Indie Wedding Songs: Unique, Authentic & Unforgettable

Indie love songs are defined by their sincerity and often unexpected arrangements. Because these artists aren’t always on the Top 40 charts, their music allows you to claim a song as “yours” in a way that radio hits sometimes can’t. From the folk-inspired harmonies of The Paper Kites to the ethereal vibes of Lana Del Rey, Indie music adds a layer of cool sophistication to your wedding.

• Hidden Gems: Tracks that aren’t played at every wedding, ensuring a unique experience.
• Emotional Depth: Songwriters who focus on storytelling and raw, honest emotion.
• Versatile Vibes: From “Yacht Rock” adjacent chill to high-energy “After Party” anthems.

Ceremony: Prelude & Processional

• The Ethereal Walk: “I Get To Love You” – Ruelle. A hauntingly beautiful piano ballad that has quickly become a modern classic for the bride’s entrance.
• Folk Perfection: “Bloom” – The Paper Kites. With its gentle finger-picking and sweet lyrics, this is the definitive choice for an outdoor or rustic ceremony.
• Cinematic Romance: “Flightless Bird, American Mouth” – Iron & Wine. Famous for its use in Twilight, it remains one of the most romantic and atmospheric indie songs for a processional.
• The “Indie” Vow: “The Luckiest” – Ben Folds. A profound lyrical masterpiece about the odds of finding true love—perfect for a ceremony interlude.

Reception: First Dances & Slow Sets

• The “Viral” Favorite: “The Night We Met” – Lord Huron. A sweeping, emotional track that creates a timeless and slightly nostalgic atmosphere for a first dance.
• Modern Soul: “I GUESS I’M IN LOVE” – Clinton Kane. A powerful, lyric-driven ballad that perfectly captures the “aha!” moment of falling for your partner.
• Sweet Simplicity: “First Day Of My Life” – Bright Eyes. An iconic indie anthem that celebrates the quiet, everyday reality of being in love.
• Alternative Elegance: “way after forever” – vaultboy. A 2023 standout that blends modern production with a timeless “forever” message.

Atmosphere: Cocktails & Dinner

• The “Cool” Vibe: “Loving You” – Cannons. Dreamy, mid-tempo, and incredibly smooth—perfect for setting a sophisticated mood during cocktail hour.
• Upbeat Indie Pop: “Hypotheticals” – Lake Street Dive. A funky, jazz-influenced indie track that gets guests tapping their toes while they mingle.
• Dinner Sophistication: “Say Yes To Heaven” – Lana Del Rey. Ethereal and romantic, this track provides a beautiful, non-distracting backdrop for your meal.
• Folk-Pop Sunshine: “Sunshine” – The National Parks. A high-energy folk track that works perfectly as a recessional or an upbeat cocktail hour transition.

DJ Expert Tips: Curating the Indie Sound

• The “Indie-Rock” After Party: When the formal moments are over, transition into high-energy hits like “Electric Love” by BØRNS or “Maps” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to get the “cool crowd” on the dance floor.
• BPM Matching: For a seamless dinner-to-dance transition, have your DJ use our BPM guide. Start with “Northern Wind” (109 BPM) and build up to “You Are The Best Thing” (171 BPM) for a high-energy entrance.
• The “Last Dance” Surprise: Close the night with “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish or “Wedding Song (Acoustic)” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs for a unique and emotional finale.

Our Music Planning Guides.

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New Indie Songs to Know

• antidote – Cassia
• Home Is You – Jon Wiilde
• Satellite Acoustic – brainheart

Song Ideas by Moment & Vibe

Prelude & Processional

A list of songs to play as the ceremony begins and for you walk down the aisle towards the altar.

• Always in All Ways – AJ Raggs
• Anywhere – Risk & Refuge
• Bloom – The Paper Kites
• Evermore – Hollow Coves
• Falling Slowly – Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
• Flightless Bird, American Mouth – Iron & Wine
• I Get To Love You – Ruelle
• I Only Want To Be With You – Birdy
• If I Didn’t Love You – Ben Abraham
• It’s Always Been You – Caleb Hearn
• Landslide – Oh Wonder
• Nobody Else – Dave Thomas Junior
• Sea Of Love – Cat Power
• The Best Thing – Paper Planes
• The Luckiest – Ben Folds
• The One – Kodaline

Recessional

Song ideas to play as the ceremony ends and you walk out as a married couple.

• Always Be Yours – Scott Drury
• First Day Of My Life – Bright Eyes
• Here – Tom Grennan
• Home – Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
• I Will Follow You into the Dark – Death Cab for Cutie
• Mine Forever – Voyageur
• Overwhelmed – Tim McMorris
• Side By Side – Jon Foreman, Madison Cunningham
• You Are The Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
• You’ve Got the Love – Florence + The Machine

Cocktail Hour

Song suggestions to play as guests arrive at the reception that has more of an up-tempo beat to them to keep the mood up.

• Amazing – Plaid Brixx
• Amazing – Rex Orange County
• Baby I’m Yours – Arctic Monkeys
• Baby It’s You – London Grammar
• Beach House – daydreamers
• Bright – Echosmith
• Doing to Me – Lou Sedo
• Heat Waves – Glass Animals
• Hypotheticals – Lake Street Dive
• In My Arms – Billy Raffoul
• Let It Happen – Tame Impala
• Let’s Get Married – Bleachers
• Lost – Frank Ocean
• Lost on You – LP
• Loving You – Cannons
• Missing Piece – Vance Joy
• Only One – Phantom Planet
• Stolen Dance – Milky Chance
• Superposition – Young The Giant
• Sweater Weather – The Neighbourhood
• Sweetest Thing – Allman Brown
• The Best – Nicotine Dolls
• this is love – Walk Off the Earth
• Why I Love You – Grentperez
• You – Armaan Malik

First Dance

Song ideas for the first dance as newlyweds.

• All My Love – George Ezra
• Amazing – Teddy Swims
• Amen – John Adams
• Better Half of Me – Tom Walker
• Fall Into Me (Acoustic) – Forest Blakk
• Finally // beautiful stranger – Halsey
• I Don’t Know Any Better – Johnny and Heidi
• I GUESS I’M IN LOVE – Clinton Kane
• If You Love Her – Forest Blakk, Meghan Trainor
• Made to Love You – Drew Angus
• Our Song (Acoustic) – Ron Pope
• The Night We Met – Lord Huron
• The Only Exception – Paramore
• way after forever – Vaultboy

Dinner

A list of slower-tempo songs DJs can play at a softer volume so everyone can carry on a conversation.

• Baby, You Know – Ocie Elliott
• Falling In Love – Cigarettes After Sex
• Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop – Landon Pigg
• I Was Born To Love You – Ray LaMontagne, Sierra Ferrell
• I’ll Be Around – Garrett Kato
• I’m With You – Vance Joy
• Landed – Ruelle, Aron Wright
• Magnificent – Oh Wonder
• My Love Will Follow You – Dave Barnes
• Next to You – Michael Shynes
• Northern Wind – City and Colour
• Say Yes To Heaven – Lana Del Rey
• Space Song – Beach House
• The Way I Love You – Michal Leah
• What a Wonderful World – Kina Grannis & Imaginary Future
• You And I – Wilco

Last Dance

What song will you choose to play as your reception comes to a close? Here are a few hints.

• Birds of a Feather – Billie Eilish
• Grow Old with Me – Tom Odell
• Home – Matthew Hall
• Starburster – Fontaines D.C.
• Summertime Sadness – Lana Del Rey
• Wedding Song (Acoustic) – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

After Party

These songs are more fun and upbeat. Some can even be played for dancing.

• ‘Til I Found You – Jeremy Loops
• Electric Love – BøRNS
• Everything Now – Arcade Fire
• Just You and I – Tom Walker
• Love You For A Long Time – Maggie Rogers
• Maps – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
• Meet Me At Our Spot – THE ANXIETY & WILLOW & Tyler Cole
• No One’s Gonna Love You – Band of Horses
• Rollercoaster – Bleachers
• Stick Season – Noah Kahan
• Sugar Babies – Spoon
• The Adults Are Talking – The Strokes
• The Great Divide – The Shins
• Tongue Tied – GROUPLOVE

DJs! Plan Indie 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 Indie Playlist

Do you have a favorite indie song for weddings? Please share it below in the comments.