The Most Popular Wedding Song the Year You Were Married (From the ’70s to the 2000s)

Music has a special way of transporting us right back to a specific time, place, and feeling. Wedding songs are especially powerful in this way.

If there’s an artist whose songs fit the wedding vibe perfectly, it’s Stevie Wonder. Among all his popular releases, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” has a special place in people’s hearts as a song that symbolizes eternal love and commitment.

The best wedding pick would be a song that would speak of unconditional love that lasts through good times and bad times. Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” expresses this sentiment beautifully, and his smooth voice makes it even more romantic. He released it in 1972, and it became quite a rage at weddings that year.

Throughout the ’70s, wedding invitees never missed out on grooving to Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock.” the catchy number became Rocket Man’s first hit single in the U.S. A fabulous song to dance to no matter the occasion, it’s especially well-suited for weddings.

You know the wedding guests are in their best element and enjoying the event when singing along to the songs. “Sweet Home Alabama” is that compelling number by the legendary rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. The classic rock song has been a southern staple since it was released in 1974.

Everyone who wanted their wedding to be celebrated with dance and music galore opted for “The Hustle” in the late ’70s. It remains a popular pick during marriage parties because people could let down their hair and make the insanely popular hustle dance moves without restraint.

“Dancing Queen” by the Swedish pop group ABBA reigned the charts when it was released in 1976 and continued to make its way into everyone’s heart. We are sure the Europop disco number graced many wedding ceremonies that year and continued for decades.

The song that made it to everyone’s wedding playlist in 1977 was “How Deep Is Your Love” by Bee Gees. Even though the pop ballad became an instant hit, it gained further popularity once it was included in the soundtrack of the famous movie Saturday Night Fever.

How can we not mention songs sung by Eric Clapton when celebrating everlasting unions? He wrote the lyrics of “Wonderful Tonight” one evening in 1976 while waiting for his beloved Pattie Boyd to get ready for dining out. The romantic number was released two years later.

When “What I Like About You” hit the airwaves in 1979, it immediately became a cult classic, and while it didn’t appear on The American Top 40 chart, it debuted at number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is widely considered the most memorable rock song of the ’80s and propelled The Romantics to international fame.

“I’m Coming Out” is widely considered an anthem within the LGBTQ community, and it all makes sense as the song’s origin stem from drag queen outfits. When Chic band founders Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers saw three drag queens dressed as Diana Ross, they wrote the song to appeal to the singer’s gay audience, and it became a massive hit.

“My love, There’s only you in my life, The only thing that’s right” – that’s the opening stanza of the legendary love song “Endless Love” that ultimately makes you want to hold your person close and sway away. Released in 1981, the duet by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross immediately became a classic.

1982 was a fantastic year musically; a lot of hit songs hit the airwaves, and it all began with “Open Arms” by Journey. The song’s central theme is forgiveness, and what better way to start the year than by being on good terms with your loved ones?

Sometimes an artist releases two songs that you’d think might surpass each other, but in Cyndi Lauper’s case, it was an instance of equal popularity. The singer’s “Time After Time” and “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” were released the same year, but it’s the latter that was mainly used at parties.

Before the Footloose film wowed the masses worldwide and got people dancing, the song by the same name by Kenny Loggins had people dancing in the ’80s. The song is the ultimate call to let go for a while, and it was used in weddings quite a lot when it was released.

REO Speedwagon etched its name in the music history books when they released “Can’t Fight This Feeling” which peaked at the number 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it remained for three consecutive weeks. The rock song is about two people who know they’re more than friends, making it the go-to tune for newlyweds.

Another song that became known for appearing in a blockbuster film is “In Your Eyes,” which was used in “Say Anything,” a critically acclaimed movie that was loved by fans and critics alike. The Peter Gabriel hit was quite popular when it was released in 1986 and featured heavily in wedding ceremonies.

When Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes made this song, they knew what they were doing. From the lyrics to the beats, this song makes you want to get married. The music has been a hit at many wedding receptions, so it’s no surprise it makes us feel some butterflies.

There are many reasons why Whitney Houston is revered as a vocal and entertainment powerhouse. From her sultry vocals to her stage presence, the singer knew how to rile us up. Nothing in her massive catalog makes us want to hop on the dance floor like this 1988 track.

For the slow dancers, Van Morrison is the man for you. This musician knows how to get anyone in the mood. One of his most famous tracks is “Have I Told You Lately,” and the jam is a massive hit.

MC Hammer nailed it on the head when he released “U Can’t Touch This.” He even came up with a good dance for the track, making for a full-circle moment. Fans have loved it since its release in 1990, and it has become a solid pop-culture reference.

Love is a beautiful thing, and according to Michael Bolton, when a man loves a woman, something special is about to happen. This song is so great that many people have done covers for it.

The queen makes an appearance once more on this list with the legendary “I Will Always Love You.” Whitney Houston did the thing here by hitting notes we only hear in opera performances. At one point, every one of us tried matching Whitney’s prowess in our living rooms, much to the chagrin of our neighbors.

John Michael Montgomery became a familiar voice in many wedding ceremonies after releasing this lovely track. Of course, we are referring to “I Swear,” and let’s say nothing quite captures the vibe of a wedding ceremony like these lyrics.

For most people, “Kiss From a Rose” is the first-dance song of their choice. This song by Seal gives you some fantastic vibes to keep you in the mood all night long. Lovers unconsciously find themselves in the moment, enjoying the silky voice of the man as they embrace each other for the first time.

Nobody who came of age in the ’90s would have missed “Macarena’s” meteoric rise to prominence. Debuted by the Spanish band Los Del Rio, the song swept the world by storm in 1996 when the Bayside Boys released their remixed version with English lyrics. The rendition topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks before Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” dethroned it. 

Everyone may relate to the deep emotions this Celine Dion song conveys, which features heartwrenching lyrics like “for all the times you stood by me” and “for all the truth you made me see.” A couple’s dream-come-true, enduring love is expressed in additional lines signifying they were each other’s strength in times of weakness.

Savage Garden offered us many things, but we’ll always be grateful for this slow love song. It was the third single from the Australian pop duo’s self-titled debut album. 

As the third single off his debut solo album _Big Willie Style_, “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” was released by American rapper and actor Will Smith. This song samples Sister Sledge’s “He’s the Greatest Dancer” for its verse and the Bar-Kays’ “Sang and Dance” for its chorus.

One of the most well-known songs by Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Ricky Martin is “Livin’ la Vida Loca.” Not only did the song launch his career, but it also set the standard for other Latin pop musicians who sang in Spanish to break into the English-speaking market. 

It’s hard not to believe the boys from NSYNC when they sang the words to the song “This I Promise You.” Many young ladies likely swore that it would be their first-dance song if they got married someday. Indeed, it became a staple song during weddings—couple dance to it, or it gets used for the bridal march.