1960s Wedding Songs: Trending Hits & Classic Dance Tunes

Updated November 1, 2023 | Written by Matthew Campbell

When you think of classic rock & roll, classic R&B, and classic folk, you have to be thinking of the 1960s.

When you play songs from the sixties at your wedding, you’re unlikely to get complaints.

From songs for the candle ceremony, and first dance, and grooving out with your best family and friends, the 1960s has your back.

1960s Wedding Songs

When picking out 1960s songs for your wedding, you must consider the following 3 factors:

  1. What is the tempo of the song to determine the style of dance?
  2. What is the meaning of the song and is it appropriate for your wedding?
  3. Does the song’s genre match the theme of your wedding?

Let’s start with what’s hot right now.

Top Trending 1960s Wedding Songs

  1. “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond
  2. “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison
  3. “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley
  4. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
  5. “My Girl” by The Temptations
  6. “Twist And Shout” by The Beatles
  7. “At Last” by Etta James
  8. “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
  9. “L-O-V-E” by Nat King Cole
  10. “Build Me Up Buttercup” by The Foundations
  11. “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King
  12. “Fly Me To The Moon” by Frank Sinatra
  13. “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Franki Valli & the Four Seasons
  14. “Respect” by Aretha Franklin
  15. “Unchained Melody” by Righteous Brothers
  16. “Proud Mary” by Tina Turner
  17. “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
  18. “I Can’t Help Myself” by Four Tops
  19. “The Twist” by Chubby Checker
  20. “You Can’t Hurry Love” by Supremes

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As an experienced wedding DJ, I’ve assembled a list of popular 1960s 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.

1960s R&B Tracks

  1. I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Marvin Gaye
  2. You’re All I Need To Get By – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (recessional song)
  3. (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay – Otis Redding (dinner song)
  4. Chain Of Fools – Aretha Franklin
  5. Respect – Aretha Franklin (party dance song)
  6. You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman – Aretha Franklin
  7. When A Man Loves A Woman – Percy Sledge
  8. Good Lovin’ – The Young Rascals
  9. Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett
  10. I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown (party dance song)
  11. In The Midnight Hour – Wilson Pickett
  12. The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss) – Betty Everett
  13. Dancing In The Street – Martha & The Vandellas
  14. Baby Love – The Supremes
  15. Green Onions – Booker T. & The MG’s
  16. Bring It On Home To Me – Sam Cooke
  17. Stand By Me – Ben E. King (popular wedding day song)
  18. Tossin’ And Turnin’ – Bobby Lewis
  19. Last Kiss – J Frank Wilson & The Cavaliers
  20. Hit The Road Jack – Ray Charles (last dance song)
  21. The Lion Sleeps Tonight – The Tokens
  22. Save The Last Dance For Me – The Drifters (last dance song)
  23. Stay – Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
  24. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow – The Shirelles
  25. Georgia On My Mind – Ray Charles

Tip

Next, read the 1960s love songs list.

 

1960s Soul Hits

  1. Dance To The Music – Sly & the Family Stone
  2. Build Me Up Buttercup – The Foundations (cake cutting song)
  3. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (slow dance song)
  4. Soul Man – Sam & Dave
  5. Reach Out I’ll Be There – Four Tops
  6. Gimme Some Lovin’ – Spencer Davis Group
  7. You’re My, Soul And Inspiration – The Righteous Brothers
  8. Ain’t Too Proud To Beg – The Temptations
  9. I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) – The Four Tops (cake cutting song)
  10. Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers (first dance song)
  11. Treat Her Right – Roy Head & The Traits
  12. Uptight (Everything’s Alright) – Stevie Wonder
  13. Baby I Need Your Loving – The Four Tops
  14. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) – Marvin Gaye (cake cutting song)
  15. Under The Boardwalk – The Drifters
  16. My Girl – The Temptations (father-daughter dance song)
  17. Duke Of Earl – Gene Chandler
  18. You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me – The Miracles
  19. Blue Moon – The Marcels
  20. At Last – Etta James (processional song)

Tip

Check out the 1970s wedding songs.

 

1960s Rock Tunes

  1. Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival
  2. Proud Mary – Creedence Clearwater Revival (party dance song)
  3. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes – Crosby, Stills & Nash
  4. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond (party singalong song)
  5. Born To Be Wild – Steppenwolf
  6. Magic Carpet Ride – Steppenwolf
  7. Jumpin Jack Flash – The Rolling Stones
  8. Mony Mony – Tommy James & The Shondells
  9. A Whiter Shade Of Pale – Procol Harum
  10. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison (party dance song)
  11. Devil With A Blue Dress On – Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels
  12. I’m A Believer – The Monkees (recessional song)
  13. Wild Thing – The Troggs (entrance song)
  14. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones
  15. Wooly Bully – Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs
  16. Yesterday – The Beatles
  17. Turn! Turn! Turn! – The Byrds
  18. Oh, Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison
  19. Twist And Shout – The Beatles (party dance song)
  20. You Really Got Me – The Kinks
  21. Hang On Sloopy – The McCoys
  22. Sugar Shack – Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs
  23. Surfin’ U.S.A. – The Beach Boys
  24. I Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles
  25. I Want To Hold Your Hand – The Beatles
  26. She Loves You – The Beatles (recessional song)
  27. Louie Louie – The Kingsmen
  28. Wipe Out – The Surfaris
  29. The Wanderer – Dion (party dance song)
  30. Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley (first dance song)
  31. Peppermint Twist, Part I – Joey Dee & The Starlighters
  32. Runaround Sue – Dion (party dance song)
  33. The Twist – Chubby Checker (party dance song)
  34. Walk Don’t Run – The Ventures

Tip

Put on your headphones and listen to the 1970s love songs.

 

1960s Pop Favorites

  1. Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye – Steam (last dance song)
  2. Sugar, Sugar – The Archies (cake cutting song)
  3. Yummy Yummy Yummy – Ohio Express (cake cutting song)
  4. Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (slow dance song)
  5. What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong (parents’ dance song)
  6. Daydream Believer – The Monkees
  7. Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
  8. I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher
  9. Do Wah Diddy Diddy – Manfred Mann
  10. I Get Around – The Beach Boys
  11. Chapel Of Love – The Dixie Cups (entrance song)
  12. You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ – The Righteous Brothers
  13. Surf City – Jan & Dean
  14. Be My Baby – The Ronettes
  15. The Loco-Motion – Little Eva
  16. He’s So Fine – The Chiffons
  17. Runaway – Del Shannon

Tip

Also, know the 1940s music for dancing.

 

1960s Country Chart Toppers

  1. Stand By Your Man – Tammy Wynette (anniversary dance song)
  2. King Of The Road – Roger Miller
  3. Ring Of Fire – Johnny Cash
  4. Crazy – Patsy Cline


FAQs

What makes the 1960s such a special decade for music? Some of it has to do with the natural cycle of style.

Other influences include improvements in technology. And still, there is a “je ne sais quoi” — a mystery — something you can’t quite put your finger on.

As the 1960s began, the pop charts gave us R&B, Soul, and DooWop. At the same time, the 1960s gave us instrumental beach music — surf rock.

And we can’t forget the impact of musical artists from England coming to the USA — the British Invasion. Popular British music groups included the Beatles, the Byrds, and the Turtles.

Another noted creation was created by Detroit Legend, Barry Gordy, Jr. — Motown. Popular Motown artists include Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and Stevie Wonder. This epic decade came to a close with a historic music festival. Woodstock had 450,000 attendees for the three-day festival.

The Best 60s Music was the beginning of a melting pot of different music styles. During the Vietnam War, American bands performed protest songs. Folk artists such as Mama & the Papas and Simon & Garfunkel were also mainstream. DooWop groups ruled the early 60s such as The Shirelles, Dion & The Belmonts, and the Four Seasons. What we call beach music was popular with teens with artists such as The Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, and The Ventures. Black rights were at the forefront with the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. This helped the rise of R&B and Soul style music with artists like Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, and Sam Cooke.

The British invasion brought us rock groups like The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Moody Blues, The Yardbirds, and, of course, Cream. We also had some combinations of music styles like rock and blues with groups such as Janis Joplin and Three Dog Night. For many fans, The Beatles are in their own category for the Best 1960s Music — unless you ask a Stones fan, of course.

Historical events of the Sixties included the assassinations of John F Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. The States was struggling with Civil Rights and the Vietnam War while breaking the frontier of space travel and walking on the moon. Pop culture was all over the map from Beetlemania to Height Ashbury. Teen fashion included hot pants, mini skirts, bold colors known as Mod Fashions, and plaids. Toward the end, it was all about hippies and their psychedelic fashion, bell bottoms, and no bras.

Why trust Matthew Campbell?

DJ, Author, Music Lover

matt

Matthew (Matt) Campbell is the founder/editor of My Wedding Songs from his experience as a wedding DJ. He is the author of two wedding planners: ‘Wedding Songs Planner’ and ‘The Wedding Music Toolkit’. Matt is the host of the ‘Wedding Songs Podcast’. He shares music inspiration in his weekly newsletter the ‘Wedding MusicLetter’. His articles have been published on Rolling Stone, DJ Life Magazine, and DJ Times. Matt resides in the wedding capital of the world – Las Vegas.

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