Reception song choices – from your reception entrance, to first dance and final farewell

 

When you set about planning a wedding, considering musical choices to punctuate the key moments of the day, might not always be top of mind. Song choices, however, shouldn’t be an afterthought.

Music can truly help make a celebration and when it comes to the reception element of the day, there are some top tracks worth giving thought to – entering into your reception as newlyweds, potentially sharing your first dance and then the ever fun one – exiting on a high. Will you keep your song choices sweet and sentimental, or upbeat and fun?

We’ve taken a peek at past real weddings we’ve shared and got their take on the sensational song choices they made on their day. Even better, we’ve created an Ivory Tribe Spotify playlist just for you!

 

 

RECEPTION ENTRANCE

You Make My Dreams (Come True) – Daryl Hall and John Oates

Finally – CeCe Pension

Good Feeling – Flo Rida

A Little Party Never Killed Nobody – Fergie, Q-Tip, GoonRock

World Of Our Love – Client Liaison

Crazy In Love – Beyonce

Pursuit of Happiness – Steve Aoiki, Kid Cudi, MGMT

A Good Night – John Legend, Blood Pop

Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson

Can’t Stop The Feeling – Justin Timberlake

Young Hearts Run Free – Candi Staton

Always Be My Baby – Anderson East, cover of Mariah Carey

(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher – Jackie Wilson

Be Faithful – Fatman Scoop, The Crooklyn Clan

The Less I Know The Better – Tame Impala

River – Bishop Briggs

Sweet Lovin’ – Sigala

Can’t Hold Us – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (feat. Ray Dalton)

Best Day Of My Life – American Authors

Hey Ya – Outkast

Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars

Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys

Walking On Sunshine – Katrina & The Waves

Come And Get Your Love – Redbone

I’m Coming Out – Diana Ross

How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) – James Taylor

You’re My Best Friend – Queen

Love On Top – Beyonce

This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole

ily (I Love You Baby) – Surf Mesa, Emilee

Blinding Lights – The Weekend

Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance) – C&C Music Factory

Say Hey (I Love You) – Michael Franki & Spearhead

Shut Up and Dance – Walk The Moon

Happy – Pharrell Williams

Hooked On A Feeling – Blue Swede, Bjorn Skifs

Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) – Stevie Wonder

I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas

Ho Hey – The Lumineers

Celebration – Kool & The Gang

We Are Family – Sister Sledge

 

See our Spotify playlist of wedding reception entrance songs.

 

 

FIRST DANCE

At Last – Etta James

Truly Madly Deeply – Yoke Lore

Kiss Me – Sixpence None the Richer

Dance With Me Tonight – Olly Murs

L.O.V.E – Nat King Cole

For You – North East Party House

Hooked On A Feeling – Blue Swede

Better Together – Luke Combs

Everything – Michael Bible

Have I Told You Lately – Meg Birch

Sway – Dean Martin

Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Frankie Valli

Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen

Do You Remember – Jack Johnson

Dancing In The Moonlight – Toploader

Twist and Shout – The Beatles

Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley

Beyond – Leon Bridges

Never Tear Us Apart – INXS

Stand By Me – Florence and the Machine (cover version)

Romeo and Juliet – Dire Straits

Green Eyes – Coldplay

You Are The Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne

My Girl (acoustic) – Bailey Rushlow

Baby I’m Yours – Arctic Monkeys

Everlasting Love – Jamie Cullum

These Arms Of Mine – Otis Redding

Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran

I Won’t Give Up – Jason Mraz

You’re All I Need To Get By – Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell

Let’s Stay Together – Al Green

I Won’t Let You Go – James Morrison

It Must Be Love – Madness

Love You ‘Till The End – The Pogues

Coming Home – Leon Bridges

Tenerife Sea – Ed Sheeran

I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher

Everywhere – Fleetwood Mac

Let’s Groove  – Earth, Wind & Fire

How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding

 

See our Spotify Playlist of first dance songs.

 

 

FAREWELL SONG

Shooting Stars – Bad Raiders

You’ve Got The Love – Florence and the Machine

September – Earth, Wind & Fire

The Horses – Daryl Braithwaite

A Sky Full Of Stars – Coldplay

Sunchyme – Dario G

One More Time – Daft Punk

Sexy and I Know It – LMFAO

(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life – Bill Medley, Jennifer Warnes

Love Is In The Air – John Paul Young

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell

I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston

Paradise – George Ezra

Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

You’re The Voice – John Farnham

I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers

All Night Long – Lionel Richie

December 1963 (Oh What A Night) – Frankie Valli

My Girl – The Temptations

I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) – Four Tops

Mr Brightside – The Killers

Dancing On My Own – Robyn

Shotgun – George Ezra

Town Called Malice – The Jam

Bitter Sweet Symphony – The Verve

Heroes – David Bowie

I Will Wait – Mumford & Sons

Superstition – Stevie Wonder

Adore You – Harry Styles

Crocodile Rock – Elton John

Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

Come On Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners

Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey

Best Of My Love – The Emotions

We Found Love – Rihanna, Calvin Harris

Dancing Queen – Abba

Never Forget – Take That

Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen

I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown

You Can’t Hurry Love – The Supremes

Everybody Needs Somebody To Love – The Blues Brothers

 

See our Spotify Playlist of wedding farewell songs.

 

Now that you’re sorted for reception tunes, have you finalised your ceremony song set? We have a list of great tracks for that too, click here.