# I need wedding songs that don't suck **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 14, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857 "2012-02-14T23:06:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/1 "2012-02-14T23:06:24Z")
So my sister is getting married in May, and I’m playing music. (I’m very happy about this, because I HATE being in the wedding party. I let it be known that if I didn’t have to rent a tuxedo it would be reflected in the wedding gift.) I play both piano and guitar and I sing. She has asked for 4-5 songs, and she has only specified two of them–[“This Kind of Love” by Sister Hazel](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXzDxcqUcyY) and [“The Luckiest” by Ben Folds](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9bRmuP-kQY). The rest she has left up to me. Any suggestions? I’d like them to fit in reasonably well with the other two, but I’d like them not to suck. I’d like to avoid anything cliched, and stay away from the Billy Joel/Elton John canon because I’ve kind of done it to death in the past. (I know, I’m threading a lot of needles here.) All genres welcome, piano or guitar OK, left-field choices especially welcome. One idea I had considered: “To Love Somebody” by the Bee Gees. Sullied a bit by its extreme early-90s overdoing by Michael Bolton, but largely redeemed in my mind by [this Damien Rice/Ray Lamontagne version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILA1HdwRnHo). I also considered Nick Cave’s “The Ship Song”. Ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/2 "2012-02-14T23:20:37Z")
I’m very fond of The Pretenders “I’ll stand by you” as a wedding song. \*When the night falls on you You don’t know what to do Nothin’ you confess, could make me love you less I’ll stand by you \* Not very traditional, but I really like the sentiment. ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/3 "2012-02-14T23:29:38Z")
Dr. J. I just finsihed the list for my upcoming wedding, if you like, I can PM or email you the list, which includes youtube links. Just let me know. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/4 "2012-02-14T23:32:24Z")
My singer did “Wonderful World” as the recessional. It was my favorite part of the ceremony. He sounded like Satchmo, too. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/5 "2012-02-14T23:45:12Z")
This playlist needs some George Jones: [Walk Through This World With Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLiOD0laJbQ) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/6 "2012-02-14T23:50:25Z")
Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary sang this Wedding song; [- YouTube](http://youtu.be/A1v84WKC6Pg) Quasi ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/7 "2012-02-14T23:56:21Z")
Our wedding dance was “A Wink and a Smile,” by Harry Connick, Jr., which was pretty well received. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/8 "2012-02-15T01:00:50Z")
I handed out CDs as wedding favors. Here is the playlist: (it’s similar to your sister’s tastes, we had Sister Hazel and I considered The Luckiest). I wanted something that most people at my party could enjoy, so it’s got a mix of modern and stuff my parents/aunts/uncles might like. Butterflies - Saving Jane See Me Beautiful - Sister Hazel Where You Are - Marc Broussard Bless the Broken Road - Rascal Flatts After All - Cher & Peter Cetera Smile - Uncle Kracker (we danced to this at our wedding) I’m Yours - Jason Mraz You Got Me - Tristan Prettyman Better Together - Jack Johnson Another Day in Love - TJ McCloud (he’s awesome, highly recommend) Have I Told You Lately - Van Morrison Everything - Michael Buble When You Say Nothing At All - Ronan Keating Your Love - Jim Brickman This Kind of Love - Sister Hazel Lovely Tonight - Joshua Radin Give Me Forever (I Do) - John Tesh & James Ingram Always Will Be Yours - TJ McCloud (played while we list the unity candle) Rest of Your Life - Na Leo Beautiful in My Eyes - Joshua Kadin Today Was a Fairytale - Taylor Swift I fell in love with Tyrone Wells Happy As The Sun after we got married, would have loved to include it on the CD. Happy as the sun, lighter than a feather Walking on the clouds when we are together Every day with you just keeps getting better The world’s as it should be, when are you here ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/9 "2012-02-15T01:26:46Z")
“God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys. Perhaps the most perfect, beautiful love song ever written. Although, some of that greatness is in the orchestration. The only competition, for me, is The Beatles’ “Something.” “Such Great Heights” by the Postal Service (or check out the cover by Iron & Wine). “This Will Be Our Year” by the Zombies. (That was the first dance song at my wedding.) ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/10 "2012-02-15T02:07:37Z")
For an instrumental, _Ode to Joy_ from Beethovan’s Ninth Symphony works well on both piano and guitar. It’s always been one of my favorites to use as a recessional. ---
**Author:** ![StephenG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@StephenG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StephenG)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/11 "2012-02-15T03:32:23Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > This playlist needs some George Jones: [Walk Through This World With Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLiOD0laJbQ) > > 😃 This reminds me of a Marc Cohn song I’m partial to, “Walk Through the World”. I can only find[a cover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkeJL6kh5Zw), but I could probably send you the original. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/12 "2012-02-15T03:47:38Z")
My favorite wedding song is In My Life by the Beatles. If we’d had a dance floor and a band or a DJ at our wedding that would have been our first dance and now I sing it to our baby. ---
**Author:** ![missinformation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@missinformation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missinformation)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/13 "2012-02-15T04:07:13Z")
My processional was Ave Maria…my recessional was an instrumental of Unchained Melody… ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/14 "2012-02-15T04:22:58Z")
Our wedding song was [“Suddenly” by Billy Ocean.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkALTprqCM0) Our second choice was [“Follow You, Follow Me” by Genesis.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9zj11gf9Qk) It was important to us to not use songs that were overdone for weddings, were appropriate (so no “Every Breath You Take” by the Police), and had lovely, romantic lyrics and music. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/15 "2012-02-15T04:56:37Z")
“From This Moment” by Shania Twain. Yeah it’s cheesy, but on weddings you get a free pass for that. Also, “Kathy’s Waltz” by Dave Brubeck. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/16 "2012-02-15T05:07:40Z")
_We’ve Only Just Begun_ Made the Crocker Bank commercials really cool. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/17 "2012-02-15T05:49:02Z")
I highly recommend [“My Only Love”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImuA0XCqn0Q) by the Statler Brothers. It’s an actual wedding song, not just a nice song that is okay for weddings. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/18 "2012-02-15T07:21:24Z")
I think my sister will be going with two great Beatles songs by George Harrison: “Something” (first dance) and “Here Comes the Sun” for her processional. I think HCtS will be a gorgeous instrumental for guitar and alto flute (or even just guitar). I’ll be singing a solo version of [Make Our Garden Grow](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08otiP_aTTk&feature=related) from “Candide,” which is an incredibly touching song for two people who’ve travelled a long way to find happiness and start a life together. Final verse/chorus says it all: _Let dreamers dream what worlds they please; those Edens can’t be found. The sweetest flowers, the fairest trees, are grown in solid ground. We’re neither pure, nor wise, nor good; we’ll do the best we know. We’ll build our house and chop our wood and make our garden grow; We’ll make our garden grow."_ But you’re probably more into rock/pop than the classical/musical genre. Still, it’s freakin’ gorgeous and very meaningful (again, especially for couples who’ve experienced a lot of rough patches in their lives yet managed to discover joy with each other). ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/19 "2012-02-15T07:48:09Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > “From This Moment” by Shania Twain. Yeah it’s cheesy, but on weddings you get a free pass for that. I consider any day that contains a Shania Twain song a bad day, so you can imagine how I felt about the wedding that played this song as the processional, recessional, arrival of the couple at the reception and first dance. Thanks for reminding me 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857/20 "2012-02-15T14:14:33Z")
Feeling Good. Check out either the Nina Simone or Michael Buble version. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-wedding-songs-that-dont-suck/612857.md?page=2)