The best wedding slideshow songs — classic, modern, indie, country

Classic and timeless love songs

These have carried wedding slideshows for decades. Older guests recognize them instantly, younger guests still feel them. • "At Last" — Etta James. The gold standard. • "Can't Help Falling in Love" — Elvis (or the Haley Reinhart cover). • "L-O-V-E" — Nat King Cole. Upbeat, swingy. • "Unchained Melody" — The Righteous Brothers. • "The Way You Look Tonight" — Frank Sinatra or Tony Bennett. • "Fly Me to the Moon" — Sinatra. • "My Girl" — The Temptations. • "Stand By Me" — Ben E. King. • "Bridge Over Troubled Water" — Simon & Garfunkel.

Modern romantic ballads

The songs that have become the new standards over the last decade. • "Perfect" — Ed Sheeran. Probably the most-used wedding song of the decade. • "All of Me" — John Legend. • "Thinking Out Loud" — Ed Sheeran. • "Marry Me" — Train. • "A Thousand Years" — Christina Perri. • "Lover" — Taylor Swift. • "You Are the Best Thing" — Ray LaMontagne. • "Make You Feel My Love" — Adele's cover. • "Just the Way You Are" — Bruno Mars (upbeat) or Billy Joel (mellow).

Indie, folk, and acoustic

When you want something a little less obvious — these feel personal without being obscure. • "First Day of My Life" — Bright Eyes. Beautiful for early-relationship photos. • "Better Together" — Jack Johnson. • "Lucky" — Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat. • "I Get to Love You" — Ruelle. • "Holocene" — Bon Iver. For more contemplative couples. • "Cherry Wine" — Hozier. • "Yellow" — Coldplay. • "Such Great Heights" — Iron & Wine cover. • "Skinny Love" — Birdy cover. • "You Are the Best Thing" — Ray LaMontagne.

Country wedding slideshow songs

If country is your music, these are the picks the room will sing along to. • "Then" — Brad Paisley. • "Bless the Broken Road" — Rascal Flatts. • "Forever and Ever Amen" — Randy Travis. • "I Cross My Heart" — George Strait. • "Speechless" — Dan + Shay. • "Tennessee Whiskey" — Chris Stapleton. • "Die a Happy Man" — Thomas Rhett. • "Amazed" — Lonestar. • "From the Ground Up" — Dan + Shay.

Upbeat picks for cocktail hour

When the slideshow loops in the background while guests mingle and drink, you want energy, not a ballad. • "Marry You" — Bruno Mars. • "Best Day of My Life" — American Authors. • "Home" — Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. • "Ho Hey" — The Lumineers. • "Stolen Dance" — Milky Chance. • "Sugar" — Maroon 5. • "Can't Stop the Feeling" — Justin Timberlake. • "I Choose You" — Sara Bareilles.

How to pair the song with the slideshow

Two rules of thumb: 1. The song's tempo sets the photo pacing. 80–110 BPM is the sweet spot — slow enough for photos to register, fast enough that the slideshow doesn't drag. Most of the songs above sit in this range. 2. The song's length sets the slideshow length. A 4-minute song with photos changing every 4 seconds gives you 60 photos. A 5-minute song gives you 75. Pick the song first, then build the photo count to fit.

Frequently asked questions