Don't Play Boring Songs. Join MUSICLetter
My Wedding Songs
  • Song Ideas
    • Ceremony
      • Groom Processional
      • Walk Down the Aisle
      • Bride Entrance
      • Unity Songs
      • Recessional
    • Reception
      • Entrance
      • Cut the Cake
      • Bouquet Toss
      • Garter Toss
      • Slow Dance
    • Dances
      • First Dance
      • Father-Daughter Dance
      • Mother-Son Dance
      • Mother-Daughter Songs
      • Anniversary Dance
  • Charts
    • New Wedding Songs
    • Hot 50 Wedding Songs
    • Best Wedding Songs
    • Wedding Playlist
    • Modern Love Songs
  • Playlists
    • Wedding Playlists
      • Wedding Song Lists
      • Ballroom Dance Songs
      • Era Song Lists
      • Genre Song Lists
      • Love Song Lists
    • Unique Playlists
      • Songs by Year
      • Artists & Bands
      • Multicultural Songs
      • Holiday Songs
      • Word Themes
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Subscribe
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
You are here: Home1 / Music & Songs2 / Music Artists3 / Grateful Dead Wedding Songs To Add a Touch of Grey to Your Special Day
Grateful Dead wedding songs

Grateful Dead Wedding Songs To Add a Touch of Grey to Your Special Day

Updated on December 9, 2021/6 Comments/in Music Artists, Wedding Music /Written by Scotty Rushing

Wedding songs might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think about the Grateful Dead. Fans of the Dead know differently. The legendary jam band fronted by Jerry Garcia recorded its fair share of songs that are suitable for many parts of a wedding, from the ceremony to the reception. It’s time to let your unique personality shine through with these Grateful Dead Wedding Songs.

Grateful Dead wedding songs

Grateful Dead Wedding Songs

My Wedding Songs is a reader-supported website.  As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases.

They Love Each Other
1976, Jerry Garcia from the Album Reflections

They love each other, Lord you can see it’s true
Lord you can see it’s true, Lord you can see it’s true


Few songs sum up the simplicity of love better than this one from Dick’s Picks Volume Six. It was released in 1996 but is actually an older Garcia composition. The song speaks of how love tends to bring out the best in us. Others can usually spot when we have found that special someone, sometimes before we even realize it ourselves. Can you see forever in your partner’s eyes?

This song would be great for a first dance at the wedding reception. Like all Dead tunes, it inspires everyone to join in the good vibes of love and peace. “You know he chose this place beside her” is a line that is sure to start the waterworks. Let everyone know that what you have found is true love and devotion.

If I Had The World To Give
1978, Shakedown Street

I may not have the world to give to you
But maybe I have a tune or two
Only if you let me be your world
Could I ever give this world to you


Doesn’t finding a soulmate make us want to give them the world? Love is at its best when only our longing to do that is good enough. The right person loves us as we are. This Grateful Dead song is one that celebrates a lover’s acceptance of their partner, flaws, and all. Released in 1978, the song resonates with that classic Dead vibe.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve “got no star to spare.” This song reminds you to give all you can. Your partner will find the lyrics spot on for a day when the two of you are vowing to give one another forever. This is a song that you want to play or even sing for your new spouse at the reception. Don’t be afraid to express yourself in this way. You might not be able to give the world but you can give this song.

The Stranger (Two Souls in Communion)
2004, Rockin’ the Rhein with the Grateful Dead

Two souls in communion, both body and mind
Is it special magic or just the nature of things?
Conceived of great spirit, not for beggars but kings


A soulmate is a word that might be used too frequently, but it truly does sum up what a perfect partnership is like. “Two Souls In Communion” is all about a man and a woman becoming one. When you find the right person, it’s like finding half of yourself that has been missing. This song has a haunting quality that taps into the melancholy that all weddings possess in some measure.

This song is also called “The Stranger” on the album release. It can make a perfect song to precede the traditional wedding march. It reflects the divine purpose of the day. You are putting your soul in communion with your partner. Two hearts will forever beat with the same ebb and flow.

Shining Star
2001, Jerry Garcia Band on the album Shining Star

Honey, I’ll never leave you lonely
I’ll give my love to you only, to you only


In this poignant song Jerry Garcia sings, “I wanna be right here where you are until my dying day.” Many Grateful Dead fans have chosen to use this song during the actual wedding ceremony. Garcia loved to perform this song in concert, often stretching out the tune to thirteen minutes or more. It won’t take that long for the beautiful lyrics of the tune to find their mark on your wedding day.

“Shining Star” expresses to your partner how important they are to your life. You are telling them that they occupy the center of your universe. Today is the day you will begin to build a world around your shining star. It makes a great song for a groom to share, so don’t be afraid to drops hints that you’d like him to pick this one.

Standing On The Moon
1989, Built to Last

Standing on the moon
With nothing else to do
A lovely view of heaven
But I’d rather be with you


If you really want to let your partner know what life would be like without them, “Standing On The Moon” is a great choice. The song speaks of what it is like to be alone in the world without someone to share life with. It reaffirms how important it is for us to be connected to someone in this world. Without a connection to our spouse, family, and friends, life is like the great void of space.

This song from 1989’s Built to Last is something that you would want to reserve for the wedding reception. It has a bit of a quirky side to it that will inspire some humor. As you listen to it while dancing with your partner, embrace gratitude that loneliness is at an end. Don’t forget to laugh and twirl while you dance to it.

How Sweet It Is
1997, Jerry Garcia Band on the album How Sweet It Is

I want to stop and thank you baby
How sweet it is to be loved by you

.

This is a song for hardcore Grateful Dead fans. It was played only once by the Dead, but Garcia is known to have included it on many of his solo setlists. Not a Dead composition, “How Sweet It Is” is a staple of many weddings. Add this song to the ceremony itself and you’ll put a smile on every face. It has just enough lighthearted appeal to provide a nice balance to the solemnity of the ceremony. The real appeal of this song is that using it in tandem with some other Dead tunes at your reception will mark you as a devoted fan.

Few things are sweeter than love. It is even sweeter when the person you have found is about to become your forever partner. This song has the feel-good vibe that the Dead were known for. Let it carry you away to a place where nothing can intrude upon the happiness of your day.

Some might tell you that the Grateful Dead is not an appropriate choice for wedding songs. They are actually a perfect choice if you are someone that gets high on living. This world can be a brutal place at times, and the Dead reminds us to embrace all that is good while we revel in the glories of love.

User Suggested Song

I Will Take You Home
1989, Built to Last

Grateful Dead Highest-Charting Songs

  • #1 Touch of Grey, 1987
  • #3 Hell in a Bucket, 1987
  • #8 Foolish Heart, 1989
  • #15 Throwing Stones, 1987
  • #37 Dire Wolf, 1981
  • #40 West L.A. Fadeaway, 1987
  • #41 Just a Little Light, 1990
  • #45 When Push Comes to Shove, 1987
  • #50 Ripple, 1981
  • #64 Truckin’, 1970
  • #68 Alabama Getaway, 1980
  • #69 Uncle John’s Band, 1970
  • #69 Uncle John’s Band, 1970
  • #81 The Music Never Stopped, 1975
  • #91 Sugar Magnolia, 1973

If you have a favorite Grateful Dead wedding song not on our list, please comment below.

You may also like these song lists:

  • 1970s Love Songs
  • 1970s Wedding Songs
  • The Rolling Stones songs
  • Led Zeppelin songs

Wedding Song Ideas Delivered Monthly!


Scotty Rushing

About Scotty Rushing

Scotty is a former musician and lead vocalist for Technological Breakdown, a Texas bar band. Today he writes about music and other subjects that he loves from his home in Louisiana. Check out Scotty's wedding songs by year articles.

6 replies
  1. Sierra
    Sierra says:
    January 4, 2022 at 10:13 pm

    I would love to see a father/daughter list. My father is a huge dead head, I’ve had just about every song memorized since I was a kid. I know one of their songs would mean a lot to him but I’m rubbish at this type of things. A Box of Rain and Uncle John’s Band are my favorite songs. Anyway, brilliant post thank you for sharing this information. There will definitely be A LOT of the grateful dead at my wedding one day

    Reply
    • Matthew Campbell
      Matthew Campbell says:
      January 5, 2022 at 9:32 am

      Hi Sierra. Here is a link to our Father/Daughter songs https://www.myweddingsongs.com/wedding-song-lists/father-daughter-songs/ That being said, if your dad is a huge Grateful Dead fan, select a song that means something between you and him. That would be the song that should be played as a Father/Daughter dance song – not one that someone else suggests.

      Reply
    • Father Daughter Dead
      Father Daughter Dead says:
      March 1, 2022 at 6:31 pm

      We’re doing Russian Lullaby for father daughter dance. Dad is a huge Head!

      Reply
      • Matthew Campbell
        Matthew Campbell says:
        March 2, 2022 at 10:28 am

        Thank you for the recommendation. I am sure our readers will appreciate your suggestion. If you are looking for the song, the official artist is Jerry Garcia and not under the Grateful Dead.

        Reply
  2. Nicole Anne Hall
    Nicole Anne Hall says:
    December 8, 2021 at 7:19 pm

    You forgot “I will take you home” such a great song!

    Reply
    • Matthew Campbell
      Matthew Campbell says:
      December 9, 2021 at 3:29 pm

      Thank you Nicole. I added the song.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Just For You!

Grab a free copy of our "100 Greatest Wedding Songs".
    I agree to receive amazing song ideas. I have read and understood My Wedding Songs' Privacy Policy.

Popular Wedding Playlists

Anniversary Dance Songs
Background Music
Bouquet Toss Songs
Cake Cutting songs
Entrance/Introduction Songs
Father-Daughter Dance Songs
First Dance Songs
Garter Toss Songs
Last Dance Songs
Mother Daughter Songs
Mother Son Dance Songs
Party Songs
Processional Songs
Recessional Songs
Unity Songs
2010s Wedding Songs
2000s Wedding Songs
1990s Wedding Songs
Country Wedding Songs
Hip Hop Wedding Songs
Indie Wedding Songs
Pop Wedding Songs
R&B Wedding Songs
Rock Wedding Songs

Playlist Categories

  • Ceremony & Reception
  • Love Song Lists
  • Era Song Lists
  • Ballroom Dance Song Lists
  • Genre Wedding Songs
  • Multicultural Song Lists
  • Artists & Bands Song Lists
  • Holiday Song Lists
  • Word in Song Title Lists
  • Offbeat Song Lists

Connect With Us

My Wedding Songs on Facebook My Wedding Songs on Pinterest My Wedding Songs on Instagram My Wedding Songs on YouTube

Wedding Songs Podcast

spotify-podcast-badge
Apple-Podcasts

Sister Site

Top Wedding Songs

The Company

  • FAQ
  • VIP Newsletter
  • Promote Your Wedding Song
  • Our Story
  • Contact Us
  • Reviews
  • Advertise With Us

Giving Back

In 2022, we will donate $0.25 for every 1,000 website visitors to help our local youth.

© 2003-2022 My Wedding Songs All Rights Reserved.
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com.
We've worked hard to implement tools and processes to help you maintain your privacy. Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Affiliate Disclosure
Scroll to top