Wedding Ideas

Choosing Your Last Dance Song

Posted on June 03, 2019 by Denise Potter

Last-Dance-Song

When it comes to choosing your wedding playlist, don’t underestimate the “last dance” song. At the conclusion of your wedding, all the excitement and love shared throughout the day will crescendo into a truly unforgettable moment with family and friends—one that will leave an impression on everyone in the room. That is exactly why you should strive to select a song that not only gets everyone out of their seats and onto the dance floor, but also reflects who you are as a couple.

“Couples right now are all about the experience,” explains Jason Jani, owner of SCE Event Group in Long Branch. “One of my favorite ways to conclude a wedding reception is to bring it full circle and replay a different version of the wedding song—it could be a remix of the first dance, an acoustic or candlelight-style edit or even the original.”

Many brides and grooms opt for this kind of romantic grand finale, and sometimes they add effects such as indoor fireworks fountains, sparkler send-offs and snowfall or fog machines to create a show-stopping visual. “Bringing the guests back to how the evening started is a powerful and personal way to end a wedding,” Jani says.

While many like to select their “last dance” song in advance, others prefer a less structured flow. Scott Hornak, co-founder of Craig Scott Entertainment in Rochelle Park, encourages his event staff to rely on the overall feel of the room when deejaying or playing a wedding reception, especially in the final moments.
“We generally don’t go into a night with a pre-determined song list—that goes for our deejays and our bands—because we feel it’s best to be able to really react to what is happening,” he says. “That’s how you create a great flow and keep the momentum going.”

Recently, Hornak has noticed an uptick in retro songs, such as “Last Dance,” by Donna Summer, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” by Queen, and “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” by John Denver. In 2020, he predicts songs by Cher and The Temptations will be big hits, due in large part to the new Broadway shows The Cher Show and Ain’t Too Proud—The Life and Times of The Temptations, giving them a fresh pop-culture comeback.
When it comes to choosing your “last dance” song, make sure to stay true to your style, and go with the one that always makes you feel good when you hear it play.

Here are some of our favorite last-dance songs:

1. “Piano Man,” by Billy Joel
2. “Friends In Low Places,” by Garth Brooks
3. “Don’t Stop Believin’,” by Journey
4. “Get Lucky,” by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams
5. “Save The Last Dance For Me,” by Michael Bublé
6 “Your Love,” by The Outfield
7. “With A Little Help From My Friends,” by Joe Cocker
8. “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life,” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
9. “Closing Time,” by Semisonic
10. “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” by Elvis Presley
11. “Bohemian Rhapsody,” by Queen
12. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
13. “We Are Family,” by Sister Sledge
14. “Don’t Stop Me Now,” by Queen
15. “Last Dance,” by Donna Summer
16. “Shut Up And Dance,” by Walk The Moon
17. “Wagon Wheel,” by Darius Rucker
18. “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” by John Denver
19. “Livin’ On A Prayer,” by Bon Jovi
20. “All You Need Is Love,” by The Beatles
21. “Hit The Road Jack,” by Ray Charles
22. “Shout,” by The Isley Brothers
23. “You Shook Me All Night Long,” by ACDC
24. “XO,” by Beyoncé
25. “The Time (Dirty Bit),” by Black Eyed Peas
26. “One More Time,” by Daft Punk
27. “Take Me Home Tonight,” by Eddie Money
28. “Home,” by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
29. “We Are Young,” by Fun, featuring Janelle Monae
30. “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life),” by Green Day

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