Reggae music can be split into two sub-genres: reggae and dancehall. Reggae is slower-paced than ska but faster than rocksteady and Dancehall is a faster dance/pop tempo style. Some contemporary music styles have received an international appeal to be featured on many Global Top 40 playlists.
Quick Tips
When picking out reggae songs for your wedding, you must consider the following 3 factors:
1. What is the tempo of the song to determine the style of dance? 2. What is the meaning of the song and is it appropriate for your wedding? 3. What moment of the wedding ceremony or reception will the song play?
As an experienced wedding DJ, I’ve assembled a list of reggae wedding songs. Songs are selected by the song’s meaning and popular hits by today’s couples. Besides new and trending, additional lists are grouped by decades.
Song Ideas by Wedding Moments & Vibe
Romantic and Love Songs
Songs for your ceremony, first dance, and slow dances.
All for You – Stick Figure
All My Life – Marcia Griffiths, DA’Ville
All Of Me – Jah Cure
Always Remember Us This Way – Cris Hagman
Angel – Shaggy
Don’t Let Go – Spawnbreezie
Forever More – Alaine, Tarrus Riley
Happy Heart – Etana
I Can’t Help, Falling In Love With You – UB40
Is This Love – Bob Marley
La La Means I Love You – Alton Ellis
Life Is Better With You – Michael Franti & Spearhead
Love Has Found Its Way – Dennis Brown
Love Me Easy – ANORA, Stick Figure, Walshy Fire
Marry You – Perfect Giddimani
Only You – Jah Cure feat. Mya
Someone Loves You Honey – J.C. Lodge
There For You – Beres Hammond
Truly – Marcia Griffiths
You’re The One I Love – Shenseea, Rvssian
Feel-Good Songs
Tracks to consider playing when guests arrive at the reception, cocktail hour, and upbeat background music.
Baby, I Love Your Way – Big Mountain
Beach In Hawaii – Ziggy Marley
Below The Waist – Queen Ifrica
Close To You – Maxi Priest
Come Over – Estelle ft Sean Paul
Could You Be Loved – Bob Marley
Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
Edge of the Ocean – Stick Figure
Every Night Every Morning – Maoli
Everything I Own – Ken Boothe
Girls Dem Sugar – Beenie Man, Mya
Have It All (Easy Star All-Stars & Michael Goldwasser Reggae Mix) – Jason Mraz
I am Blessed – Mr. Vegas
I Feel Good – Beres Hammond
I Got You – Michael Franti & Spearhead
I Love My Life – Demarco
I Love You Too – Ziggy Marley
Love and Affection – Pressure
Love Me – Fia
Love You Right – Morgan Heritage
No Ordinary Love – Alaine
Praise Jah In the Moonlight – YG Marley
Real Love – Lloyd Brown
Red Red Wine – UB40
Rise in Love – Alaine
Rockaway – Beres Hammond
Rumor – Maoli
She’s Royal – Tarrus Riley
Smile – WizKid, H.E.R.
Soul Provider – Romain Virgo
Three Little Birds – Bob Marley & The Wailers
Way of Life – Stick Figure, Slightly Stoopid
Welcome to Jamrock – Damian Marley
You and Me – SOJA, Chris Boomer
Upbeat and Dance Hits
Guaranteed party hits and dance floor fillers!
Action – Terror Fabulous, Nadine Sutherland
Anything For You – Snow & Friends
Beautiful – Seeed
Boom Shack-A-Lak – Apache Indian
Boombastic – Shaggy
Calling On Me – Sean Paul, Tove Lo
Down Under – Men At Work
Electric Avenue – Eddy Grant
Get Busy – Sean Paul
Girls Dem Sugar – Beenie Man, Mya
Gyal You A Party Animal – Charly Black
Here Comes The Hotstepper – Ini Kamoze
Hold You (Hold Yuh) – Gyptian
I Like To Move It – Reel 2 Real
Iko Iko (My Bestie) – Justin Wellington feat. Small Jam
Informer – Snow
It Wasn’t Me – Shaggy feat. Ricardo Ducent
Murder She Wrote – Chaka Demus And Pliers
No Games – Serani
No Letting Go – Wayne Wonder
No Lie – Sean Paul, Dua Lipa
Pon de Replay – Rihanna
Pon De River Pon De Bank – Elephant Man
Rum & Redbull – Beenie Man, Future Fambo
Say Hey (I Love You) – Michael Franti & Spearhead
Shy Guy – Diana King
Speechless – J’calm
Temperature – Sean Paul
That Girl – Maxi Priest, Shaggy
Toast – Koffee
Turn Me On – Kevin Lyttle
Walking Trophy – Hoodcelebrityy
Who Am I? (Sim Simma) – Beenie Man
Classic and Iconic Reggae
A list of songs for the young at heart who would appreciate these classic tracks. These can be played for reception background music and cocktail hour.
All I Have Is Love – Gregory Isaacs
Bam Bam – Sister Nancy
Cherry Oh Baby – Eric Donaldson
Good Thing Going – Sugar Minott
Here I Come – Barrington Levy
I Can See Clearly Now – Jimmy Cliff
I Want To Wake Up With You – Boris Gardiner
I’ll Do Anything for You – Denroy Morgan
Melody Life – Marcia Griffiths
My Boy Lollipop – Millie
Night Nurse – Gregory Isaacs
One Love/People Get Ready – Bob Marley
Sitting & Watching – Dennis Brown
Tempted To Touch – Beres Hammond
Fun & Novelty
Have a bit of fun at your reception with a sing-along, electric slide, and a song just for the groomsmen.
Bad Boys – Inner Circle
Banana Boat (Day-O) – Harry Belafonte
Electric Boogie – Marcia Griffiths
I’m Getting Married – Yellowman
Do you have a favorite Reggae song for weddings? Please share it below in the comments!
There are other dancehall artists who receive quite a bit of airplay, but their lyrics are unsuitable for wedding playlists unless it’s a predominantly Caribbean audience. Dancehall artists such as Assassin, Busy Signal, Konshens, Mavado, Popcaan, and Vybz Kartel are popular on the dancehall scene and have sold millions of records/albums.
Reggae is all music that has a rhythm accented with an offbeat usually on the second and fourth beats of each bar. In addition, the rhythm guitar emphasizes the third beat or holds the chord on the second beat until the fourth is played. The third beat’s speed and the use of complex bass are a signature of reggae music.
Reggae formed from ska, mento, and R&B styles of music. The biggest propitiator of reggae music is Bob Marley. Bob Marley started with the musical group the Wailers promoting the image of the urban guerilla. Bob’s stardom peaked when he converted to a more soulful-pop melody sound in the early 1970s.
A clear distinction we want to make is that many times Calypso/Soca music is usually categorized as Reggae music; which it is not. Those genres originate from Caribbean islands such as Trinidad and Tobago.
Sadly, many music services like iTunes and Spotify categorize that music style as Reggae. We are referring to songs like Bunji Garlin – Differentology, Kevin Lyttle – Turn Me On, Machel Montano – Fast Wine, Rupee – Tempted to Touch, etc. They are not technically part of the Reggae genre.
I have always had a love for music and the way it makes you feel. My passion grew for wedding celebrations with years as a wedding DJ. Now, as a wedding music planner, I research popular and unique wedding songs to create personalized playlists for couples and help wedding pros curate crowd-cheering music. Let's get the party started! - Read More About Me
