60 Inappropriate Wedding Songs (Do Not Play)
Updated on February 2, 2022 | Written by Matthew Campbell
Weddings are a time for a celebration of love. There are songs to avoid at your reception.
Irony aside, no one will get your inside joke. Avoiding songs is smart for a lot of reasons.
You don’t want to play “your song” from another relationship, a song that talks about cheating or a breakup, or songs that contain explicit lyrics.
Weddings are a time to celebrate the marriage of two people in love with one another.
Wedding music sets the mood for the wedding ceremony and wedding reception.
Not every song is appropriate for a wedding ceremony and reception.
Table of Contents:
What Songs Should I Avoid At My Wedding?
Be sure the music selected fits the theme and style of the wedding and reception. Classical background music would not be appropriate for a country-themed reception. If at all possible, we recommend having the widest range of music types possible. This will keep the majority of the guests happy. Music entertainers must be given as much leeway on music selections for the dancing portion of the wedding reception. This is their specialty – to get guests dancing!
- Do not play music with explicit lyrics. We do not list any songs below in this category as this is self-explanatory. Be sure your music entertainer has the radio version of all songs played at your wedding.
- Do not play songs that pertain to death or reference suicide. Songs in this category include “Don’t Close Your Eyes” by Kix and “Jumper” by Third Eye Blind.
- Do not play music that is suggestive or offensive. David Lee Roth’s cover of “Just A Gigolo” is a great song for the garter removal or garter placement. However, is this song really appropriate for a wedding? We’re saying no. Other song considerations with inappropriate meaning include “Love Stinks” by J Geils Band, “Mother-In-Law” by Ernie K-Doe, and “Relax” by Frankie Goes To Hollywood.
- Songs that refer to the stressful wedding planning process. A Song example is “I’m In A Hurry (And Don’t Know Why)” by Alabama.
- Please add stalking songs to your do not playlist. Song examples include the Police’s “Every Breath You Take” and “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell.
- Songs played that have extended playing time. The average song length is about 3 1/2 minutes. Extended length songs include “American Pie” by Don McLean and “Paradise By The Dashboard Light “by Meat Loaf.
Inappropriate Songs To Add To Your DO NOT PLAY List
We provide the songs to avoid at your wedding as a guide. Even though many of the songs to avoid are popular, our experience says it’s not worth it.
So, talk to your wedding planner and DJ and, as always, use your best judgment.
Your wedding should be remembered for the right reasons, not the faux pas.
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| Song | Amazon Link | |
|---|---|---|
| I Hate Everything About You - Three Days Grace 2003, Rock inappropriate meaning |  | |
| All My Ex’s Live In Texas - George Strait 1987, Country inappropriate meaning | | |
| Back To You - Selena Gomez 2018, Pop Break-up song | | |
| Be Alright - Dean Lewis 2018, Pop Break-up song | | |
| Better - Parachute 2019, Pop inappropriate meaning | | |
| Better Man - Little Big Town 2016, Country inappropriate meaning | | |
| Break Up In The End - Cole Swindell 2018, Country Song Subject | | |
| Break Up With Him - Old Dominion 2015, Country inappropriate meaning | | |
| D-I-V-O-R-C-E - Tammy Wynette 1975, Country inappropriate meaning | | |
| Dancing with a Stranger - Sam Smith & Normani 2019, Dance Break-up song | | |
| Don't Marry Her- The Beautiful South 1996, Pop inappropriate meaning | | |
| drivers license - Olivia Rodrigo 2021, Pop Break-up song | | |
| Drunk On A Plane - Dierks Bentley 2014, Country inappropriate meaning | | |
| Every Breath You Take - The Police 1983, Rock About stalking | | |
| Everything About You - Ugly Kid Joe 1992, Rock inappropriate meaning | | |
| Everything Has Changed - Taylor Swift feat. Ed Sheeran 2012, Pop inappropriate meaning | | |
| Fake Love - Drake 2016, Hip Hop inappropriate meaning | | |
| Gold Digger - Kanye West 2005, Hip Hop inappropriate meaning | | |
| Gone 2 Long - PRETTYMUCH 2019, Pop Break-up song | | |
| Grenade - Bruno Mars 2010, Pop inappropriate meaning | | |
| Guys My Age - Hey Violet 2016, Pop inappropriate meaning | | |
| He Went to Jared - HIXTAPE, HARDY & Morgan Wallen 2019, Country inappropriate meaning | | |
| Hello - Adele 2015, Pop inappropriate meaning | | |
| Highway To Hell - AC/DC 1979, Rock inappropriate meaning | | |
| i love you - Billie Eilish 2019, Alternative Rock Break-up song | | |
| I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For - U2 1987, Rock inappropriate meaning | | |
| I Touch Myself - Divinyls 1990, Pop Suggestive | | |
| If I Didn't Love You - Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood 2021, Country inappropriate meaning | | |
| If You Met Me First - Eric Ethridge 2018, Country inappropriate meaning | | |
| In The End - Linkin Park 2001, Rock inappropriate meaning | | |
| It Wasn’t Me - Shaggy 2000, Reggae inappropriate meaning | | |
| Just A Gigolo - David Lee Roth 1985, Rock inappropriate meaning | | |
| Let It Go - James Bay 2014, Alternative Rock Break-up Song | | |
| Love Hurts - Nazareth 1960, Rock inappropriate meaning | | |
| Love Stinks - J. Geils Band 1980, Rock inappropriate meaning | | |
| Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division 1980, Punk inappropriate meaning | | |
| Love Yourself - Justin Bieber 2015, Pop inappropriate meaning | | |
| Lyin’ Eyes - Eagles 1975, Rock inappropriate meaning | | |
| Marry Me - Thomas Rhett 2017, Country inappropriate meaning | | |
| Meant To Be - Ber & Charlie Oriain 2021, Indie inappropriate meaning | | |
| Mother-In-Law - Ernie K-Doe 1961, R&B inappropriate meaning | | |
| My Best Friend’s Girl - The Cars 1978, Rock inappropriate meaning | | |
| My Humps - Black Eyed Peas 2005, Dance Break-up song | | |
| Naked - James Arthur 2017, Pop Break-up Song | | |
| Never Really Over - Katy Perry 2019, Pop Break-up song | | |
| Nights Like This - Kehlani feat. Ty Dolla $ign 2019, R&B Break-up song | | |
| Out Of Love - Alessia Cara 2018, Pop Break-up song | | |
| Reason to Drink - Cole Swindell 2018, Country Song Subject | | |
| She Hates Me - Puddle Of Mudd 2001, Rock inappropriate meaning | | |
| Should I Stay or Should I Go - The Clash 1982, Punk inappropriate meaning | | |
| Shout Out To My Ex - Little Mix 2016, Pop inappropriate meaning | | |
| Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson 2004, Pop Break-up song | | |
| Singles You Up - Jordan Davis 2018, Country Song Subject | | |
| Somebody’s Watching Me - Rockwell 1984, Funk About stalking | | |
| Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley 1968, Pop inappropriate meaning | | |
| Tainted Love - Soft Cell 1981, New Wave inappropriate meaning | | |
| The End - Doors 1967, Rock inappropriate meaning | | |
| Til It Wasn't - Chris Ruediger 2021, Country Break-up song | | |
| To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before - Julio Iglesias with Willie Nelson 1984, Country Pop inappropriate meaning | | |
| Treat You Better - Shawn Mendes 2016, Pop inappropriate meaning | | |
| What’s a Man to Do - Usher 2008, R&B inappropriate meaning | | |
| When I Was Your Man - Bruno Mars 2002, Pop inappropriate meaning | | |
| Who’s Making Love - Blues Brothers 1980, Rock inappropriate meaning | | |
| Why Don’t We Get Drunk - Jimmy Buffett 1973, Country inappropriate meaning | | |
| Why Won't You Love Me - 5 Seconds Of Summer 2018, Pop Break-up song | | |
| You Can’t Always Get What You Want - The Rolling Stones 1969, Rock inappropriate meaning | | |
| You Give Love A Bad Name - Bon Jovi 1986, Rock inappropriate meaning | | |
| You’re So Vain - Carly Simon 1972, Rock inappropriate meaning | | |
Create a Do Not Play List for Your Reception
Creating a “Do Not Play List” for your wedding reception is key — especially if you’re DIYing your wedding. Professional DJs and wedding planners may know these song pitfalls already. However, if there are songs that bring up bad memories, be sure to compile that list as well.
What songs should you avoid personally? Songs to include would be “our song” from a previous marriage or relationship. The last thing you want to do is think about that person or remind your new spouse of an old love. Don’t forget favorite songs from close relatives who have passed. Unless you intentionally want to honor that person, this will definitely hit home on an already emotional day. If your family is especially religious, you may want to avoid songs that are sexually explicit.
Any songs that you — like a wedding couple — come up with will help your entertainer decide their playlist. If you do not want hokey line dance songs, then put them on the list. Explicit instructions are needed for your favorite type of music. With that said, your DJ’s job is to keep the dance floor full with your wedding guests.
Should We Include Group Dance Songs At Our Wedding?
Group dance songs are good for single people at your wedding or mismatched couples. (If your aunt can’t dance with her husband, she’ll bug all of the cute guys at the wedding.) We know some people do not like such dances as they consider them goofy and/or well overplayed at wedding receptions. We get it. Some of the group songs are so lame. Your DJ won’t know this. It’s up to you, as the wedding couple, to let him know.
Popular group dance songs played at many wedding receptions include the “Macarena” by Los Del Rio, the “Chicken Dance,” and the “Hokey Pokey.” If you’d rather not do the electric slide one more time, then add group songs to your do not playlist. If you’d rather pass, then add them to the songs to avoid the list.
Do We Need A Dollar Dance At Our Wedding?
Like most traditions surrounding a wedding, it’s up to the wedding couple. For those not used to the culture behind it, they feel the money/dollar dance is inappropriate. Asking for money in the dollar dance can appear distasteful or greedy — especially since guests are expected to bring presents.
You can switch it up, though. Try using flower petals, fake money, or — better yet — well wishes. You can do this with same-sex weddings as well. Like any detail at your wedding reception, talk to your wedding coordinator and professional DJ. Depending upon the theme the song choice could be really fun.
Similar song lists for further reading:
Hot New Songs Delivered Monthly!
Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People should NOT be played. It’s about a school shooting.
Thank you for the suggestion. Definitely a song to leave off a wedding playlist.
Additional ones to exclude at a wedding are Sam Smith’s ‘Too Good at Goodbyes’ (breakup song), Adele’s ‘Someone like you’ (also a breakup song), ‘Rolling in the Deep’ (inappropriate meaning) and, despite its catchy melody, Krewella’s ‘Live for the Nights’ (explicit lyrics; not sure if a radio version exists).
Thank you. Great suggestions!
I’d also inlude Adele’s ‘Hello’ (breakup song) and ‘Send my love (to your new lover’ (inappropriate meaning).
Thank you! Great suggestions.
Despite its catchy tune, ‘Run to You’ by Bryan Adams should be a definite do-not-play. It’s about an affair which would seem to fit the bill for exclusion.
Thank you for the suggestion! It is never a good idea to play a song about adultery.
‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’ and ‘Dance (While the music still goes on)’ by ABBA are 2 definite exclusions. They are serious breakup songs.
Thank you for the suggestions!
I’d add Ed Sheeran’s ‘The Shape of you’ to this list. It’s overplayed and the chorus is distinctly creepy, almost to the extent of stalking-like.
Thanks for the comment Anonin. However, you are mentioning a very popular song that has a few very good dance remixes too. Maybe others can offer their opinion.
“They Call Her Easy” by Harry Chapin. A woman has relations with a man and doesn’t even charge him for it.
Thank you Keath for the suggestion. Yes, the Chapin song should definitely not be on any wedding playlist.
‘White Wedding’ – Billy Idol
Any song about addiction or recovery
Any song about the worlds oldest profession
Any song about the worlds second oldest profession
Any song about crime
Any song about incarceration
Any song about con artistry or swindling
Thanks, Danford for pointing out the additional reasons for songs to skip on your wedding day!
Jessie’s Girl… definitely cant play that one
Hi Nix. Thanks for the suggestion. Jessie’s Girl does fall into the category of a song that does not have a good song meaning but everyone loves to sing and dance to the song.
Positively fourth street; different drum; i’m not lisa;diamonds and rust
Thanks Skip for your contributions!
DO NOT play Toy Soldiers by Martika,IT ISN’T what you think it is about ?
Thanks Scott for the tip.
If you leave me now by Chicago, Without You-Nilsson (Covered by Mariah Carey), All By Myself -Eric Carmen (Covered by Celine Dion), Torn Between Two Lovers (can’t remember who sings it). All inappropriate for weddings
Thank you Samantha. Great list of songs that should be added.
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Listen To Her Heart
1978, Rock
Inappropriate Meaning
Hi Cameron, you’re right – not a wedding song! Thanks for sharing.
Here is a song you don’t want played at a wedding:
Breaking up is hard to do by Neil Sedaka
Thanks John. This song should definitely be on this list.
Thanks. We will add it to the list!
Before he cheats, Carrie underwood
Here’s a song to never play at wedding
Who’s Making Love – The Blues Brothers
Thanks for the suggestion Cameron!
Here are some do not play songs for weddings:
You Don’t Love Me Anymore-Weird “Al” Yankovic 1992
Here’s A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares-Travis Tritt 1991
Tell Laura I Love Her-Ray Peterson 1960
Running Bear-Johnny Preston 1960
Thank you Joey. We will add them to the list!
you forgot whats a man to do by usher
its about a guy who can’t bring himself to admit that he has been cheating and is in love with two women