Most of the time, wedding reception songs center around cross-generational tunes and special moments, like the first dance and the father-daughter dance. That limits the amount of time for more contemporary songs, which is why an after-party is so great: You can play all those night-out dance tunes you and your friends love.
If you're unfamiliar with the concept, a wedding after-party is a post-reception gathering for the newlyweds and their guests that's usually held at a nearby bar, the hotel where guests are staying, or another location close to the venue. It's an opportunity to keep the celebration going and really let loose, and the best way to do that is through a killer playlist.
You can play jams like Zedd and Selena Gomez's "I Want You to Know" and Walk the Moon's "Shut Up and Dance" or older hits like Flo Rida's "Club Can't Handle Me" or DJ Snake's "Turn Down for What." We also love incorporating classics like Daft Punk's "One More Time," Salt-N-Pepa's "Push It," and Sir Mix-a-Lot's "Baby Got Back." With eminently danceable beats and lyrics everyone knows, these songs pretty much guarantee an after-party people will rave about for years.
Here are our 80 go-to wedding after-party songs.
The 100 Most Requested Wedding Reception Songs
"Can't Stop the Feeling," by Justin Timberlake
Lyrics of Love: "Ooh, it's something magical/It's in the air, it's in my blood, it's rushin' on"
"A Sky Full of Stars," by Coldplay
Lyrics of Love: "'Cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars/I'm gonna give you my heart/'Cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars/'Cause you light up the path"
"Shut Up and Dance," by Walk the Moon
Lyrics of Love: "My discotheque Juliet teenage dream/I felt it in my chest as she looked at me/I knew we were bound to be together"
"I Want You to Know," by Zedd and Selena Gomez
Lyrics of Love: "I want you to know that it's our time/You and me bleed the same light/I want you to know that I'm all yours/You and me run the same course"
"Hey Ya!" by OutKast
Lyrics of Love: "My baby don't mess around/'Cause she loves me so/This I know fo sho!"
"Billie Jean," by Michael Jackson
Lyrics of Love: "She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene/I said don't mind, but what do you mean, I am the one"
"Baby Got Back," by Sir Mix-a-Lot
Lyrics of Love: "I'm hooked and I can't stop staring/Oh baby, I want to get wit'cha"
"Latch," by Disclosure featuring Sam Smith
Lyrics of Love: "You, you enchant me, even when you're not around/If there are boundaries, I will try to knock them down/I'm latching on babe/Now I know what I have found"
"Give Me Everything," by Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack, and Nayer
Lyrics of Love: "Tonight I want all of you tonight/Give me everything tonight/For all we know we might not get tomorrow/Let's do it tonight"
"All Night Long (All Night)," by Lionel Richie
Lyrics of Love: "Everybody sing, everybody dance/Lose yourself in wild romance, we going to/Parti', karamu', fiesta, forever"
"Want to Want Me," by Jason Derulo
Lyrics of Love: "Girl you're the one I want to want me/And if you want me, girl you got me"
"Uptown Funk," by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
Lyrics of Love: "Come on, dance, jump on it/If you sexy then flaunt it/If you freaky then own it/Don't brag about it, come show me"
"Crazy in Love," by Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z
Lyrics of Love: "It's the beat my heart skips when I'm with you/But I still don't understand/Just how your love can do what no one else can"
"Time of Our Lives," by Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo
Lyrics of Love: "Ooh I want the time of my life/Oh baby ooh give me the time of my life"
"TiK ToK," by Kesha
Lyrics of Love: "DJ, you build me up/You break me down/My heart it pounds/Yeah, you got me"
"Somebody Loves You," by Betty Who
Lyrics of Love: "Somebody misses you when you're away/They wanna wake up with you everyday/Somebody wants to hear you say/Ooh somebody loves you"
"Push It," by Salt-N-Pepa
Lyrics of Love: "C'mon girls, let's go show the guys that we know/How to become number one in a hot party show"
"Lean On," by Major Lazer and DJ Snake featuring MØ
Lyrics of Love: "Do you recall, not long ago/We would walk on the sidewalk/Innocent, remember?/All we did was care for each other"
"Club Can't Handle Me," by Flo Rida featuring David Guetta
Lyrics of Love: "Fly you all around the world/What you want baby girl/Are you ready to go now!"
"One More Time," by Daft Punk
Lyrics of Love: "One more time a celebration/You know we're gonna do it right/Tonight, just feeling/Music's got me feeling the need"
"Electric Feel," by MGMT
Lyrics of Love: "You can feel it in your mind/Oh you can do it all the time/Plug it in, change the world/You are my electric girl"
"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," by Wham!
Lyrics of Love: "You put the boom boom into my heart (hoo, hoo)/You send my soul sky high when your lovin' starts/Jitterbug into my brain (yeah, yeah)"
"In Da Club," by 50 Cent
Lyrics of Love: "And you should love it, way more than you hate it"
"I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)," by Whitney Houston
Lyrics of Love: "I wanna feel the heat with somebody/Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody/With somebody who loves me"
"Evacuate the Dance Floor," by Cascada
Lyrics of Love: "Hey little DJ let the music take me underground/Evacuate the dance-floor/I'm infected by the sound"
"Outside," by Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Goulding
Lyrics of Love: "How are we still breathing/It's never for us to choose/I'll be the strength in you"
"I Don't Like It, I Love It," by Flo Rida featuring Verdine White and Robin Thicke
Lyrics of Love: "I don't like it, I love it, love it, love it, uh oh/So good it hurts/I don't want it, I gotta, gotta have it"
"Best Day of My Life (Gazzo Remix)," by American Authors
Lyrics of Love: "This is gonna be, this is gonna be, this is gotta be/The best day of my life/Everything is looking up, everybody up now"
"Havana," by Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug
Lyrics of Love: "Half of my heart is in Havana, ooh-na-na/He took me back to East Atlanta, na-na-na/Oh, but my heart is in Havana"
"Despacito (Remix)," by Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber
Lyrics of Love: "You fit me tailor-made, love how you put it on/Got the only key, know how to turn it on/The way you nibble on my ear, the only words I wanna hear"
"Something Just Like This," by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay
Lyrics of Love: "But she said, where'd you wanna go?/How much you wanna risk?/I'm not looking for somebody/With some superhuman gifts"
"What Lovers Do," by Maroon 5 featuring SZA
Lyrics of Love: "You gotta tell me if you love me or not, love me or not, love me or not?/Been wishin' for you, am I lucky or not, lucky or not, lucky or not?"
"Wild Thoughts," by DJ Khaled, Rihanna, and Bryson Tiller
Lyrics of Love: "Careful mama watch what you say/You talking to me like ya new bae/Girl, talking to me like you tryna do things"
"There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back," by Shawn Mendes
Lyrics of Love: "I wanna follow where she goes/I think about her and she knows it/I wanna let her take control"
"Mi Gente," by J Balvin and Willy William featuring Beyoncé
Lyrics of Love: "If you really love me make an album about me, word up/Soon as I walk in/Boys start they talkin'"
"That's What I Like," by Bruno Mars
Lyrics of Love: "I will never make a promise that I can't keep/I promise that your smile ain't gon' never leave"
"I Want It That Way," by The Backstreet Boys
Lyrics of Love: "You are my fire/The one desire/You are (you are, you are, you are)"
"The Time (Dirty Bit)," by The Black Eyed Peas
Lyrics of Love: "I had the time of my life/And I've never felt this way before/And I swear this is true/And I owe it all to you"
"We Found Love," by Rihanna and Calvin Harris
Lyrics of Love: "It's the way I'm feeling I just can't deny/But I've gotta let it go/We found love in a hopeless place"
"Cut the Feeling," by Carly Rae Jepsen
Lyrics of Love: "I can't make it stop, give me all you got/I want it all or nothing, no more in between, now give your/Everything to me, let's get real baby"
"Just Dance," by Lady Gaga
Lyrics of Love: "Shawty I can see that you got so much energy/The way you're twirlin' up them hips 'round and 'round"
"Wannabe," by Spice Girls
Lyrics of Love: "If you want my future, forget my past/If you wanna get with me, better make it fast/Now don't go wasting my precious time"
"Build Me Up Buttercup," by The Foundations
Lyrics of Love: "I need you (I need you) more than anyone, darlin'/You know that I have from the start/So build me up (build me up) buttercup, don't break my heart"
"In My Feelings," by Drake
Lyrics of Love: "Kiki, do you love me? Are you riding?/Say you'll never ever leave from beside me/'Cause I want ya, and I need ya/And I'm down for you always"
"I Like It," by Cardi B featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin
Lyrics of Love: "Yeah, baby,I like it like that/You gotta believe me when I tell you/I said I like it like that"
"Señorita," by Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes
Lyrics of Love: "I love it when you call me señorita/I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya/But every touch is ooh la la la/It's true, la la la"
"Dancing With a Stranger," by Sam Smith featuring Normani
Lyrics of Love: "Can you light the fire? (light the fire, light the fire)/I need somebody who can take control (take control)/I know exactly what I need to do"
"All Star," by Smash Mouth
Lyrics of Love: "And all that glitters is gold/Only shooting stars break the mold"
"Toxic," by Britney Spears
Lyrics of Love: "Baby, can't you see/I'm calling/A guy like you should wear a warning/It's dangerous/I'm falling"
"Waiting for Tonight," by Jennifer Lopez
Lyrics of Love: "It's perfect, it's passion, it's setting me free/From all of my sadness, the tears that I've cried/I have spent all of my life/Waiting for tonight, oh"
"Genie in a Bottle," by Christina Aguilera
Lyrics of Love: "If you wanna be with me (Oh)/I can make your wish come true (Your wish come true oh)/Just come and set me free baby/And I'll be with you"
"Lady Marmalade," by Christina Aguilera, P!nk, Mýa, Missy Elliott, and Lil' Kim
Lyrics of Love: "Touch of her skin, feeling silky smooth/Color of café au lait, alright/Made the savage beast inside roar until he cried"
"Poison," by Bell Biv DeVoe
Lyrics of Love: "It's driving me out of my mind/That's why it's hard for me to find/Can't get it outta my head"
"This Is How We Do It," by Montell Jordan
Lyrics of Love: "Honeys in the street say, 'Monty, yo we made it!'/It feels so good in my hood tonight"
"Tearin' Up My Heart," by N'Sync
Lyrics of Love: "If you want me girl, let me know/I am down, on my knees"
"Super Bass," by Nicki Minaj
Lyrics of Love: "Boy you got my heartbeat runnin' away/Beating like a drum and it's coming your way"
"Firework," by Katy Perry
Lyrics of Love: "'Cause baby you're a firework/Come on show 'em what your worth"
"Sorry," by Justin Bieber
Lyrics of Love: "Yeah, is it too late now to say sorry?/'Cause I'm missing more than just your body"
"One Kiss," by Calvin Harris featuring Dua Lipa
Lyrics of Love: "One kiss is all it takes/Fallin' in love with me/Possibilities/I look like all you need"
"I Want You Back," by Jackson 5
Lyrics of Love: "When I had you to myself/I didn't want you around/Those pretty faces always made you/Stand out in a crowd"
"Lover," by Taylor Swift
Lyrics of Love: "Can I go where you go?/Can we always be this close?/Forever and ever"
"No Diggity," by Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre and Queen Pen
Lyrics of Love: "I can't get her out of my mind/I think about the girl all the time"
"What's Luv?" by Fat Joe featuring Ashanti
Lyrics of Love: "What's love?/It's about us (It's about us)/It's about trust babe (Be about trust)"
"Respect," by Aretha Franklin
Lyrics of Love: "What you want, baby, I got it/What you need, do you know I got it?"
"Always on Time," Ja Rule featuring Ashanti
Lyrics of Love: "Baby, I'm not always there when you call, but I'm always on time/And I gave you my all, now baby be mine"
"No Tears Left to Cry," by Ariana Grande
Lyrics of Love: "Oh, I just want you to come with me/We're on another mentality/Ain't got no tears left to cry"
"Hips Don't Lie," by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean
Lyrics of Love: "Oh, baby, when you talk like that/You make a woman go mad/So be wise and keep on/Reading the signs of my body"
"I Feel Love," by Donna Summer
Lyrics of Love: "It's so good/Ooh, I'm in love, I'm in love"
"Fantasy," by Mariah Carey
Lyrics of Love: "Mmm, baby, I'm so into you/Darlin', if you only knew/All the things that flow through my mind"
"Bad Guy," by Billie Eilish
Lyrics of Love: "I like it when you take control/Even if you know that you don't"
"Toosie Slide," by Drake
Lyrics of Love: "I could give you satisfaction/And you know we out here every day with it/I'ma show you how to get it"
"Price Tag," by Jessie J featuring B.o.B
Lyrics of Love: "Money can't buy us happiness/Can we all slow down and enjoy right now?/Guarantee you we'll be feeling alright"
"Work," by Rihanna featuring Drake
Lyrics of Love: "When I see potential I just gotta see it through/If you had a twin, I would still choose you"
"Into You," by Ariana Grande
Lyrics of Love: "I'm so into you, I can barely breathe/And all I wanna do is to fall in deep"
"Bad Habits," by Ed Sheeran
Lyrics of Love: "Every time you come around, you know I can't say no/Every time the sun goes down, I let you take control"
"Sucker," by Jonas Brothers
Lyrics of Love: "I'm a sucker for you/You say the word and I'll go anywhere blindly/I'm a sucker for you, yeah"
"Man! I Feel Like A Woman!" by Shania Twain
Lyrics of Love: "Let's go girls/C'mon/I'm goin' out tonight, I'm feelin' alright/Gonna let it all hang out/Wanna make some noise, really raise my voice"
"Roses (Imanbek Remix)," by SAINt JHN
Lyrics of Love: "Turn up baby, turn up, when I turn it on/You know how I get too lit when I turn it on"
"Con Calma," by Daddy Yankee
Lyrics of Love: "Desde que te vi supe que eras pa' mí/Dile a tus amigas que andamo' ready/Esto lo seguimo' en el after party"
English Translation: "Since I saw you I knew you were for me/Tell your friends that we're ready/We followed this in the after-party"
"Dancing Feet," by DNCE and Kygo
Lyrics of Love: "Spin you around on the chandeliers/Head over heels like tears for fears/Your love/No, I can't get enough"
103 Upbeat Love Songs Guaranteed to Rock Your Wedding Reception
