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I want to include a group sing-along song, as part of my ceremony. Were it a traditional wedding, it'd be a hymn, but it's going to be completely non-religious. So, I'm hoping for some suggestions of fun wedding songs that are:
- Of a romantic nature
- Easy to sing
- Well-known by a variety of people from different walks of life
-Cassan
Fun wedding songs and wedding reception sing-alongs have a way of making people happy. Non-dancers have something joyful to do, and dancers can belt out the song while they boogie. Just standing together and breathing in unison (as you naturally do when you sing together) creates a sense of togetherness that's hard to beat.
A good sing-along has memorable words, or at least a couple of memorable lines people can jump in on. They can't require a huge vocal range and they must have a catchy tune. Older songs are fine, especially if you have multiple generations on your guest list. Some guests will remember the song from the Top 40 list of their youth, and others may know it from a recent movie.
The song should be pretty popular, though, at least with your crowd. Familiar songs are more likely to get everyone singing.
Ask your DJ to play one of these 19 best wedding sing-along songs to get your dance floor hopping AND singing along
Here's a playlist of perfect sing-along songs, along with the artist. Click through to hear samples or buy the songs (you may want to buy the files — streaming services are notorious for flaking out at critical moments!). You'll find some pop, hip-hop, and more…
- “All You Need Is Love,” by the Beatles
- “Rainbow Connection,” by Paul Williams (as sung by Kermit the Frog)
- “So Happy Together,” by the Turtles
- “Ain't No Mountain High Enough,” by Marvin Gaye
- “Brown Eyed Girl,” by Van Morrison
- “That's Amore,” by Dean Martin
- “Lady Marmalade,” by the Pointer Sisters
- “Fight for Your Right to Party,” by the Beastie Boys
- “Don't Stop Believin',” by Journey
- “Lean on Me,” by Bill Withers
- “Marry You,” by Bruno Mars
- “I've Had the Time of My Life,” by by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
- “Stand by Me,” by Ben E. King
- “A Thousand Years,” by Boyce Avenue
- “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” by Elton John
- “Eres Tu,” by Mocedades (for Spanish speakers)
- “Best of My Love,” by the Emotions
- “The Way You Make Me Feel,” by Michael Jackson
- “Wonderwall,” by Oasis
You might prefer Willie Nelson for “Rainbow Connection” or The Supremes for “Ain't No Mountain High Enough.” Go with your favorites.
And remember: you know your guests best! Maybe they're more into old cheezy Justin Timberlake or Black Eyed Peas' “I Gotta Feeling.” Maybe they love ANTI-era Rihanna, or stuff with Calvin Harris.
How to get people to sing along to your fun wedding songs
How can you encourage people to sing along? Briavael and Nikki printed lyrics on their program and handed out kazoos to make sure non-singers had a good way to join in.
Play the music loud so nobody has to feel self-conscious when they sing. Call it a “holler-along” song to make it clear that you want the love, not the musical ability. These are supposed to be fun wedding songs — we're at a wedding reception, not a recital!
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If you have strong singers in your group, ask them ahead of time to lead the sing-along. With or without a microphone, a confident singer (who got a heads-up so they could remind themselves of the lyrics) can make it easier for everyone.
Are you choosing just one song? That might be all your guests want to sing. On the other hand, some might need a couple of songs to warm up to the idea — or they might be having so much fun they want to keep singing. You know your friends and family best. Consider having one for-sure song, plus another you'll pull out if people are really enjoying themselves.
Listen — really listen –to the lyrics of the song or songs before you make your choice. Often, we don't realize that there's a sad section in a favorite song. And that might not be a deal-breaker. Whitney Houston's “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” is a fun wedding song despite of all the “lonely heart” lyrics. But make sure you know ahead of time so you can make an informed choice.
With the right fun wedding songs and the right spirit, your sing-along might be the most memorable moment of the wedding.
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Some great ideas to pass on to my couples.
Singing is one of the best ways to spread COVID, too! Great idea to publish this in the midst of a pandemic 🙂 🙂 🙂
Singing — especially loudly — is one of the best ways to spread COVID, too! Great idea to publish this in the midst of a pandemic 🙂 🙂 🙂
I can’t wait for a good old wedding sing along 🙂
Interesting choices. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a full dance floor at a wedding.