11 Wedding Songs You Should Avoid
While love is always the main focus of a wedding, it is and remains a party, and parties need the right music. Whether you’re celebrating your wedding with a band or a DJ, we always recommend creating a “no-go” playlist—a list of wedding songs that won’t be played, even if your guests request them.
We've put together a list of eleven wedding songs for you to consider—and not all of them are as obvious a choice as Roland Kaiser's “Warum hast Du nicht nein gesagt?”
This article covers the following topics:
Bad Romance – Lady Gaga
Even though—“Bad Romance” is, at least in this author’s opinion, the second-best Lady Gaga song—it might not be the best choice for a wedding. Lyrics such as “I want your love and all your lover’s revenge” or “I need you ’cause I’m a free bitch, baby” imply that the person being sung about isn’t necessarily the one with whom you’re in a committed relationship.
P.S.: The best Lady Gaga song is “The Edge of Glory.” This one isn’t necessarily suitable for a wedding either, but it’ll be perfect when you celebrate your platinum wedding anniversary.
Fake Love – Drake
Why, of all the chart hits Drake has had, this song keeps making its way onto the playlists people like to play during the champagne reception is a mystery that will probably never be fully solved. But now you’ve been warned, and hopefully you won’t associate your wedding with “fake people showing fake love.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xqmcc2qlEQ
"I Will Always Love You" – Dolly Parton / Whitney Houston
Whether it’s Dolly Parton’s original version or Whitney Houston’s popular cover, which she released in 1992 as part of the soundtrack to the blockbuster movie *The Bodyguard*—“I Will Always Love You” is not a love song. It’s a breakup song. Lines like “Bittersweet memories, That’s all I’m taking with me, Goodbye, please don’t cry, We both know that I’m not what you need” make that clear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKsQR72HY0s
"I Will Survive" – Gloria Gaynor
Another song that makes its way onto many party and wedding playlists—even though it’s actually about a breakup—is Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”: “I should have made you leave your key if I’d known for just one second you’d be back to bother me. Go on now, go, walk out the door. Just turn around now ’cause you’re not welcome anymore.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dYWe1c3OyU
Mamma Mia – ABBA
Very few of the people dancing to this song realize that it’s about a never-ending cycle of cheating, breaking up, and getting back together. Yet the song starts right off with this: “I’ve been cheated by you since I don’t know when; So I made up my mind, it must come to an end; Look at me now, will I ever learn; I don’t know how, but I suddenly lose control; There’s a fire within my soul; (Just one look) and I can hear a bell ring; (One more look) and I forget everything …”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unfzfe8f9NI
Marry You – Bruno Mars
Even though there’s probably no other song that has accompanied more engagements since its release in 2010, it’s not about a romantic marriage based on love. Rather, it’s about a classic, impulsive Las Vegas wedding in the heat of the moment: “It’s a beautiful night, we’re looking for something dumb to do; Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you” … “I know this little chapel on the boulevard we can go; No one will know, oh, come on girl; Who cares if we’re trashed, got a pocket full of cash we can blow; Shots of Patrón and it’s on, girl.”
Single Ladies – Beyoncé
Okay, admittedly, this song is a bombastic dance track, and it’s only making it onto this list—with all due respect—because this is where your tact comes into play. Do you have friends for whom a pending engagement is a source of tension? If so, you should really consider skipping this song. Because for someone who’s eagerly waiting for an engagement ring, it can be quite a letdown when Queen B. urges her girlfriends to dump their partners if they don’t propose.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m1EFMoRFvY
Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley
"Suspicious Minds" is one of those songs that’s popular at weddings mainly because it appeals to all generations. And even though it’s hard to keep the King off the playlist, you might want to avoid having an Elvis ballad about a distrustful, dysfunctional relationship playing in your ears on your wedding night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxOBOhRECoo
"Tainted Love" – Soft Cell
Especially if you used to rock this song back in the day on SingStar 80s, you’re better off inviting your friends to a SingStar revival party and skipping this classic at your wedding. Lyrics like “Don’t touch me please, I cannot stand the way you tease. I love you though you hurt me so. Now, I'm going to pack my things and go” don’t exactly radiate romantic bliss.
"White Wedding" – Billy Idol
Just because a song contains the word “Wedding” doesn’t automatically make it a good wedding song. As Billy Idol has confirmed on several occasions, the song isn’t really about his “little sister,” but about an ex-girlfriend whom he still loves and who is now marrying someone else. The song is clearly directed against marriage, and with lyrics like “There is nothin’ fair in this world, baby; There is nothin’ safe in this world; And there’s nothin’ sure in this world; And there’s nothin’ pure in this world,” it’s not exactly the stuff party songs are made of.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAZQaYKZMTI
"You Give Love a Bad Name" – Bon Jovi
No matter how much you or your guests love classic rock, your wedding day is all about celebrating love. A song about rejection and broken hearts really isn’t the best choice. If it absolutely has to be Bon Jovi, then go with “Livin’ on a Prayer”—the goat version.
Created on
23.11.2022
Updated on
10.11.2025
