If youâre playing music at your wedding, chances are youâre going to want the best love songs to set the toneâI mean, right? There are stories of people who gtet so obsessive about their wedding playlist that they scour every song for its meaning, and cut anything about broken or bad relationshipsâwhich, you know, cuts out a lot of great music. But even assuming youâre not doing that (donât do thatâit will drive you mad), you still probably want to pack your playlists with love songs about LUV, because⌠thatâs kinda what the day is about, right? And lucky for you, love songs come in all forms, from slow and romantic to energetic and frenetic.
When I started pulling this list together, I knew I wanted to make something a little differentâI didnât want to pull together seventy of the top one hundred wedding love songs and call it a day. Instead, I came up with five love songs that arenât obviously love songs. Maybe theyâre about love, kind of, but theyâre also about melancholy, about sadness, and about⌠the mountains in West Virginia. Listen: As a wedding photographer, I spend a lot of time at weddings. What Iâve seen, time and time again, is that people will react to any music that makes them love anything. Your goal? To find music that makes them love everything. These five songs are perfect for the last thirty minutes, when like thirty of your guests are still there and everyone is a little wine-soaked and love-drunk and doesnât want the good vibes to end.
With that in mind, here are seventy nonobvious, underrated love songs for your wedding. Youâve probably heard some of them way more than youâd ever care to, but you might not have ever thought they could work for a wedding. Trust me: they do.
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âBridge Over Troubled Waterâ by Simon and Garfunkel
Why it works: Sure, this one slayed us all when Paul Simon sang it at the DNC (and we all waited with bated breath to see if Art would come out), but at its heart, this is a true-blue love song that can bring you to your knees⌠if you let it.
âSo Long, Marianneâ by Leonard Cohen
Why it works: So yes, this is a song about a break up⌠but itâs also a song about love, and it has a place at most weddings, trust.
âBold as Loveâ by Jimi Hendrix
Why it works: This isnât exactly the album version, but itâs so close (Jimi is hard to find online). Either way, I one hundred percent recommend you procure the album version and slow dance to this not exactly slow, not exactly fast song. Itâs the best.
âLay Lady Layâ by Bob Dylan
Why it works: If youâve heard it, you already know, but if you havenât⌠itâs lush, ultra-romantic heaven. Those words donât always pair well with âBob Dylan,â but this? This is a yes.
âMy One and Only Loveâ by John Coltrane
Why it works: You are immediately transported to some faraway, tender, rain-filled night, and itâs heaven.
âAll I Really Want to Doâ by The Byrds
Why it works: Okay, so I really like the Bob Dylan version of this song better. But if I had my way, this whole list would just be Bob Dylan songs, so Iâm trying really hard here. (Give it a listen, though!)
âWhat Is and What Should Never Beâ by Led Zeppelin
Why it works: You choose this song if you want to go sweet-fast-sweet-fast, because itâs one half ultra-sweet crooner and one half ultra-rock.
âI Hear a Symphonyâ by The Supremes
Why it works: This one is just a super classic, and itâs perfect for your first dance, your reception, your life in general.
âSomebody to Loveâ by Jefferson Airplane
Why it works: Well, donât you?
âHold Meâ by Stevie Wonder
Why it works: I donât know how many people ever move past âSigned, Sealed, Delivered, Iâm Yoursâ when adding Stevie to their wedding playlist, but allow me to heartily encourage you to do so.
âYour Love is Amazingâ by the Four Tops
Why it works: Yes, itâs basically all about patriarchal gender roles and how heâs been saved by a good woman, but also? Itâs really nice to dance to.
âThis Guyâs in Love with Youâ by Herb Alpert
Why it works: That video is cheesy as hell (maybe as cheesy as the song), but itâs still a winner. P.S. Noel Gallagher also covers it and itâs my fave.
âWild Horsesâ by The Rolling Stones
Why it works: I canât think of a single reason why it doesnât. (Check out this actual rock star wedding where they walked down the aisle to a string quartet version of this. SOBS.)
âI Got Everything I Needâ by Sam & Dave
Why it works: This is one of the songs you save for the end of the night, when only a few guests remain and everyone wants to hold someone. Trust.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDjnB_61k58
âI Want to Take You Higherâ by Sly & The Family Stone
Why it works: If you want to kick off your dance party with a funky love jam, this is the one to do it with.
âWill You Still Love Me Tomorrowâ by The Shirelles
Why it works: Iâm a big Carole King fan, but this version of one of her tunes is sweet.
âThe Tide Is Highâ by The Paragons
Why it works: This is one of those songs that a lot of people know but donât really know who sings it, so boom: educate!
âI Want to Hold Your Handâ by The Beatles
Why it works: I know weâre all supposed to be too cool to like the early Beatles, but this track is consistently on my list of top twenty love songs ever. Yep, I said it.
âBonnie and Clydeâ by Brigette Bardot and Serge Gainsbourg
Why it works: Before Bey and Jay ever touched it, this song was already a masterpiece.
âBe My Wifeâ by David Bowie
Why it works: Youâll probably want to save it for the reception, but this is three minutes and thirteen seconds of truth and fun.
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âIn Your Eyesâ by Peter Gabriel
Why it works: Have you heard it? If your heart is not made of stone, this song will make you feel something. At least a little bit. This is the perfect song for embracing that âsomethingâ and turning it into everything, without a hint of irony.
âHigher Loveâ by Steve Winwood
Why it works: Guys, I canât even explain this one. I just love it.
âStand By Meâ by Ben E King
Why it works: A friend of mine once told me that this song is really about friendship more than anything else, and that kind of makes it the perfect wedding song, no?
âTake on Meâ by A-ha
Why it works: Every single person you know can nail that chorus. Which also leads me toâŚ
âGot My Mind Set on Youâ by George Harrison
Why it works: TELL ME WHY IT DOES NOT. IT IS THE BEST. I mean, you know. Itâs good. Itâs solid. ITâS AMAZING.
âAfricaâ by Toto
Why it works: I feel compelled to note that I loved this song way before Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard made their videoâmy husband is unabashedly a huge Toto fan, guys. Celeb videos aside, I shot a wedding where they closed it out with this song and it ended in a gigantic group hug. Thatâs worth it! Plus: that chorus.
âI Want to Know What Love Isâ by Foreigner
Why it works: This song is a special treat for you, because I wasnât planning to use it until it showed up in related songs for another tune. Now letâs just all enjoy this one, okay?
âUnchained Melodyâ by The Righteous Brothers
Why it works: This is another song that everyone will want to dance to and sing along with because they canât stop themselves, and youâll love every single second of it.
âOnly Youâ by The Platters
Why it works: Iâm probably overusing âit makes you acheâ as a reason, but this one does and thatâs good enough.
âThe Luckiestâ by Ben Folds
Why it works: You can reliably count on this song to bring the heart-eyed softies to the dance floor, because you know what? We all love it.
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âDrunk in Loveâ (ft. Jay Z)
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âKiss from a Roseâ by Seal
Why it works: I never would have thought of this song as an ideal first dance song until this summer, when I shot a wedding and the bride and groom chose it for their first dance. The dance culminated in a gigantic group dance/sing-along (and yes: it was unreal and amazing and all the good things).
âPhone Downâ by Erykah Badu
Why it works: Because when she says it, you believe her.
âNever Let Me Goâ by Florence + The Machine
Why it works: It doesnât matter if you have eight people at your wedding or eight hundred; this song will make you (and your fellow coupled guests) feel like the only two people there.
âTeenage Dreamâ by Katy Perry
Why it works: I went through a phase where I thought this song was kind of juvenile, but one day realized, you know what? Thatâs fine. We all need a tune (or three) that makes us feel happy to just be in love, and this one does that.
âI Was Made For Youâ by She & Him
Why it works: Itâs upbeat, catchy, and so damn good.
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âGreen Eyesâ by Coldplay
Why it works: I will never not be a hundred percent here for this song, so I canât understand it when someone doesnât love it. Itâs basically⌠everything. Excuse me for a sec, because Iâm going to have to sing along and have a mini concert in my office before I can move on to the next one.
âCrazy in Loveâ by BeyoncĂŠ (ft Jay Z)
Why it works: Because you want to begin your first dance like a queen and exit it a goddess.
âI Can Love You Like Thatâ by All-4-One
Why it works: Why doesnât it? You know you danced to this at middle school dances⌠you just didnât know you have to dance to it at your wedding.
âI Donât Want to Miss a Thingâ by Aerosmith
Why it works: Okay, so hereâs the dealâthis one only works if you do it without a hint of irony. No joking, no nothing. Either you feel these words or you do your very best âOMG, what if that asteroid kills us all?!â impression and pretend.
âIâll Beâ by Edwin McCain
Why it works: Those opening lines are killer.
âIrisâ by Goo Goo Dolls
Why it works: âIâd give up forever to touch you/Cause I know that you feel me somehow.â GUYYYYSSSZZZZZ Iâm not sure if middle school me realized all the mega feelings that are happening in this song the same way that thirty-one-year-old me does, but Iâm here for it and Iâm not ashamed.
âYouâre Still the Oneâ by Shania Twain
Why it works: I wasnât the biggest fan of this one the first eighteen hundred times I heard it (and honestly, Iâm still not), but it seems to resonate with basically everyone else I know, so here you go.
âAngel of Mineâ by Monica
Why it works: Guys, what was the true gift of the â90s? Do we all realize how excellent our music choices were? This song is ultra-sweetened perfection.
âIâm Kissing Youâ by DesâRee
Why it works: Yes, everyone will immediately be like âOMG THE ROMEO + JULIET SONGâ but also? It slays. This is truly just a really beautiful take on love, and something you should give serious consideration to.
âIâll Stand by Youâ by The Pretenders
Why it works: âNothing you confess could make me love you less.â Yep, Iâm into it.
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âSlide Awayâ by Oasis
Why it works: Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to the one song that can cut through me like none other.
âYouâre So Greatâ by Blur
Why it works: I always felt guilty about owning this CD because Iâm such an Oasis girl, but this song will make you hurt. You know, in a good way.
âYellowâ by Coldplay
Why it works: Once upon a time, this song was everything I ever wanted someone to say to me⌠and I bet thatâs true for some of you, too. Play it at your wedding after youâre about halfway through the wine and watch everyone melt.
âPatio Songâ by Gorkyâs Zygotic Mynci
Why it works: If youâre in the US, Iâm not sure how many people at your wedding will actually know this song, but isnât it a lovely day for love?
âGetting Betterâ by Shed Seven
Why it works: Bust this one out when you just need to like, jump up and down and be fucking in love. Ahh, Britpop. âĽ
10 modern love songs youâll need
âAll of Meâ by John Legend
Why it works: People go gaga for this song!
âShe Keeps Me Warmâ by Mary Lambert
Why it works: Itâs a super sweet shoutout to couples looking for LGBTQ representation in their love jams.
â400 Luxâ by Lorde
Why it works: Itâs moody, itâs glam, itâs a little dark, but super on point. Yesssssss.
âSomebody to Love Youâ by The Vamps (ft. Demi Lovato)
Why it works: This song is an upbeat foot-stomper that a lot of your guests will recognizeâwell, at least the same ones who will also recognize Demi Lovato.
âI Found Youâ by The Alabama Shakes
Why it works: Guys, youâve probably heard this song at every wedding youâve been to in the last two years⌠and youâre going to hear it at even more. Just embrace it.
âThinking out Loudâ by Ed Sheeran
Why it works: Um, ditto the above.
âMarry Meâ by Train
Why it works: There are few things as spot-on as playing a song about getting married on the day youâre actually getting married. Yes to this!
âCloserâ by Tegan and Sara
Why it works: This song isnât actually about hooking up, but it kind of makes you want to.
âOne and Onlyâ by Adele
Why it works: Adele slays around the world.
âStory of My Lifeâ by One Direction
Why it works: This song always surprises me because itâs kind of⌠good? But itâs worth noting that my first concert was the Backstreet Boys, so I always kind of have a soft spot for boy bands.
âThe Lavishments of Light Lookingâ by Flying Lotus (WOKE) (ft. George Clinton)
Why it works: HOLY COW do I love this song! Itâs definitely a funky departure from a lot of this list, but itâs well worth your time.
5 not-exactly-love-song love songs
âTake Me Home, Country Roadsâ by John Denver
Why it works: Okay, first, I am totally from the South. I was born in Louisiana and grew up in Alabama and I spent six years living in the PNW and loved it, but weâre back in Tennessee and I am so hardcore in love with Appalachia and the grit that wafts throughout the southern US that a song like this? It knocks me off my feet. Maybe âCountry Roadsâ doesnât scream âlove songâ to you, but I would cry the happiest tears while dancing to this one with my favorite guy.
âPeople Get Readyâ by The Impressions
Why it works: Yep, totally a song about God. Like, itâs not even hiding it⌠and yet itâs also a song about slow, cautious optimism, which makes it work for any couple looking for a love song that also speaks to their spirituality. Plus, guys: Curtis.
âHallelujahâ by Jeff Buckley
Why it works: Look, hereâs the thing about this song. No matter which version you love the most, nothing about this song makes you go all heart eyes after the age of like, twenty-five. At that point, you realize itâs actually about aching, powerful, adult love⌠and strangely, that makes it an even more acutely profound love song.
âSkinny Loveâ by Bon Iver
Why it works: I used to be the first person who would rail against it when people used this as their first dance, because if you read the lyrics, itâs clearly about a relationship that isnât what most people would gush about. But then, I donât know, time caught up with me, and I realized that maybe the reason people use it for their first dance song is because theyâve been through the skinny part of love and didnât think it would last and holy wow: it did, and now theyâre getting married. Or, I donât know, maybe they just like his voice.
âAll I Want Is Youâ by U2
Why it works: Because it will get into the very fiber of your being and youâll realize all those years you spent denying the almighty power of Bono were wasted and that every U2 song ever is brilliant. Donât look at me, Iâve always loved them. Plus, that âYOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUâ at the end? That is the stuff of love song dreams, whether or not the rest of the song is really that⌠peppy.
