How to Incorporate Rock Music into Your Wedding Playlist

As an experienced wedding DJ, I’ve assembled a list of rock wedding songs. 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 decades.

When you think of fun songs with a good beat, you’re going to think of rock and roll. This is why rock songs are perfect for your wedding reception. A good beat is the key to getting people on the dance floor.

New Rock/Alternative Songs to Know

• Appetite – Great Good Fine Ok, Danielle Bradbery
• Fade Into You – Sponge
• Fall Into Forever – PARKWILD
• Flagpole Sitta – The All-American Rejects
• Songs – half·alive feat. Jordana

Song Ideas by Wedding Moment & Vibe

Ceremony

Songs for the prelude & processional – walking down the aisle.

• All I Want Is You – U2
• Bittersweet Symphony – The Verve
• Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
• Everlong (Acoustic) – Foo Fighters
• Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles
• ILYSB – LANY
• Turning Page – Sleeping At Last

Songs for your recessional – leaving the ceremony.

• Best Day Of My Life – American Authors
• Dog Days Are Over – Florence + the Machine
• Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
• I’ll Follow You into the Dark – Death Cab For Cutie
• If I Didn’t Have You – BANNERS
• On Top Of The World – Imagine Dragons
• You and Me – Lifehouse

Cocktail Hour

Songs for when guests arrive and an upbeat vibe while they enjoy their appetizers.

• Africa – Toto
• All Summer Long – Kid Rock
• BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish
• broken – lovelytheband
• Come and Get Your Love – Redbone
• Dancing in the Moonlight – King Harvest
• Everywhere – Fleetwood Mac
• feelslikeimfallinginlove – Coldplay
• Friday I’m in Love – The Cure
• Good Together – Lake Street Dive
• Heat Waves – Glass Animals
• I Think I Like You – The Band CAMINO
• I’m In Love With You – The 1975
• Let My Love Open The Door – Pete Townshend
• New Light – John Mayer
• Out Of My League – Fitz & The Tantrums
• Sailing – Christopher Cross
• What’s Up? – 4 Non Blondes
• Wonderwall – Oasis

First Dance

Songs for a rocking first dance as a married couple.

• All Because of You – O.A.R.
• All I Want Is You – The Decemberists
• (Everything I Do) I Do It For You – Bryan Adams
• Fall for You – Secondhand Serenade
• Forever – Ben Harper
• Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
• Tangled Up In You – Staind
• Wherever You Will Go – The Calling
• You’re The One – Black Keys
• You’re The One – Greta Van Fleet

Upbeat Dance Songs

A wide variety of songs for all ages to enjoy.

• All Star – Smash Mouth
• Blister In The Sun – Violent Femmes
• Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
• Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
• Come On Eileen – Dexy’s Midnight Runners
• Dancing In the Dark – Bruce Springsteen
• Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
• Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen
• Ex’s & Oh’s – Elle King
• Footloose – Kenny Loggins
• How You Remind Me – Nickelback
• I Love Rock ‘N Roll – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
• I Ran (So Far Away) – A Flock Of Seagulls
• Lips Like Sugar – by Echo And The Bunnymen
• Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
• Mr. Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra
• One Week – Barenaked Ladies
• Rich Girl – Daryl Hall & John Oates
• Shut Up and Dance – Walk The Moon
• Smooth – Santana feat. Rob Thomas
• Summer Of ’69 – Bryan Adams
• Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) – Eurythmics
• Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Tongue Tied – GROUPLOVE
• Twist And Shout – The Beatles
• We Are Young – Fun. feat. Janelle Monáe
• Welcome To The Jungle – Guns N’ Roses
• You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
• Your Love – Outfield

Party Anthems (Late Night)

A list of newer hits that a younger crowd will appreciate.

• A-Punk – Vampire Weekend
• bad guy – Billie Eilish
• Born For This – The Score
• Bring Me to Life – Evanescence
• Good 4 U – Olivia Rodrigo
• High Hopes – Panic! At the Disco
• Higher – Creed
• I Believe in a Thing Called Love – The Darkness
• In the End – LINKIN PARK
• Kryptonite – 3 Doors Down
• Semi-Charmed Life – Third Eye Blind
• Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes
• Someone To You – BANNERS
• Use Somebody – Kings of Leon

Slow Dance Songs

Songs are meant for all the couples in attendance to get them on the dance floor and share a moment with their lover.

• I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing – Aerosmith
• Faithfully – Journey
• Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
• I Want to Know What Love Is – Foreigner
• Iris – The Goo Goo Dolls
• Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now – Starship
• Your Song – Elton John
• Tonight, Tonight – The Smashing Pumpkins
• Just the Way You Are – Billy Joel

Exit Songs

A list of last dance songs or for your grand exit.

• A Sky Full of Stars – Coldplay
• Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds
• I’ll Be There For You – The Rembrandts
• Let’s Get Married – Bleachers
• Piano Man – Billy Joel
• Stargazing – Myles Smith
• Take Me Home Tonight – Eddie Money
• Thunderstruck – AC/DC

DJs! Plan Rock 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 Rock Playlist

Do you have a favorite rock wedding song? Please share it below in the comments.