The 80s were truly the golden years of romance, with the music of the era among some of the most memorable and popular of all time!
The lyrics, mood, and groove of 80s ballads made the decade simply epic, and to this very day, 80s love songs are popular choices when collating a wedding music playlist!
Whether you’re looking for songs for the first dance, upbeat dances, a few slow dances, or all the wonderful dances in between, we’ve got it covered!

“Your Song” – Elton John
An absolute classic, this is the perfect 80s love song for an intimate slow dance.
Elton John croons the beautiful lyrics:
“And you can tell everybody
This is your song
It may be quite simple, but now that it’s done
I hope you don’t mind
I hope you don’t mind
That I put down in the words
How wonderful life is while you’re in the world”
“How Deep Is Your Love” – The Bee Gees
One of the most popular songs of the era, this masterpiece was an instant hit from the day it was released, and you bet it still resonates today!
Honestly, who can resist these familiar words:
“I believe in you
You know the door to my very soul
You’re the light in my deepest, darkest hour
You’re my savior when I fall
And you may not think I care for you
When you know down inside that I really do
And it’s me you need to show
How deep is your love?”
“Greatest Love of All” – Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston sang every word from the depths of her soul and this song was certainly no exception!
“Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all”
“Arthur’s Theme (Best that You Can Do)” – Christopher Cross
This is a lighthearted song, and it would be especially meaningful for New Yorkers. It’s also a lovely reminder that…
“The best that you can do
The best that you can do
The best that you can do is fall in love”.
“The Way You Make Me Feel” – Michael Jackson
An 80s songs list just wouldn’t be complete without Michael Jackson! This is a dance song to get everyone on their feet but it definitely still retains the romance!
“I never felt so in love before
Just promise baby, you’ll love me forevermore
I swear I’m keepin’ you satisfied
‘Cause you’re the one for me”
“Crazy for You” – Madonna
A heart talking to another heart, this Madonna hit is known as one of the greatest ballads of the 80s, and it’s certainly the perfect song for a first dance of the present day.
“I never wanted anyone like this
It’s all brand new
You’ll feel it in my kiss
I’m crazy for you, crazy for you”
“Stay” – Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
This song hearkens to all the fun of dating, when spending time together was everything, leaving at the end of the night was inevitable, and staying for a few moments more was a thrill!
“Won’t you place your sweet lips to mine,
Won’t you say you love me all the time”
“Woman” – John Lennon
John Lennon was famous for singing lyrics that felt like everyday conversations with profound lyrics like these thrown in…
“Hold me close to your heart
However distant, don’t keep us apart
After all, it is written in the stars”
“You’re the Inspiration” – Chicago
This song is among the most performed songs of all time. Peter Cetera’s words, tunes, and mellow voice says everything a couple could want to convey to each other on their wedding day.
“You’re the meaning in my life
You’re the inspiration
You bring feeling to my life
You’re the inspiration
Want to have you near me
I want to have you hear me saying
“No one needs you more than I need you”
“Glory of Love” – Peter Cetera
This song embodies the ultimate meaning of marriage and is more than suitable for the soundtrack to your first dance.
“I am the man who will fight for your honor
I’ll be the hero you’ve been dreaming of
We’ll live forever
Knowing together
That we did it all for the glory of love”
“Time After Time” – Cyndi Lauper
Known as one of the best love songs of the 80s, Lauper’s hit “Time After Time” has been covered by a host of artists since. No one quite sings it like Cyndi though!
“If you fall I will catch you,
I’ll be waiting
Time after time”
“When a Man Loves a Woman” – Michael Bolton
Sometimes, the declaration of love is a whisper. Other times, it’s a bold admission at the top of Michael Bolton’s voice! This crowd-pleaser certainly doesn’t hold back…
“When a man loves a woman
Can’t keep his mind on nothin’ else
He’d trade the world
For the good thing he’s found”
“The Time of My Life (From Dirty Dancing)” – Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
An iconic song choice from an iconic movie, what could be more fitting for a wedding night than this hit?
“Now I’ve had the time of my life
No, I never felt this way before
Yes, I swear, it’s the truth
And I owe it all to you”
“Crazy Little Thing Called Love” – Queen
Love is sometimes overwhelming, and that’s the truth of it! The strong beats of Queen will rock the night, while their lyrics say what we sometimes hesitate to express…
“This thing called love
I just can’t handle it
This thing called love
I must get ’round to it
I ain’t ready
Crazy little thing called love”
“Never Gonna Give You Up” – Rick Astley
A love song with a party vibe, this 80s hit has a catchy melody everyone will be singing along to after a few drinks at cocktail hour.
“A full commitment’s what I’m thinking of
You wouldn’t get this from any other guy”
Nothing speaks about marriage and commitment in clearer terms.
“Never Too Much” – Luther Vandross
The sweet and soulful voice of Luther Vandross defined the 80s. He sings that there are so many ways to love someone, and it’s never too much.
“I can’t fool myself, I don’t want nobody else to ever love me
You are my shinin’ star, my guiding light, my love fantasy
There’s not a minute, hour, day, or night that I don’t love you
You’re at the top of my list ’cause I’m always thinkin’ of you”
“The Best” -Tina Turner
Every wedding playlist should have a song like this within it. Electric and unforgettable, Tina Turner created the ultimate reception anthem!
“Give me a lifetime of promises and a world of dreams
Speak the language of love like you know what it means”
“Saving All My Love for You” – Whitney Houston
Another beautiful ballad to add to your wedding music list, this Grammy award-winning hit is perfect for a first dance.
“So I’m saving all my love
Yes, I’m saving all my love
Yes, I’m saving all my love for you”
“Power of Love” – Laura Branigan
This song has been a favorite slow dance since it was released and few people can resist singing along to the familiar lyrics:
“I hold on to your body
And feel each move you make
Your voice is warm and tender now
A love that I could not forsake”
“Heaven” by Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams’ Heaven is among the perfect selections for the first dance. Every verse is a revelation of never-ending love:
“There was only you and me
We were young and wild and free
Now nothing can take you away from me”
“More Than Words” – Extreme
It’s amazing how lovers don’t need too many words to understand each other. Quite often, “they already know”.
“Hold me close, don’t ever let me go
More than words is all I ever needed you to show
Then you wouldn’t have to say that you love me
‘Cause I’d already know”
“Up Where We Belong” – Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
This inspirational song is a powerful reminder of where we should set our sights. The past is gone, and the future is all ours to explore and conquer. It’s such an optimistic song that’s truly fit for a wedding night!
“Some hang on to used to be
Live their lives looking behind
All we have is here and now
All our lives, out there to find”
“Open Arms” -Journey
“Open Arms” is one of Journey’s greatest hits, and it was an honest attempt to get a relationship back on track. It worked for the band member, and its sincerity works for all of us on this very day.
“So here I am
With open arms
Hoping you’ll see
What your love means to me”
“Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You” – Glenn Madeiros
Few songs manage to go straight to the soul but Madeiros every promise and admission of love sounds so real. This is the kind of track that puts everyone in the mood for love.
“Nothing’s gonna change my love for you
You ought know by now how much I love you
One thing you can be sure of
I’ll never ask for more than your love”
“No More Lonely Nights” – Paul McCartney
There’s no love without a bit of apprehension, doubt, or what-ifs. However, McCartney sings that they all dissolve when lovers make the right promises.
“No more lonely nights (Never be another)
No more lonely nights
You’re my guiding light
Day or night I’m always there”
“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” – Starship
This song would be great right after the ceremony. Exchanging vows, promises, and a kiss, are all huge moments, so echoe this commitment with these lyrics…
“And we can build this dream together
Standing strong forever
Nothing’s gonna stop us now”
“(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” – Bryan Adams
This is an all-time favorite song that can be played anytime throughout the wedding. Multiple times if you’d like! Who’d ever get tired of hearing these words …
“Look into my eyes – you will see
What you mean to me
Search your heart, search your soul
And when you find me there, you’ll search no more”
“Take on Me” – a-ha
This is a perky song that’ll wake up the crowds. It’s always a nice contrast to all the slow and seriously romantic songs and these lines are just so sweet…
“We’re talking away
I don’t know what
I’m to say I’ll say it anyway”
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” – Whitney Houston
This too is an upbeat song for an energetic dance! Most people won’t resist repeating the chorus …
“Oh, I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me”
“True” – Spandau Ballet
Steve Buscemi may have comically sung this hit in The Wedding Singer, but you can’t deny its existence as one of the biggest songs of the 80s!
“Why do I find it hard to write the next line?
I want the truth to be said
I know this much is true”
“Uptown Girl” – Billy Joel
This is a funny song that Billy Joel sings wonderfully.
If the bride and groom can rehearse a little dance that enacts the lighthearted lyrics, that would really be a memorable sketch!
“She’ll see I’m not so tough
Just because
I’m in love with an uptown girl”
“What I Like About You” – The Romantics
This is a song with a strong beat and energetic vibes, perfect for when you invite everyone onto the floor. A real celebration of good times!
It doesn’t lack some really good lines too.
“Keep on whispering in my ear
Tell me all the things that I wanna hear”
“Kiss” by Prince
A track like this is a welcome addition to the wedding party playlist! These two lines will be familiar to anyone on the dancefloor:
“You don’t have to be rich to be my girl
You don’t have to be cool to rule my world”
“I Just Called to Say I Love You” – Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder’s best-selling single, this hit topped a record-breaking 19 charts! An upbeat song that gives all the feels for a wedding reception…
“I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart”
“Say You, Say Me” – Lionel Richie
Marriage is the ultimate commitment that solidifies togetherness, so here’s Lionel Richie crooning all the different ways this is felt…
“Say you, say me it for always
Oh that’s the way it should be
Say you, say me say it together
Naturally”
“Woman in Love” – Barbra Streisand
An intense track with deep meaning, these magical Streisand lyrics might just strike the right notes for a slow dance…
“With you eternally mine
In love there is
No measure of time
We planned it all at the start
That you and I
Live in each other’s hearts”