Get your married life off to a great start with lyrics being sung by Charlie Wilson at your Black wedding. Imagine your lovely lady saying, “I want to spend my life with you,” as she listens to some of your favorite Black artists. The heart and soul of wedding music centered around love and romance is predominately found in Black music.
If you are looking for the top Black wedding songs, narrowing down your wedding playlist can be challenging. Here are some great songs to get you started.
Classic Black Artists
A romantic song has smooth vocals. A hip-hop song makes for a great night. Ultimately you want romantic music to make your wedding party wanna dance.
So ask yourself, what is a classic song that makes you wanna get on the dance floor? Is it something by Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston or Luther Vandross? Some of the best Black wedding songs are by Michael Jackson.
The married couple may want to dance to Frank Ocean, Lionel Richie and Etta James.
You will need to have a slow love song for the first dance. Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Eric Benet, Luther Vandross and Al Green must be on your wedding playlist.
If you want a romantic song, look to John Legend
Black Wedding Reception Entrance Songs
Often folks want to have the reception area subdued in traditional bridal style. Some could opt for more elaborate displays with dance routines and flash mob performances. In any case, we kept this Black. These songs have a lot of appeal for weddings and entrances.
- Prince – “Purple Rain”
- Anita Baker – “Sweet Love”
- Brian McKnight – “Neva Get Enuf Of U”
- Marvin Gaye – “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
- Diana Ross – “When You Tell Me That You Love Me”
- Grover Washington, Jr. – “Just the Two of Us”
- Chaka Khan – “Love Me Still”
- K-Ci & JoJo – “All My Life”
- Jagged Edge – “Let’s Get Married”
- Anthony Hamilton – “I’ll Wait to Fall in Love”
Top Black Wedding Songs
Certain moments at every African American wedding call for Black artists. You may want something slow to walk down the aisle. A particular song might resonate with the groom’s mother to dance to. The same can be said about the father-daughter dance. The first dance between the bride and groom will also require something uniquely romantic.
Consider these five songs as they are the top wedding songs in a Black wedding:
- K-Ci & Jojo – “All My Life”: This would be a great choice if you need a Black wedding song to walk down the aisle to.
- John Legend – “So High”: The mother of the groom will enjoy dancing with her son to John Legend. Nothing beats “So High” at an African American wedding. This is one of the best new wedding songs out there.
- Stevie Wonder – “Overjoyed”: The living icon Stevie Wonder’s “Overjoyed” is perfect for the father-daughter dance.
- Dianna Ross & Lionel Richie – “Endless Love”: There’s no better first dance song than the classic “Endless Love”. The lyrics and music have managed to touch generations.
- Jason Nelson – “Forever”: Look no further than Motown or R&B love songs for all those romantic and memorable moments.
15 Best Black Wedding Songs to Walk Down the Aisle to
Walking down the aisle will forever be an unforgettable experience filled with many emotions. You may be overwhelmed with anxiety. As we head toward the next stage and towards happiness, we need an inspirational song to give our journey an unforgettable and magical ending.
Here are some fantastic suggestions for music to walk down the aisle to at a Black wedding:
- Kenny Lattimore – “For You”
- Earth, Wind & Fire – “September”
- Frank Ocean – “Thinkin Bout You”
- DeBarge – “All This Love”
- Soul For Real – “Candy Rain”
- Stevie Wonder – “Ribbon in the Sky”
- Charlie Wilson – “There Goes My Baby”
- Mary Jane Girls – “All Night Long”
- Jidenna – “Classic Man”
- The Gap Band – “Outstanding”
- Luther Vandross – “Here and Now”
- MAJOR – “This Is Why I Love You”
- Musiq Soulchild – “sobeautiful”
- Teddy Pendergrass – “You’re My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration”
- Babyface – “Every Time I Close My Eyes”
10 Best First Dance Songs for Black Weddings
When you and your wife first go to the dance floor, you need some romantic music to sway to. For newlywed Black couples, there’s a lot of music to reflect your rich musical heritage and add some romance.
- Ashanti – “Happy”
- Rachelle Ferrell – “Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This”
- Whitney Houston – “I Believe in You and Me”
- Will Downing – “Always and Forever”
- Etta James – “At Last”
- Anita Baker – “Sweet Love” or “Giving You the Best That I Got”
- Phyllis Hyman – “Meet Me on the Moon”
- Angela Winbush – “Angel”
- The Foundations – “Build Me Up Buttercup”
- Jaheim – “Forever”
For The Reception
You will want to choose a healthy mix of dance and love songs throughout the reception. This is a wedding, so you’ll want to slow things down from time to time. But THIS IS A WEDDING! You’ll want your guests smiling and pumping their feet.
- Michael Jackson – “The Lady in My Life”: Talking about the groom conjures up the thought of a king, so what better way than to bring in the King of Pop. MJ’s music reigned supreme and no one could help dancing to it.
- Beyoncé – “Love on Top”: A king needs a queen and no Black wedding ceremony playlist is complete without Queen B on the list.
- Luther Vandross – “Here and Now”: If you use these lyrics as your vows, skip this song.
- Monica – “Angel of Mine”: True love is about attraction to someone’s spirit and that’s what this song is about. Perfect for a wedding.
- Sade – “No Ordinary Love”: No wedding would be complete without a bit of sensuality. Love is wholesome, but it’s also seductive.
- Anita Baker – “Sweet Love”: The queen of love songs MUST appear during the reception.
- Eric Benét & Tamia – “Spend My Life With You”: You don’t get married because you’re supposed to. You get married because you can’t imagine your life any other way. That’s what this song’s about.
- Kenny Lattimore – “For You”: Smooth, low-key ballads always get the entire guest list’s hearts pounding.
- Cameo – “Candy”: “Word Up” will also do the trick if “Candy” only gets part of the crowd dancing.
- Alicia Keys – “No One”: Many other wedding songs are from previous generations, but we can all appreciate something a little more current.
How to Choose Songs for Your Wedding Reception
As one of the most important days in your life, your wedding day should be filled with joy, love, and celebration. One of the most crucial aspects of any wedding reception is the music.
Choosing the right songs for your wedding reception can make or break the event’s atmosphere. Here are some tips to help you choose the perfect songs for your wedding reception.
1. Consider Your Personal Taste
The first and most crucial factor to consider when choosing songs for your wedding reception is your personal taste. You want to select songs that reflect your personality and style as a couple. Think about the type of music you both enjoy and compile a list of songs representing you both as a couple.
2. Think About Your Guests
While it’s essential to choose songs that reflect your personal taste, it’s also important to consider your guests’ preferences. You know, you want to ensure that there is something for everyone at your wedding reception and that your choice of music doesn’t leave anyone uncomfortable. So think about including a mix of genres and eras to appeal to all age groups.
3. Choose Songs That Are Appropriate
Your wedding reception is a family-friendly event, so it’s important to choose songs that are appropriate for all ages. Avoid songs with explicit lyrics or offensive language that may offend some guests.
4. Consider the Flow of the Event
When choosing songs for your wedding reception, it’s essential to consider the flow of the event. You want to create a seamless transition between different evening parts, such as dinner, speeches, and dancing. Choose songs that match the mood of each part of the evening.
5. The Venue is Important
The venue where you will be holding your wedding can play a big role in determining the type of music that will work best. If you are having an outdoor wedding, you may want to consider acoustic or classical music that will complement the natural surroundings.
If you are having a reception in a ballroom, you may want to opt for more formal music like jazz or a string quartet.
6. Consider the Wedding Theme
The theme of your wedding can also influence the type of music that will work best. For example, if you are having a beach wedding, you may want to choose songs that have a relaxed, tropical feel.
Check out other exciting wedding songs perfect for your big day:
- Best Pop Punk Wedding Songs You Need To Play
- The Best 90s Hip Hop Dance Songs For Wedding or Party
- Songs About Growing Old Together (All Genres)
Serena & Dominic are a married couple and parents to 3 wonderful children. They plan weddings, run multiple small businesses, and curate wedding events.
By giving you everything you need to make your dream wedding attainable, you can eliminate stress, get the ‘wedding glow,’ and focus on spending this rocking day with the person you adore. Discover their podcast for more information
