Upbeat Cocktail Hour Songs – Don’t Bore Guests!

Cocktail hour is a time when your wedding guests first arrive at your wedding reception. The “I Do’s” are done and now they are ready to get the party started. A music entertainer’s job is to know what style of music the wedding couple wants for their cocktail hour songs (or happy hour songs.)

As an experienced wedding DJ, I’ve assembled a list of songs to play as guests arrive at the reception. Songs are selected by the meaning of the song and popular hits by today’s couples. You will find some awesome unique tracks too!

Popular Cocktail Hour Music Theme Playlists

New Hits DJs Should Know

• The Feeling You Get – Empire Of The Sun
• I Adore You – HUGEL, Topic, Arash, Daecolm
• No Question – Tyga, Sabrina Claudio
• Lovely Day – Amber Mark
• Darling – Shimza, Aloe Blacc

Rat Pack

The crooner era lives on with these popular hits. They will remind you of the classy era of black bow tie suits and elegant black dresses.

• Hallelujah, I Love Her So – Ray Charles
• Everybody Loves Somebody – Dean Martin
• It’s Not Unusual – Tom Jones
• Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) – Frank Sinatra, Count Basie
• L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole
• Mack The Knife – Bobby Darin
• Feeling Good – Michael Buble
• A Sunday Kind Of Love – Etta James
• A Kiss To Build A Dream On – Louis Armstrong
• All Of You – Sammy Davis Jr.

Motown

There are so many great songs from Motown that will set the mood for a fun reception.

• Stand By Me – Otis Redding
• Something’s Got A Hold On Me – Etta James
• You’re A Wonderful One – Marvin Gaye
• Rock With You – Michael Jackson
• Nightshift – Commodores
• I’ll Be Around – The Spinners
• Never Too Much – Luther Vandross
• Baby, I Love You – Aretha Franklin
• Be My Baby – The Ronettes
• Being With You – Smokey Robinson

Yacht Rock

Soft rock from the 70s and 80s doesn’t have to be boring. The songs create a chill vibe while enjoying their adult beverages and waiting for the wedding party to arrive.

• You Can Do Magic – America
• Human Nature – Michael Jackson
• Lovely Day – Bill Withers
• Biggest Part Of Me – Ambrosia
• Sailing – Christopher Cross
• Listen To The Music – The Doobie Brothers
• Caribbean Queen – Billy Ocean
• Love Will Keep Us Together – Captain & Tennille
• Do It Again – Steely Dan
• We’re In This Love Together – Al Jarreau

Acoustic

Enjoy a list of acoustic cover songs that will have guests singing along but also enjoying the moment.

• Grow Old With You – ortoPilot
• Simply The Best – The Moon Loungers
• Meant To Be Acoustic – Bebe Rexha
• Yellow – Penny Sweet
• Watermelon Sugar – Jonah Baker
• You Are My Sunshine – Music Travel Love
• Beautiful Soul – Boyce Avenue
• Can’t Help Falling In Love – Kina Grannis
• Better Together – Us The Duo
• Make You Feel My Love – Shane Filan

Sing-alongs

Many recognizable songs will have guests singing to them while bobbing their heads and tapping their toes. These hits will get you started.

• I’m A Believer – Smash Mouth
• Just The Way You Are – Bruno Mars
• A Thousand Miles – Vanessa Carlton
• Angel – Shaggy, Rayvon
• Fantasy – Mariah Carey
• You Belong With Me (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift
• I Want It That Way – Backstreet Boys
• Love On Top – Beyonce
• Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Jennifer Hudson
• Roar – Katy Perry

Modern R&B

Keeping up on the hits to set a hipster vibe can be difficult. These hits set the tone for a modern love theme.

• Baby Will You Love Me – MAJOR.
• Be The One – Bree Runway & Khalid
• HERicane – Lucky Daye
• 4 Me – Don Toliver, Kali Uchis
• Your Love Is All I Need – Vedo
• After Hours – Kehlani
• your love is life – Musiq Soulchild, Hit-Boy
• Keeps On Fallin’ – Babyface, Ella Mai
• Me & U – Tems
• Smooth Sailin’ – Leon Bridges

Modern Hip Hop

Hip Hop is the most popular genre right now. This is a great way to play hits that aren’t quite dance tracks.

• What It Is (Solo Version) – Doechii
• I Like You (A Happier Song) – Post Malone, Doja Cat
• Creepin’ – Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, 21 Savage
• marry me – KANII
• Sunflower – Post Malone, Swae Lee
• Paint The Town Red – Doja Cat
• All the Stars – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
• Cinderella – Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott
• I’m the One – DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne
• First Class – Jack Harlow

Modern Country

Having mid-tempo country hits for a barn wedding or country music fans will get everyone in a happy mood.

• Pour Me A Drink – Post Malone, Blake Shelton
• Falling For You – Niko Moon
• Dancin’ In The Moonlight – Chris Lane, Lauren Alaina
• Steal My Love – Dan + Shay
• Fooled Around and Fell in Love – Miranda Lambert feat. Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes & Caylee
• The Painter – Cody Johnson
• Just the Way – Parmalee & Blanco Brown
• Whatever Forever Is – Devin Dawson
• Happy Anywhere – Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani
• Buy Dirt – Jordan Davis, Luke Bryan

Modern Indie Rock

Not everyone wants to hear the popular hits heard everywhere. These indie hits set a cool vibe while keeping an upbeat tempo.

• Lost In Space – Foster The People
• Stargazing – Myles Smith
• Birds of a Feather – Billie Eilish
• Good Together – Lake Street Dive
• Tiny Moves – Bleachers
• All 4 Nothing (I’m So In Love) – Lauv
• Missing Piece – Vance Joy
• I’m In Love With You – The 1975
• Whatever – Walk Off the Earth
• Pineapple Sunrise – Beach Weather

Tropical House

This is my favorite category because this genre adds a bit of coolness to a reception with great beats.

• More Than Yesterday – Two Friends & Russell Dickerson
• Stumblin’ In – CYRIL
• Lifetime – SG Lewis
• Little Bit More – Suriel Hess
• Fast Car – Jonas Blue, Dakota
• Walking On Sunshine – CARSTN, Katrina & the Waves, Agent Zed
• What A Wonderful World – SOFI TUKKER
• Time After Time – Paratone
• Bloom – Lucas Estrada, TWOPILOTS
• Sway My Way – R3HAB, Amy Shark

There you have it. Do you think a song should be added to the list? Be sure to comment down below so I can do so!