Picking wedding music can be a lot of fun. It can also turn into a whole lot of scrolling, second-guessing, and asking, “Wait, what are other people doing?”
So we thought we’d share! We looked through our couples’ 2026 planning forms and music requests to put together a recap of the songs they loved, the songs they wanted us to skip, and the moments they chose to include.
Our remaining weddings for the year are planned and ready to roll, so this recap includes selections for celebrations still to come, too. These are our couples’ requests and plans, rather than a record of every song played.
If you’re planning your own wedding, I hope this gives you a few ideas. You might find your first dance song, remember a favorite you’d forgotten about, or feel a little more comfortable skipping a tradition you weren’t excited about in the first place.
The songs our couples most wanted to hear
“Mr. Brightside” led our most-requested list, followed by “Dancing Queen.” The rest brought together disco, pop, country-pop, hip-hop, and some very familiar singalongs.
Here’s the top 10 from the “Songs We Love” section of our couples’ music request lists, in ranking order. Songs with equal request totals share a ranking.
- The Killers – Mr. Brightside
- ABBA – Dancing Queen
- Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)
- Earth, Wind & Fire – September
- Taylor Swift – Love Story
- Chappell Roan – Pink Pony Club
- ABBA – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
- Waka Flocka Flame feat. Roscoe Dash & Wale – No Hands
- Cascada – Everytime We Touch
- WALK THE MOON – Shut Up and Dance
Each listing in “Songs We Love” counted as a request. This tells us what couples were excited to hear, rather than how often a track actually made it into a DJ’s set.
When you’re making your own list, give us a sense of what gets you excited. A handful of favorites can tell us a lot about your taste. From there, we can build around those choices, mix live, and adjust to what your guests are responding to.
And the songs they asked us to skip
This was the list that got people talking! “Cha Cha Slide” and “Cupid Shuffle” tied at the top, followed by “Happy” and “Sweet Caroline.”
The top 10 ranking included the following songs. Shared rankings mean there are more than 10 titles:
- DJ Casper – Cha Cha Slide
- Cupid – Cupid Shuffle
- Pharrell Williams – Happy
- Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline
- Rednex – Cotton Eye Joe
- Village People – Y.M.C.A.
- Taylor Swift – Shake It Off
- Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk
- Bruno Mars – 24K Magic
- Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’
- Bruno Mars – Marry You
- WALK THE MOON – Shut Up and Dance
- Beyoncé – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
Notice anything familiar? “Shut Up and Dance” appears on both lists. One couple’s must-play can be another couple’s absolutely-not, and that’s a pretty good reminder of why we ask.
A do-not-play list doesn’t need a defense. Maybe you’ve heard a song at every wedding you’ve attended. Maybe you just don’t like it. Tell us what you’d rather skip, and we’ll work with you on music you can feel good about.
First dances that felt like them
The first dance selections covered a lot of ground. Classic soul, country, indie, pop, and different artists’ versions of familiar favorites all had a place.
Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” appeared four times in our cleaned-up recap. “Beyond,” “Nothing Can Change This Love,” “Spin You Around,” and “You Are the Best Thing” each appeared three times. Here are those songs alongside a few more selections from the list:
- Frankie Valli – Can’t Take My Eyes Off You
- Leon Bridges – Beyond
- Sam Cooke – Nothing Can Change This Love
- Morgan Wallen – Spin You Around
- Ray LaMontagne – You Are the Best Thing
- Tyler Childers – All Your’n
- Mazzy Star – Fade Into You
- Noah Kahan – Forever
- Taylor Swift – Lover
- Elton John – Your Song
My advice? Start with songs you both connect with. Listen to the lyrics, make sure you’ve picked the version you love, and picture yourselves having that moment together. If the full song feels a little long, we can talk through a comfortable length.
Parent dances, from familiar favorites to personal surprises
“My Wish” by Rascal Flatts was the most frequently listed parent dance selection in our recap, with 19 selections. “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac followed with 12, “Humble and Kind” by Tim McGraw with 11, and “My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw with 10.
Other frequently selected songs included “Forever Now” and “You’ll Be in My Heart,” each listed nine times. These were the 10 most frequently listed recordings:
- Rascal Flatts – My Wish
- Fleetwood Mac – Landslide
- Tim McGraw – Humble and Kind
- Tim McGraw – My Little Girl
- Michael Bublé – Forever Now
- Phil Collins – You’ll Be in My Heart
- Lee Ann Womack – I Hope You Dance
- The Beatles – In My Life
- Van Morrison – Days Like This
- Rod Stewart – Forever Young
There were plenty of less expected choices in the full list, too, including “Come Sail Away,” “Dancing Queen,” and “Soul Bossa Nova.”
A parent dance can be emotional, lighthearted, or somewhere in between. Think about the person you’re sharing it with. A song you grew up hearing together might mean more than anything you’ll find on a suggested wedding playlist.
Making an entrance as a couple
You’re married, your favorite people are waiting, and now you get to walk into your reception together. What do you want that to feel like?
Our couples’ grand entrance choices ranged from big, high-energy tracks to playful songs and personal favorites. A few selections from the recap:
- AC/DC – Thunderstruck
- Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z – Crazy in Love
- Black Eyed Peas – Let’s Get It Started
- Bruno Mars – Marry You
- Earth, Wind & Fire – September
- Klingande – Jubel
- MKTO – Classic
- Olivia Dean – Man I Need
- Queen – You’re My Best Friend
- Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)
- The 1975 – I’m in Love with You
- Wolf Parade – I’ll Believe in Anything
These are ideas, rather than a popularity ranking. There’s room for a big entrance, a relaxed entrance, or simply walking in to a song you love. We’ll talk through where the music should start, when to introduce you, and how the moment flows into whatever comes next.
Cake cuttings, bouquet tosses, and ceremonies
The music was only part of the story. Our 2026 recap also included:
- 161 cake cuttings
- 25 bouquet tosses
- 189 on-site ceremonies
Of those on-site ceremonies, 48 were officiated by a justice of the peace and 141 were officiated by a family member or friend.
These details are worth talking through when you’re building your timeline. If you want to cut the cake, we’ll help coordinate the moment. If a bouquet toss sounds fun to you, great. If it doesn’t, you can leave it out.
And if someone close to you is officiating, include them in the ceremony planning conversation. Knowing the order of events, the music cues, and who needs a microphone helps everyone feel more prepared.
Your wedding gets to feel like your wedding
We started sharing these recaps to give couples ideas. They also brought out some strong opinions from other DJs about our couples’ decisions. Apparently, we forgot to mention that these choices weren’t being submitted for peer review!
I can smile about that, but I do take the point seriously. You should feel comfortable telling your DJ what matters to you. Our experience is there to help you make decisions, understand the options, and create a celebration you’ll enjoy.
Call us personal. Call us accommodating. We’ll keep listening to our couples while carefully guiding them through the experience.
You don’t have to copy any of these lists. Take an idea, leave an idea, and tell us what you’re imagining. That’s where the fun starts.
If you’re planning a wedding in Greater Boston, the North Shore, or nearby, tell me a little about your plans. I’d love to hear what you have in mind.