50 Wedding Songs for People Who Don't Like Typical Wedding Songs

If the phrase “wedding playlist” immediately makes you think of “Perfect,” “All of Me” and “A Thousand Years,” we have good news.

You do not have to play those songs.

There is nothing wrong with the classic wedding songs. They are popular for a reason. But your wedding playlist should not feel like it was assembled by someone who has never met you.

If you and your partner have more interesting taste in music, use it.

Here are 50 wedding songs for couples who want something a little different.

First Dance Songs That Don't Feel Like Typical First Dance Songs

1. “Beyond” — Leon Bridges

   
   

   Smooth, soulful and romantic without sounding like a traditional wedding song.

2. “From the Start” — Laufey

   
   

   A playful, jazz-influenced choice for couples who want something current.

3. “Best Part” — Daniel Caesar feat. H.E.R.

   
   

   Intimate R&B that feels much more personal than a traditional wedding ballad.

4. “Sea of Love” — Cat Power

   
   

   Quiet, dreamy and incredibly romantic.

5. “Bloom” — The Paper Kites

   
   

   A beautiful indie-folk option.

6. “Nothing” — Bruno Major

   
   

   Perfect for a low-key, intimate wedding.

7. “Sweet Creature” — Harry Styles

   
   

   Soft and understated.

8. “First Day of My Life” — Bright Eyes

   
   

   Especially good for couples who want something quirky and personal.

9. “You Are the Best Thing” — Ray LaMontagne

   
   

   Romantic without being overly formal.

10. “Better Together” — Jack Johnson

    
    

    Ideal for a relaxed outdoor or backyard wedding.

Indie and Alternative Wedding Songs

11. “Home” — Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

12. “Ho Hey” — The Lumineers

13. “You and I” — Wilco

14. “Lover of the Light” — Mumford & Sons

15. “Such Great Heights” — The Postal Service

16. “First Day of My Life” — Bright Eyes

17. “Friday I'm in Love” — The Cure

18. “Just Like Heaven” — The Cure

19. “This Must Be the Place” — Talking Heads

20. “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” — The Smiths

These can work especially well during cocktail hour, dinner or as part of a late-night dance set.

Soul and R&B Wedding Songs

If your idea of a romantic song involves a great groove instead of piano and strings, start here.

21. “Adore” — Prince

22. “Let's Stay Together” — Al Green

23. “Lovely Day” — Bill Withers

24. “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” — Stevie Wonder

25. “Rock with You” — Michael Jackson

26. “At Last” — Etta James

27. “A Sunday Kind of Love” — Etta James

28. “Nothing Can Change This Love” — Sam Cooke

29. “By Your Side” — Sade

30. “Beyond” — Leon Bridges

Soul music can also be a great way to make cocktail hour and dinner feel elevated without turning the reception into a collection of obvious wedding songs.

Fun Songs That Will Actually Get People Dancing

If you want your reception to feel like a party, don't be afraid to get weird.

31. “Murder on the Dancefloor” — Sophie Ellis-Bextor

32. “You Make My Dreams” — Hall & Oates

33. “Dancing in the Moonlight” — King Harvest

34. “You Spin Me Round” — Dead or Alive

35. “September” — Earth, Wind & Fire

36. “Love Shack” — The B-52's

37. “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” — ABBA

38. “I Think We're Alone Now” — Tiffany

39. “Just Can't Get Enough” — Depeche Mode

40. “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” — Tears for Fears

These songs have one important thing in common: people know them.

You do not need a playlist full of songs specifically written about marriage to create a wedding atmosphere.

2000s and 2010s Songs That Still Work

Maybe you and your partner grew up in the 2000s.

Your wedding playlist can reflect that.

41. “Mr. Brightside” — The Killers

42. “Crazy in Love” — Beyoncé

43. “Temperature” — Sean Paul

44. “Yeah!” — Usher feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris

45. “Promiscuous” — Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland

46. “Paper Planes” — M.I.A.

47. “Dog Days Are Over” — Florence + The Machine

48. “Electric Feel” — MGMT

49. “Shut Up and Dance” — WALK THE MOON

50. “Dancing on My Own” — Robyn

The Secret to a Non-Traditional Wedding Playlist

Here's the thing about building a wedding playlist that feels different:

You don't have to make every song different.

In fact, you probably shouldn't.

If every song is obscure, your guests may spend the night wondering what exactly they are listening to.

Instead, mix your personal favorites with recognizable crowd-pleasers.

Maybe cocktail hour is heavy on indie music.

Then dinner moves into soul and R&B.

Then you open the dance floor with something everyone knows.

From there, your DJ can move between genres based on what the room responds to.

That creates a wedding that feels personal without making your guests feel like they accidentally walked into your private Spotify listening session.

Give Your DJ Direction, Not a 200-Song Script

One of the best things you can do is tell your DJ what you like.

Give them examples.

“I love 90s R&B.”

“We want a lot of country.”

“We don't like current Top 40.”

“We want indie music during dinner.”

“We love 2000s pop.”

“We want the dance floor to feel like a house party.”

That's incredibly useful information.

You do not necessarily need to tell your DJ exactly which song should play at 9:17 p.m.

Let them read the room.

Wedding Music Should Sound Like You

Your wedding is one of the few times you get to build an entire night around the things you love.

So if “Perfect” isn't your song, skip it.

If you would rather dance to ABBA than a slow ballad, do it.

If your favorite romantic song is a 2000s R&B track, make it your first dance.

And if your guests are expecting the same wedding playlist they've heard ten times this year?

Give them something different.

At DJ Shark Attack, we work with couples throughout Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbia and Missouri to create wedding playlists that feel personal while still keeping guests on the dance floor.

Your wedding doesn't need to sound like every other wedding. It just needs to sound like you.