Oldies Wedding Songs: Timeless Hits That Never Go Out of Style

Updated November 17, 2023 | Author: Matthew Campbell

When you think of “oldies,” what comes to mind? Why that’s easy; it’s our favorite oldies songs from the 1950s 1960s and a few 1970s.

Which are the best oldies songs for your wedding? Discover the best Oldies songs for weddings from years of experience as wedding DJs.

oldies songs for weddings

As an experienced wedding DJ, I’ve assembled a list of oldies songs. Songs are selected by the meaning of the song and popular hits by today’s couples. Besides trending, additional lists are grouped by genre to match your taste in music.

Top 25 Trending Oldies Songs

  1. “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash (1963)
  2. “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison (1967)
  3. “The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh)” by The Tokens (1961)
  4. “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass (1972)
  5. “The End of the World” by Skeeter Davis (1963)
  6. “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel (1966)
  7. “Whole Lot of Shakin’ Going On” by Jerry Lee Lewis (1955)
  8. “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ (Live)” by Elvis Presley (1970)
  9. “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis (1957)
  10. “Be My Baby” by The Ronettes (1963)
  11. “Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel)” by Roy Orbison (1960)
  12. “Love Hurts” by Roy Orbison (1961)
  13. “I Wanna Know Your Name” by The Intruders (1973)
  14. “Mellow Yellow” by Donovan (1966)
  15. “If I Can Dream” by Elvis Presley (1968)
  16. “Cupid” by Sam Cooke (1961)
  17. “Chain Gang” by Sam Cooke (1960)
  18. “Venus” by Frankie Avalon (1959)
  19. “Can’t Get Used to Losing You” by Andy Williams (1963)
  20. “Where Do I Begin” by Andy Williams (1971)
  21. “Somebody To Love” by Jefferson Airplane (1967)
  22. “Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In” by The 5th Dimension (1969)
  23. “Red Rubber Ball” by The Cyrkle (1966)
  24. “Do You Believe in Magic?” by The Lovin’ Spoonful (1965)
  25. “Love Me Tender” by Elvis Presley (1956)

Stream Oldies Songs

My Wedding Songs is a reader-supported website. As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases. Purchases made through links on this page may earn us a commission but also support the artists.

Listen to your favorite songs on streaming services!

Stream playlist on Apple Music
Stream playlist on Amazon Music
Stream Playlist on Tidal
 

Popular Pop Tracks

  1. Sugar, Sugar – The Archies
  2. This Magic Moment – Jay & The Americans
  3. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
  4. Build Me Up Buttercup – The Foundations
  5. Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons
  6. What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
  7. Daydream Believer – The Monkees
  8. Happy Together – The Turtles
  9. I’m a Believer – The Monkees
  10. I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher
  11. It’s Not Unusual – Tom Jones
  12. Chapel Of Love – The Dixie Cups
  13. The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
  14. You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling – The Righteous Brothers
  15. Luck Be A Lady – Frank Sinatra
  16. Moon River – Henry Mancini
  17. The Loco-Motion – Little Eva
  18. I Left My Heart In San Francisco – Tony Bennett
  19. When We Get Married – The Dreamlovers
  20. Mack The Knife – Bobby Darin
  21. All I Have to Do is Dream – Everly Brothers
  22. To the Aisle – The Five Satins
  23. Chances Are – Johnny Mathis
  24. Love and Marriage – Frank Sinatra
  25. Fly Me To The Moon – Frank Sinatra
  26. That’s Amore – Dean Martin
 

Best R&B Hits

  1. I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Marvin Gaye
  2. Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay – Otis Redding
  3. (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher – Jackie Wilson
  4. Soul Man – Sam & Dave
  5. When A Man Loves A Woman – Percy Sledge
  6. Gimme Some Lovin’ – Spencer Davis Group
  7. Ain’t Too Proud To Beg – The Temptations
  8. Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett
  9. Good Lovin’ – Young Rascals
  10. Respect – Aretha Franklin
  11. Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers
  12. I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) – The Four Tops
  13. The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss) – Betty Everett
  14. Dancing In The Street – Martha and the Vandellas
  15. My Girl – The Temptations
  16. Under The Boardwalk – The Drifters
  17. These Arms Of Mine – Otis Redding
  18. Do You Love Me – The Contours
  19. Stand By Me – Ben E King
  20. Save The Last Dance For Me – The Drifters
  21. At Last – Etta James
  22. Shout – Isley Brothers
  23. To Be Loved – Jackie Wilson
  24. Louie Louie – The Kingsmen
  25. You Send Me – Sam Cooke
  26. In the Still of the Night – The Five Satins
  27. Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight – The Spaniels
 

Evergreen Rock Tunes

  1. All You Need Is Love – The Beatles
  2. A Lover’s Concerto – The Toys
  3. Love is All Around – The Troggs
  4. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
  5. Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
  6. Devil With A Blue Dress On – Mitch Ryder
  7. Wooly Bully – Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs
  8. Surfin’ USA – The Beach Boys
  9. I Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles
  10. Twist & Shout – The Beatles
  11. Surf City – Jan & Dean
  12. Sugar Shack – Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs
  13. Limbo Rock – Chubby Checker
  14. Runaround Sue – Dion
  15. Wanderer – Dion
  16. Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley
  17. The Twist – Chubby Checker
  18. Rockin’ Robin – Bobby Day
  19. Tequila – The Champs
  20. Johnny B Goode – Chuck Berry
  21. Willie & The Hand Jive – Johnny Otis
  22. Good Golly, Miss Molly – Little Richard
  23. La Bamba – Ritchie Valens
  24. That’ll Be The Day – Buddy Holly & The Crickets
  25. All Shook Up – Elvis Presley
  26. Jailhouse Rock – Elvis Presley
  27. Great Balls Of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis
  28. Litty Bitty Pretty One – Thurston Harris
  29. Blue Suede Shoes – Carl Perkins
  30. Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley
  31. Rock Around The Clock – Bill Haley
  32. Hound Dog – Elvis Presley
 

Jazz Favorites for All Crowds

  1. The Party’s Over – Nat King Cole
  2. My Funny Valentine – Ella Fitzgerald
  3. Jump, Jive and Wail – Louis Prima
  4. Hokey Pokey – Ray Anthony
  5. Unforgettable – Nat King Cole
  6. Daddy’s Little Girl – The Mills Brothers

Classic Doo-Wop Tracks

  1. Angel Baby – Rosie & The Originals
  2. I Only Have Eyes for You – The Flamingos
  3. 16 Candles – The Crests
  4. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes – The Platters
  5. Twilight Time – The Platters
  6. Only You – The Platters

Fun Rockabilly Songs

  1. Rebel Rouser – Duane Eddy
  2. Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran
 

Country Dance Hits

  1. I Walk The Line – Johnny Cash

Broadway Sing-alongs

  1. Sunrise Sunset – Cast Of Fiddler On The Roof

Do you have a favoite oldies song not on my list? Please share your song below in the comments!

Quick video of oldies song picks.

 

FAQs

What constitutes an oldies song can change with each decade. But think “American Graffiti,” “Happy Days,” and “Grease.” And don’t forget the choreographed boy bands (the original ones before the Backstreet Boys and Boyz II Men).

Oldies are traditionally the songs from the 1950s through the late 70s — rock and roll at its purist.

You can find many different music types such as R&B, Rock and Roll, Doo-Wop, Country, and more.

If poodle skirts, saddle shoes, leather jackets, and penny loafers are your jam, then a themed wedding could be epic — one to remember. If you’re in love with swing dancing, you’ll love an oldies playlist at your wedding. Though it was considered wild at the time, it’s fairly tame now. We’ve seen more wholesome wedding receptions with Italian Cream Soda bars and Swing Dancing (as opposed to rap or heavy metal).

Most people can dance to swing and it sure gets the old folks moving. And, when we say old, we mean those who grew up in the 1950s or 1980s (when it was a revival). You see, these trends cycle every thirty years or so.

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.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
guest
4 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Ellie
Ellie
6 years ago

Some of these songs are good. But most of them are about cheaters, breakups and broken hearts. I wouldn’t play half of them at my wedding. This list was not helpful.

My Wedding Songs
My Wedding Songs
6 years ago
Reply to  Ellie

Thank you, Ellie, for the feedback. We will review the list again. If you have any songs we should add to the list, please do let us know.

paige
paige
5 years ago

I liked them all. There were a few slow some fast. I would definatley use them!!

My Wedding Songs
My Wedding Songs
5 years ago
Reply to  paige

Thanks Paige.