A Guide to Selecting Dinner Music for Your Wedding

Wedding background music sets the tone for the entire reception from the time guest line up for the buffet (or order their meal) until the dinner is complete.

Once the doors open and guests arrive at the reception – this would be more of the cocktail hour time. It is typically more upbeat. While dinner songs typically give guests a chance to talk.

As an experienced wedding DJ, I’ve assembled a list of songs for the first dance. Songs are selected by the meaning of the song and popular hits by today’s couples. Besides new and trending, additional lists are grouped by genre to match your taste in music.

Dinner Ambiance by Theme

When choosing your dinner music, keep guests in mind with the volume level. Most guests want to catch up with friends and family and talk! Here is a list of popular themes to play for weddings today.

Vocal Acoustic Covers

Acoustic covers are acoustic versions of popular songs typically with a singular instrument such as a piano and guitar. These are commonly played for the meal because they do not contain a lot of bass and have an airy feel.

• Watermelon Sugar (Acoustic) – Jonah Baker
• You’re Still The One – Teddy Swims
• Stay With Me – Hannah Trigwell
• Stuck on You – Dave Fenley
• Stand By Me (Acoustic) – Matt Johnson
• Cheerleader – Pentatonix
• Nothing Compares 2 U – Chris Cornell
• When You Say Nothing at All – Music Travel Love
• Can’t Help Falling In Love – Kina Grannis
• You’re the One That I Want – Dylan Rockoff with Caroline Kole

R&B Soul

Some couples request a playlist of Motown. However, this playlist is a modern twist of R&B tracks to set the mood for love without putting people to sleep.

• Smile – Otis Kane
• This Is – Ella Mai
• IT’S YOU – MAX, keshi
• Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe – Jason Morales
• Drift Away – Jac Ross
• In Your Eyes (Remix) – The Weeknd, Kenny G
• Ain’t Nothin Like The One I’ve Got – Calvin Richardson
• How Deep Is Your Love – PJ Morton
• Leave The Door Open – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic
• Coming Home – Leon Bridges

Modern Pop

I selected a few pop songs over the past few years that many quests will recognize but also not your most common songs played during dinner.

• Until I Found You – Stephen Sanchez, Em Beihold
• Marvin Gaye – Charlie Puth, Meghan Trainor
• Calm Down – Rema & Selena Gomez
• Always Be My Baby – Mariah Carey
• I Want It That Way – Backstreet Boys
• This Town – Niall Horan
• Sunflower – Post Malone & Swae Lee
• Fresh Eyes – Andy Grammer
• Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Rae
• Love On The Brain – Rihanna

Modern Country

Country music can set an uptempo theme while not boring guests. These hits have proven to keep them attentive to the music but not quite dancing.

• Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not – Thompson Square
• Family Table – Zac Brown Band
• All On Me – Devin Dawson
• Yeah Boy – Kelsea Ballerini
• Play It Again – Luke Bryan
• GOOD TIME – Niko Moon
• Meant to Be – Bebe Rexha, Florida Georgia Line
• Bluebird – Miranda Lambert
• Blessed – Thomas Rhett
• Rumor – Lee Brice

Yacht Rock

Yacht Rock is a genre of soft rock from the ’70s and ’80s set in California that creates a feeling of ocean waves while drinking an adult beverage on the beach.

• Aja – Steely Dan
• Georgy Porgie – Toto
• Sailing – Christopher Cross
• This Is It – Kenny Loggins
• Lowdown – Boz Scaggs
• Listen To The Music – The Doobie Brothers
• Escape (The Pina Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes
• Biggest Part Of Me – Ambrosia
• Kiss On My List – Daryl Hall & John Oates
• Dreams – Fleetwood Mac

Modern Folk

Folk music doesn’t have to be your parents’ old country music. These modern hits set an air of love for all couples.

• I Was Born To Love You – Ray LaMontagne, Sierra Ferrell
• The Night We Met – Lord Huron
• Rest of Our Lives – The Light the Heat
• Alone With You – Canyon City
• Where’s My Love – SYML
• September Song (Guitar Acoustic) – JP Cooper
• Flowers In Your Hair – The Lumineers
• Simply The Best – Billianne
• My Silver Lining – First Aid Kit
• Give Me One Reason – Tracy Chapman

Modern Classical

This vibe is commonly called “Bridgerton” because of the music played on the popular TV show. The songs are string covers of popular tracks.

• Wildest Dreams – Duomo
• Wrecking Ball – Midnite String Quartet
• Diamonds – Hannah V, Joe Rodwell
• If I Ain’t Got You – Vitamin String Quartet
• Halo – Caleb Chan, Brian Chan
• We Found Love – 2Cellos
• Love Me Like You Do – Brooklyn Duo
• Chasing Cars – Simply Three
• Riptide – Duomo
• Higher Love – Music Lab Collective

Tropical House

Chill music with great beats creates an upbeat fun atmosphere with a modern twist. Sometimes this genre can be called electronic dance music, house, EDM, etc.

• My Girl – Shoby & SHM
• Riptide – TWOPILOTS
• What A Wonderful World – Sofi Tukker
• Time After Time – Paratone
• Woke Up in Love (Acoustic) – Kygo, Gryffin, Calum Scott
• Stumblin’ In – CYRIL
• Fast Car – Jonas Blue – Dakota
• Just The Two of Us – Yuann Miller
• Everywhere – Toby Rose, Zita
• Dancing In The Moonlight – Braeten

Bossa Nova Jazz

Laufey is the most popular modern Jazz artist right now and her following is growing. Enjoy jazz covers of popular hits for a fun atmosphere.

• Soul Bossa Nova – Grace Kelly feat. Sean Jones
• From The Start – Laufey
• A Night To Remember – beabadoobee, Laufey
• Africa – Deuce
• Rocket Man – Laza Bossa
• Say You Won’t Let Go – Pablo Cepeda
• Unwritten – Dinah York
• Stand By Me – Sarah Menescal
• Baby, I Love Your Way – Michelle Simonal
• More Than Words – Groove Da Praia

Rat Pack

We all know the Rat Pack members including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. They put a spell on listeners of fun and class. Enjoy songs from yesteryear and a few modern classics.

• More – Bobby Darin
• It’s Not Unusual – Tom Jones
• The Coffee Song – Frank Sinatra
• I Get A Kick Out Of You – Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
• That’s Amore – Dean Martin
• Fly Me To The Moon – Frank Sinatra & Count Basie & His Orchestra
• It Had To Be You – Harry Connick Jr.
• Sway – Michael Bublé
• Sunrise – Norah Jones
• Valerie (BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge) – Amy Winehouse

New Tracks DJs Need to Know

1. Beautiful – Fiji Blue
2. Beautiful Day – Keyon Harrold, Pj Morton
3. Can’t Go – Dinner Party
4. Fast Car – Luke Combs
5. Feels Good – JON VINYL
6. feelslikeimfallinginlove – Coldplay
7. Flowers – Miley Cyrus
8. iloveyousomuch – Johnny Stimson
9. LOVE NEVER FELT LIKE THIS – MAX
10. Loving You – Cannons
11. Never Change – BJ The Chicago Kid feat. Philip Bailey
12. Rescue – Tyrese
13. Someone to Love You – Sault
14. Songs – half·alive feat. Jordana
15. Three Little Birds – Kacey Musgraves

Please comment on the songs below. Let me know if you have any recommendations. I read and respond to all the comments.

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