Wedding Music Guides

30 Wedding Songs to Avoid (Do-Not-Play List)

The songs DJs quietly dread. Here are the most overplayed, cliché, and accidentally-inappropriate wedding songs, and why to think twice.

Some songs are wedding clichés, overplayed to the point of eye-rolls, floor-clearers, or accidentally about heartbreak. Knowing what to skip is just as useful as knowing what to play.

Below are songs our DJs see land flat or get cut, grouped by why. Hate to lose one you love? Your Dow Oak DJ can suggest a fresher song that gives the same feel.

Overplayed Floor-Clearers

Heard at every wedding, now met with sighs.

  1. I Gotta FeelingThe Black Eyed Peas
  2. HappyPharrell Williams
  3. Party Rock AnthemLMFAO
  4. Old Town RoadLil Nas X
  5. Gangnam StylePSY
  6. Shape of YouEd Sheeran
  7. Hey Ya!OutKast
  8. Single LadiesBeyoncé

Overdone First Dances

Beautiful, but everyone has used them.

  1. A Thousand YearsChristina Perri
  2. PerfectEd Sheeran
  3. Thinking Out LoudEd Sheeran
  4. All of MeJohn Legend
  5. Wonderful TonightEric Clapton
  6. Can't Stop the Feeling!Justin Timberlake
  7. Shut Up and DanceWalk the Moon

Cheesy Group Numbers

Fun for kids' parties, risky at weddings.

  1. Chicken DanceWerner Thomas
  2. The Hokey PokeyRay Anthony
  3. MacarenaLos Del Río
  4. Cotton Eye JoeRednex
  5. Baby SharkPinkfong
  6. Y.M.C.A.Village People
  7. Cha Cha SlideDJ Casper

Surprise Breakup Songs

Catchy, but listen to the lyrics first.

  1. Love StinksThe J. Geils Band
  2. D-I-V-O-R-C-ETammy Wynette
  3. 50 Ways to Leave Your LoverPaul Simon
  4. Someone Like YouAdele
  5. The Winner Takes It AllABBA
  6. Total Eclipse of the HeartBonnie Tyler
  7. Every Breath You TakeThe Police
  8. I Will Always Love YouWhitney Houston

Good to Know

Do-Not-Play FAQs

What songs should you not play at a wedding?
Overplayed floor-clearers and clichés like the Chicken Dance, the Macarena, and Cotton Eye Joe, plus breakup songs that sound romantic but are not, like Every Breath You Take.
Why avoid breakup songs at a wedding?
Plenty of catchy songs are secretly about heartbreak, cheating, or divorce. They sound fine until someone hears the lyrics, so DJs steer couples toward songs with the right message.
Can we still play a song on this list?
Absolutely, it is your day. If you love one, we will play it. This list is just guidance, and your DJ can also offer a fresher pick with the same vibe.

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