Upbeat Cocktail Hour Songs – Don’t Bore Guests!
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!
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.)

Quick Tips
How do you wish to set the mood?
1. Do you have a specific vibe you want as guests arrive at the reception?
2. Cocktail hour is a great time to play a variety of music to determine what guests will dance to when it comes time to party.
3. Don’t bore guests with all the slow and sappy music. This will result in them leaving early.
New Cocktail Hour Songs to Know
- Appetite – Great Good Fine Ok, Danielle Bradbery
- Darling – Shimza, Aloe Blacc
- Don’t Blame It On Me – Michael Bublé
- Every Single Day With You – Abraham Colona, Bayshore Court & EyeMad
- Favorite – Chlöe & Anderson .Paak
- Good Luck, Babe! Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox & Tatum Langley
- I Adore You – HUGEL, Topic, Arash, Daecolm
- Let’s Go Back – Jungle
- Lovely Day – Amber Mark
- Moonlit Floor – LISA
- My Everything – Danny Boy & Snoop Dogg
- No Question – Tyga, Sabrina Claudio
- PNAU x Coldplay – ALL MY LOVE
- Still Into You – Cyril, maryjo
- The Feeling You Get – Empire Of The Sun
- True – CYRIL & Kita Alexander
- We Might Even Be Falling In Love (Duet) – Victoria Monét & Bryson Tiller
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
DJs! Plan a Cocktail Hour Playlist by BPM and Key
(Click on the Song, Artist, Key and BPM column headers for sorting)
Song | Artist | Key | BPM |
---|---|---|---|
Smooth Sailin' | Leon Bridges | 10A | 67 |
Make You Feel My Love | Shane Filan | 2B | 71 |
Hallelujah, I Love Her So | Ray Charles | 4A | 73 |
I'm In Love With You | The 1975 | 10B | 75 |
A Kiss To Build A Dream On | Louis Armstrong | 3B | 76 |
L-O-V-E | Nat King Cole | 12B | 78 |
We're in This Love Together | Al Jarreau | 7B | 79 |
I'm the One (feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne) | DJ Khaled, Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, Lil Wayne | 9B | 81 |
whatever | Walk Off the Earth | 10A | 82 |
Mack the Knife | Bobby Darin | 2A | 83 |
What A Wonderful World | Sofi Tukker | 4A | 83 |
You're A Wonderful One | Marvin Gaye | 6B | 84 |
4 Me (feat. Kali Uchis) | Don Toliver, Kali Uchis | 7A | 84 |
A Sunday Kind Of Love | Etta James | 7A | 86 |
Little Bit More | Suriel Hess | 9B | 86 |
Beautiful Soul | Boyce Avenue | 11B | 89 |
Sunflower - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse | Post Malone, Swae Lee | 10B | 90 |
Just the Way (Acoustic) | Parmalee, Blanco Brown | 11B | 90 |
Roar | Katy Perry | 6A | 90 |
Yellow (Acoustic Cover) | Penny Sweet | 6B | 90 |
Watermelon Sugar - Acoustic | Jonah Baker | 6B | 91 |
Lovely Day | Bill Withers | 8A | 91 |
Human Nature | Michael Jackson | 10B | 93 |
Stumblin' In | CYRIL | 11B | 94 |
Love On Top | Beyoncé | 8B | 94 |
A Thousand Miles | Vanessa Carlton | 1B | 95 |
HERicane | Lucky Daye | 6A | 95 |
All The Stars (with SZA) | Kendrick Lamar, SZA | 4B | 97 |
The Painter | Cody Johnson | 10B | 98 |
I Want It That Way | Backstreet Boys | 11A | 99 |
Sailing | Christopher Cross | 11B | 99 |
Meant to Be - Acoustic | Bebe Rexha | 11B | 99 |
Creepin' (with The Weeknd & 21 Savage) | Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, 21 Savage | 7B | 100 |
Paint The Town Red | Doja Cat | 7B | 100 |
Missing Piece | Vance Joy | 8B | 102 |
Nightshift | Commodores | 4B | 105 |
Good Together | Lake Street Dive | 4B | 105 |
Listen to the Music | The Doobie Brothers | 12A | 106 |
First Class | Jack Harlow | 4A | 107 |
Being With You | Smokey Robinson | 5A | 109 |
Never Too Much | Luther Vandross | 10B | 110 |
Keeps On Fallin' (with Ella Mai) | Babyface, Ella Mai | 3B | 110 |
Better Together | Us The Duo | 7B | 110 |
Grow Old With You | ortoPilot | 7B | 110 |
BIRDS OF A FEATHER | Billie Eilish | 9B | 110 |
Pineapple Sunrise | Beach Weather | 10B | 112 |
I'll Be Around | The Spinners | 1A | 112 |
Stand by Me | Otis Redding | 6B | 112 |
Me & U | Tems | 6B | 112 |
Fooled Around and Fell in Love | Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack | 7B | 112 |
Be The One (with Khalid) | Bree Runway, Khalid | 9B | 112 |
Fast Car | Jonas Blue, Dakota | 11B | 114 |
Sway My Way | R3HAB, Amy Shark | 11B | 114 |
Rock With You | Michael Jackson | 3B | 114 |
Caribbean Queen (No More Love On the Run) | Billy Ocean | 7B | 114 |
Feeling Good | Michael Bublé | 3B | 115 |
Walking on Sunshine | CARSTN, Katrina & The Waves, Agent Zed | 6B | 115 |
Time After Time | Paratone | 10A | 116 |
It's Not Unusual | Tom Jones | 10B | 116 |
Lost In Space | Foster The People | 3B | 117 |
Lifetime | SG Lewis | 4A | 117 |
Pour Me A Drink (Feat. Blake Shelton) | Post Malone, Blake Shelton | 1B | 119 |
Everybody Loves Somebody | Dean Martin | 5B | 119 |
Simply the Best (Acoustic Cover) | The Moon Loungers | 12B | 120 |
All 4 Nothing (I'm So In Love) | Lauv | 2B | 120 |
Fly Me To The Moon - 2008 Remastered | Frank Sinatra, Count Basie | 9A | 120 |
Dancin' In The Moonlight (feat. Lauren Alaina) | Chris Lane, Lauren Alaina | 1A | 122 |
Bloom | Lucas Estrada, TWOPILOTS | 10A | 123 |
Ain't No Mountain High Enough | Jennifer Hudson | 10A | 124 |
Stargazing | Myles Smith | 12A | 124 |
Do It Again | Steely Dan | 7A | 125 |
Just the Way You Are | Bruno Mars | 8B | 125 |
I Like You (A Happier Song) (with Doja Cat) | Post Malone, Doja Cat | 8B | 128 |
Be My Baby | The Ronettes | 12B | 130 |
Love Will Keep Us Together | Captain & Tennille | 12B | 130 |
You Belong With Me (Taylor’s Version) | Taylor Swift | 2B | 130 |
Cinderella | Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott | 4A | 130 |
You Can Do Magic | America | 9A | 130 |
Your Love Is All I Need | Vedo | 10B | 132 |
marry me | Kanii | 7B | 132 |
After Hours | Kehlani | 3B | 135 |
your love is life | Musiq Soulchild, Hit-Boy | 10A | 140 |
All Of You | Sammy Davis Jr. | 3B | 143 |
Baby Will You Love Me | MAJOR. | 9B | 146 |
Something's Got A Hold On Me | Etta James | 3B | 151 |
You Are My Sunshine | Music Travel Love | 4B | 152 |
Biggest Part of Me | Ambrosia | 6B | 153 |
Whatever Forever Is | Devin Dawson | 4B | 154 |
Tiny Moves | Bleachers | 11B | 156 |
FALLING FOR YOU | Niko Moon | 7B | 160 |
I'm A Believer - From "Shrek" Motion Picture Soundtrack | Smash Mouth | 2B | 165 |
Happy Anywhere (feat. Gwen Stefani) | Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani | 4B | 166 |
What It Is (Solo Version) | Doechii | 12A | 172 |
Angel | Shaggy, Rayvon | 3B | 172 |
Buy Dirt | Jordan Davis, Luke Bryan | 12B | 178 |
Steal My Love | Dan + Shay | 10B | 180 |
Baby, I Love You | Aretha Franklin | 8B | 182 |
Can't Help Falling In Love | Kina Grannis | 8B | 182 |
*BPM and key pulled from SongData.io
Spotify Cocktail Hour Playlist
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!