Rock Wedding Songs: Love Songs & Party Hits to Rock Your Day

Updated November 1, 2023 | Author: Matthew Campbell

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 the key to getting people on the dance floor.

best rock wedding songs

When picking out rock 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. What moment of the wedding ceremony or reception will the song play?

Let’s start with the new and trending rock songs right now.

New Rock Wedding Songs

Recently released rock songs to play during your wedding.

  1. FELL IN LOVE – blink-182 (2023)
  2. I’m Only Me When I’m With You – Soccer Mommy (2023)
  3. Run Away With Me – Cold War Kids (2023)
  4. Masterpiece – Ben Harper (2023)
  5. Say Yes To Heaven – Lana Del Rey (2023)
  6. Moon River – Eric Clapton & Jeff Beck (2023)
  7. I’ve Loved You For So Long – The Aces (2023)
  8. Best of Me (2023) – Toad The Wet Sprocket (2023)
  9. Glue Song – beabadoobee (2023)
  10. True Love – Christine And The Queens feat. 070 Shake (2023)
  11. Pineapple Sunrise – Beach Weather (2023)
  12. Tell You I Love You – BANNERS (2023)

Trending Rock Wedding Songs

  1. “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers (2013)
  2. “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes (1992)
  3. “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC (1980)
  4. “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World (2001)
  5. “Black Velvet” by Alannah Myles (1989)
  6. “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison (1967)
  7. “Hooked On A Feeling” by Blue Swede (1974)
  8. “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield (1981)
  9. “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers (1988)
  10. “Summer Of ’69” by Bryan Adams (1985)

Trending Classic Rock Hits

  1. “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC (1990)
  2. “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor (1982)
  3. “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey (1981)
  4. “Highway To Hell” by AC/DC (1979)
  5. “Back In Black” AC/DC (1980)
  6. “Everything I Own” by Bread (1972)
  7. “Africa” by Toto (1982)
  8. “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins (1986)
  9. “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone (1974)
  10. “Black Betty” by Ram Jam (1977)

Trending Alternative Rock Hits

  1. “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day (1997)
  2. “Loving You” by Cannons (2023)
  3. “Bones” by Imagine Dragons (2022)
  4. “Riptide” by Vance Joy (2014)
  5. “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)” by Fall Out Boy (2013)
  6. “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay (2008)
  7. “On Top Of The World” by Imagine Dragons (2012)
  8. “High Hopes” by Panic! At The Disco (2018)
  9. “Welcome To The Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance (2006)
  10. “Walking On A Dream” by Empire Of The Sun (2008)
 

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As an experienced wedding DJ, I’ve assembled a list of rock wedding songs. Songs are selected by the meaning of the song and popular hits by today’s couples. Besides new and trending, additional lists are grouped by decades.

2020s Rock Tracks

  1. Easy – Banners
  2. Here With Me – d4vd (slow dance song)
  3. Blind For Love – American Authors
  4. More Than Love – Ben Harper
  5. I’m In Love With You – The 1975 (recessional song)
  6. Here to Forever – Death Cab For Cutie (cocktail hour song)
  7. Sway – Fitz & The Tantrums (cocktail hour song)
  8. One Life – James Bay
  9. A Little Bit of Love – Weezer (background song)
  10. I Think I Like You – The Band CAMINO (cocktail hour song)
  11. If I Didn’t Have You – BANNERS
  12. good 4 u – Olivia Rodrigo (party dance song)
  13. Shot In The Dark – AC/DC (party dance song)
  14. nobody else – LANY (first dance song)
  15. Me & You Together Song – The 1975

Tip

See the most popular rock songs of all time by era – 1990s rock playlist, and 1980s rock hits.

 

2010s Rock Favorites

  1. All Because of You – O.A.R. (first dance song)
  2. Dance Monkey – Tones and I
  3. You’re The One – Greta Van Fleet
  4. New Light – John Mayer (recessional song)
  5. Someone To You – BANNERS
  6. broken – lovelytheband (first dance song)
  7. HandClap – Fitz & The Tantrums (entrance song)
  8. Geronimo – Sheppard
  9. I Found You – Alabama Shakes
  10. Ex’s & Oh’s – Elle King
  11. Shut Up and Dance – Walk the Moon (party dance song)
  12. Best Day Of My Life – American Authors (recessional song)
  13. Come to Me – Goo Goo Dolls (first dance song)
  14. On Top Of The World – Imagine Dragons (recessional song)
  15. Come with Me Now – Kongos
  16. Little Talks – Of Monsters And Men (party dance song)
 

2000s Rock Chart Toppers

  1. Me and You – Dave Matthews Band
  2. Say Hey (I Love You) – Michael Franti & Spearhead (any moment of reception)
  3. The Only Exception – Paramore (first dance song)
  4. You and I – Wilco
  5. All Summer Long – Kid Rock (party dance song)
  6. 1, 2, 3, 4 – Plain White T’s
  7. Fall for You – Secondhand Serenade
  8. Tangled Up In You – Staind
  9. You’re The One – Black Keys
  10. Welcome To The Black Parade – My Chemical Romance
  11. Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
  12. Sugar, We’re Goin Down – Fall Out Boy (party dance song)
  13. You And Me – Lifehouse (first dance song)
  14. I Write Sins Not Tragedies – Panic! At The Disco (party dance song)
  15. 1985 – Bowling For Soup (party dance song)
  16. Stacy’s Mom – Fountains Of Wayne (party dance song)
  17. Are You Gonna Be My Girl – Jet
  18. Mr. Brightside – The Killers (party dance song)
  19. Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes
  20. The Middle – Jimmy Eat World (party dance song)
  21. Island In the Sun – Weezer
  22. Kryptonite – 3 Doors Down

Tip

Planning songs for dinner or cocktail hour? Listen to a yacht rock wedding playlist for a chilling vibe.

 

1990s Rock Tunes

  1. All Star – Smash Mouth (entrance song)
  2. All The Small Things – blink-182 (party dance song)
  3. I Could Not Ask For More – Edwin McCain (parents’ song)
  4. My Own Worst Enemy – Lit (party dance song)
  5. Smooth – Santana feat. Rob Thomas
  6. I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing – Aerosmith (slow dance song)
  7. One Week – Barenaked Ladies
  8. Everlong (Acoustic) – Foo Fighters
  9. Bittersweet Symphony – The Verve (processional song)
  10. Semi-Charmed Life – Third Eye Blind
  11. Wonderwall – Oasis
  12. I’ll Be There For You – The Rembrandts
  13. I’ll Stand By You – The Pretenders (parents’ dance song)
  14. Friday I’m in Love – The Cure
  15. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You – Bryan Adams (first dance song)
  16. Love Of A Lifetime – Firehouse (first dance song)
  17. Nothing Else Matters – Metallica (first dance song)
  18. Two Princes – Spin Doctors

Tip

Love classic rock music? See our list of classic rock love songs for your wedding.

 

Classic Rock Bangers

  1. Love Shack – The B-52’s (party dance song)
  2. All I Want Is You – U2 (recessional song)
  3. Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses (father-daughter song)
  4. Lips Like Sugar – Echo And The Bunnymen
  5. Pour Some Sugar On Me – Def Leppard
  6. Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi (party dance song)
  7. Your Love – Outfield (party dance song)
  8. Summer Of ’69 – Bryan Adams
  9. Footloose – Kenny Loggins (party dance song)
  10. Faithfully – Journey (first dance song)
  11. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) – Eurythmics
  12. Blister In The Sun – Violent Femmes
  13. Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top (groomsmen song)
  14. Come On Eileen – Dexy’s Midnight Runners
  15. Africa – Toto
  16. Mony Mony – Billy Idol (party dance song)
  17. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey (last dance song)
  18. Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
  19. You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
  20. Let My Love Open The Door – Pete Townshend
  21. Old Time Rock and Roll – Bob Seger
  22. Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton (sloe dance song)
  23. Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffett
  24. Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry
  25. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen (party singalong song)
  26. Some Kind Of Wonderful – Grand Funk Railroad
  27. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd (party dance song)
  28. Dancing in the Moonlight – King Harvest (cocktail hour song)
  29. Your Song – Elton John (first dance song)
  30. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison (party dance song)
  31. Twist & Shout – The Beatles (party dance song)

Tip

Other wedding-themed rock song lists include rock hits for a first dance, rock mother son dance songs, and rock bouquet throwing hits.

 

FAQs

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, aka emo music (Listen to an Emo playlist for wedding receptions), funk, and glitter rock.

The eighties saw new styles of rock and roll including the beginning of glam rock and rock and roll hair bands, new wave, and heavy metal. In the nineties, we saw the beginning of a new type of rock and roll grunge with Nirvana at the forefront. Kids of the 1990s also heard ska, alternative, and many types of synthesized dance music.

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.

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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Raven
Raven
4 years ago

Justin Bieber ain’t rock

My Wedding Songs
My Wedding Songs
4 years ago
Reply to  Raven

Hi Raven. Thanks for the feedback. We will be updating our list soon and will be removing Justin from the list.

Jamie
Jamie
6 years ago

Love this list! I have been looking for some genuine songs to fill our wedding playlist. This list was perfect. Thank you so much.

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

Thank you Jamie.

David
David
6 years ago

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!

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

Thanks David for stopping by and the comment. Rock on!

DC
DC
6 years ago

Great list. As a mobile DJ, I love the variety of lists you put out and they have been a great resource. Thanks. -DC

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

Thanks DC for the compliment. Keep filling your dance floors!

Sarah
Sarah
7 years ago

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

My Wedding Songs
My Wedding Songs
7 years ago
Reply to  Sarah

Awesome Sarah. Glad you found the songs you need!

Harald
Harald
8 years ago

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

My Wedding Songs
My Wedding Songs
8 years ago
Reply to  Harald

Awesome Harald. Glad you like the list. Good luck in playing music at the wedding. Make it a fairytale!

Samson
Samson
8 years ago

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.

My Wedding Songs
My Wedding Songs
8 years ago
Reply to  Samson

Great Samson. Glad you stopped by!

Angel
Angel
8 years ago

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.

My Wedding Songs
My Wedding Songs
8 years ago
Reply to  Angel

Great we could help you out Angel!

Kayla
Kayla
8 years ago

Most of these aren’t even rock songs; Jason Mraz and Maroon 5? No.

My Wedding Songs
My Wedding Songs
8 years ago
Reply to  Kayla

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?

Rene dugas
Rene dugas
8 years ago

Always surfing the internet to see what other playlists are put into weddings.

Monica Spiggle
Monica Spiggle
9 years ago

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!