31 Best Oldies Songs For Weddings – All Are Classics
Weddings are often a time to engage with traditional elements related to marriage, including decor, themes, and rituals. Therefore, it makes sense to include some oldie wedding songs in your wedding playlist to set the scene. These songs are a great way to call to mind the romance of yesteryear.
Read on to learn about the best oldies songs for weddings.
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“Across the Universe” by The Beatles
Song Year: 1969
The Beatles have several songs that make a great addition to a wedding playlist. Across the Universe is a particularly poetic and gentle choice. This song is a great choice when you need a ballad or slow song or as a dreamy first dance.
“At Last” by Etta James
Song Year: 1960
This song is a classic slow love song that is ideal for a slow first dance. Its lyrics describe happiness at finding someone to love. It has a slow tempo with jazzy influences. “At Last” has been covered by several artists throughout time, including Ella Fitzgerald, Beyonce, and Cyndi Lauper.
“Baby Love” by The Supremes
Song Year: 1964
“Baby Love” is an upbeat song from The Supremes. This Motown song does not necessarily have lyrics that describe a healthy relationship. However, the vibrant beat and the sentiment of wanting love make this a good addition to any wedding playlist.
“Blue Skies” by Josephine Baker
Song Year: 1927
“Blue Skies” has a long history of popularity in the United States. Written in 1926 by Irving Berlin, this song was one of the first to be performed in a talkie when it was featured in The Jazz Singer. Since then, it has been covered by several artists, including Willie Nelson, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Alessandro Juliani. This optimistic song is a bright and hopeful song to dance to at your wedding.
“Can't Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley
Song Year: 1961
This classic song is a common choice for the first dance at a wedding. It describes feeling an undeniable love for a person. Consider adding this song or its many covers to your wedding playlist for a solid slow song to dance to.
“Can't Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli
Song Year: 1967
“Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” is a fun song that describes feeling love for someone else. This love song has beautiful lyrics and a beat you can dance to. As a result, it is a great choice for a wedding playlist.
“Cheek to Cheek” by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Song Year: 1935
“Cheek to Cheek” is one of the most recorded love songs around. It is one of many songs from the beloved Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong duo. The lyrics include lovely descriptions of how nothing in life compares to dancing cheek-to-cheek with a loved one.
“Dream a Little Dream of Me” by Doris Day
Song Year: 1957
Though “Dream a Little Dream of Me” was first recorded in 1931, the 1957 Doris Day version is one of the most enduring recordings in terms of popularity. This song is a true classic romantic song that can add a lullaby-like touch to any wedding dance floor.
“Endless Love” by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
Song Year: 1981
“Endless Song” is a great wedding song, thanks to its duet structure. The lyrics of this song are perfect for a wedding since they describe eternal love and romance. The tune is a ballad that picks up a bit of speed as it develops.
“Funny Valentine” by Frank Sinatra
Song Year: 1954
The tongue-in-cheek lyrics of this song describe how the object of the singer’s affection may be less than perfect, but the singer loves them anyway. This lower-tempo song is a good choice for a slow dance at a wedding.
“God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys
Song Year: 1966
This classic song describes how the singer does not know how they would go on without their loved one. It is a good song for a slow dance during a wedding. The song has elements of Baroque rock, making it a little different from other songs on this list.
“Happy Together” by The Turtles
Song Year: 1967
This song was one of the most popular love songs of the late 1960s. “Happy Together” is an iconic song well suited to any romantic setting. While the lyrics describe an imagined romance, the upbeat tune and loving sentiment make it a popular choice for weddings.
“How Deep Is Your Love” by The Bee Gees
Song Year: 1977
If you love a bop from the 1970s, “How Deep Is Your Love” must be on your wedding playlist. It is an ideal gentle dance song with romantic lyrics. While it has a generally slow melody, some faster elements create a dreamy energy behind the song.
“I Got You Babe” by Sonny and Cher
Song Year: 1965
“I Got You Babe” is a classic song that is a good choice for your wedding playlist if you are looking for a more upbeat song. The lyrics describe being happy to have someone to love, even if people think the singers are too young to know they love each other.
“It Takes Two” by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston
Song Year: 1966
“It Takes Two” describes how two people together are better than one single person. As a result, this upbeat song is an ideal wedding song when you want a touch of vintage joy. Another popular version of this song is by Rod Stewart and Tina Turner.
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston
Song Year: 1987
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody” is the perfect song if you want a classic that will get everyone at your wedding to dance. The lyrics express loneliness and a desire to dance with someone and love. This Grammy-winning song is a classic pop song that is still popular today.
“I'm a Believer” by the Monkees
Song Year: 1987
Besides its prominent role in popular children's films in the early 2000s, this song is great in its own right. The lyrics describe the journey of changing from a skeptic to a believer when it comes to love. Not only are the lyrics fitting, but the beat is great to dance to.
“In Other Words (Fly Me to the Moon)” by Kaye Ballard
Song Year: 1954
This song is one of the most covered love songs of the 20th and 21st centuries. The lyrics and tune evoke a dreamy romance that is welcome at all weddings. Adding this song to your playlist is an instant way to add a touch of vintage beauty to your dance floor.
“It Had To Be You” by Marion Harris, Isham Jones, and Gus Kahn
Song Year:1924
If you want wedding songs for oldies enthusiasts, start with It Had to Be You from 1924. There are several more modern adaptations of this song. This song describes what it feels like to find “the one,” including the positive and negative aspects of a relationship.
“It's Magic” by Keely Smith
Song Year: 1947
Written in 1947, this song describes the magic of love. It was originally written by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn for the movie Romance on the High Seas. Over time, many artists recorded versions of this song.
“La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens
Song Year: 1960
This classic song is a perfect wedding play when you want your guests to get up and dance. While this Spanish song does not have overtly romantic lyrics, the beat is a great oldies choice for dancing.
“La Vie en Rose” by Edith Piaf
Song Year: 1947
“La Vie en Rose,” also known as Life in Pink, is a popular French song by Edith Piaf. Though Edith Piaf debuted this song, several other artists have covered it over the years. The dramatic and beautiful song is a good slow dance for a wedding. The lyrics relate to love causing one to see life in a new way.
“Let's Jump the Broomstick” by Brenda Lee
Song Year: 1959
Even though “Let’s Jump the Broomstick” is not as widely known in the 21st century as other options on this list does not mean it is not a great oldies wedding song. This cheerful tune makes reference to the old tradition of jumping over a broomstick during a wedding ceremony. The song is in a fast-paced rockabilly style and is great for dancing.
“Moon River” by Audrey Hepburn
Song Year: 1961
Audrey Hepburn may not be known primarily as a singer. However, she made a big impact with “Moon River” and you can make a similar impact with this song at your wedding. This short song can create a large vintage touch to your wedding. The lyrics and tune of the song are dreamy and evocative of a romantic scene.
“Stupid Cupid” by Connie Francis
Song Year: 1958
“Stupid Cupid” is a great tongue-in-cheek love song that is a good choice for humor-loving brides and grooms. The lyrics describe someone being in love without meaning to be. The tune of the song is fast-paced and exciting, making it a good choice for a dance song.
“That's Amore” by Dean Martin
Song Year: 1953
“That’s Amore” is a delightful, Italy-inspired song from Dean Martin that you will associate with romance within a few bars. The old-fashioned energy of this song creates an atmosphere for some easy, languid dancing. There is a slight bent of goofiness that contributes beautifully to the overall air of this song.
“The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
Song Year: 1964
If you have seen a romantic comedy film in the last 100 years, you have likely heard this song. This romantic song describes someone seeing the person they love and saving that memory for later in life. As a ballad, “The Way You Look Tonight” is a sweeping song deserving of a loving, slow dance. There are plenty of covers of this song from artists other than Sinatra.
“They Can't Take That Away From Me” by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Song Year: 1956
“They Can’t Take That Away From Me” is a delightful jazz song that describes holding onto memories of a love gone past. While there are several covers of this song, it is difficult to find a dup more appealing than Fitzgerald and Armstrong. The melody of the song is upbeat and easy to dance to.
“What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
Song Year: 1967
“What a Wonderful World” is not strictly a romantic song. However, its upbeat tune and beautiful lyrics make this song a delightful part of any playlist, especially those found at weddings. This song is ideal for slower dances.
“You Made Me Love You” by Patsy Cline
Song Year: 1962
“You Made Me Love You” is a silly song that highlights how you can sometimes end up in love without meaning to be. There are other versions of this song with a range of tempos. The rendition from Patsy Cline is a country music-inspired ballad that lends itself nicely to a slow dance.
“Your Song” by Elton John
Song Year: 1970
Elton John’s “Your Song” is a beautiful addition to a wedding playlist. The lyrics praise the recipient of the song for their qualities and general wonderfulness. This song has a slower, yet compelling tempo that is easy to dance to.
Top Oldies Songs For Weddings, Final Thoughts
While there are plenty of modern love songs to choose from for your wedding playlist, sometimes a touch of old-fashioned romantic music is what you need. Whether your whole wedding is steeped in old-school charm or you just want to throw a few classics in, these oldies are a lovely addition to your wedding. Some of these songs are perfect for a first dance, entrance, or just having fun on the dance floor.