Last Dance Songs: 50 Bangers for the End of the Night

It’s your wedding day! You’ve said “I do,” you’ve exchanged rings, you’ve mingled with your loved ones, you’ve had some cake, you’ve had your first dance, and suddenly, the night is coming to a close. While you may never want your wedding day to come to an end, you can certainly make sure that when it does, it ends on a high note with the perfect last dance song! 

The best way to do this is by picking the perfect last dance song for your wedding party. Here is where the majority of your wedding guests will get their final chance to shake it on the dance floor and give you and your new spouse the perfect send-off. The trick with a last song of the night is to wrap up the entire day’s experience in a bow, while also leaving your guests wanting a little more. 

The 50 Best Last Dance Wedding Songs

Below we have got a playlist of some of the best last-dance wedding songs. We have decided on 25 songs that lean more toward the romantic side, and 25 songs that are sure to be total crowd-pleasers. And, while you might just be looking for just one song, we think the entire thing makes for a great party playlist!

Wondering what the experts say is a good last dance song? We asked Katie at Music HQ, an award-winning wedding music and entertainment provider, to share her favourite last dance wedding songs. She's shared her top five, marked in bold as an expert pick in the following lists.  

25 Romantic End Of The Night Songs:

1. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) – Marvin Gaye

“I needed the shelter of someone's arms/ And there you were/ I needed someone to understand my ups and downs/ And there you were"

2. Make You Feel My Love – Adele

“I could make you happy, make your dreams come true/ Nothing that I wouldn't do/ Go to the ends of the Earth for you/ To make you feel my love”

3. At Last – Etta James

“At last/ My love has come along/ My lonely days are over/ And life is like a song”

4. God Only Knows – The Beach Boys

“God only knows what I'd be without you”

5. Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles

“Here comes the sun, and I say/ It's alright”

6. She’s Always A Woman – Billy Joel

“But she'll bring out the best and the worst you can be”

7. A Groovy Kind of Love – Phil Collins

“When I'm feelin' blue/ All I have to do is take a look at you”

8. All My Life – K-Ci & JoJo

“You're all that I've ever known/ When you smile my face glows/ You picked me up when I was down/ Say, you're all that I've ever known”

9. Angels – Robbie Williams

“And through it all, she offers me protection/ A lot of love and affection”

10. Lucky Man (Happiness More Or Less) – The Verve

“Happiness, coming and going/ I watch you look at me, watch my fever grow/ And I know just who I am”

11. Stand By Me – Ben E. King

“No, I won't be afraid/ Just as long as you stand/ Stand by me"

12. My Girl - The Temptations

“I've got sunshine on a cloudy day/ When it's cold outside/ I've got the month of May”

13. Wonderwall - Oasis

“I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now”

14. A Thousand Years - Christina Perri

“I have loved you for a thousand years/ I'll love you for a thousand more”

15. Love Story (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift

“It's a love story, baby, just say yes"

16. More Than A Woman - BeeGees

“Oh, say you'll always be my baby, we can make it shine/ We can take forever, just a minute at a time/ More than a woman/ More than a woman to me”

17. Everything - Michael Buble

“You're every line, you're every word, you're everything”

18. Is This Love - Bob Marley

“I wanna love you/ And treat you right/ I wanna love you/ Every day and every night”

19. This Will Be ( An Everlasting Love) - Natalie Cole

“You brought a lot of a sunshine into my life/You filled me with happiness I never knew/ You gave me more joy than I ever dreamed of/ And no one, no one can take the place of you”

20. You Make Loving Fun - Fleetwood Mac

“Sweet wonderful you/ You make me happy with the things you do/ Oh, can it be so/ This feeling follows me wherever I go”

21. The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra

“Yes, you're lovely, with your smile so warm/ And your cheeks so soft/ There is nothing for me but to love you/ And the way you look tonight”

22. Tiny Dancer - Elton John

“But oh, how it feels so real/ Lying here, with no one near/ Only you and you can hear me. When I say softly, slowly/ Hold me closer, tiny dancer”

23. Can’t Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley

“Like a river flows/ Surely to the sea/ Darling, so it goes/ Some things, you know, are meant to be”

24. Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper

“If you're lost, you can look, and you will find me/ Time after time/ If you fall, I will catch you, I'll be waiting/ Time after time”

25. Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) - Edison Lighthouse

“I'm a lucky fella/ And I've just got to tell her/ That I love her endlessly”

25 Crowd-Pleasing End Of The Night Songs:

1. (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life – Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes

“With my body and soul/ I want you more than you'll ever know”

2. Never Forget – Take That

“I understand the meaning of "I can't explain this feeling" now/ And it feels so unreal”

3. Katie's Expert Pick: Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen 

“Tonight I'm gonna have myself a real good time/I feel alive”

4. Katie's Expert Pick: I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers 

“And when I grow old, well I know I'm gonna be/ I'm gonna be the man who's growing old with you”

5. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Diana Ross & The Supremes

“'Cause baby there ain't no mountain high enough/ Ain't no valley low enough/ Ain't no river wide enough/ To keep me from getting to you, babe”

6. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

“But now I look at the night/ And it don't seem so lonely/ We fill it up with only two”

7. Katie's Expert Pick: Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey 

“Don’t stop believin'/ Hold on to that feelin'”

8. Walking On Sunshine – Katrina & The Waves

“I used to think maybe you loved me now baby I'm sure”

9. Celebration – Kool & the Gang

“There's a party goin' on right here/ A celebration to last throughout the years/ So bring your good times and your laughter too/ We gonna celebrate your party with you”

10. Last Dance - Donna Summer 

“I need you, by me/ Beside me, to guide me”

11. Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley

“Never gonna give you up/ Never gonna let you down/ Never gonna run around and desert you/ Never gonna make you cry/ Never gonna say goodbye/ Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you”

12. Mr. Brightside - The Killers

“It started out with a kiss/ How did it end up like this?”

13. Africa - Toto

“It's gonna take a lot to take me away from you/ There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do”

14. American Pie - Don Mclean

“Well, I know that you're in love with him/ 'Cause I saw you dancin' in the gym/ You both kicked off your shoes/ Man, I dig those rhythm and blues”

15. You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC

“And you shook me all night long/ Yeah, you shook me all night long”

16. September - Earth, Wind & Fire

“Our hearts were ringin'/ In the key that our souls were singin'/ As we danced in the night, remember”

17. We Are Family - Sister Sledge

“Everyone can see we're together/ As we walk on by/ And we fly just like birds of a feather/ I won't tell no lie”

18. Shut Up And Dance - Walk The Moon

“I felt it in my chest as she looked at me/ I knew we were bound to be together”

19. Dancing Queen - ABBA

“You can dance/ You can jive/ Having the time of your life”

20. (Everybody) Backstreet’s Back – Backstreet Boys

“Now throw your hands up in the air/ Wave 'em around like you just don't care/ And if you wanna party, let me hear you yell”

21. Happy - Pharell Williams

“My level's too high to bring me down/ Can't nothing, bring me down, I said”

22. Katie's Expert Pick: Proud Mary - Tina Turner 

“And we're rolling, rolling, rolling/ Rolling on the river”

23. Katie's Expert Pick: Livin’ On A Prayer - Bon Jovi 

“We've got each other and that's a lot for love/ We'll give it a shot"

24. Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet

“Take my hand and come with me/ Because you look so fine/ That I really wanna make you mine”

25. Sweet Child O’ Mine - Guns and Roses

“She's got eyes of the bluest skies/ As if they thought of rain/ I'd hate to look into those eyes and see an ounce of pain”

How to Choose Your Last Dance Song

There is no format or steadfast rule when it comes to picking the exit song on your big day, but there are usually two main routes you can go down. 

Firstly, you could go the romantic route. This has undoubtedly been one of the most romantic and love-filled days of your life. So, you might want to keep those vibes going and end off your reception with a tender ballad or classic love song.

With this option, you’ll have the chance to reflect on the celebrations as a whole and feel connected to your partner as you start this new chapter in your life. Options include At Last by Etta James, I Only Have Eyes For You by The Flamingos, and Never Forget by Take That. These, of course, can still be considered bangers, but they have an undeniable sense of sentimentality. 

The second route is possibly the more traditional option: going out with a classic, crowd-pleasing banger in the form of an upbeat party song!

According to Katie from Music HQ, the trick is to “choose a song that everyone will know! You want a song that will have everyone throwing their hands up in the air in unison and singing along at the top of their lungs. Those are the memories that last a lifetime.” Songs that fall under this category include basically any classic tune from the 70s, 80s, 90s, or even 00s. Or, if you want to go modern, make sure to pick a giant hit so that everyone knows the words. 

"My best memories from recent weddings I've attended include all of us shouting together in a huddle on the dance floor to the last song, which is usually a banger from our mid-noughties uni days," says Zoe Burke, wedding expert and Editor of hitched.co.uk. "You know what I'm going to say...it's Mr Brightside by the Killers for my generation! But I've also shouted along to plenty of Oasis too. It gives it a real 'going out on a high' to me."

Things To Consider When Choosing Your Last Dance Song

Once again, there is no right or wrong choice when it comes to picking the song to end off your celebration. But, you might want to consider a few things when making your decision.

• Always get your DJ or band (or whoever is running your playlist) to announce that it is the last song of the night. This will get everyone to the dance floor!
• Pick a song that everyone knows! Katie from Music HQ advises against picking a niche song. “It may be personal to you, but it’ll create a lull,” she says.
• Obviously, avoid any breakup songs. You don’t need any bad energy on your happy day (no matter how much of a bop it is)!

Still trying to choose your songs? Check out the questions to ask your wedding band or DJ.