Room Service — Pitbull
  • Yeah! — Usher ft. Lil Jon & Ludacris
  • I Gotta Feeling — The Black Eyed Peas
  • Cupid Shuffle — Cupid
  • Don’t Stop Believin’ — Journey
  • Forever — Chris Brown
  • Unwritten — Natasha Bedingfield
  • Party in the U.S.A. — Miley Cyrus
  • Shut Up and Dance — WALK THE MOON
  • Man! I Feel Like a Woman! — Shania Twain
  • A Bar Song (Tipsy) — Shaboozey
  • Hey Ya! — Outkast
  • Everytime We Touch — Cascada
  • Low — Flo Rida ft. T-Pain
  • Wobble — V.I.C.
  • Gasolina — Daddy Yankee
  • Temperature — Sean Paul
  • Fireball — Pitbull
  • Don’t Stop the Music — Rihanna
  • Time of Our Lives — Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo

🎧 One Important Thing...

A great wedding DJ doesn't simply play a list of popular songs.

Every wedding is different. Your guests, ages, musical tastes and energy on the dance floor determine what should come next. The goal isn't to play every popular wedding song.

The goal is to play the right song at the right time.

💕 Special Wedding Dances

Your reception isn't only about filling the dance floor. Some of the most memorable songs of the entire wedding are connected to the people who mean the most to you.

Below are some of the most popular special wedding dances, along with 10 timeless classics and 10 modern favorites for each.

💗 Couple’s First Dance

For a few minutes, everything else disappears. Your first dance is one of the most personal musical choices of your entire wedding day.

Timeless Classics

  1. At Last — Etta James
  2. Can’t Help Falling in Love — Elvis Presley
  3. The Way You Look Tonight — Frank Sinatra
  4. Unchained Melody — The Righteous Brothers
  5. Wonderful Tonight — Eric Clapton
  6. Endless Love — Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
  7. When a Man Loves a Woman — Percy Sledge
  8. Your Song — Elton John
  9. Crazy Love — Van Morrison
  10. Amazed — Lonestar

Modern Favorites

  1. Perfect — Ed Sheeran
  2. Thinking Out Loud — Ed Sheeran
  3. Joy of My Life — Chris Stapleton
  4. Life With You — Kelsey Hart
  5. Die With a Smile — Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
  6. Lover — Taylor Swift
  7. Speechless — Dan + Shay
  8. Better Together — Luke Combs
  9. Made for Me — Muni Long
  10. Until I Found You — Stephen Sanchez

👨‍👧 Father–Daughter Dance

For the man who held her hand long before someone else asked for it.

Timeless Classics

  1. My Girl — The Temptations
  2. Isn’t She Lovely — Stevie Wonder
  3. Butterfly Kisses — Bob Carlisle
  4. What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong
  5. Unforgettable — Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole
  6. Wind Beneath My Wings — Bette Midler
  7. Father and Daughter — Paul Simon
  8. Forever Young — Rod Stewart
  9. You Are the Sunshine of My Life — Stevie Wonder
  10. In My Life — The Beatles

Modern Favorites

  1. My Little Girl — Tim McGraw
  2. I Loved Her First — Heartland
  3. Cinderella — Steven Curtis Chapman
  4. My Wish — Rascal Flatts
  5. First Man — Camila Cabello
  6. Like My Father — Jax
  7. Never Grow Up — Taylor Swift
  8. One Call Away — Charlie Puth
  9. The Man Who Loves You the Most — Zac Brown Band
  10. Dance With My Daughter — Jason Blaine

👩‍👦 Mother–Son Dance

A special moment between a mother and the son she watched grow into the man standing before her today.

Timeless Classics

  1. What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong
  2. You Are the Sunshine of My Life — Stevie Wonder
  3. In My Life — The Beatles
  4. Forever Young — Rod Stewart
  5. Stand by Me — Ben E. King
  6. Bridge Over Troubled Water — Simon & Garfunkel
  7. Beautiful Boy — John Lennon
  8. Child of Mine — Carole King
  9. Loves Me Like a Rock — Paul Simon
  10. Simple Man — Lynyrd Skynyrd

Modern Favorites

  1. My Wish — Rascal Flatts
  2. Humble and Kind — Tim McGraw
  3. A Song for Mama — Boyz II Men
  4. Mom — Meghan Trainor ft. Kelli Trainor
  5. I Hope You Dance — Lee Ann Womack
  6. Mama’s Song — Carrie Underwood
  7. 93 Million Miles — Jason Mraz
  8. Because of Course — Maren Morris
  9. Mother Like Mine — The Band Perry
  10. You’re Gonna Be — Reba McEntire

👩‍👧 Mother–Daughter Dance

A beautiful way to recognize the woman who helped shape the woman you've become.

Timeless Classics

  1. You Are My Sunshine — Traditional
  2. Wind Beneath My Wings — Bette Midler
  3. You’ve Got a Friend — Carole King
  4. Mama — Spice Girls
  5. Because You Loved Me — Céline Dion
  6. In My Life — The Beatles
  7. I’ll Always Love My Mama — The Intruders
  8. Greatest Love of All — Whitney Houston
  9. Hero — Mariah Carey
  10. You Are the Sunshine of My Life — Stevie Wonder

Modern Favorites

  1. The Best Day — Taylor Swift
  2. Mama’s Song — Carrie Underwood
  3. Never Grow Up — Taylor Swift
  4. Mother — Meghan Trainor
  5. Like My Mother Does — Lauren Alaina
  6. Blue — Beyoncé ft. Blue Ivy
  7. Slipping Through My Fingers — ABBA
  8. Promise — Tori Amos
  9. Mother — Kacey Musgraves
  10. Lady — Brett Young

👨‍👦 Father–Son Dance

Not every special parent dance has to follow tradition. A father-son dance can be just as meaningful.

Timeless Classics

  1. Cats in the Cradle — Harry Chapin
  2. Father and Son — Cat Stevens
  3. Beautiful Boy — John Lennon
  4. Forever Young — Rod Stewart
  5. Simple Man — Lynyrd Skynyrd
  6. Teach Your Children — Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
  7. The Living Years — Mike + The Mechanics
  8. In My Life — The Beatles
  9. Stand by Me — Ben E. King
  10. Lean on Me — Bill Withers

Modern Favorites

  1. My Boy — Elvie Shane
  2. Watching You — Rodney Atkins
  3. Anything Like Me — Brad Paisley
  4. Boy — Lee Brice
  5. Humble and Kind — Tim McGraw
  6. Little Lion Man — Mumford & Sons
  7. Just Fishin’ — Trace Adkins
  8. It Won’t Be Like This for Long — Darius Rucker
  9. Things Dads Do — Thomas Rhett
  10. The Best Part of Me — Lee Brice

💕 Parent Dance

Some couples choose to combine their traditional parent dances or invite both sets of parents onto the dance floor together.

Timeless Classics

  1. What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong
  2. In My Life — The Beatles
  3. Forever Young — Rod Stewart
  4. You’ve Got a Friend — James Taylor
  5. Stand by Me — Ben E. King
  6. Lean on Me — Bill Withers
  7. You Are the Sunshine of My Life — Stevie Wonder
  8. Somewhere Over the Rainbow — Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
  9. Because You Loved Me — Céline Dion
  10. Wind Beneath My Wings — Bette Midler

Modern Favorites

  1. My Wish — Rascal Flatts
  2. Humble and Kind — Tim McGraw
  3. I Hope You Dance — Lee Ann Womack
  4. Home — Phillip Phillips
  5. 93 Million Miles — Jason Mraz
  6. Forever Now — Michael Bublé
  7. Never Grow Up — Taylor Swift
  8. Have It All — Jason Mraz
  9. You’ll Be in My Heart — Phil Collins
  10. Good Life — OneRepublic

🤍 Stepparent Dance

Family isn't defined only by biology. Sometimes the person who chose to step up deserves a moment of their own.

Timeless Classics

  1. He Didn’t Have to Be — Brad Paisley
  2. Stand by Me — Ben E. King
  3. Lean on Me — Bill Withers
  4. You’ve Got a Friend — James Taylor
  5. Because You Loved Me — Céline Dion
  6. Wind Beneath My Wings — Bette Midler
  7. Through the Years — Kenny Rogers
  8. In My Life — The Beatles
  9. What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong
  10. You’ve Got a Friend in Me — Randy Newman

Modern Favorites

  1. My Boy — Elvie Shane
  2. Family — Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors
  3. Humble and Kind — Tim McGraw
  4. My Wish — Rascal Flatts
  5. Home — Phillip Phillips
  6. Forever Now — Michael Bublé
  7. The Good Ones — Gabby Barrett
  8. Have It All — Jason Mraz
  9. Never Alone — Lady A
  10. Count on Me — Bruno Mars

👵👴 Grandparent Dance

For the grandparents who have spent a lifetime showing everyone what love, family and commitment look like.

Timeless Classics

  1. What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong
  2. Unforgettable — Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole
  3. Moon River — Andy Williams
  4. In My Life — The Beatles
  5. You Are My Sunshine — Traditional
  6. Que Sera, Sera — Doris Day
  7. Young at Heart — Frank Sinatra
  8. Somewhere Over the Rainbow — Judy Garland
  9. Always — Patsy Cline
  10. Through the Years — Kenny Rogers

Modern Favorites

  1. Grandma’s Garden — Zac Brown
  2. Forever Now — Michael Bublé
  3. Humble and Kind — Tim McGraw
  4. My Wish — Rascal Flatts
  5. Never Alone — Lady A
  6. 93 Million Miles — Jason Mraz
  7. Home — Phillip Phillips
  8. Family — Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors
  9. Have It All — Jason Mraz
  10. Forever Young — Michael Bublé

🫶 Sibling Dance

For the brother or sister who has been there through childhood, growing pains, family memories and all those stories nobody else is allowed to hear.

Timeless Classics

  1. Lean on Me — Bill Withers
  2. You’ve Got a Friend — James Taylor
  3. Stand by Me — Ben E. King
  4. He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother — The Hollies
  5. We Are Family — Sister Sledge
  6. In My Life — The Beatles
  7. You’ve Got a Friend in Me — Randy Newman
  8. Count on Me — Jefferson Starship
  9. I’ll Be There — The Jackson 5
  10. With a Little Help from My Friends — The Beatles

Modern Favorites

  1. Count on Me — Bruno Mars
  2. Brother — NEEDTOBREATHE ft. Gavin DeGraw
  3. Hey Brother — Avicii
  4. Home — Phillip Phillips
  5. Good Life — OneRepublic
  6. Best Friend — Rex Orange County
  7. Family — Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors
  8. See You Again — Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
  9. Castle on the Hill — Ed Sheeran
  10. Long Live — Taylor Swift

👩‍👦 Bride & Son Dance

A wedding doesn't change the fact that Mom will always be Mom.

Timeless Classics

  1. You Are the Sunshine of My Life — Stevie Wonder
  2. Beautiful Boy — John Lennon
  3. Forever Young — Rod Stewart
  4. What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong
  5. Child of Mine — Carole King
  6. Stand by Me — Ben E. King
  7. You’ve Got a Friend — James Taylor
  8. In My Life — The Beatles
  9. I’ll Be There — The Jackson 5
  10. Lean on Me — Bill Withers

Modern Favorites

  1. A New Day Has Come — Céline Dion
  2. Never Grow Up — Taylor Swift
  3. My Wish — Rascal Flatts
  4. Humble and Kind — Tim McGraw
  5. You’re Gonna Be — Reba McEntire
  6. 93 Million Miles — Jason Mraz
  7. Have It All — Jason Mraz
  8. Forever Now — Michael Bublé
  9. Slow Down — Nichole Nordeman
  10. I Get to Love You — Ruelle

👨‍👧 Groom & Daughter Dance

Before he became a groom, he may have already held another very important title: Dad.

Timeless Classics

  1. My Girl — The Temptations
  2. Isn’t She Lovely — Stevie Wonder
  3. You Are the Sunshine of My Life — Stevie Wonder
  4. What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong
  5. Forever Young — Rod Stewart
  6. In My Life — The Beatles
  7. You’ve Got a Friend — James Taylor
  8. Unforgettable — Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole
  9. Wildflowers — Tom Petty
  10. God Only Knows — The Beach Boys

Modern Favorites

  1. My Little Girl — Tim McGraw
  2. Never Grow Up — Taylor Swift
  3. Cinderella — Steven Curtis Chapman
  4. My Wish — Rascal Flatts
  5. For My Daughter — Kane Brown
  6. Lady — Brett Young
  7. Slow Down — Nichole Nordeman
  8. One Call Away — Charlie Puth
  9. Forever Now — Michael Bublé
  10. The Man Who Loves You the Most — Zac Brown Band

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Children & Family Dance

Sometimes a wedding isn't simply about two people becoming one. It's about celebrating an entire family.

Timeless Classics

  1. We Are Family — Sister Sledge
  2. Celebration — Kool & The Gang
  3. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough — Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
  4. Lovely Day — Bill Withers
  5. You’ve Got a Friend in Me — Randy Newman
  6. Stand by Me — Ben E. King
  7. What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong
  8. Family Affair — Sly & The Family Stone
  9. I’ll Be There — The Jackson 5
  10. With a Little Help from My Friends — The Beatles

Modern Favorites

  1. Count on Me — Bruno Mars
  2. Home — Phillip Phillips
  3. Good Life — OneRepublic
  4. Better Together — Jack Johnson
  5. Have It All — Jason Mraz
  6. Best Day of My Life — American Authors
  7. On Top of the World — Imagine Dragons
  8. A Sky Full of Stars — Coldplay
  9. Family — Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors
  10. High Hopes — Panic! at the Disco

💞 Blended-Family Dance

When two people say “I do,” sometimes children and families are saying “we do,” too.

Timeless Classics

  1. We Are Family — Sister Sledge
  2. What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong
  3. Stand by Me — Ben E. King
  4. Lean on Me — Bill Withers
  5. You’ve Got a Friend in Me — Randy Newman
  6. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough — Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
  7. With a Little Help from My Friends — The Beatles
  8. He Didn’t Have to Be — Brad Paisley
  9. I’ll Be There — The Jackson 5
  10. Family Man — Fleetwood Mac

Modern Favorites

  1. Family — Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors
  2. My Boy — Elvie Shane
  3. Count on Me — Bruno Mars
  4. Home — Phillip Phillips
  5. Better Together — Jack Johnson
  6. Have It All — Jason Mraz
  7. Good Life — OneRepublic
  8. Humble and Kind — Tim McGraw
  9. Never Alone — Lady A
  10. Forever Now — Michael Bublé

💍 Anniversary Dance

Invite the married couples onto the floor and find out who has been married the longest. It's a beautiful way to celebrate not only the love beginning today, but the love stories that came before it.

Timeless Classics

  1. Can’t Help Falling in Love — Elvis Presley
  2. Through the Years — Kenny Rogers
  3. Wonderful Tonight — Eric Clapton
  4. Always and Forever — Heatwave
  5. Faithfully — Journey
  6. Endless Love — Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
  7. Still the One — Orleans
  8. You’re Still the One — Shania Twain
  9. At Last — Etta James
  10. When I’m Sixty-Four — The Beatles

Modern Favorites

  1. Thinking Out Loud — Ed Sheeran
  2. Better Together — Luke Combs
  3. In Case You Didn’t Know — Brett Young
  4. The Rest of Our Life — Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
  5. Die a Happy Man — Thomas Rhett
  6. Yours — Russell Dickerson
  7. Made for You — Jake Owen
  8. From the Ground Up — Dan + Shay
  9. Forever After All — Luke Combs
  10. Grow Old With Me — Tom Odell

🥂 Wedding Party Dance

They stood beside you during the ceremony. Now it's time for them to join you on the dance floor.

Timeless Classics

  1. Celebration — Kool & The Gang
  2. We Are Family — Sister Sledge
  3. September — Earth, Wind & Fire
  4. Don’t Stop Believin’ — Journey
  5. Dancing Queen — ABBA
  6. You Make My Dreams — Hall & Oates
  7. I Wanna Dance With Somebody — Whitney Houston
  8. Footloose — Kenny Loggins
  9. Signed, Sealed, Delivered — Stevie Wonder
  10. Love Shack — The B-52’s

Modern Favorites

  1. Uptown Funk — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
  2. Shut Up and Dance — WALK THE MOON
  3. I Gotta Feeling — The Black Eyed Peas
  4. Can’t Stop the Feeling! — Justin Timberlake
  5. Best Day of My Life — American Authors
  6. Raise Your Glass — P!nk
  7. Time of Our Lives — Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo
  8. A Bar Song (Tipsy) — Shaboozey
  9. Pink Pony Club — Chappell Roan
  10. 24K Magic — Bruno Mars

🕊️ Memorial & Remembrance Dance

Some of the most important people in our lives may not be able to physically stand beside us on our wedding day.

That doesn't mean they aren't part of it.

A remembrance dance can create a special moment to honor someone whose love, influence and memory remain part of your story.

Timeless Classics

  1. Dance With My Father — Luther Vandross
  2. Tears in Heaven — Eric Clapton
  3. Somewhere Over the Rainbow — Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
  4. In My Life — The Beatles
  5. What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong
  6. Wind Beneath My Wings — Bette Midler
  7. Unforgettable — Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole
  8. Angels Among Us — Alabama
  9. Go Rest High on That Mountain — Vince Gill
  10. Wish You Were Here — Pink Floyd

Modern Favorites

  1. See You Again — Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
  2. Supermarket Flowers — Ed Sheeran
  3. Dancing in the Sky — Dani and Lizzy
  4. Visiting Hours — Ed Sheeran
  5. One More Light — Linkin Park
  6. Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away — Justin Moore
  7. Ghost — Justin Bieber
  8. Give Heaven Some Hell — HARDY
  9. Five More Minutes — Scotty McCreery
  10. How Do I Say Goodbye — Dean Lewis

❤️ Private Last Dance

The guests have stepped away. The reception is almost over. The room that was filled with family, friends, laughter and dancing becomes quiet.

For a few minutes, it's just the two of you.

Take it in.

Timeless Classics

  1. Save the Last Dance for Me — Michael Bublé
  2. Can’t Help Falling in Love — Elvis Presley
  3. The Way You Look Tonight — Frank Sinatra
  4. Wonderful Tonight — Eric Clapton
  5. At Last — Etta James
  6. Into the Mystic — Van Morrison
  7. You’re My Best Friend — Queen
  8. Faithfully — Journey
  9. Always and Forever — Heatwave
  10. What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong

Modern Favorites

  1. Perfect — Ed Sheeran
  2. Thinking Out Loud — Ed Sheeran
  3. Lover — Taylor Swift
  4. Birds of a Feather — Billie Eilish
  5. Joy of My Life — Chris Stapleton
  6. Better Together — Luke Combs
  7. Until I Found You — Stephen Sanchez
  8. I Get to Love You — Ruelle
  9. Forever After All — Luke Combs
  10. Die With a Smile — Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars

🎵 Your Wedding Doesn't Need to Sound Like Anyone Else's

These lists aren't rules.

They're inspiration.

Your perfect wedding song might be a timeless classic your parents danced to. It might be something you heard together on your first date. It might be today's biggest hit. Or it might be a song nobody else in the room understands—but the two of you know exactly what it means.

That's what makes wedding music personal.

And that's why at Sarah’s Choice Entertainment, we don't believe in simply pressing play on the same wedding playlist every weekend.

We listen to you.

Your favorite songs.

Your must-plays.

Your do-not-plays.

Your family.

Your guests.

Your story.

Then, when the dance floor opens, more than 30 years of experience reading a crowd takes over.

Because the best weddings don't sound like everybody else's wedding.

They sound like you.

Sarah’s Choice Entertainment

Wedding DJ & MC Entertainment

Serving Central Virginia

30+ Years of Experience • Licensed & Insured

Your Wedding. Your Music. Your Memories.

Sarah's Choice Entertainment

Your Wedding. Your Music. Your Memories.

We listen to your favorite songs, your must-plays, your do-not-plays, your family, your guests and your story. Then more than 30 years of experience reading a crowd takes over.

Schedule a Consultation Call 804-451-9743
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