The Best Last Dance Songs for Weddings

The last song of your wedding reception is easy to overlook.

After hours of dancing, dinner, speeches, special dances and celebrating, everyone is tired.

But then the DJ announces that there is one song left.

Suddenly, people who were sitting down are back on the dance floor.

That's what makes the last dance so special.

The right final song can make the entire reception feel like it had a proper ending instead of simply stopping when the venue's contract says it's time to leave.

So what should you play?

Here are some of our favorite last dance songs for weddings.

What Makes a Great Last Dance Song?

A great last dance song usually does at least one of three things:

It gets everyone singing.

It creates an emotional goodbye.

It sends everyone out with a huge final burst of energy.

There is no single right answer.

If your wedding has been a giant party all night, an emotional slow song might feel strange.

If your reception has been romantic and elegant, ending with a chaotic club track might not fit.

The last song should match the personality of your wedding.

Emotional Last Dance Songs

If you want your last dance to feel like the end of a movie, these are great options.

“Can't Help Falling in Love” — Elvis Presley

Beautiful, recognizable and emotional without being overwhelming.

“At Last” — Etta James

A classic choice for couples who want to end the night on a romantic note.

“All You Need Is Love” — The Beatles

Simple, recognizable and perfect for a room full of people celebrating love.

“The Way You Look Tonight” — Frank Sinatra

Elegant and timeless.

“Wonderful Tonight” — Eric Clapton

A softer choice that works especially well for smaller weddings.

“Stand by Me” — Ben E. King

A great option if you want something emotional but still easy for everyone to sing along with.

Big Sing-Along Last Dance Songs

Want everyone screaming the lyrics before they leave?

Try one of these.

“Don't Stop Believin'” — Journey

You already know what happens when that chorus starts.

“Mr. Brightside” — The Killers

A guaranteed late-night sing-along for a certain generation of wedding guests.

“Sweet Caroline” — Neil Diamond

Classic, familiar and ridiculously easy to sing together.

“Livin' on a Prayer” — Bon Jovi

Perfect if you want a huge rock ending.

“Friends in Low Places” — Garth Brooks

Especially good for a country-loving crowd.

“Piano Man” — Billy Joel

A slower sing-along that can create a memorable ending.

High-Energy Last Dance Songs

Maybe you don't want everyone crying.

Maybe you want everyone jumping.

In that case, go out with something big.

• “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” — Whitney Houston

• “September” — Earth, Wind & Fire

• “Dancing Queen” — ABBA

• “Yeah!” — Usher

• “Uptown Funk” — Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars

• “Shut Up and Dance” — WALK THE MOON

• “Party in the U.S.A.” — Miley Cyrus

• “Don't Stop Me Now” — Queen

• “You Make My Dreams” — Hall & Oates

• “Closing Time” — Semisonic

Songs That Feel Like a Perfect Goodbye

There are also songs that are not necessarily the biggest party tracks but somehow feel made for the end of a night.

“Home” — Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Warm, communal and especially good for an outdoor or laid-back wedding.

“Dog Days Are Over” — Florence + The Machine

Big, joyful and celebratory.

“Forever Young” — Alphaville

A little nostalgic and incredibly effective if the lyrics fit the mood you're going for.

“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” — Green Day

Yes, it's been used at plenty of weddings.

But if it means something to you, who cares?

“What a Wonderful World” — Louis Armstrong

A beautiful choice for a more traditional ending.

Country Last Dance Songs

For Missouri weddings, country can be an especially fun way to end the night.

Try:

• “Friends in Low Places” — Garth Brooks

• “Wagon Wheel” — Darius Rucker

• “Chicken Fried” — Zac Brown Band

• “Tennessee Whiskey” — Chris Stapleton

• “My Wish” — Rascal Flatts

• “Die a Happy Man” — Thomas Rhett

• “I Hope You Dance” — Lee Ann Womack

• “Forever and Ever, Amen” — Randy Travis

Should the Last Dance Be Slow or Fast?

This depends entirely on your wedding.

One popular option is to have a high-energy final song and then a very short private last dance afterward.

Another is to end with a slow song while your guests surround you on the dance floor.

You can also have your DJ announce a private last dance after guests have left.

That gives you a few quiet minutes together before heading off to the after-party or heading home.

Do You Need to Tell Your DJ the Last Song?

Absolutely.

Your DJ should know your final song well in advance.

They can make sure the song is queued, know exactly when to make the final announcement and coordinate the ending with your venue.

If you want a specific final photo or send-off, your DJ can also help make sure the music and timing line up.

What About a Last Dance Mashup?

If you cannot choose between two songs, you don't necessarily have to.

Your DJ may be able to create a short edit that starts with one song and transitions into another.

For example:

Slow emotional song → upbeat party song

or

Sing-along classic → giant final chorus

This can be an especially fun way to end the night.

Your Last Song Should Feel Like You

There is no universal “best” last dance song.

The best choice is the one that makes you think:

Yep. That's exactly how we wanted to end the night.

Whether that means Journey, ABBA, Chris Stapleton, Taylor Swift, The Beatles or something nobody else would ever expect, make it yours.

DJ Shark Attack helps couples throughout Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbia and Missouri build wedding receptions around the music they actually love.

Ready to plan the soundtrack for your big day? Get a Quote from DJ Shark Attack.