Who’s ready for a fun step of wedding planning? (I can hear you all shouting and jumping up and down.) If it’s time to pick out your wedding music… specifically your wedding entrance songs… then this list is for you. This likely means you’ve hit the actually fun part of wedding planning. Hooray! You’re picking the song that will play while you and your brand-new spouse walk into the reception after your wedding ceremony. You may also pick out a wedding party entrance song, and have your favorite people walk in to their own piece of music, or you can have everyone walk into the same song that you two do. You do you.
But let’s take a quick time-out. If all this is making you feel a tiny bit overwhelmed, remember that you don’t actually have to do a big flashy musical entrance to your wedding. If a grand wedding entrance is that all-eyes-on-you moment that you live for, then read on, and find the perfect reception entrance song. But if you’re the kind of person who would rather slip into the reception, and escape all that extra attention? You can totally do that too. (Feel free to forget to mention this choice to any emotionally involved parents. Asking permission is harder than asking forgiveness, and all that.)
But if you’re here for the grand entrance to the reception, there are a few things to keep in mind when picking wedding entrance songs. We spoke with dozens of wedding DJs around the country, and they resoundingly said this is a chance to pick something you really love. Hollon Yarborough, also known as DJ Bigg H, of AMP’D Entertainment in Atlanta, says “It’s all about what the couple wants!” And Gabby Saucedo, also known as DJ Lady Q of the San Francisco Bay Area and the DJ Meg hired for her ten-year anniversary party, said the most important thing about picking a wedding entrance song is just to not stress out about it too much. “Whatever song the couple feels is “the” one, is in fact the one. It doesn’t matter what the song is or how it sounds, that’s the song. Ideally, it’s a love/celebration song that the audience knows the couple turns up to.” But if you don’t have something in mind specifically already? That’s okay! Gabby says couples can ask themselves a few questions about their taste and the vibe they want to help narrow the process: “Let’s suppose a couple doesn’t have a specific song in mind and wants a song that will make the party go off. First, I would consider the ‘style’ of the couple. Do they prefer top hits? Or are they more old-school and like classic hits that everyone gets down to? Are there any artists that the couple loves a lot?” Take that direction, and then pick a song you really like.
As Gabby notes, you’ll likely want a wedding entrance song that’s easily recognizable, but for a truly grand entrance, you may want it to be a little unexpected, too. And if you want a high-energy, get-this-party-started vibe? Pick accordingly! We talked to Matthew Rubino, DJ and co-owner of The Flashdance in Los Angeles, and he said “People bring the Flashdance to a wedding to bring that festival or club energy to the dance party, so the grand entrance is a great time to set the tone and get your guests hyped! Go for something fun/upbeat and that will get people’s attention. A song people enjoy and that perhaps they wouldn’t expect to hear at a wedding.”
You’ll also ideally want to have an instrumental intro that the DJ won’t have to scream themselves hoarse to be heard over. And while we’re talking about introductions, remember that if neither of you is changing your name, the DJ can introduce you as “the newlyweds” or “the happy couple” or any phrase you pick. But it may be worth writing that phrase down on an index card on huge block letters along with the note, “If you introduce us at the new Mr. and Mrs. Smith, you’re dead.”
Also, keep in mind the next step on your wedding day timeline. If you’re beginning your first dance immediately after being introduced, you might not want to transition from hip hop to indie folk. Or do you want everyone to smile, applaud, and then sit down while dinner is being served? Maybe go for a tune that will be fun, but not over-the-top wild. If you’re coming into the room and the next step is a raging dance party, then pick an upbeat grand entrance song and get into it!
As you’re picking your wedding entrance song, try to imagine the emotional moment. You’ve wrapped the ceremony. You just got EFFING MARRIED. You and your partner may have spent a few quiet moments together soaking in this huge commitment you just made… and now it’s time to party with everyone. So if you like walking into a room to the sound of raucous applause—or at least want to grab your opportunity to do just that—then this list of fifty of the best wedding entrance songs is for you. We got input from Gabby, Matthew with The Flashdance and his co-owner Michael Antonia, and dozens of the best wedding DJs from around the country—plus our own APW staff to compile this list, and of course give us your picks in the comments, too.
HOT WEDDING ENTRANCE SONGS
- Good as Hell – by Lizzo
From the album: Coconut Oil
Fav Lyrics: “I do my hair toss, check my nails, baby how you feelin’? Feeling good as hell…” - Mood 4 Eva – by Beyoncé ft. Jay Z, Oumou Sangaré and Childish Gambino
From the album: The Lion King
Fav Lyrics: “I give ’em goosebumps every time, I throw up my diamond, Together we’re big timin…” - Loco Contigo – by DJ Snake, J. Balvin, and Tyga
From the album: Carte Blanche
Fav Lyrics: “Cuando lo mueves todo me sanas, Eres mi antídoto cuando tengo ganas, Tú me tienes loco, loco contigo” - Me! – by Taylor Swift
From the album: Lover
Fav Lyrics: “But one of these things is not like the others, like a rainbow with all of the colors, baby doll, when it comes to a lover, I promise that you’ll never find another like me…” - Higher Love – by Whitney Houston, remixed by Kygo
From the album: I’m Your Baby Tonight
Fav Lyrics: “I could light the night up with my soul on fire, I could make the sun shine from pure desire. Let me feel that love come over me, let me feel how strong it could be, bring me a higher love…” - Señorita – by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello
From the album: Shawn Mendes
Fav Lyrics: “But every touch is ooh lala, It’s true ooh la la…” - Electricity – by Dua Lipa ft. Mark Ronson and Diplo
From the album: Dua Lipa
Fav Lyrics: “Falling into you, baby, Even electricity can’t compare to what I feel when I’m with you…”
FUN WEDDING ENTRANCE SONGS
- HandClap – by Fitz and the Tantrums
From the album: Fitz and the Tantrums
Fav Lyrics: “You’re like a drug to me, A luxury, my sugar and gold. I want the good life, every good night you’re a hard one to hold…” - Can’t Stop the Feeling – by Justin Timberlake
From the movie: Trolls
Fav Lyrics: “Nothing I can see but you when you dance, dance, dance. A feeling good, good, creeping up on you. So just dance, dance, dance, come on…” - Dynamite – by Taio Cruz
From the album: Rokstarr
Fav Lyrics: “Cause we gon’ rock this club, We gon’ go all night, We gon’ light it up like it’s dynamite…” - Shut Up and Dance – by Walk the Moon
From the album: Talking is Hard
Fav Lyrics: “Oh don’t you dare look back, Just keep your eyes on me, I said, ‘You’re holding back.’ She said, ‘Shut up and dance with me!'” - Feel So Close – by Calvin Harris
From the album: 18 Months
Fav Lyrics: “I feel so close to you right now, It’s a force feel, I wear my heart upon my sleeve, like a big deal…” - Take Me Home Tonight – by Eddie Money
From the album: Can’t Hold Back
Fav Lyrics: “I get frightened in all this darkness, I get nightmares I hate to sleep alone, I need some company, a guardian angel, to keep me warm when the cold winds blow…” - Party Rock Anthem – by LMFAO
From the album: Sorry for Party Rocking
Fav Lyrics: “Party rock is in the house tonight, everybody just have a good time (yeah), and we gon’ make you lose your mind…”
POP MUSIC WEDDING ENTRANCE SONGS
- XO – by Beyoncé
From the album: Beyoncé
Fav Lyrics: “In the darkest night hour, I’ll search through the crowd, your face is all that I see, I’ll give you everything, baby love me lights out…” - 24K Magic – by Bruno Mars
From the album: 24K Magic
Fav Lyrics: “Put your pinky rings up to the moon/Girls, what y’all trying to do?/Twenty-four karat magic in the air…” - Close to Me – by Ellie Goulding
From the album: None (released as a digital single)
Fav Lyrics: “And I don’t wanna be somebody without your body close to me, and if it wasn’t you, I wouldn’t want anybody close to me…” - Closer – by Tegan and Sara
From the album: Hearthrob
Fav Lyrics: “All I want to get is a little bit closer, all I want to know is, can you come a little closer? Here comes the breath before we get a little bit closer, here comes the rush before we touch, come a little closer…” - Crazy in Love – by Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z
From the album: Dangerously in Love
Fav Lyrics: “Cause your love’s got the best of me, And, baby, you’re making a fool of me, You got me sprung and I don’t care who sees…” - High Hopes – by Panic! At the Disco
From the album: Pray for the Wicked
Fav Lyrics: “Had to have high, high hopes for a living, shooting for the stars when I couldn’t make a killing, didn’t have a dime but I always had a vision. Always had high, high hopes…” - I Don’t Care – by Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber
From the album: No. 6 Collaborations Project
Fav Lyrics: “Cause I don’t care when I’m with my baby, yeah, all the bad things disappear, and you’re making me feel like maybe I am somebody…” - Marry You – by Bruno Mars
From the album: Doo-Wops & Hooligans, 2010
Fav Lyrics: “It’s a beautiful night, we’re looking for something dumb to do, Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you. Is it the look in your eyes, or is it this dancing juice? Who cares baby, I think I wanna marry you…” - Cake By The Ocean – by DNCE
From the album: DNCE
Fav Lyrics: “Waste time with a masterpiece, don’t waste time with a masterpiece, you should be rolling with me…” - On Top of the World – by Imagine Dragons
From the album: Night Visions
Fav Lyrics: “Cause I’m on top of the world, ‘ey, I’m on top of the world, ‘ey, waiting on this for a while now…”
HIP HOP AND R&B WEDDING ENTRANCE SONGS
- Throw it Back – Missy Elliott
From the album: Iconology
Fav Lyrics: “I be on my game, if it’s competition, I put them to shame, Watch me throw it back Watch me throw it back…” - I Like It – by Cardi B. ft. Bad Bunny and J Balvin
From the album: Invasion of Privacy
Fav Lyrics: “Oh he’s so handsome, what’s his name? I said I like it like that…” - Real Love – by Mary J. Blige
From the album: What’s the 411?
Fav Lyrics: “We are lovers true and through and through, We made it through the storm…” - Run This Town – by Jay Z ft. Rihanna
From the album: The Blueprint 3
Fav Lyrics: “Victory’s within the mile, Almost there, don’t give up now, Only thing that’s on my mind, Is who gon’ run this town tonight…” - Ready or Not – by The Fugees
From the album: The Score
Fav Lyrics: “Ready or not, Here I come, you can’t hide, Gonna find you and make you want me…” - Feels So Good – by Mase
From the album: Money Talks
Fav Lyrics: “You ready Mase? Party people in the place to be it’s about that time…” - All the Way Up – by Fat Joe and Remy Ma, ft. Jay Z, French Montana, Infrared
From the album: Plata O Plomo
Fav Lyrics: “I’m all the way up, nothing can stop me, I’m all the way up…” - Love In This Club – by Usher
From the album: Here I Stand
Fav Lyrics: “Lookin’ in your eyes, while you on the other side, and I think miss shorty, I’ve got a thing for you…” - Make Me Feel – by Janelle Monáe
From the album: Dirty Computer
Fav Lyrics: “Mess me up, yeah, but no one does it better, There’s nothin’ better, That’s just the way you make me feel…” - Can’t Hold Us – by Macklemore
From the album: The Heist
Fav Lyrics: “Can we go back, this is the moment/Tonight is the night, we’ll fight till it’s over/So we put our hands up like the ceiling can’t hold us/Like the ceiling can’t hold us”
LATIN WEDDING ENTRANCE SONGS
- Mi Gente – J Balvin and Willy Williams ft. Beyoncé
From the album: Released as a single
Fav Lyrics: “Toda mi gente se mueve, Mira el ritmo cómo los tiene, Hago música que entretiene, El mundo nos quiere, nos quiere, y me quiere a mí…” - Suavemente – Elvis Crespo
From the album: Píntame
Fave Lyrics: “Suavemente, bésame, Que quiero sentir tus labios, Besándome otra vez…” - Despacito – Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee
From the album: Vida
Fav Lyrics: “Sí, sabes que ya llevo un rato mirándote, Tengo que bailar contigo hoy (DY), Vi que tu mirada ya estaba llamándome, Muéstrame el camino que yo voy (Oh)…” - Danza Kuduro – Don Omar & Lucenzo
From the album: Vem Dancar Kuduro
Fav Lyrics: “Vem dançar comigo, seguindo este ritmo, Quero ver balançar, Todos lado a lado, vai ser toda a noite, Vem dançar até cansar, Mexe kuduro…” - Vivir Mi Vida – Marc Anthony
From the album: 3.0
Fav Lyrics: “Voy a reír, voy a bailar, vivir mi vida, la, la, la, la, Voy a reír, voy a gozar, vivir mi vida, la, la, la, la…” - Las Flores – Café Tacuba
From the album: Re
Fav Lyrics: “Ven y dime todas esas cosas, Invítame a sentarme junto a ti, Escucharé todos tus sueños en mi oído, Y déjame estrechar tus manos, Y regalarte unas pocas de ilusiones, Ay ven y cuéntame una historia que me haga sentir bien…” - Gasonlina – Daddy Yankee
From the album: Barrio Fino
Fav Lyrics: “Ella prende la turbina, No discrimina, No se pierde ni un party de marquesina, Se acicala va pa la esquina, Luce también que hasta la sombra le combina, Asesina, me domina, Janguea en carro, motora, y limusina, Llena su tanque de adrenalina, Cuando escucha Reggaetón en la cocina…”
Photo by Olive Photography
Bridal PARTY ENTRANCE SONGS
- Raise Your Glass – by P!nk
From the album: Greatest Hits… So Far!!!
Fav Lyrics: “So raise your glass if you are wrong in all the right ways. All my underdogs, we will never be never be, anything but loud and nitty-gritty dirty little freaks…” - Pon de Replay – by Rihanna
From the album: Music of the Sun
Fav Lyrics: “Lemme see you move and rock it ’til the groove done, Shake it ’til the moon becomes the sun” - A Little Help From My Friends – by The Beatles
From the album: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Fav Lyrics: “Are you sad because you’re on your own? No, I get by with a little help from my friends, Mm, get high with a little help from my friends…” - Uptown Funk – by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
From the album: Uptown Funk
Fav Lyrics: “Come on, dance, jump on it, If you sexy then flaunt it, If you freaky then own it, Don’t brag about it, come show me…” - Let’s Get It Started – by The Black Eyed Peas
From the album: Elephunk
Fav Lyrics: “We got five minutes for us to disconnect, from all intellect collect the rhythm effect, obstacles are inefficient, follow your intuition, free your inner soul and break away from tradition…”
COUNTRY MUSIC WEDDING ENTRANCE SONGS
- I Will Always Love You – by Dolly Parton
From the album: Jolene
Fav Lyrics: “I’ll think of you every step of the way, And I will always love you…” - Here for the Party – by Gretchen Wilson
From the album: Here for the Party
Fav Lyrics: “You know I’m here for the party, And I ain’t leaving till they throw me out, Gonna have a little fun gonna get me some, You know I’m here, I’m here for the party…” - Wagon Wheel – by Darius Rucker
From the album: True Believers
Fav Lyrics: “I made it down the coast in seventeen hours, picking me a bouquet of dogwood flowers, and I’m a-hopin’ for Raleigh, I can see my baby tonight. So rock me momma like a wagon wheel, rock me momma any way you feel…” - Setting the World on Fire – by Kenny Chesney feat. P!nk
From the album: Cosmic Hallelujah
Fav Lyrics: “Up all night and we were feelin’ so good, yeah, we got a little higher than we probably should. We were in a hotel singin’ in the hallway lights, we were strikin’ the matches right down to the ashes, setting the world on fire, setting the world on fire…” - A Guy with a Girl – by Blake Shelton
From the album: If I’m Honest
Fav Lyrics: “I’m just the guy with the girl everybody wants to know, Wishin’ you were there alone, Wonderin’ how I ever got your little hand in mine, Lookin’ over at ya like ‘ain’t she beautiful?’” - Somebody Like You – by Keith Urban
From the album: Golden Road
Fav Lyrics: “There’s a new wind blowing like I’ve never known, I’m breathing deeper than I’ve even done, And it sure feels good to finally feel the way I do, And I want to love somebody, love somebody like you…” - You Can’t Stop Me – by Brett Eldredge feat. Thomas Rhett
From the album: Illinois
Fav Lyrics: “Just like the roof is on fire, So turn up the heat, All my friends are here, But the drinks on me…” - Stuck Like Glue – by Sugarland
From the album: The Incredible Machine
Fav Lyrics: “There you go making my heart beat again, There you go pulling me right back in, And I know I’m never letting this go, You and me baby we’re stuck like glue…” - I Want Crazy – by Hunter Hayes
From the album: Hunter Hayes (Encore)
Fav Lyrics: “You can’t undo a fall like this, ‘Cause love don’t know what distance is, Yeah, I know it’s crazy, I’ve searched the world and I know now, It ain’t right if you ain’t lost your mind, Yeah I don’t want easy, I want crazy…” - Yours If You Want It – by Rascal Flatts
From the album: Back to Us
Fav Lyrics: “There’s one more sip in this bottle of wine, A lonely star hangin’ in the sky with a wish left on it, And it’s yours if you want it…” - Chasing Down a Good Time – by Randy Houser
From the album: Fired Up
Fav Lyrics: “I love to watch your lips, When they sing your favorite song, Then they turn into a kiss, And I can’t help but sing along…” - I Found You – by Andy Grammer
From the album: Naive
Fav Lyrics: “Gone along for a wild ride, and I can say looking in your eyes, that it all would have been a waste, but I found you on the way…”
CLASSIC WEDDING ENTRANCE SONGS
- (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher – by Jackie Wilson
From the album: Higher and Higher
Fav Lyrics: “I’m so glad, I’ve finally found you, Yes that one, in a million girls, And I whip, my loving arms around you, honey, I can stand up, and face the world…” - I’m Coming Out – by Diana Ross
From the album: Diana
Fav Lyrics: “There’s a new me coming out, And I just had to live, And I want to give, I’m completely positive, I think this time around, I am gonna do it, Like you never do it, Like you never knew it…” - Rock Steady – by Aretha Franklin
From the Album: Young, Gifted, and Black
Fav Lyrics: “Just call the song exactly what it is, Just move your hips with a feeling from side to side, Sit yourself down in your car and take a ride, While you’re moving, rock steady…” - For Once in My Life – by Stevie Wonder
From the album: Here I Am
Fav Lyrics: “For once in my life I have someone who needs me, someone I’ve needed so long, for once unafraid I can go where life leads me, somehow I know I’ll be strong…” - This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – by Natalie Cole
From the album: Inseparable
Fav Lyrics: “I’m so glad, He found in time, And I’m so glad that, He rectified my mind, This will be, An everlasting love for me…” - Tell Me Something Good – by Chaka Khan and Rufus
From the album: Rags to Rufus
Fav Lyrics: “Tell me something good, Tell me that you love me, yeah, Tell me something good, Tell me that you like it, yeah…” - Eye of the Tiger – by Survivor
From the album: Eye of the Tiger
Fav Lyrics: “So many times, it happens too fast, you trade your passion for glory, don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past, you must fight just to keep them alive…” - I Would Die 4 U – by Prince
From the album: Purple Rain
Fav Lyrics: “I would die for you, Darling if you want me to, I would die for you, I’m not your lover, I’m not your friend, I am something that you’ll never comprehend…” - Got to Get You Into My Life – by The Beatles
From the album: Revolver
Fav Lyrics: “Ooh, then I suddenly see you, Ooh, did I tell you I need you, Every single day of my life…” - What I Like About You – by The Romantics
From the album: The Romantics
Fav Lyrics: “Keep on whispering in my ear, tell me all the things that I wanna’ to hear, ’cause that’s true, that’s what I like about you…” - Superfly – by Curtis Mayfield
From the album: Superfly
Fav Lyrics: “Oh, Superfly, You’re gonna make your fortune by and by, But if you lose, don’t ask no questions why” - Crazy Little Thing Called Love – by Queen
From the album: The Game
Fav Lyrics: “This thing called love, I just can’t handle it, this thing called love, I must get round to it, I ain’t ready, crazy little thing called love” - You Make My Dreams – by Hall & Oates
From the Album: Voices
Fav Lyrics: “Well well you, you make my dreams come true…”
What wedding entrance songs do you think totally work—and which ones do not? Married people: What wedding entrance songs did you use for you and your wedding party? Did you have a separate Bridal party grand entrance song?
