Ultimate Pre-Wedding Playlist – A Wedding DJ Programming Guide

As a wedding DJ, your first impression starts before the ceremony.

This guide gives you a DJ-usable pre-wedding playlist organized for getting-ready suites, guest arrivals, and the 60–90 minutes before the processional with programming notes, clean-edit cues, and a sortable BPM/key table.

Use it to set the mood, smooth the timeline, and prime the room for a great ceremony.

How DJs Should Use This Page

• Build crates by zone: Getting Ready (suite), Photo Sessions, Guest Arrival/Pre-Ceremony, Line-Up/Seating.
• Program an energy curve: Warm & light, recognizable mid-tempo sing-alongs, gentle “settle” tracks in the last 5–10 minutes.
• Keep clean edits handy: Lyrics must be family-friendly; pre-ceremony = conversational volume (-12 to -9 LUFS Loudness Units Full Scale target).
• Tag songs by function: Uplift, Love-theme, Nostalgia hook, Instrumental cover, Recessional-adjacent.
• Two backups per vibe: One classic + one modern, so you can pivot to the room’s age mix.

Recommended Flow

• T-90 to T-60 (doors open/early arrivals): instrumentals, acoustic covers, soft soul.
• T-60 to T-20: mid-tempo sing-alongs (Motown, pop, light country crossover).
• T-20 to T-10: dial back energy; lyric-safe love themes that invite seating and quiet.
• T-10 to T-0: “settle set” at lower volume; avoid big choruses that compete with officiant cues.

Popular Pre-Wedding Hits

DJ Programming Note: Aim for recognizable, lyric-safe, mid-tempo tracks that feel happy but not party-time. Favor songs with hooks in <10s and easy talk-over intros.

Black And White (Stripped) – Niall Horan (2020)

Warm opener for T-90; easy talk-over.

There’ll never be another
I promise that I’ll love you for the rest of my life

Call the Preacher – Brian Walker (2020)

Upbeat love theme, good for proposal highlight reel.

Baby call the preacher
A ring for you and me girl

One I Got – Charlie Wilson (2020)

Mid-tempo R&B warmth, good for guest mingling.

After all this time
It just gets better, just gets better
Believe when I say that

Big, Big Plans – Chris Lane (2019)

Proposal anthem, country crowd favorite.

I guess she finally figured out
I’m gonna ask her to marry me
I got some big, big plans

MARRY ME – Meghan Trainor (2019)

Pop sweetness, fun for bridal prep suite.

A fancy wedding’s not for me
Won’t you marry me, marry me today?

Something Just Like This – The Chainsmokers & Coldplay (2017)

EDM-lite sing-along, fade before drop.

Some fairy-tale bliss
Just something I can turn to
Somebody I can kiss

Can’t Stop the Feeling! – Justin Timberlake (2016)

Instant feel-good; great mid-set lift.

Nothing I can see but you when you dance, dance, dance
Feel a good, good, creepin’ up on you

Love Me Now – John Legend (2016)

Soulful romantic, perfect for photo sessions.

I know it’ll kill me when it’s over
I don’t wanna think about it, I want you to love me now

Only One – Sigala & Digital Farm Animals (2016)

Bright EDM pop, ideal transition track.

Cause we’ve got
One life to live
One love to give

The One – Kodaline (2015)

Indie love anthem, great final pre-ceremony cue.

You make my whole world feel so right when its wrong
That’s how I know you are the one

Cake By The Ocean – DNCE (2015)

Playful disco-pop; limit volume pre-ceremony.

You’re a real-life fantasy
But you’re moving so carefully
Let’s start living dangerously

Hold On Forever – Rob Thomas (2015)

Sentimental pop; good background for prep photos.

I’m here and I won’t leave you now
Don’t look down
Hold on forever

Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran (2014)

Slow-build love song; fade before final chorus.

Place your head on my beating heart
I’m thinking out loud
Maybe we found love right where we are

Good To Be Alive (Hallelujah) – Andy Grammer (2014)

Cheerful sing-along; lifts guest energy early.

Now all my dreams are coming true, yeah
I’ve been waiting for this moment

Take My Hand (The Wedding Song) – Emily Hackett feat. Will Anderson (2014)

Heartfelt duet; great for final seating.

And I’ll give you all I’ve got
No we don’t have much
But it sure feels like a lot

Shut Up and Dance – Walk the Moon (2014)

Energetic tease track; fade early for smiles.

Great for a mob dance!

This woman is my destiny
She said oh oh oh
Shut up and dance with me

Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars (2014)

Crowd recognizer; use clean edit only.

Come on, dance, jump on it
If you sexy then flaunt it

Marry Me – Jason Derulo (2013)

Romantic R&B mid-tempo; good for montage moments.

The more I look, the more I find the reasons why
You’re the love of my life

Best Day of My Life – American Authors (2013)

Upbeat pop-rock; perfect guest-arrival filler.

This is gonna be the best day of my life
My life

Counting Stars – OneRepublic (2013)

Rhythmic pop rock; bridge-energy track.

But baby, I been, I been prayin’ hard
Said, no more countin’ dollars, we’ll be countin’ stars

On Top Of The World – Imagine Dragons (2013)

Optimistic anthem; pre-photo crowd vibe.

Take it with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child
I’m on top of the world

Happy – Pharrell Williams (2013)

Universal smile-maker; low volume under chatter.

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I’m happy

Never Stop (Wedding Version) – SafetySuit (2012)

Soft pop rock; transition into ceremony tone.

I’ll never stop choosing you babe
I’ll never get used to you

Hey Ho – The Lumineers (2012)

Folk sing-along; light acoustic charm.

I belong with you, you belong with me
You’re my sweetheart

Wedding Day – Casting Crowns (2011)

Christian theme; perfect faith-based ceremony vibe.

But today she stands before him
And she wears his righteousness
And she will be who he adores
And this is what he made her for

I Do – Colbie Caillat (2011)

Sweet pop; good just-engaged mood setter.

You make we wanna say I do, I do, I do, I do, I do, I do,
Love you

We Found Love – Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris (2011)

Dance-pop pulse; ideal suite soundtrack.

And we’re standing side by side
As your shadow crosses mine
We found love in a hopeless place

Stuck Like Glue – Sugarland (2010)

Playful country pop; good for bridal prep fun.

You and me baby
We’re stuck like glue

I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas (2009)

Pre-reception hype; low volume pre-ceremony.

A feeling, woohoo, that tonight’s gonna be a good night
That tonight’s gonna be a good night

Marry Me – Train (2009)

Acoustic-friendly; perfect for the last pre-ceremony fade.

And marry me
Today and everyday
Marry me

Say Hey (I Love You) – Michael Franti & Spearhead (2008)

Reggae-pop warmth; openers or transitions.

But I know one thing
That I love you (baby girl)
I love you, I love you, I love you

Everything – Michael Bublé (2007)

Jazzy mid-tempo; good family mingle track.

It’s you, it’s you; you make me sing
You’re every line, you’re every word, you’re everything

Wedding Day – Bee Gees (2007)

Soft pop love song; background for gift table.

We’ll be together
Husband and wife
Now and forever
The rest of our lives

Wedding Dress – Matt Nathanson (2007)

Reflective rock; ideal during photo prep.

And all that I can see
Is my future in your hands
And all that I can feel
Is how long ever after is

Heavenly Day – Patty Griffin (2007)

Gentle folk; quiet final 10 minutes before the ceremony.

Oh because right now is only thing
That all that we really have to do
Is have ourselves, a heavenly day

You and I – Ingrid Michaelson (2006)

Quirky indie pop; perfect brunch or suite track.

Let’s get rich and build our house on a mountain
Making everybody look like ants

The Best Day – George Strait (2000)

Nostalgic country; parent-prep mood.

I’m the luckiest boy alive
This is the best day of my life

For My Wedding – Don Henley (2000)

Mellow classic rock; reflection moment.

To want what I have
To take what I’m given with grace
For this I pray
On my wedding day

Yes! – Chad Brock (2000)

Upbeat country; proposal-flashback video bed.

And when I popped the question much to my surprise
She said, ‘Yes’

I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) – Whitney Houston (1987)

Joyful pre-party cue; keep low.

Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me

Walking On Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves (1985)

Bright pop; early-guest favorite.

I’m walking on sunshine, whoa
And don’t it feel good

You Make My Dreams Come True – Daryl Hall & John Oates (1981)

Instant-smile crowd tune.

Me you me and you
I’ve been waiting for waiting for you girl
all my life

Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey (1981)

Late-arrival sing-along; fade before big chorus.

Working hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin’ anything to roll the dice
Just one more time

You’re The One That I Want – John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (1978)

Playful retro; great for bridal-suite vibe.

You better prove
That my faith is justified
Are you sure
Yes I’m sure down deep inside

Lovely Day – Bill Withers (1977)

Timeless soul; warm pre-processional.

Just one look at you
And I know it’s gonna be
A lovely day

Some Kind Of Wonderful – Grand Funk (1974)

Upbeat classic rock; mid-set energy.

She’s some kind of wonderful
Yes she is, she’s a
She’s some kind of wonderful

Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours – Stevie Wonder (1970)

Soul classic; good final track before the officiant cue.

Here I am, baby
Signed, sealed, delivered, I’m yours

L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole (1964)

Jazz standard; elegant first-guest arrival music.

Love was made for me and you

Chapel of Love – Dixie Cups (1964)

Nostalgic R&B; pre-ceremony sing-along.

And we’ll never be lonely anymore because
Because we’re goin’ to the chapel and we’re gonna get married

At Last – Etta James (1960)

Timeless closer; perfect fade to silence cue.

At last
My love has come along

DJs! Plan a Pre-Wedding Playlist by BPM and Key

(Click on the Song, Artist, Key and BPM column headers for sorting)

*BPM and key pulled from SongData.io

Stream the Pre-Wedding Playlist on Spotify

Now that you have your pre-wedding songs, get started planning the rest of your big day!

Do you have a favorite pre-wedding song? Please share your song below in the comments.

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