Matt VenvellPicture this. Through the mist, a string quartet comes into view. The sweet sounds of Mumford and Sons come wafting over to you. The newlyweds come into view. Everyone goes wild! Bliss. You’ve nailed it.
But I know what you’re thinking. How, what, why, when, HELP! There are so many songs and styles to choose from, and I don’t even like Mumford and Sons…
Well, with our helpful guide on how to choose the perfect song and the rich catalogue of suggestions that follows, you will soon have ticked that problem off the wedmin list.
- How to Choose Your Wedding Reception Arrival Song
- Most Popular
- Crowd Pleasers
- Modern
- Classics
- Upbeat
- Smooth
How to Choose Your Wedding Reception Arrival Song
The key thing to consider is what vibe you want. Do you want explosions and fireworks? In which case your favourite pop rock anthem would set the room alight (metaphorically).
But that same heavy banger might not suit a graceful arrival in a beautiful wooden boat to your lakeside reception venue. Perhaps a string quartet playing some elegant Mozart would be more suitable.
Other options might include a lighthearted but energetic arrival, or an entertaining comedic routine, or even a showstopping acrobatic stunt. Throw some ideas and descriptive words around, and work out what would reflect who you are and what you love. So, step one: decide on a vibe.
Now comes the hard part. Choose your tune! Use our categorised recommendations and you’ll have the ideal song in no time. Listen along to our Spotify Playlist to get some inspiration…
So now you’re all set with the atmosphere and the song, you’re next task is to decide what format you want the music in. You can always play music through some speakers, but nothing beats live musicians playing bespoke requests…
Browse the thousands of wedding musicians and bands who are part of the Encore family. We have everything from bagpipers, to steel pan bands, to oompah bands, to ceilidh bands. You’re options are endless. It’s up to you to decide…
Most Popular
A great place to start is to look at what everyone else picks. These well-known tunes will kick off the evening with a bang and will get everyone dancing before they know it!
- Walking On Sunshine – Katrina & The Waves
- Lovely Day – Bill Withers
- Fly Me to the Moon – Frank Sinatra
- My Girl – The Temptations
- I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) – Whitney Houston
- L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole
- Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
- Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) – Stevie Wonder
- Love On Top – Beyonce
- Uptown Funk – Bruno Mars
Crowd Pleasers
How do you get everyone cheering? Play their favourite music…
- Can You Feel The Love Tonight – Elton John
- (Everything I Do) I Do It For You – Bryan Adams
- Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
- Love Shack – B-52s
- Eight Days A Week – The Beatles
- I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown
- Are You Ready For Love? – Elton John
- Celebration – Kool & The Gang
- Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
- Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper
- Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Wham!
- Perfect Day – Lou Reed
- You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
- My First, My Last, My Everything – Barry White
- I Want To Hold Your Hand – The Beatles
- Total Eclipse Of The Heart – Bonnie Tyler
- Dancing Queen – ABBA
- You Really Got Me – The Kinks
- Heaven Is A Place On Earth – Belinda Carlisle
- Dancing In The Dark – Bruce Springsteen
- Sway – Dean Martin
Modern
These modern bangers will make any wedding reception arrival a raucous dancefloor in an instant!
- Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap
- Crazy In Love – Beyonce
- Firework – Katy Perry
- I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor – Arctic Monkeys
- Love Me Like You Do – Ellie Goulding
- Bitter Sweet Symphony – The Verve
- Hey Ya! – Outkast
- Take Me Out – Franz Ferdinand
- You’re Still The One – Shania Twain
- Down – Jay Sean ft. Lil Wayne
- Sugar – Maroon 5
- Shut Up And Dance – Walk The Moon
- Shape of You – Ed Sheeran
- Can’t Stop The Feeling – Justin Timberlake
- One Day Like This – Elbow
- Perfect Day – Hoku
- Dancing In The Moonlight – Toploader
- Ho Hey – The Lumineers
- A Sky Full Of Stars – Coldplay
- Happy – Pharrell Williams
- Classic – MKTO
- Raise Your Glass – P!nk
- Can’t Hold Us – Macklemore
- On Top Of The World – Imagine Dragons
- I Got A Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
- Cheerleader – OMI
- Best Day of My Life – American Authors
- Marry You – Bruno Mars
Classics
Wanting to cater to everyone? These classics will even get Aunt Mable grooving away… In contrast to the more modern songs, this list includes a variety of upbeat, medium tempo and slower numbers. But one they have in common: they’re all absolute classics…
- How Sweet it Is (To Be Loved By You) – James Taylor
- Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
- Two Hearts – Phil Collins
- Everything – Michael Buble
- Heroes – David Bowie
- You’re The One That I Want – Grease
- We Will Rock You – Queen
- This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
- I’m a Believer – The Monkees
- You Can’t Hurry Love – Phil Collins
- Nothing’s Going To Stop Us Now – Starship
- Love and Marriage – Frank Sinatra
- Love You ‘Till The End – The Pogues
- All You Need Is Love – The Beatles
- Beautiful Day – U2
- Burning Love – Elvis Presley
- Little Bitty Pretty One – Thurston Harris
- Bring Me Sunshine – Morecambe and Wise
- (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher – Jackie Wilson
- Do You Believe In Magic? – The Lovin’ Spoonful
- You Make My Dreams – Daryl Hall & John Oates
Upbeat
These punchy tunes will make the ideal grand entrance for your wedding reception. Boom, let the party commence!
- Just Dance – Lady Gaga
- Get The Party Started – P!nk
- Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5, Christina Aguilera
- Rewrite The Stars – James Arthur and Anne Marie
- You Are The Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
- I Will Wait – Mumford & Sons
- A Thousand Miles – Vanessa Carlton
- We Are Young – Fun ft. Janelle Monae
- Hero – Enrique Iglesias
- I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
- This Is What You Came For – Calvin Harris, Rihanna
- Tik-Tok – Kesha
- Timber – Kesha, Pitbull
- DNA – Little Mix
- Stand By You – Rachel Patten
- 22 – Taylor Swift
- What Makes You Beautiful – One Direction
- No One – Alicia Keys
- I Chose You – Sara Bareilles
Smooth
Looking for a more classy, chilled out entrance. This list of old school smooth tunes will set the mood for a life of looove…
- September – Earth, Wind & Fire
- You’re My First, My Last, My Everything, – Barry White
- Before I Let Go – Maze & Frankie Beverly
- Ain’t Nobody – Chaka Khan
- Caught Up in the Rapture – Anita Baker
- At Your Best (You Are Love) – Aaliyah
- Here And Now – Luther Vandross
- If I Ever Fall in Love (Acapella) – Shai
- Always and Forever – Heatwave
- Happily Ever After – Case
- Summer Rain – Carl Thomas
- Share My Life – Kem
- All My Life – K-Ci & JoJo
- Back At One – Brian McKnight
- Stay With You – John Legend
- When I First Saw You – Jamie Foxx featuring Beyonce
- I Gotta Be – Jagged Edge
- Exceptional – Babyface
- A Couple of Forevers – Christette Michele
- Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
- Build Me Up Buttercup – The Foundations
- I Wanna Be Your Lover – Prince
- I Found Love (Cindy’s Song) – Bebe and Cece Winans
- Thinkin Bout You – Frank Ocean
- Endless Love – Lionel Richie and Diana Ross
- All This Love – DeBarge
- Never Too Much – Luther Vandross
- Halo – Beyonce
- Everything – Mary J. Blige
- Three Times a Lady – The Commodores
- Always – Atlantic Starr
- I Believe in You And Me – Whitney Houston
- At Last – Etta James
Funny
Hoping to make a comedic splash at the reception? Then this selection is a great place to start looking for that all-important punchline!
- All I Do Is Win – DJ Khaled
- I’m Too Sexy – Right Said Fred
- Jump (For My Love) – The Pointer Sisters
- Eye Of The Tiger – Survivor
- Wannabe – Spice Girls
- Dear Future Husband – Meghan Trainor
- Sex On Fire – Kings of Leon
- Play That Song – Train
- Milkshake – Kelis
- U Can’t Touch This – MC Hammer
- We Are Family – Sister Sledge
- You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate
- I’m Still Standing – Elton John
- Sexy And I Know It – LMFAO
- White Wedding – Billy Idol
- When I’m Sixty Four – The Beatles
- I Believe In A Thing Called Love – The Darkness
- A Whole New World – Aladdin
- Uptown Girl – Westlife