The Times They Are A-Changin': Bob Dylan Wedding Love Songs

Bob Dylan’s music is defined by its storytelling. Whether it’s a song about the vulnerability of falling in love or the lifelong commitment of marriage, his lyrics strike a chord that polished pop songs often miss. He is a premier choice for couples looking for an alternative to traditional “wedding standards.”

Ceremony & Processional: Hauntingly beautiful acoustic tracks for a unique aisle walk.
First Dance: Soulful, slow-tempo ballads that focus on devotion and desire.
Parent Dances & Dedications: Meaningful songs that celebrate growth and legacy.

Spotlight Moments: First Dances & Ceremony

The “Actual” Wedding Song: “Wedding Song” – 1974. Dylan wrote this specifically as a wedding ballad, and it is a masterpiece of devotion. With lyrics like “Happiness to me is you and I love you more than blood,” it is a powerful alternative for a Processional or a deeply personal First Dance.
The Modern First Dance: “I’ve Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You” – 2020. From his Rough and Rowdy Ways album, this is a stunning modern folk ballad. It’s soft, deliberate, and perfect for a couple who wants a first dance that feels both contemporary and classic.
The Classic Devotion: “Lay Lady Lay” – 1969. Dylan’s foray into a smoother, country-folk sound produced this timeless hit. It is one of his most popular songs for a First Dance at wedding receptions.
The Aisle Walk: “Love Minus Zero / No Limit” – 1965. A favorite of Patti Smith and many Dylan aficionados. Its soft acoustic guitar and lyrical message about a quiet, constant love make it a beautiful choice for a bride’s entrance.
The Parent Dedication: “Forever Young” – 1974. This is the definitive song for a Parent-Child dance (Mother-Son or Father-Daughter). It’s a heartfelt wish for a child’s future, staying relevant for over 50 years.

Reception & Atmosphere Setters

The Soulful Groove: “I Want You” – 1966. A great choice for Cocktail Hour or early dancing. It’s catchy and upbeat, but with that signature Dylan longing that makes it feel substantial.
The Toast Dedication: “She Belongs To Me” – 1965. Despite the title, it’s about the pride a partner feels in their significant other. It’s a great song to play during a dinner or as a dedicated “shout-out” from a groom.
The Folk-Rock Classic: “Tangled Up In Blue” – 1975. While not a “romance” song in the traditional sense, it is an enduring classic that many guests will know and love. It works perfectly in a “90s/Alternative/Folk” reception set.
The Late Night Sing-Along: “Like a Rolling Stone” – 1965. For the die-hard Dylan fan, playing this at the reception is a must. It’s a “tip of the hat” to the man himself and usually gets a great reaction from the music lovers in the room.
The “Fresh Start” Sentiment: “One Too Many Mornings” – 1964. A song that touches on the end of lonely mornings because you’ve finally found “the one.”

DJ Expert Tips: Mastering the Dylan Vibe

The “Rod Stewart” Connection: If you like the message of “Forever Young” but want a more “mainstream” pop sound for the dance floor, you can transition from the Dylan original into the Rod Stewart version.
Ceremony Pacing: Many of Dylan’s best ceremony songs are acoustic. Ensure your ceremony DJ or live musicians have a high-quality sound setup so the intricate lyrics aren’t lost in an outdoor or large space.
The “Cool” Factor: Bob Dylan mixes perfectly with Neil Young, The Band, and Van Morrison. If you’re building a “Vintage/Folk” vibe for your cocktail hour, Dylan is an essential anchor.

Our Music Planning Guides.

Don’t miss any moments of your wedding to incorporate your personality.

Shop Bookstore

Bob Dylan’s Highest Charting Billboard Hits – US

#2 “Like a Rolling Stone”, 1965
#2 “Rainy Day Women”, #12 & 35″, 1966
#7 “Positively 4th Street”, 1965
#7 “Lay Lady Lay”, 1969
#12 “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”, 1973
#20 “I Want You”, 1966
#24 “Gotta Serve Somebody”, 1979

Popular Bob Dylan Songs for Weddings

Bob Dylan is not specifically known as a singer of love songs or wedding ballads. Still, his catalog features numerous songs that can be used in your wedding ceremony.

Here is a look at the top Bob Dylan love songs along with some suggestions for how you may want to use them on your wedding day.

I’ve Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You
Released in 2020 on the album Rough and Rowdy Ways

I saw the flowers come and go
I don’t think that anyone ever has ever knew
I’ve made up my mind to give myself to you

A great modern folk first dance song!

My One and Only Love
Released in 2017 on the album Triplicate

Every kiss you give sets my soul on fire
I give myself in sweet surrender
My one and only love

Released in 2017, this Bob Dylan love song proves that the legendary songwriter has what it takes to remain relevant in today’s musical culture. This song reflects a pure expression of love that can be used to accompany the first dance between two newlyweds, or you can just have it played for her on date night at your favorite restaurant.

Love Sick
Released in 1998 on the album Time Out of Mind

I’m sick of love
I hear the clock tick
This kind of love
I’m lovesick

Dylan has a way of expressing longing as few other songwriters can, and he does that in this love ballad. Like many of Dylan’s best songs, this one is very soft and suitable for intimate moments between two people who have devoted their lives to one another.

‘Til I Fell in Love With You
Released in 1997 on the album Time Out Of Mind

I Just don’t know what I’m gonna do
I was alright ’til I fell in love with you

Most would agree that feelings of true love only happen when we meet that special one, the one who was meant to be with us forever. You can use this Bob Dylan love song to tell her how special she is and to remind her how much better your life is with her in it.

Most of the Time
Released in 1989 on the album Oh Mercy

And I can endure
And I don’t even think
About her
Most of the time

In this song, Bob Dylan sings about the hours of the day that are spent thinking about his love. You can let her know how much she dominates your own thoughts when you play this song for her at your wedding reception.

Dark Eyes
Released in 1985 on the album Empire Burlesque

But I feel nothing for their game where beauty goes unrecognized
All I feel is heat and flame and all I see are dark eyes

Bob Dylan paints a wonderful picture here of a lovely woman and how her beauty is able to captivate. That sounds like the perfect message to send to a blushing bride on her wedding day.

Tangled Up In Blue
Released in 1975 on the album Blood on the Tracks

We always did feel the same
We just saw it from a different point of view
Tangled up in blue

This song from Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks has been referenced by Hootie and the Blowfish in their own music, and it is an enduring classic from the Bob Dylan catalog. It’s not a song that you would want to use for the formal parts of a wedding, but it could work very well as an addition to the wedding reception playlist.

Forever Young
Released in 1974 on the album Planet Waves

Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young

Many people may be familiar with the Rod Stewart version of this hit, but Bob Dylan’s haunting and emotional vocal is what makes the original number stand out. If you want to play the perfect song at a wedding as a dedication from a parent to their child, this is the song to choose.

Wedding Song
Released in 1974 on the album Planet Waves

The tune that is yours and mine to play upon this earth,
We’ll play it out the best we know, whatever it is worth,
What’s lost is lost, we can’t regain what went down in the flood,
But happiness to me is you and I love you more than blood

This song from the Planet Waves album released in 1974 is Bob Dylan’s effort to write a suitable wedding ballad, and he succeeds on a high level. The song is perfect for couples who are looking to craft something a little bit different for their processional instead of using the traditional bridal march.

Lay Lady Lay
Released in 1969 on the album Nashville Skyline

Stay with your man awhile
Until the break of day
Let me see you make him smile

Bob Dylan took a stab at country music with this turn in the 1970s, and the song went on to be covered by other music artists like The Byrds and Duran Duran. Dylan’s version will forever remain the standard, and it is used for the first dance at many wedding receptions.

I Want You
Released in 1966 on the album Blonde on Blonde

I wasn’t born to lose you
I want you, I want you
I want you so bad
Honey, I want you

Longing and desire are the themes of this 1966 Bob Dylan classic, a hit that is still a favorite in Dylan’s live performances today. This is a song that will help you convey the need you have for your partner, and it can be a steamy interlude if you want to have a quiet evening alone.

Just Like A Woman
Released in 1966 on the album Blonde on Blonde

Nobody has to guess that baby can’t be blessed
‘Til she finally sees that she’s like all the rest
With her fog, her amphetamine, and her pearls

The unique attributes of the woman you are going to wed are a big part of what attracted you to her in the beginning, and this song is a great way to honor that. Many grooms choose to dedicate this song to her during the wedding reception, but you can also play it for her during a nice candlelit dinner at home.

She Belongs To Me
Released in 1965 on the album Bringing It All Back Home

She’s got everything she needs, she’s an artist
She don’t look back
She can take the dark out of the nighttime
And paint the daytime black

The woman that one chooses for a life partner should never be regarded as a possession, but there is nothing wrong with letting everyone know that the two of you belong to each other. This is a song that reflects on the pride a man has in the love of his life.

Love Minus Zero/No Limit
Released in 1965 on the album Bringing It All Back Home

My love she speaks softly,
She knows there’s no success like failure
And that failure’s no success at all

This song must be included on any list of the top Bob Dylan wedding or love songs, and it was also chosen by Patti Smith as one of her personal Dylan favorites. It is a song that has a strong lyrical message, so using it as part of a wedding ceremony can be a good way to create an emotional moment.

Like a Rolling Stone
Released in 1965 on the album Highway 61 Revisited

How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone

This is not a song that automatically comes to mind if you are thinking about love and romance, but a closer listen reveals it as a meaningful ballad about melancholy devotion. The true Dylan fan might want to include this song in a wedding reception as a mere tip of the hat to the man himself.

Ballad in Plain D
Released in 1964 on the album Another Side of Bob Dylan

The changes I was going through can’t even be used
For the lies that I told her in hopes not to lose
The could-be dream-lover of my lifetime

Sometimes simple love songs are the best if you want to let your new spouse know how important he or she is. Dylan’s lyrics are simple but powerful in this ballad, and you can rest assured that they will strike the right chord with all who hear them.

One Too Many Mornings
Released in 1964 on the album The Times They Are a-Changin’

Where my love and I have laid
And I gaze back to the street
The sidewalk and the sign
And I’m one too many mornings
And a thousand miles behind

This Bob Dylan ballad touches on what it is like to often wake up alone without any hope of finding true love and then turn into a celebration of that very thing. Use this song to remind you that the lonely mornings are now at an end since you found your special one.