Last Dance Songs: Close Your Wedding In Style & Lasting Love

Updated November 14, 2023 | Written by Matthew Campbell

The last dance song closes out the reception and signals that it’s time for your guests to leave. They are a great way to bookend your wedding reception from the first dance to the last.

This will help everyone remember the night — especially the two of you. Discover a list of the most popular and unique last dance songs to end your reception.

last dance songs

When picking out the song to dance the last dance of th wedding, you must consider the following 3 factors:

  1. Do you want to end on a high note energy or a loving slow song?
  2. Does the song’s meaning match the end of the event?
  3. What is the tempo of the song (fast or slow) to determine the style of dance that fits best?

As an experienced wedding DJ, I’ve assembled a list of songs for the mother-son dance. Songs are selected by the meaning of the song and popular hits by today’s brides. Besides the relationship type between the mother and groom, additional lists are grouped by genre to match your taste in music.

New Last Dance Songs

  1. “Love You Anyway” by Devon Gilfillian (R&B – 2023)
  2. “Out Of Reach” by BoyWithUke (Alternative – 2023)
  3. “One Last Dance” by John Legend (R&B – 2022)
  4. “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Teddy Swims (Pop – 2022)
  5. “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Ron Pope, The National Parks (Singer-Songwriter – 2022)
  6. “Never Let You Go” by Jason Derulo, Shouse (Dance – 2022)
  7. “The Best Is Yet to Come” by Tom Walker (Singer-Songwriter – 2022)
  8. “Growing Old With You” by Restless Road (Country – 2022)
  9. “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” by Elle King & Miranda Lambert (Alternative – 2021)
  10. “Today Was A Fairytale (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift (Pop – 2021)
  1. “Semisonic” by Closing Time (Rock – 2003)
  2. “(I’ve Had The) Time Of My Life” by Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (Pop – 1987)
  3. “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey (Rock – 1981)
  4. “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers (Rock – 2004)
  5. “Last Dance” by Donna Summer (Disco – 1979)
  6. “Piano Man” by Billy Joel (Rock – 1973)
  7. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver (Country – 1971)
  8. “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond (Rock – 1969)
  9. “Bye Bye Bye” by N’Sync (Pop – 2000)
  10. “Friends In Low Places” by Garth Brooks (Country – 1990)

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Rock Closing Tunes

  1. Out Of Reach – BoyWithUke
  2. Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home) – Elle King & Miranda Lambert
  3. Dance Real Close – Jessie Payo
  4. Best Day Of My Life – American Authors
  5. Marry Me – Train
  6. Happy Trails – The Avett Brothers
  7. I Believe in a Thing Called Love – The Darkness
  8. Mr. Brightside – The Killers
  9. I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing – Aerosmith
  10. Closing Time – Semisonic
  11. Here’s To Us – Halestorm
  12. Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) – Green Day
  13. Send Me On My Way – Rusted Root
  14. Love Of A Lifetime – Firehouse
  15. It’s The End Of The World As We Know It – R.E.M.
  16. Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
  17. Take Me Home Tonight – Eddie Money
  18. Africa – Toto
  19. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
  20. Thunderstruck – AC/DC
  21. You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
  22. Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen
  23. Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
  24. Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac
  25. Fat Bottom Girls – Queen
  26. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
  27. Piano Man – Billy Joel
  28. American Pie – Don McLean
  29. Moondance – Van Morrison
  30. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
  31. All You Need Is Love – The Beatles
  32. Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley

Tip

This list is all about the last dance. Be sure to pick your first dance song as a married couple.

 

Popular Pop Tracks

  1. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Teddy Swims
  2. Today Was A Fairytale (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift
  3. Bang! – AJR
  4. Black And White – Niall Horan
  5. Incredible – James TW
  6. Memories – Maroon 5
  7. Perfect – Ed Sheeran
  8. Worth It – Fifth Harmony
  9. Say You Won’t Let Go – James Arthur
  10. Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
  11. A Sky Full of Stars – Coldplay
  12. Firework – Katy Perry
  13. Marry The Night – Lady Gaga
  14. Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
  15. Shut Up And Dance – Walk The Moon
  16. A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
  17. Marry You – Bruno Mars
  18. Save The Last Dance For Me – Michael Buble
  19. Come Away With Me – Norah Jones
  20. Bye Bye Bye – N Sync
  21. Miracles Happen (When You Believe) – Myra
  22. The Horses – Daryl Braithwaite
  23. (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life – Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
  24. Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley
  25. New York, New York – Frank Sinatra
  26. Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye – Steam
  27. My Way – Frank Sinatra
  28. Save the Last Dance for Me – The Drifters

Tip

The last dance can be a romantic moment. If you want to end on a high note, there are many songs to choose from here. You can also see our list of party songs for singing and dancing too.

 

Country Hits to End an Event

  1. Forever After All – Luke Combs
  2. The Best Is Yet To Come – Drake White
  3. In Case You Didn’t Know – Brett Young
  4. From The Ground Up – Dan + Shay
  5. Today – Brad Paisley
  6. Die A Happy Man – Thomas Rhett
  7. I Don’t Dance – Lee Brice
  8. I Don’t Want This Night To End – Luke Bryan
  9. Then – Brad Paisley
  10. Makin’ Plans – Miranda Lambert
  11. Love Story – Taylor Swift
  12. You’re Still The One – Shania Twain
  13. Friends In Low Places – Garth Brooks
  14. Could I Have This Dance – Anne Murray
  15. Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver

Tip

The last dance song ends the reception. The high note that begins the reception is the introduction of the newlyweds. See a list of wedding grand entrance and introduction songs.

 

R&B End of Night Favorites

  1. Love You Anyway – Devon Gilfillian
  2. About Damn Time – Lizzo
  3. One Last Dance – John Legend
  4. Love On Top – Beyoncé
  5. If Only for One Night – Luther Vandross
  6. All My Life – K-Ci & Jojo
  7. Save The Best For Last – Vanessa Williams
  8. I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) – Whitney Houston
  9. Just The Two Of Us – Bill Withers and Grover Washington, Jr.
  10. September – Earth, Wind & Fire
  11. This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
  12. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
  13. Hit The Road Jack – Ray Charles
  14. My Girl – The Temptations
  15. Stand By Me – Ben E. King
  16. At Last – Etta James
  17. Shout – The Isley Brothers

Tip

If you want to have a private moment at the end of the reception, see a slow dance song playlist too.

 

Unique Folk Hits

  1. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Ron Pope, The National Parks
  2. Simply the Best – Noah Reid
  3. Ho Hey – The Lumineers
  4. Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
  5. You Are The Best Thing – Ray Lamontagne
  6. Wagon Wheel – Old Crow Medicine Show

Tip

Other moments to set to music include the unexpected wedding cake cutting songs, women guests trying to become the next one to marry, and men guests trying to become the next one to marry.

EDM & Dance Finale Tracks

  1. Never Let You Go – Jason Derulo, Shouse
  2. Can’t Stop The Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
  3. Stole the Show – Kygo and Parson James
  4. We Found Love – Rihanna, Calvin Harris
  5. Get Lucky – Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams
  6. Glad You Came – The Wanted
  7. I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
  8. Forever – Chris Brown
  9. One More Time – Daft Punk
  10. Memories – David Guetta Feat. Kid Cudi
  11. Boom Boom (Let’s Go Back to My Room) – Paul Lekaki

Disco Bangers

  1. Celebration – Kool & the Gang
  2. We Are Family – Sister Sledge
  3. Last Dance – Donna Summer
 

Misc Genre Tunes

  1. The Best Is Yet to Come – Tom Walker
  2. Closing Time – The Chardon Polka Band
  3. Cha Cha Slide – DJ Casper
  4. It Was a Good Day – Ice Cube
  5. Our Love – Judah & the Lion
  6. Young Forever – Jay-Z feat. Mr. Hudson
  7. Cupid Shuffle – Cupid
  8. Lose Yourself – Eminem
  9. One Love / People Get Ready – Bob Marley
  10. It Had To Be You – Tony Bennett

Do you have a favorite last dance song not on my list? Please share your song below in the comments.

Listen to last dance song suggestions on our podcast.

 

FAQs

The last dance song is a closing element to the perfect night. You basically have two choices for the tone of the last dance: slow or upbeat.

A slow song will help the guests key down from their sugar highs (cake, right?). It also signals that the party is over. (Please, leave, thanks for the presents.)

On the other hand, finishing the night with the last dance surrounded by your friends can be fun, too.

You can choose to end your wedding reception on a high note with an upbeat song that everyone will remember (and feel good about that gift they bought).

There are two ways to end the night. One is with a bang with an upbeat party song like “Can’t Stop The Feeling!” or with the dance floor full of couples playing a romantic song like “At Last,” a classic by Etta James.

Remember, it’s your wedding so the choice is yours. Just be sure to pay attention to the lyrics.

Avoid breakup songs — even if they’re upbeat. “It Wasn’t Me” by Shaggy or “Mambo No 5” by Lou Bega may not be the best choices for the last dance.

Your last dance can be a private dance. The private last dance is when the DJ gently nudges guests out the door for an official send-off. The empty room only has the wedding couple, DJ, and photographer to capture the moment.

A private last dance is a good way to refocus on yourselves — the wedding couple. Talk to your professional wedding coordinator and DJ to choose a song that will set the tone for the night, the honeymoon, and the rest of your lives.

The song played at the end of a wedding is the recessional – the song that is playing as the wedding couple walks out after the first kiss. Your recessional could incorporate a few songs as the wedding party and guests leave. See a list of wedding exit songs to help guide you.

The last dance should include 2 songs. The first is a slow song to get all of the couples on the dance floor. Then, kick the music in high gear with a party song that will have everyone singing and dancing to end on a high note and be excited about the send-off.

Couples typically end their wedding reception with the last dance, slow song, or on a high note. Then, guests proceed outside the reception venue for a final send-off with bubbles, sparklers, or fireworks.

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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