If you're into new music above all else, but the only wedding songs you can find are from your parents' era, have no fear. We have here a list of modern wedding songs for your perfect twenty-first century wedding. Split into two sections, one for slow dances and the other to party like it's not 1999, you'll never be short of musical inspiration for your rager of a wedding reception. These modern wedding songs will truly make your wedding unique and unforgettable, and help you celebrate the present like the gift that it is.

32 Modern Wedding Songs: The Top Wedding Songs for the Contemporary Bride

Table of Contents

For the Slow Dances

For the Party

For some wedding songs specifically for the mother-son dance, take a listen to these 23 Mother Son Wedding Songs!

For the Slow Dances

Some of the most succinctly gorgeous love songs have been written in the last twenty years. Many people seem to overlook these great modern wedding songs in favor of older, more classic music. That is perfectly fine, but for a bride inspired and motivated by the present, and accepting of the ever-changing culture of this magnificent world, lingering on the classics just won't do. These modern wedding songs for slow dances will bring tears to the eyes of those watching you take your first dance as a couple, of the mother of the groom dancing with her son, and your dear old dad during the father-daughter dance.

• Secondhand Serenade, "Vulnerable"
• Vance Joy, "Mess Is Mine"
• Thriving Ivory, "Angels on the Moon"
• Death Cab for Cutie, "I Will Follow You Into the Dark"
• Band of Horses, "No One's Gonna Love You"
• Augustana, "Sweet and Low"
• Florence and the Machine, "Never Let Me Go"
• Frou Frou, "Let Go"
• The Fray, "You Found Me"
• Snow Patrol, "Chasing Cars"
• Ed Sheeran, "Kiss Me"
• Lana Del Rey, "Lucky Ones"
• Aqualung, "Brighter Than Sunshine"
• Ellie Goulding, "Your Song"
• Train, "Drops of Jupiter"
• Lifehouse, "You and Me"

Looking for the perfect song for you and your husband-to-be's first dance? You'll love our 31 First Dance Wedding Songs: How to Pick Your Perfect Tune page!

For the Party

The naughts and '10s might as well be the years of the party. Some really stellar dance music has been created lately, and who are you to deny it at your wedding? Whether or not you're a party girl, these modern wedding songs are going to get your guests up and moving. Try creating a playlist full of some of your favorite contemporary music with these for the DJ, or sprinkle these modern wedding songs in within a more classic playlist so you can appeal both to your older family and your younger, hipper friends. These songs will blend with just about any party playlist seamlessly. Get those dancing shoes on, brides and grooms!

• The Shins, "Simple Song"
• Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers, "Get Lucky"
• The Killers, "Read My Mind"
• Passion Pit, "Lifted Up (1985)"
• Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, "Home"
• The Ting Tings, "That's Not My Name"
• Miami Horror feat. Kimbra, "I Look to You"
• Justin Timberlake, "Rock your Body"
• Lord Huron, "Fool For Love"
• MGMT, "Kids"
• Beyonce and Jay Z, "Crazy In Love"
• Rihanna, "Don't Stop the Music"
• P!nk, "Get the Party Started"
• Walk the Moon, "Shut Up and Dance"
• Ke$ha, "Tik Tok"
• Vampire Weekend, "Diane Young"