25 Modern Wedding Songs for Contemporary Couples

We love a good old-fashioned classic wedding song, but sometimes things become a classic because a lot of people choose it.

If you’re looking for something a bit different, what about some modern wedding songs?

Image:  Not On The High Street

We’ve rounded up the best recent wedding songs – make sure you check out our Spotify playlist!

Also don’t forget to check out our list of the best wedding songs of 2019.

Say You Won’t Let Go – James Arthur

We didn’t think we’d see the day James Arthur was storming the charts again after ‘Impossible’, but ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’ was an irresistible hit, telling a love story we’re sure everyone can relate to.

Our favourite lyric: I met you in the dark, you lit me up/You made me feel as though I was enough

Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran

This love song from 2014 is still going strong and will become a timeless classic in years to come. It’s the perfect soundtrack for your first dance.

Our favourite lyric: Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars/Place your head on my beating heart

All of Me – John Legend

Another great shout if you’re looking for a 2014 wedding song – this song, which John Legend penned for his wife Chrissy Teigen, is ideal for all the emotional moments on your big day.

Our favourite lyric: Because all of me/Loves all of you

Remedy – Adele

We all know Adele excels at ballads and this super emotional song about always being there for the one you love is perfect for weddings.

Our favourite lyric: Your love, it is my truth/And I will always love you

Grow Old With Me – Tom Odell

Some of the lyrics might be a little on the risqué side but if you don’t mind that then this is the perfect modern wedding song about growing old and sharing life together.

Our favourite lyric: Grow old with me/Let us share what we see

Same Love – Macklemore

This song became the unofficial anthem for same-sex marriage and its supporters, which makes it more than deserving of its place on our list of modern wedding songs – love songs are for everyone.

Our favourite lyric: Underneath it’s all the same love/About time that we raised up

Cheerleader – OMI (Felix Jaehn Remix)

We love this upbeat tune – the person you love will always be your cheerleader in your relationship so if you and your other half are always there for each other, include this at your wedding.

Our favourite lyric: Oh I think that I found myself a cheerleader/She is always right there when I need her

Sky Full of Stars – Coldplay

Coldplay do beautiful lyrics really well, and Sky Full of Stars is a testimony to that – we love the idea of comparing the one you love to a beautiful sky full of stars.

Our favourite lyric: ‘Cause you’re a sky full of stars/I’m going to give you my heart

XO – Beyoncé

If you want an unusual first dance song, what about XO by Beyoncé? It’s definitely something different and the lyrics are actually pretty cool.

Our favourite lyric: Your heart is glowing/And I’m crashing into you/Baby kiss me

Hold On, We’re Going Home – Drake ft. Majid Jordan

We couldn’t put together a list of modern wedding songs without including a bit of Drake, could we? He’s the master of the romantic song for the couple who like a bit of edge to their music.

Our favourite lyric: You’re everything I see/I want your hot love and emotion, endlessly

Riptide – Vance Joy

Indie couples looking for rock wedding songs will love this tune! It’s a love letter set to music – perfect for quirky brides and grooms.

Our favourite lyric: Oh, all my friends are turning green/You’re the magician’s assistant in their dreams

Ho Hey – The Lumineers

Who doesn’t love this song? The words are so powerful; everyone will be singing along if you choose to add this to your wedding party playlist.

Our favourite lyric: I belong with you, you belong with me/You’re my sweetheart

Best Day of My Life – American Authors

Your wedding is going to be the best day of your life, so make sure you include this anthem on your big day – everyone will be dancing to it.

Our favourite lyric: This is going to be the best day of my life

How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding

This sultry offering from Ellie Goulding makes for a perfect wedding song, and the lyrics are so romantic. Seeing as she sang the first dance song at Kate Middleton’s wedding to Prince William, she’s basically got the royal seal of approval too.

Our favourite lyric: How long will I love you/As long as stars are above you/And longer if I can

Rather Be – Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne

If you love nothing more than going out and dancing the night away, make sure you include some tunes that reflect that on your wedding day – such as this floor filler from Clean Bandit and Jess Glynne.

Our favourite lyric: As long as you’re with me/There’s no place I’d rather me

Only Love – Ben Howard

We are obsessed with Ben Howard here at Hitched HQ – his beautiful lyrics and melodies are perfect for weddings. Only Love is your new favourite love song.

Our favourite lyric: Darling, you’re with me, always around me/Only love, only love

A Thousand Years – Christina Perri

Secret Twi-hard? Why not include this song from Breaking Dawn at your wedding? It’s about loving someone for thousands of years, which is pretty romantic. Why not go for a wedding dress like Bella Swan’s to complete the Twilight tribute?

Our favourite lyric: Darling, don’t be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years/I’ll love you for a thousand more

Everlong – Foo Fighters

The Foo Fighters can be romantic – they proved it with the beautiful Everlong. It might not be the most recent song on this list but we definitely think it’s a pretty modern choice.

Our favourite lyric: If everything could ever feel this real forever/If anything could ever be this good again

Banana Pancakes – Jack Johnson

We all know about Better Together, but what about Banana Pancakes? It’s the perfect song about lazing in bed with the one you love, before it’s time to get up and face the real world – and isn’t that all-to-common moment what love is all about?

Our favourite lyric: Maybe we could sleep in/Make you banana pancakes/Pretend like it’s the weekend now

I’m Yours – Jason Mraz

This upbeat song was made for weddings – we love the lyrics about trying to play it cool but not being able to pull it off because of the strength of your feelings. We’ve all been there.

Our favourite lyric: I won’t hesitate no more, no more/It cannot wait, I’m yours

Candy – Paolo Nutini

We can’t get enough of Paolo Nutini’s sultry voice, and this song makes for the perfect unusual first dance song – it’s romantic with a bit of a sexy edge.

Our favourite lyric: Oh, I’ll be there waiting for you/I’ll be there waiting for you

Shut Up and Dance – Walk the Moon

Looking for wedding party songs that will make sure the dance floor is full all night? Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon is perfect – we also quite like it as a first dance song as we’ve all had that ‘shut up and dance/kiss/hold me’ moment with the one.

Our favourite lyric: Helpless to the bass and the fading light/We were bound to get together

Hold Back the River – James Bay

This gorgeous song is a wedding playlist essential – consider it a reminder to pause all the chaos of daily life and take a moment with each other whenever you can.

Our favourite lyric: Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes/Hold back the river so I/Can stop for a minute and see where you hide

Love on Top – Beyoncé

It might seem like this song makes its way into a lot of our playlists, but that’s because it is inarguably brilliant.

Our favourite lyric: Baby it’s you/You’re the one I love/You’re the one I need

Someone Like You – Paolo Nutini

Of course we had to end on a little bit more Paolo – this beautiful song is so simple but so effective – it could be the perfect music for your ceremony.

Our favourite lyric: Someone like you, so beautifully designed/From the hands all the way to the mind

Why not browse our selection of the best songs to end your wedding with if you’re in the mood to sort out your wedding music right now?