Celebrate Love: 1940s Wedding Songs That Inspire

As an experienced wedding DJ, I’ve assembled a list of popular 1940s songs to get people on the dance floor and for romance at your wedding!

The 1940s saw the US entering WWII as well as ending it. Ticker tape parades and famous kisses celebrated victories in Europe and Japan. Emerging from that war changed the mood of the country and gave birth (literally) to the Boomer Generation.

The songs of the 1940s make us feel good and want to get off our chairs and dance all night long. That’s why they are the perfect decade to add to your wedding reception playlist!

Trending 1940s Wedding Songs

1. “La Vie En Rose” by Edith Piaf
2. “In The Mood” by Glenn Miller Orchestra
3. “I Love You For Sentimental Reasons” by Nat King Cole
4. “Day By Day” by Frank Sinatra
5. “I’ll Dance At Your Wedding” by Buddy Clark & Ray Noble & His Orchestra
6. “As Time Goes By” by Dooley Wilson
7. “Anniversary Song” by Al Jolson
8. “I Love You” by Bing Crosby
9. “Till The End Of Time” by Perry Como
10. “Take The ‘A’ Train” by Duke Ellington

Songs Ideas by Vibe

Romantic Slow Dances

Plan a slow dance song for all of the couples in attendance to dance with their partners.

• La Vie En Rose – Edith Piaf
• Till The End Of Time – Perry Como
• I’ll Be Seeing You – Frank Sinatra & Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
• In a Sentimental Mood – Duke Ellington
• Body and Soul – Coleman Hawkins
• As Time Goes By – Dooley Wilson
• Some Enchanted Evening – Ezio Pinza
• I Love You For Sentimental Reasons – Nat King Cole
• I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire – The Ink Spots

Upbeat Dance Hits

If the crowd puts on their dancing shoes and is ready to party, these songs will get everyone in the mood to party and dance.

• Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy – The Andrews Sisters
• In The Mood – Glenn Miller Orchestra (party dance song)
• Rum And Coca-Cola – The Andrews Sisters
• Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me) – Glenn Miller
• Chattanooga Choo Choo – Glenn Miller
• Pennsylvania 6-5000 – Glenn Miller
• Tuxedo Junction – Glenn Miller
• Get Your Kicks On Route 66 – Nat King Cole
• Boogie Chillen’ – John Lee Hooker
• Good Rockin’ Tonight – Wynonie Harris

Swing & Big Band Favorites

Swing music is so much fun if guests have the dance moves. These songs will create a lively atmosphere.

• String Of Pearls – Glenn Miller
• Take The ‘A’ Train – Duke Ellington
• Artistry in Rhythm – Stan Kenton
• Flying Home – Lionel Hampton
• Jukebox Saturday Night – Glenn Miller Orchestra
• Moonlight Cocktail – Glenn Miller Orchestra
• Jersey Bounce – Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
• Opus No. 1 – Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
• Stardust – Artie Shaw
• Symphony – Benny Goodman And His Orchestra
• Groovin’ High – Dizzy Gillespie
• A Night in Tunisia – Dizzy Gillespie
• Black, Brown, and Beige – Duke Ellington
• Nuages – Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli

Classic Love Songs

These love songs are for newlyweds who just vowed to spend the rest of their lives together.

• I’ll Walk Alone – Dinah Shore
• I Can Dream, Can’t I? – The Andrews Sisters
• I’ll Never Smile Again – Tommy Dorsey
• Prisoner Of Love – Perry Como
• Dearly Beloved – Rita Hayworth
• Nature Boy – Nat King Cole
• I’m Making Believe – Ella Fitzgerald and The Ink Spots
• You Made Me Love You (I Didn’t Want To Do It) – Harry James And His Orchestra
• Anniversary Song – Al Jolson
• I Love You – Bing Crosby
• Only Forever – Bing Crosby
• When You Wish Upon A Star – Cliff Edwards

Sentimental & Emotional Tracks

Sometimes looking back is a way to move forward. These songs will bring back lots of memories.

• I’ll Get By (As Long as I Have You) – Dick Haymes
• Dear Hearts And Gentle People – Dinah Shore
• I’m Beginning To See The Light – Harry James Orchestra
• My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time – Les Brown
• In The Blue of Evening – Frank Sinatra & Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
• Paper Doll – The Mills Brothers
• God Bless the Child – Billie Holiday
• I’ve Heard That Song Before – Harry James
• Sentimental Journey – Les Brown Band
• I’ll Be Seeing You – Frank Sinatra & Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
• I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm – Les Brown And His Orchestra

Quirky & Fun Tracks

Having an oddball song every once in a while creates a fun moment and unexpected laughter.

• Baby, It’s Cold Outside – Margaret Whiting & Johnny Mercer
• Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah – James Baskett
• Buttons And Bows – Dinah Shore
• A Tree In The Meadow – Margaret Whiting
• Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly – Dinah Shore
• Jingle, Jangle, Jingle – Kay Kyser And His Orchestra
• Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy – Red Foley
• Rag Mop – The Ames Brothers
• The Old Lamp-Lighter – Sammy Kaye
• That’s My Desire – Sammy Kaye

World Music & Jazz Influence

You can show how much you know the music from the 40s with a diverse crowd with these hit songs.

• Besame Mucho (Kiss Me Much) – Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra
• Amor – Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra
• Brazil – Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra
• The Breeze And I – Jimmy Dorsey
• Frenesi – Artie Shaw
• Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive – Bing Crosby & The Andrew Sisters
• Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t (My Baby) – Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
• Caledonia – Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
• G.I. Jive – Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
• This Land Is Your Land – Woody Guthrie
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown – Earl Scruggs
• New San Antonio Rose – Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys

Seasonal & Special Occasion Songs

These songs are saved for special moments and times of the year for the wedding couple.

• Auld Lang Syne – Guy Lombardo
• Anniversary Song – Al Jolson
• I’ll Dance At Your Wedding – Buddy Clark & Ray Noble & His Orchestra
• Oh! What It Seemed To Be – Frank Sinatra

DJs! Plan 1940s Wedding Songs by BPM and Key

(Click on the Song, Artist, Key and BPM table columns for sorting)

*BPM and key pulled from SongData.io

Spotify 1940s Playlist

Do you have a favorite 1940s wedding song? Please share the song below and why it is special to you.

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