1940s Wedding Songs: Dancing at Your Wedding in Timeless Elegance
Updated October 31, 2023 | Author: Matthew Campbell
The 1940s saw the US entering WWII as well as ending it. Ticker tape parades and famous kisses celebrated victories in Europe and Japan.
Emerging from that war changed the mood of the country and gave birth (literally) to the Boomer Generation.
The songs of the 1940s make us feel good, and want to get off our chairs and dance all night long.
That’s why they are the perfect decade to add to your wedding reception playlist!
When picking out 1940s songs for your wedding, you must consider the following 3 factors:
- What is the tempo of the song to determine the style of dance?
- What is the meaning of the song and is it appropriate for your wedding?
- Does the song’s genre match the theme of your wedding?
Trending 1940s Wedding Songs
- “La Vie En Rose” by Edith Piaf
- “In The Mood” by Glenn Miller Orchestra
- “I Love You For Sentimental Reasons” by Nat King Cole
- “Day By Day” by Frank Sinatra
- “I’ll Dance At Your Wedding” by Buddy Clark & Ray Noble & His Orchestra
- “As Time Goes By” by Dooley Wilson
- “Anniversary Song” by Al Jolson
- “I Love You” by Bing Crosby
- “Till The End Of Time” by Perry Como
- “Take The ‘A’ Train” by Duke Ellington
Stream 1940s Wedding Playlist
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As an experienced wedding DJ, I’ve assembled a list of popular 1940s songs to get people on the dance floor and for romance at your wedding! The list is grouped by genre to match your taste in music.
1940s Jazz Hits
- Baby, It’s Cold Outside – Margaret Whiting & Johnny Mercer
- A Tree In The Meadow – Margaret Whiting
- Anniversary Song – Al Jolson (anniversary dance song)
- Lover Man (Oh Where Can He Be) – Billie Holiday
- Groovin’ High – Dizzy Gillespie
- Rum And Coca-Cola – The Andrews Sisters
- Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive – Bing Crosby & The Andrew Sisters
- ‘Round Midnight – Thelonious Monk
- I’m Making Believe – Ella Fitzgerald and The Ink Spots
- Black, Brown and Beige – Duke Ellington
- Paper Doll – The Mills Brothers
- God Bless the Child – Billie Holiday
- A Night in Tunisia – Dizzy Gillespie
- Take The ‘A’ Train – Duke Ellington
- Frenesi – Artie Shaw
- Nuages – Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli
- I’ll Be Seeing You – Frank Sinatra & Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
- In The Blue of Evening – Frank Sinatra & Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
- Body and Soul – Coleman Hawkins
- In a Sentimental Mood – Duke Ellington
Tip
See more jazz hits for dancing.
1940s Pop Favorites
- Rag Mop – The Ames Brothers
- Buttons And Bows – Dinah Shore
- Dear Hearts And Gentle People – Dinah Shore
- I Can Dream, Can’t I? – The Andrews Sisters
- I’ll Dance At Your Wedding – Buddy Clark & Ray Noble & His Orchestra (money dance song(
- Peg O’ My Heart – Buddy Clark
- La Vie En Rose – Edith Piaf (slow dance song)
- Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly – Dinah Shore
- Day By Day – Frank Sinatra
- Five Minutes More – Frank Sinatra
- Oh! What It Seemed To Be – Frank Sinatra
- Prisoner Of Love – Perry Como
- Till The End Of Time – Perry Como (first dance song)
- I’ll Walk Alone – Dinah Shore
- Dearly Beloved – Rita Hayworth
- Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy – The Andrews Sisters (swing dance song)
1940s Big Band Tracks
- Cruising Down The River – Blue Barron
- I’m Looking Over A Four-Leaf Clover – Art Mooney
- Twelfth Street Rag – Pee Wee Hunt
- Ballerina – Vaughn Monroe
- Symphony – Benny Goodman And His Orchestra
- I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm – Les Brown And His Orchestra
- That’s My Desire – Sammy Kaye
- The Old Lamp-Lighter – Sammy Kaye
- Artistry in Rhythm – Stan Kenton
- I’m Beginning To See The Light – Harry James Orchestra
- My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time – Les Brown
- There! I’ve Said It Again – Vaughn Monroe
- Solo Flight – Charlie Christian & Benny Goodman Orchestra
- Besame Mucho (Kiss Me Much) – Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra
- Sentimental Journey – Les Brown Band
- Opus No. 1 – Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
- I’ve Heard That Song Before – Harry James
- Jersey Bounce – Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
- Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me) – Glenn Miller
- Moonlight Cocktail – Glenn Miller Orchestra
- Sleepy Lagoon – Harry James
- Jingle, Jangle, Jingle – Kay Kyser And His Orchestra
- Flying Home – Lionel Hampton
- Stardust – Artie Shaw
- Elmer’s Tune – Glenn Miller Orchestra
- Jukebox Saturday Night – Glenn Miller Orchestra
- Chattanooga Choo Choo – Glenn Miller
- String Of Pearls – Glenn Miller
- You Made Me Love You (I Didn’t Want To Do It) – Harry James And His
- Amapola (Pretty Little Poppy) – Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra
- Green Eyes – Jimmy Dorsey
- Maria Elena – Jimmy Dorsey
- Daddy – Sammy Kaye
- Imagination – Glenn Miller Orchestra
- Pennsylvania 6-5000 – Glenn Miller
- Tuxedo Junction – Glenn Miller
- The Breeze And I – Jimmy Dorsey
- I’ll Never Smile Again – Tommy Dorsey
- Amor – Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra
- Brazil – Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra
- In The Mood – Glenn Miller Orchestra (party dance song)
- Auld Lang Syne – Guy Lombardo (New Year’s song)
Tip
Next, read songs from the 1950s for a wedding ceremony and reception.
1940s Vocal Tunes
- Again – Doris Day
- Some Enchanted Evening – Ezio Pinza
- To Each His Own – Eddy Howard
- Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah – James Baskett
- I Love You – Bing Crosby
- Sunday, Monday or Always – Bing Crosby
- Be Careful It’s My Heart – Bing Crosby
- As Time Goes By – Dooley Wilson (first dance song)
- Only Forever – Bing Crosby
- When You Wish Upon A Star – Cliff Edwards
- I’ll Get By (As Long as I Have You) – Dick Haymes
1940s R&B Songs
- Nature Boy – Nat King Cole
- Get Your Kicks On Route 66 – Nat King Cole
- I Love You For Sentimental Reasons – Nat King Cole
- Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t (My Baby) – Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
- I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire – The Ink Spots
1940s Country Chart Toppers
- Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy – Red Foley
- Near You – Francis Craig Orchestra
- New San Antonio Rose – Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
1940s Blues Beats
- Boogie Chillen’ – John Lee Hooker
- Good Rockin’ Tonight – Wynonie Harris
- Caldonia – Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
- G.I. Jive – Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
1940s Folk Sing-Alongs
- This Land Is Your Land – Woody Guthrie
1940s Bluegrass
- Foggy Mountain Breakdown – Earl Scruggs
Do you have a favorite 1940s wedding song? Please share the song below and why it is special to you.
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