R&B Songs To Play At Your Wedding
2020
You’re finally planning your wedding. You have the best venue, a kicking DJ, and a professional wedding planner. But what about R&B songs for your wedding? Is it too much? No. You know it’s you, girl. Your wedding. That bass line, those smooth vocals. Yes. Your wedding reception is going to be epic. Be ready to party with our list of the 150 best R&B Wedding Songs. Your wedding party is going to get down.
What is Rhythm & Blues?
Rhythm and blues is the grandchild of jazz, gospel, and blues. Originally soul and rock & roll were an offshoot of R&B. R&B is a genre of smooth pop music that is entirely centered on the vocalist’s smooth voice and stunning vibrato.
Now, R&B also includes funk, hip-hop, rap, and soul. If it makes you want to move your hips, chances are its rhythm and blues. If you want folks to get out of their chairs, stop gossip about your Great Aunt Ruth, and hit the dance floor, R&B is a must!
Why Play R&B At Your Wedding?
I mean, if you want to play ABBA be our guest. (Snooze Fest) The better question is why wouldn’t you play R&B at your wedding? Weddings are about love. Real love. Nothing says that better than smooth, silky vocals of Luther Vandross. The spoken words of Barry White, reassuring us that we are loved. Oh, don’t forget the Sisters of Soul starting with the Queen: Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys.
The roots of R&B in Soul is apparent not just in the beats and bass lines, but in the emotion expressed. Those lyrics, girl. You know it. Your friends are getting the chill vibe, the love vibe.
What are the Best R&B Songs For Dancing?
If you want to get folks on the dance floor, these are sure to do it. Our list includes some recent hits along with classics in a variety of tempos and eras. Pick your favorites to include in your wedding. You can use them for your wedding reception, first dance, and father-daughter dance.
10 Most Popular R&B Songs Right Now
(Ranked by downloads)
- Blinding Lights – The Weeknd
- Damage – H.E.R.
- Thriller – Michael Jackson
- Hold On – H.E.R.
- Somebody’s Watching Me – Rockwell
- All Of My Love – Charlie Wilson feat. Smokey Robinson
- Someone Like You – Adele
- Disturbia – Rihanna
- Happy – Pharrell Williams
- Lovely Day – Bill Withers
10 Popular Contemporary R&B Songs
(Ranked by downloads)
- Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) – Beyoncé
- Lovely Day – Bill Withers
- Halo – Beyoncé
- Act II: Can’t Go Back – Dennis Lloyd
- It’s a Love Thing – The Whispers
- Rock Steady – The Whispers
- I Can’t Wait – Nu Shooz
- Beautiful – Wendell B
- Still Learning Bout Love – Wendell B
- I Do Love You – G.Q.
10 Popular Soul R&B Songs
(Ranked by downloads)
- Thriller – Michael Jackson
- Someone Like You – Adele
- Disturbia – Rihanna
- Lovely Day – Bill Withers
- Rise Up – Andra Day
- All Of Me – John Legend
- Do It – Chloe x Halle
- Crazy In Love – Beyoncé
- I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) – Whitney Houston
- Un-Break My Heart – Toni Braxton
Similar song lists for further reading:
150 Best R&B Songs For Your Wedding Reception
As you know, there are so many great R&B songs perfect for weddings from the walk down the aisle to the dance party to the bouquet toss. Hopefully, this list gives you some great ideas and conjures up good memories, too.
We selected a generous cross-section of R&B songs for your wedding. If you have a song that should be on our list, be sure to share it in the comments. Please also let us know which song from our list that you would remove in its place.
R&B wedding song list curated by Matthew Campbell
Last Updated: November 9, 2020
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| Album | Song | Amazon Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Al Green Let’s Stay Together 1972, Let's Stay Together |  | ||
  | Alicia Keys If I Ain’t Got You 2003, The Diary of Alicia Keys | | ||
  | Allen Stone Consider Me 2019, Building Balance | | ||
  | Amber Mark Mixer 2019, Mixer | | ||
  | Andra Day Forever Mine 2015, Cheers to the Fall | | ||
  | Andy Stokes Best Day Ever 2018, Best Day Ever | | ||
  | Anthony David 4evermore 2011, Algebra | | ||
  | Aretha Franklin Respect 1967, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You | | ||
  | Arika Kane feat. Kmelz Wonderful 2017, Wonderful | | ||
  | Atlantic Starr Always 1986, All in the Name of Love | | ||
  | Avant feat. KeKe Wyatt You & I 2013, Face the Music | | ||
  | Barry White Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe 1974, Can't Get Enough | | ||
  | Ben E. King Stand By Me 1962, Don't Play That Song! | | ||
  | Beyonce 1+1 2011, 4 | | ||
| Beyonce Crazy In Love 2003, Dangerously in Love | | ||
  | Beyoncé XO 2013, Beyoncé | | ||
  | Boney James feat. Kenny Lattimore Be Here 2020, Solid | | ||
  | Boyz II Men On Bended Knee 1994, II | | ||
  | Brandon Williams In Love 2019, The Love Factor | | ||
  | Brandy Rather Be 2020, B7 | | ||
  | Brian McKnight Love Of My Life 2001, Superhero | | ||
  | Brian McKnight Nobody 2020, Nobody | | ||
  | Brknrbtz Marry Your Daughter 2012, Marry Your Daughter | | ||
  | Bruno Mars Just The Way You Are 2010, Doo-Wops & Hooligans | | ||
  | Calvin Richardson Ain’t Nothin Like The One I’ve Got 2019, Gold Dust | | ||
  | Case Happily Ever After 1999, Personal Conversation | | ||
  | Charlie Wilson Forever Valentine 2020, Forever Valentine | | ||
  | Charlie Wilson One I Got 2020, One I Got | | ||
  | Charlie Wilson feat. Smokey Robinson All Of My Love 2020, All Of My Love | | ||
  | Chris Brown & Young Thug Go Crazy 2020, Slime & B | | ||
  | Chrisette Michele Your Joy 2007, I Am | | ||
  | D’Angelo Lady 1995, Brown Sugar | | ||
  | Decarlo There For You 2020, There For You | | ||
  | Derran Day My Word 2018, My Word | | ||
  | Doja Cat Say So 2019, Hot Pink | | ||
  | Earth, Wind & Fire September 1971, Earth, Wind & Fire | | ||
  | Eric Bellinger Build Something 2020, Build Something | | ||
  | Eric Bellinger Eazy Shuffle 2020, Hors D'oeuvres | | ||
  | Eric Benet and Tamia Spend My Life With You 1999, A Day in the Life | | ||
  | Eric Roberson Already Knew You 2020, Already Knew You | | ||
  | Etta James At Last 1960, At Last! | | ||
  | Fantasia Enough 2019, Enough | | ||
  | Foundations Build Me Up Buttercup 1968, Build Me Up Buttercup | | ||
  | Four Seasons December 1963 (Oh What A Night) 1975, Who Loves You | | ||
  | Four Tops Baby I Need Your Loving 1964, Four Tops | | ||
  | Freddie Jackson You Are My Lady 1985, Rock Me Tonight | | ||
  | G.Q. I Do Love You 1979, Disco Nights | | ||
  | George Benson Love X Love 1980, Give Me the Night | | ||
  | Gerald Levert Made To Love Ya 2001, Gerald's World | | ||
  | H.E.R. Do To Me 2020, Do To Me | | ||
  | H.E.R. Every Kind Of Way 2017, H.E.R. | | ||
  | Hasan Christopher All I Need Is You 2020, All I Need Is You | | ||
  | Heatwave Always and Forever 1976, Too Hot to Handle | | ||
  | India.Arie Steady Love 2019, Worthy | | ||
  | J. Brown Forever Yours 2020, Forever Yours | | ||
  | Jackson 5 I’ll Be There 1970, ABC | | ||
  | Jagged Edge Closest Thing to Perfect 2019, Single | | ||
  | Jagged Edge Let's Get Married (ReMarqable Remix) 2000, J.E. Heartbreak | | ||
  | Jaheim Forever 2001, Ghetto Love | | ||
  | Jam & Lewis & Sounds Of Blackness feat. Ann Nesby & Big Jim Wright & Lauren Evans Til I Found You 2019, Til I Found You | | ||
  | Jason Derulo Marry Me 2013, Tattoos | | ||
  | Jay Lyriq Keep Loving You 2020, Keep Loving You | | ||
  | Jill Scott feat. Anthony Hamilton So In Love 2011, The Light of the Sun | | ||
  | John Legend All Of Me 2013, Love in the Future | | ||
  | John Legend Conversations in the Dark 2020, Conversations in the Dark | | ||
  | John Legend feat. BloodPop® A Good Night 2018, A Good Night | | ||
  | Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant Perfect 2019, Game Changer II | | ||
  | JoJo Hailey Special 2020, Special | | ||
  | Jon B Priceless 2019, Priceless | | ||
  | Josh Dean Impatient (August 28, 2020) | | ||
  | Joshua Cruz Forever Moments 2020, Forever Moments | | ||
  | K-Ci & JoJo All My Life 1997, Love Always | | ||
  | Kehlani Feels 2019. While We Wait | | ||
  | Kelly Rowland Crazy 2020, Crazy | | ||
  | Kelly Rowland This Is Love 2013, Ms. Kelly | | ||
  | Kem Lie To Me 2020, Lie To Me | | ||
  | Kem Share My Life 2010, Intimacy: Album III | | ||
  | Kem, Toni Braxton Live Out Your Love 2020, Live Out Your Love | | ||
  | Kenny Lattimore For You 1996, Kenny Lattimore | | ||
  | Khalid Better 2018, Suncity | | ||
  | Kindred The Family Soul Stars 2003, Surrender to Love | | ||
  | Larry Graham When We Get Married 1980, One in a Million You | | ||
  | Ledisi Anything For You 2020, Anything For You | | ||
  | Ledisi & PJ Morton Anything For You (The Duet) 2020, Anything For You (The Duet) | | ||
  | Leela James Fall For You 2014, Fall for You | | ||
  | Leon Bridges Beyond 2018, Good Thing | | ||
  | Leon Timbo You’re My Darling 2016, What Love's All About | | ||
  | Lionel Richie & Diana Ross Endless Love 1981, Endless Love Soundtrack | | ||
  | Lonr. feat. H.E.R. Make the Most 2020, Make the Most | | ||
  | Luther Vandross Here And Now 1989, The Best of Luther Vandross... The Best of Love | | ||
  | MAJOR. Why I Love You 2016, I Am MAJOR. | | ||
  | Mark Morrison Return of the Mack 1996, Return of the Mack | | ||
  | Marvin Gaye How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) 1965, How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You | | ||
  | Maxwell Lifetime 2001, Now | | ||
  | Meghan Trainor feat. John Legend Like I’m Gonna Lose You 2015, Title | | ||
  | Michael Jackson Billie Jean 1982, Thriller | | ||
  | Miguel Adorn 2012, Kaleidoscope Dream | | ||
  | Monica For You I Will 1998, The Boy Is Mine | | ||
  | Montell Jordan This Is How We Do It 1995, This Is How We Do It | | ||
  | Nat King Cole L-O-V-E 1964, L-O-V-E | | ||
  | Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole Unforgettable 1991, Unforgettable... with Love | | ||
  | Natalie Cole This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) 1975, Inseparable | | ||
  | Ne-Yo & Jeremih U 2 Luv 2020, U 2 Luv | | ||
  | Nicole Bus You 2018, You | | ||
  | Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack Tonight I Celebrate My Love 1983, The Peabo Bryson Collection | | ||
  | Pharrell Williams Happy 2013, Despicable Me 2 Soundtrack | | ||
  | Phora feat. Jhené Aiko Stars In The Sky 2020, Stars In The Sky | | ||
  | Pink Sweat$ 17 2020, 17 | | ||
  | Pj Morton Yearning For Your Love 2019, Yearning For Your Love | | ||
  | Prince Kiss 1986, Parade | | ||
  | Rahsaan Patterson Sent From Heaven 2019, Heroes & Gods | | ||
  | Ralph Tresvant feat. Johnny Gill All Mine 2020, All Mine | | ||
  | Robin Thicke Forever Mine 2020, Forever Mine | | ||
  | Robin Thicke When You Love Somebody 2019, When You Love Somebody | | ||
  | Robin Thicke ft. T.I., Pharrell Blurred Lines 2013, Blurred Lines | | ||
  | Sade By Your Side 1999, Lovers Rock | | ||
  | Sheléa I'm Sure It's You (The Wedding Song) 2013, I'm Sure It's You | | ||
  | Sisqo Incomplete 1999, Unleash the Dragon | | ||
  | Skip Marley & H.E.R. Slow Down 2019, Slow Down | | ||
  | Snoh Aalegra Find Someone Like You 2019, Find Someone Like You | | ||
  | Stevie Wonder Isn’t She Lovely 1976, Songs in the Key of Life | | ||
  | Stevie Wonder Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours 1970, Signed, Sealed & Delivered | | ||
  | Stevie Wonder You Are The Sunshine Of My Life 1972, Talking Book | | ||
  | Surface Shower Me with Your Love 1989, 2nd Wave | | ||
  | Tamar Braxton Crazy Kind of Love 2020, True to the Game 2 | | ||
  | Tamia Today I Do 2018, Today I Do | | ||
  | Tank Our Song 2019, ELEVATION | | ||
  | Teddy Pendergrass You’re Latest, Greatest Inspiration 1981, It's Time for Love | | ||
  | Temmora feat. Karma The Only One 2019, The Only One | | ||
  | Tevin Campbell I’m Ready 1993, I'm Ready | | ||
  | The Commodores Brick House 1977, Commodores | | ||
  | The Commodores Three Times A Lady 1978, Natural High | | ||
  | The Isley Brothers For The Love Of You 1975, The Heat Is On | | ||
  | The Manhattans Shining Star 1980, After Midnight | | ||
  | The Miracles You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me 1963, The Fabulous Miracles | | ||
  | The O’Jays Forever Mine 1979. Identify Yourself | | ||
  | The Spinners Could It Be I’m Falling In Love 1972, Spinners | | ||
  | The Weeknd Blinding Lights 2019, After Hours | | ||
  | Tiana Major9 Lucky 2020, Lucky | | ||
  | Tiana Major9 Think About You (Notion Mix) 2020, Think About You | | ||
  | Tiana Major9 & EARTHGANG Collide 2019, Queen & Slim Soundtrack | | ||
  | TJ Jackson #1 Fan 2020, #1 Fan | | ||
  | Tony Terry Born Ta Luv Ya 2020, Born Ta Luv Ya | | ||
  | Tracyan Lifetime of Love 2020, Lifetime of Love | | ||
  | Tweet Neva Felt This Way 2020, Neva Felt This Way | | ||
  | Usher Feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris Yeah 2004, Confessions | | ||
  | Vanessa Williams Save The Best For Last 1991, The Comfort Zone | | ||
  | Wayne Brady feat. Cat Gray Flirtin' w / Forever 2019, Flirtin' w / Forever | | ||
  | Whitney Houston I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) 1987, Whitney | | ||
  | Will Downing One in a Million 2020, Romantique, Pt. 2 | | ||
Listen to our R&B wedding songs playlist on Spotify.
Hot New Songs Delivered Monthly!
I’d definitely replace Stand By Me with Wonderful World by Sam Cooke. It reminds me of that great scene in Witness with Harrison Fod.
Hi Bridget. Thanks for your recommendation. However, “Stand By Me” is a very popular wedding song. It was even played at the recent Royal Wedding!
I have some more suggestions for you to add to the list.
“No Way” – Toni Braxton
“All I Do Is Think Of You” – Troop
“Can’t Get Enough of You” – Mary J. Blige
“Find Myself in You” – Brian McKnight
Thank you Jasmine. All great songs. We will consider adding them on our next update.
Thank you for the suggestions.
Awesome Paulette. Glad you like them and thanks for stopping by.
Most perfect! Love that years are on them too. Thank you
Glad you like it. Thanks for stopping by and please tell your friends.
Can you please remove R.Kelly from the list?
Hi Eve. Thank you for your feedback.
I really like this list! It’s like a journey through R&B from the 60s to modern-day, basically covering a few generations. At a wedding, you can easily see the grandparents singing along to the Tempts and Miracles, etc., and the kids today enjoying Ella Mai and so forth. There are some recent songs I hadn’t heard of that I will be checking out as well. Thanks again for posting this!
Awesome D.D. Thanks for the feedback. We do update this list a couple of times a year. Be sure to check back!
Please add Anita Baker “You Bring Me Joy”
Thanks for sharing this list, it’s great! I found just the song I was searching for.
Awesome Camilla. Glad we were able to be a source for you.
Add john legend so high
Thank you! Great song! John Legend has many songs that could be added/subtracted from this list.
got a suggestion… ed sherran perfect. not sure if i spelled his name right
Thanks, Donald. We will be adding the version with Beyonce shortly!
This was perfect!! Thanks for this!!!
Thanks for stopping by Rachelle and the kind words.
Thank you so much you’re heaven sent …
Thank you, Winnie, for stopping by. Glad we could help.
What a blast of old and new
Thanks Jeffrey. Glad you enjoyed.
This was very helpful thanks alot
Thanks for stopping by Chaquita and the Kudos.
Thank you for compiling. I’m getting married May 27, 2017 – this list is very helpful. Thank you!
Thanks for stopping by Maria. Congrats on your wedding and glad we could help!
Who sang you and I written by stevie wonder in the 1970s
You and I (We Can Conquer the World) was written and sung by Stevie Wonder
There were other versions of the song. You can see the other releases on Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_and_I_(We_Can_Conquer_the_World)
Totally Awesome List!
Celebrating our 50th Anniversary in May 2015.
Thank you!
Great suggestion. We will add it to the list.