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Picture this: it’s finally come to the end of your wedding. Everyone is on the dancefloor, and you’ve still got one more song to go before the lights come at the venue. Your band (or DJ) is ready to go - what song do you choose?
You want one final song to encourage your guests to keep the partying going until the very last second - you need something that everyone knows, and everyone loves a good singalong. Are you party people - who’ll carry on after the final song, or are you looking for a love song or ballad to set the tone of the end of one of the best days of your life?
There are some many songs that work as a last dance, and just like with first dances, there’s so many to choose from. We absolutely love finishing the night as a live band, but we also know there’s some great songs we can play on the playlist (or DJ service) if you’ve got something more specific in mind.
This blog will help provide you some inspiration if you’re looking for some last dance ideas!
We've made a playlist of all these songs available below in a spotify playlist so you can listen as you read through the article!
1.) Don’t Look Back In Anger - Oasis
This song never fails to get everyone gathered round, singing at the top of their lungs to finish the night off. It’s almost like everyone knows to get you and your partner in the middle of the dancefloor to sing it to you. We’ve had some beautiful moments playing this over the years, making it our number one choice!
2.) Hey Jude - The Beatles
Another absolute classic to finish the night. This is one that everyone will be singing even after the band stops playing, or the track finishes - so when you’re guests are leaving at the end of the night, they’ll be in a great mood!
3.) Place Your Hands - Reef
This works fantastically if you want to pull in an upbeat singalong before the night has to finish. Another crowd - pleasing favourite!
4.) Wonderwall - Oasis
Just like ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger,’ this song never fails to get all ages up and singing for the last anthem of the night, and just like ‘Hey Jude’ will leave everyone singing the chorus even after the track has finished playing!
5.) Mr Brightside - The Killers
This is such a huge anthem that works at nearly every part of your wedding, but is also a great finisher to the night too - this song will get everyone up and singing along at the top of their lungs!
6.) Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
A timeless classic that never fails to get all ages singing along - especially the added backing vocals that crowds have put in over the years!
7.) Tribute - Tenacious D
How well this song works depends on your crowd - if they’re rock fans, they will be doing all the silly voices and air-guitar’ing their way through the song - although some of the older guests may be a little confused by this one!
8.) Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
This is a great choice if you’re looking to have a romantic end to your wedding. This song works perfectly to put everyone in a good mood - it’s often chose as a first dance but works just as well to finish the wedding too!
9.) Shut Up and Dance - Walk the Moon
If you want everyone dancing right up until the lights come on and everyone is ready to go home, you can’t go wrong with this song. This song literally instructs everyone to dance until the last possible second!
10.) Don’t Stop Me Now - Queen
The end of the song will be stuck in everyone’s heads, just like some of the other anthems in this list. All ages will know this song, and it’s hilarious to see everyone strumming their air-guitars for the solo!
11.) Angels - Robbie Williams
A karaoke classic for many people, this will have everyone busting out their best karaoke voices for the last time at your wedding. It’s a popular choice, but for a good reason!
12.) All Night Long - Lionel Richie
This feel good 80s classic will have everyone up and dancing, and the lyrics fit the sentiment everyone will feel at the end of the night.
13.) Proud Mary - Tina Turner
Sometimes referred to by drunken guests as ‘the rolling on the river’ song - this will even get the non-dancers up on their feet. This is a song that should be at every wedding as it works everywhere, but also works great as one last singalong!
14.) Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) - Green Day
This is a pop punk classic and is often used to close Green Day’s live shows - and it also makes a perfect last dance song. Your band might also be able to do an acoustic version of this to end the night, too!
15.) Don’t Stop Believing’ - Journey
This 80s power ballad has it all - air guitar solos, lyrics you can’t help but belt out, and a beat that will get everyone on the dancefloor one last time.
16.) (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life - Bill Medley and Jennifer Warner
The absolute classic song from Dirty Dancing. Everyone who’s seen the movie knows the scene, and even if you haven’t, everyone will still know the lyrics. If you’re feeling brave, you can also attempt to do the iconic lift!
17.) Three Little Birds - Bob Marley
A reggae tune that never fails to put everyone in a good mood, this song is perfect to leave everyone humming well after the song is finished!
18.) What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
This is a great choice if you’re looking for a feel good song to finish the night. If you want to bring the night to definite end, this works perfectly as a slow dance to finish the night.
19.) Never Forget - Take That
With an upbeat ending, this song never fails to please wedding crowds, as the lyrics encourage everyone to ‘Never Forget’ your wedding!
20.) Everybody Needs Somebody - The Blues Brothers
There’s several versions of this song covered by people such as The Rolling Stones and Dusty Springfield, but this version is the classic that’s used to close many weddings. It’s easy to see why as it’s such a catchy song with an uplifting message!
21.) Can’t Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley
This crops up as one of the most popular love songs ever, making it a perfect choice if you want to finish the evening with a slow dance with the ones you love.
22.) Theme from New York, New York - Frank Sinatra
Although it’s not a love song, this is a song everyone will know and love, making a perfect finale song for your wedding.
23.) We Are Family - Sister Sledge
This is a great song to celebrate the coming together of you and your partner’s families, and will encourage them to get up, sing and dance together as you celebrate the last few minutes of one the best days of your life!
24.) Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
This is one of the longer songs on the list, but works perfectly to end the night as everyone knows the words and it’s a great chance to get everyone singing their favourite bits at the top of their lungs!
25.) Can’t Take My Eyes Off You - Andy Williams
Starting off slow and romantic, this songs builds perfectly into an anthem that everyone will be singing as they get into their taxis home!
26.) All You Need is Love - The Beatles
This sentimental, hippie classic is one everyone knows and loves. Your guests will be swaying in each others arms, with the lyrics perfectly describing how love can sustain us.
27.) Livin’ On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
This is a fun song to end the night. It’s got an infectious chorus with plenty of opportunities for your guests to show off their vocal skills, and everyone will have their air guitars at the ready for the solos!
28.) I Believe in a Thing Called Love - The Darkness
Another crowd pleaser that will leave everyone on a positive, happy note, this song has an uplifting message about love!
29.) I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing - Aerosmith
This is an epic song that works perfectly as a last dance. Your guests can slow dance to it, or gather round in a circle to belt out those final chorus to end the night.
30.) Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Ashley
We’ve all been rick-rolled at some point in our lives, but this is actually a really lovely song to end the night with!
31.) I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston
Another 80s classic everyone will love, this song instructs everyone to dance with someone they love, and is the perfect way to get everyone up and dancing one last time!
32.) Shout - The Isley Brothers
This is a classic wedding closer. With it’s uplifting feel, and changing tempo, it’s a great way to get all ages want to get everyone dancing round one last time.
33.) Best of You - Foo Fighters
Something of a classic rock anthem, this to get everyone moshing, dancing and singing along one last time before the lights come on!
34.) My Way - Frank Sinatra
This slow ballad finishes with an epic finale at the end, perfect for finishing your wedding.
35.) Thank You For the Music - Abba
The lyrics are a great way of thanking your band or dj for providing the soundtrack to your day and getting your guests singing along one last time!
36.) American Pie - Don McClean
A great way to test everyone’s memory of the verses of this song, this epic finisher is one everyone will know and love.
37.) This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) - Natalie Cole
A happy, romantic song that will leave everyone in a good mood as the night draws to a close. This is perfect if you want a mix of upbeat and romantic feelings to close the night!
38.) One More Time - Daft Punk
The lyrics perfectly describe this song’s place as a closing song for your wedding, and it’s infectious beat will get everyone on their feet until the end of the night
39.) I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers
One all ages will know, this singalong classic has some upbeat lyrics that are the perfect sentiment to finish the night!
40.) At Last - Etta James
An epic first dance as well as a sentimental closer, this timeless love song is perfect if you want to see some lovely slow dancing as the night draws to a close.
41.) Stand By Me - Ben E. King
This song never fails to bring a smile to everyone’s faces, whether it’s a first dance, or closing your wedding!
42.) Sweet Child O’ Mine - Guns and Roses
A perfect choice if you’ve got some rock fans in the audience, it’s another epic finisher with huge singalong moments and plenty of room for air guitar!
43.) Dancing in the Moonlight - Toploader
By the time strikes midnight (or later, if your venue is letting you finish later!) everyone really will be up and dancing in the moonlight as this songs says. It’s upbeat message and fun party feel make it a perfect wedding song to finish the night.
44.) Today Was a Fairytale - Taylor Swift
This one is perfect finisher if you’re a secret swifty, but the lyrics are very sweet and is a really fun song to end the night with!
45.) I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
An epic ballad, this is a great sentiment to finish the night on, with lyrics speaking about the one you love.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here's some of the most common questions we get asked when it comes to choosing the finale song for your wedding!
What makes a good finale song for a wedding?
Although almost any song can work as the final song at your wedding, the songs usually tend to fall into two catergories - epic ballads that people can slow dance to, or epic upbeat party songs that leave everyone in a good mood as your wedding draws to a close.
What is a last dance at a wedding?
This is usually a private dance shared by the bride and groom at the very end of the wedding. However, you don't have to do this - you can pick a song you can share with all your guests on the dancefloor!
How do you end a wedding reception?
The most common way you can end a wedding reception is with a last dance, as described here. As with everything wedding, however, the choice is totally up to you. Some people may choose to end the night with a firework display, or maybe have their guests lead the way to their wedding carriage with sparklers.
Should I finish my wedding reception with a band, or DJ?
This is again totally up to you and your preferences as a couple. If there's an epic song that you want your band to play, most will be happy to play it for you as ending the night with a live band can be a great way to finish your wedding. However, some songs might be better left in the capable hands of your DJ (or band's playlist.)
We hope you've found this guide helpful in helping you decide on a song to finish your wedding. If you need any more help or advice deciding on what works best, feel free to contact us, we're always happy to chat!
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