150 Best Rock Weddings Songs
When you think of fun songs with a good beat, you’re going to think of rock and roll. This is why rock songs are perfect for your wedding reception. A good beat is key to get people on the dance floor.
Rock and Roll was born from a faster-paced rhythm and blues style music in the late 1940s. The guitars produced by Les Paul in the late 1940s and into the early 1950s also helped progress the production of rock’n’roll music production. He also revolutionized recording but that’s another blog post.
Rock and Roll – From the 40’s Onward
The first staged performance of rock and roll did not take place until 1953 featuring Bill Haley & His Comets with The Dominoes. “Rock Around the Clock” became the first rock and roll song to top the pop charts in 1955. Other early producers of rock’n’roll included Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and Fats Domino.
Sixties rock and roll were most known for the British invasion with the likes of The Beatles, The Who, and The Rolling Stones. The 1960s were also filled with surf music, folk, Motown, and heavy metal. The seventies gave way to the popularity of disco. However, the 1970s had the beginning of punk rock, funk, and glitter rock.
The eighties saw new styles of rock and roll including the beginning of hair bands with glam rock, new wave, and hardcore rock and roll. In the nineties, we saw the beginning of a new type of rock and roll grunge with Nirvana at the forefront. Kids of the 1990’s also heard ska, alternative, and many types of synthesized dance music.
What Era Is Classic Rock?
Some of the best songs to play at weddings are what’s considered classic rock — coming from the late 1960s and early 1970s. Some of the early 1980s brought new songs that slipped into that category but it’s rare. Think Rolling Stones instead of The Beatles and Heart over the Go-Gos. Classic rock songs are remembered by many from their youth and learned by every generation since. Here is a list of the most popular classic rock songs downloaded on Amazon.
- Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
- Thunderstruck – AC/DC
- Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
- Back In Black – AC/DC
- Crazy On You – Heart
- Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap – AC/DC
- For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) – AC/DC
- Fire and Rain – James Taylor
- You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
- Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin
What Are the Best Rock Songs For My Wedding?
Rock songs can be played during the wedding ceremony through the reception. Each song has its own theme so choose wisely and what means the most to you. 150 is a lot of songs. So, take your time browsing and click on the album to listen to the song.
Forgive us as we did our very best to remove all Pop songs from this list. Some are unavoidable. There are still a few alternative rock songs and soft rock songs as well. You will also enjoy many songs of yesteryear and through today.
Similar song lists for further reading:
Best Rock Songs Including Alternative Rock
Rock is a classic part of American culture and people of all ages love it — that backbeat gets everyone on the dance floor.
Rock wedding song list curated by Matthew Campbell
My Wedding Songs is a reader-supported website. As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases.
Last Updated: January 4, 2021
| Song | Amazon Link | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Doors Down Kryptonite 2000, The Better Life |  | |
| AC/DC Shot In The Dark 2020, Shot In The Dark | | |
| AC/DC Thunderstruck 1990, The Razors Edge | | |
| AC/DC You Shook Me All Night Long 1980, Back in Black | | |
| Aerosmith I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing 1998, Armageddon Soundtrack | | |
| Alabama Shakes I Found You 2014, A Long Way Down Soundtrack | | |
| Alice Merton No Roots 2017, No Roots | | |
| American Authors Best Day Of My Life 2013, Oh, What a Life | | |
| Avenged Sevenfold God Only Knows 2017, The Stage | | |
| Avett Brothers January Wedding 2009, I and Love and You | | |
| B-52’s Love Shack 1989, Cosmic Thing | | |
| Band of Horses No One’s Gonna Love You 2008, Cease to Begin | | |
| Barenaked Ladies One Week 1998, Stunt | | |
| Beatles Twist & Shout 1964, Please Please Me | | |
| Beck Can’t Help Falling in Love 2017, The Man in the High Castle TV Soundtrack | | |
| Better Than Ezra In Your Eyes 2020, In Your Eyes | | |
| Billie Joe Armstrong That Thing You Do! 2020, That Thing You Do! | | |
| Billy Idol White Wedding 1982, Billy Idol | | |
| Billy Joel She’s Got A Way 1982, Cold Spring Harbor | | |
| Black Keys Go 2019, Let's Rock | | |
| Black Keys You’re The One 2006, Magic Potion | | |
| blink-182 All The Small Things 1999, Enema Of The State | | |
| Blue October feat. Blue Reed Fight for Love 2020, This is What I Live For | | |
| Bob Dylan I've Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You 2020, Rough and Rowdy Ways | | |
| Bob Seger Old Time Rock and Roll 1979, Stranger in Town | | |
| Bon Jovi Always 1994, Cross Road | | |
| Bon Jovi Livin’ On A Prayer 1986, Slippery When Wet | | |
| Bruce Springsteen Letter To You 2020, Letter To You | | |
| Bryan Adams (Everything I Do) I Do It For You 1991, Waking Up the Neighbours | | |
| Bryan Adams Summer Of ’69 1985, Reckless | | |
| Cake Love You Madly 2002, Comfort Eagle | | |
| Capital Cities Safe and Sound 2011, In a Tidal Wave of Mystery | | |
| Chicago You’re The Inspiration 1984, Chicago 17 | | |
| Coldplay Viva La Vida 2008, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends | | |
| Darkness I Believe In A Thing Called Love 2003, Permission to Land | | |
| Dave Matthews Band Crash Into Me 1996, Crash | | |
| Dave Matthews Band Me and You 2009, Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King | | |
| Death Cab for Cutie I Will Follow You into the Dark 2006, Plans | | |
| Deep Blue Something Breakfast at Tiffany's 1995, Home | | |
| Def Leppard Pour Some Sugar On Me 1987, Hysteria | | |
| Dexy’s Midnight Runners Come On Eileen 1982, Too-Rye-Ay | | |
| Edwin McCain I Could Not Ask For More 1999, Messenger | | |
| Elle King Ex's & Oh's 2014, Ex's & Oh's | | |
| Elton John Your Song 1970, Elton John | | |
| Eric Clapton Wonderful Tonight 1977, Slowhand | | |
| Firehouse Love Of A Lifetime 1991, FireHouse | | |
| Fitz & The Tantrums HandClap 2016, Fitz and the Tantrums | | |
| Fleetwood Mac Dreams 1977, Rumours | | |
| Foo Fighters Everlong (Acoustic) 1997, The Colour and the Shape | | |
| Galactic feat. Princess Shaw Going Straight Crazy 2019, Already Ready Already | | |
| Gavin DeGraw More Than Anyone 2003, Chariot | | |
| George Thorogood Bad To The Bone 1982, Bad to the Bone | | |
| Goo Goo Dolls Come to Me 2013, Magnetic | | |
| Goo Goo Dolls Iris 2002, City of Angels | | |
| Grand Funk Railroad Some Kind Of Wonderful 1974, All the Girls in the World Beware!!! | | |
| Green Day Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) 1997, Nimrod | | |
| Green Day Oh Yeah! 2020, Father of All... | | |
| Greta Van Fleet Always There 2019, A Million Little Pieces Soundtrack | | |
| Greta Van Fleet You’re The One 2018, Anthem Of The Peaceful Army | | |
| Grouplove Tongue Tied 2012, Never Trust a Happy Song | | |
| Guns N’ Roses Sweet Child O’ Mine 1988, Appetite for Destruction | | |
| Imagine Dragons On Top Of The World 2013, Night Visions | | |
| Incubus Our Love 2020, Our Love | | |
| James Bay Us (Acoustic) 2018, Us | | |
| Jeremy Renner Best Part of Me 2020, The Medicine | | |
| Jessie Payo Dance Real Close 2019 | | |
| Jet Are You Gonna Be My Girl 2003, Get Born | | |
| Jim Croce I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song 1973, I Got a Name | | |
| Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville 1977, Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes | | |
| Jimmy Eat World The Middle 2001, Bleed American | | |
| Joan Jett I Love Rock And Roll 1982, I Love Rock ‘n Roll | | |
| Joe Cocker You Are So Beautiful 1974, I Can Stand a Little Rain | | |
| Journey Don’t Stop Believin’ 1981, Escape | | |
| Journey Faithfully 1983, Frontiers | | |
| Kenny Loggins Footloose 1984, Footloose Soundtrack | | |
| Kid Rock All Summer Long 2008, Rock n Roll Jesus | | |
| Killers Mr. Brightside 2003, Hot Fuss | | |
| King Harvest Dancing in the Moonlight 1972, Dancing in the Moonlight | | |
| Kongos Come with Me Now 2013, Lunatic | | |
| LANY nobody else 2020, Mama's Boy | | |
| Led Zeppelin All Of My Love 1979, In Through the Out Door | | |
| Lifehouse You And Me 2005, Lifehouse | | |
| Lil Peep & ILoveMakonnen feat. Fall Out Boy I've Been Waiting 2019, I've Been Waiting | | |
| Lit My Own Worst Enemy 1999, A Place in the Sun | | |
| lovelytheband broken 2017, everything i could never say... | | |
| Lynyrd Skynyrd Sweet Home Alabama 1974, Second Helping | | |
| Metallica Nothing Else Matters 1991, Metallica | | |
| Michael Franti & Spearhead Say Hey (I Love You) 2009, All Rebel Rockers | | |
| Mumford & Sons Forever 2018, Delta | | |
| Muse Uprising 2009, The Resistance | | |
| Neck Deep I Revolve (Around You) 2020, All Distortions Are Intentional | | |
| NEEDTOBREATHE Banks 2020, Out of Body | | |
| NEEDTOBREATHE Who Am I 2020, Out of Body | | |
| Nickelback Never Gonna Be Alone 2008, Dark Horse | | |
| O.A.R. All Because of You 2019, The Mighty | | |
| Oasis Wonderwall 1995, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? | | |
| Outfield Your Love 1986, Play Deep | | |
| Panic! At The Disco High Hopes 2018, Pray for the Wicked | | |
| Panic! At The Disco Say Amen (Saturday Night) 2018, Pray For The Wicked | | |
| Paramore The Only Exception 2009, Brand New Eyes | | |
| Peter Gabriel In Your Eyes 1986, So | | |
| Plain White T’s 1, 2, 3, 4 2008, Big Bad World | | |
| Plain White T’s Rhythm Of Love 2010, Wonders of the Younger | | |
| Portugal. The Man Feel It Still 2017, Woodstock | | |
| Pretenders I’ll Stand By You 1994, Last of the Independents | | |
| Queen Bohemian Rhapsody 1975, A Night at the Opera | | |
| Rembrandts I’ll Be There For You 1995, L.P. | | |
| Rick Springfield Jessie’s Girl 1981, Working Class Dog | | |
| Rob Thomas Little Wonders 2005, Meet the Robinsons Soundtrack | | |
| Robert Palmer Addicted To Love 1986, Riptide | | |
| Santana feat. Rob Thomas Smooth 1999, Supernatural | | |
| Secondhand Serenade Fall for You 2008, A Twist In My Story | | |
| Semisonic Closing Time 1998, Feeling Strangely Fine | | |
| Shinedown I’ll Follow You 2013, Amaryllis | | |
| Shinedown Simple Man [Acoustic] 2003, Leave A Whisper (Deluxe) | | |
| Skylar Grey Stand By Me 2018, Stand By Me | | |
| Sleeping At Last I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) 2014, I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) | | |
| Smash Mouth All Star 2001, Astro Lounge | | |
| Snow Patrol Chasing Cars 2006, Eyes Open | | |
| Spin Doctors Two Princes 1991, Pocket Full of Kryptonite | | |
| Staind Tangled Up In You 2008, The Illusion of Progress | | |
| Stone Sour Song #3 2017, Hydrograd | | |
| Survivor Eye Of The Tiger 1982, Rocky III | | |
| The 1975 Me & You Together Song 2020, Notes On A Conditional Form | | |
| The Cure Friday I'm in Love 1992, Wish | | |
| The Cure Lovesong 1989, Disintegration | | |
| The National Never Tear Us Apart 2020, Never Tear Us Apart | | |
| The Offspring Come Out and Play 1994, Smash | | |
| The Struts Dancing In The Street 2019, Dancing In The Street | | |
| The Verve Bittersweet Symphony 1997, Urban Hymns | | |
| The Verve Lucky Man 1997, Urban Hymns | | |
| The White Stripes Seven Nation Army 2003, Elephant | | |
| Third Eye Blind Semi-Charmed Life 1997, Third Eye Blind | | |
| Three Dog Night Joy To The World 1971, Naturally | | |
| Tom Petty Wildflowers 1994, Wildflowers | | |
| Tom Walker Just You and I 2017, Blessings – EP | | |
| Tommy K It's Our Love 2017, Someday Someway | | |
| Tones and I Dance Monkey 2019, Dance Monkey | | |
| Toto Africa 1982, Toto IV | | |
| U2 All I Want Is You 1989, Rattle and Hum | | |
| U2 Beautiful Day 2000, All That You Can’t Leave Behind | | |
| Van Morrison Brown Eyed Girl 1967, Blowin’ Your Mind! | | |
| Van Morrison Have I Told You Lately 1989, Avalon Sunset | | |
| Violent Femmes Blister In The Sun 1983, Violent Femmes | | |
| Walk the Moon Shut Up and Dance 2014, Talking Is Hard | | |
| Wilco You and I 2009, Wilco | | |
| Wild Cherry Play That Funky Music 1976, Wild Cherry | | |
| X Ambassadors Renegades 2016, VHS | | |
| Yeah Yeah Yeahs Wedding Song (Acoustic) 2013, Mosquito | | |
| ZZ Top Sharp Dressed Man 1983, Eliminator | | |
Hot New Songs Delivered Monthly!
Justin Bieber ain’t rock
Hi Raven. Thanks for the feedback. We will be updating our list soon and will be removing Justin from the list.
Love this list! I have been looking for some genuine songs to fill our wedding playlist. This list was perfect. Thank you so much.
Thank you Jamie.
Great stuff…from toe tapping to hip swiveling, limb flailing and body gyrating dancing music. These tunes cover it all. Thank you ?. Nirvana and the grunge movement signaled the end of rock and roll as we knew it. Ska, alternative and generally tasteless stuff filtered through the rock airwaves turning people off and leading to electronic (computer generated no soul ) dance music. In turn we are now inundated with formulated pop pap from every corner of the media (gag me with a spoon) Thanks again for a terrific list. Long Live Rock!
Thanks David for stopping by and the comment. Rock on!
Great list. As a mobile DJ, I love the variety of lists you put out and they have been a great resource. Thanks. -DC
Thanks DC for the compliment. Keep filling your dance floors!
This list was great. Both me a my fiance are huge old rock fans and we had already picked our unconventional rock first dance song, we just needed others to complete our night. Thanks
Awesome Sarah. Glad you found the songs you need!
Thanks! We are about to do our first job as a wedding band. This list has made our three sets complete! Lets get to work :D
Awesome Harald. Glad you like the list. Good luck in playing music at the wedding. Make it a fairytale!
Thanks. I was planning my wedding and thought about Rock songs that would be played. I chose your website and bang my plan is compete.
Great Samson. Glad you stopped by!
Thank you!! Looking for a song to walk down to my husband to and i found some good ideas!! Love it. We dont want normal we want us. Thank you again for the wonderful ideas.
Great we could help you out Angel!
Most of these aren’t even rock songs; Jason Mraz and Maroon 5? No.
Hi Kayla. Thanks for your opinion. Yes, we did include some pop-rock songs. Do you have any favorite rock songs we could add to the list for replacements?
Always surfing the internet to see what other playlists are put into weddings.
Thanks for putting this website together! I was trying to figure out music for my ceremony and reception, and your suggestions made it SO easy. You’re amazing, thanks again!