Congratulations! You’re engaged! Now it’s time to plan that perfect playlist. If you’re a folk or indie fan, The Lumineers are a great band to add that special element to your wedding day. Love is a common folk and indie music theme, so it’s perfect for your wedding.
Here are our top 12 Lumineers wedding songs for every part of your special day.
Key Takeaways
- Incorporating songs by Denver-born band The Lumineers into your wedding playlist adds a heartfelt touch — not to mention serious folk vibes — to the special day.
- The band’s versatile discography gives you plenty of options for each element of the wedding, from the processional to the newlyweds’ send-off.
- Lesser-known tracks like “Holdin’ Out” fit special dances like the father-daughter or mother-son dance, while upbeat songs like “Scotland” energize guests during the reception.
The 12 Best Lumineers Wedding Songs
Here’s the quick list of what we’ve dubbed the best Lumineers wedding songs.
| Processional Songs | Father-Daughter/Mother-Son Dance | First Dance | Reception |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ho Hey | Ophelia | Where We Are | Cleopatra |
| Stubborn Love | Big Parade | Holdin’ Out | Brightside |
| Dead Sea | Classy Girls | Flowers in Your Hair | |
| Scotland |
Read on to find out why Wedding Pioneer recommends each of these songs go into your wedding music playlist.
Lumineers Processional Songs
Like every other aspect of your wedding, the processional music — songs that play when the wedding party walks down the aisle — should reflect your style and who you are as a couple. If “Lumineers fans” is a characteristic of your couple identity, here are three perfect songs to consider for your processional (or recessional).
Ho Hey
This popular tune is about knowing you belong with your person, and they belong with you. It’s hard to imagine a better soundtrack to that emotional moment of seeing your best friend at the end of the aisle than this.
Stubborn Love
The deeply emotional “Stubborn Love” isn’t a traditional wedding song, but it’s about forgiveness and second chances; the singer acknowledges his partner’s mistakes, encourages them to carry on, and shows that he’ll always be there for them.
It’s a great choice for second-chance romances or couples who are very realistic about what they might face and are set on supporting each other no matter what.
Dead Sea
With its slow strumming guitar and soft melodies, “Dead Sea” is another lovely option for playing during a wedding ceremony.
This awesome song is about letting your person know they’ll never sink with you, even when surrounded by raging seas and storms. Its lovely lyrics are a sweet way of saying you’ll pull each other out of the rubble when it feels like everything’s crumbling around you.
Lumineers First Dance Songs
Tracks like The Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley, and “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz are popular wedding first dance songs. However, these Lumineers songs give those a run for their money, especially when a couple prefers dancing to folky, indie songs over anything else.
Ophelia
Ophelia’s slow piano and steady beat make it perfect for your first dance as a married couple. The song is about falling in love and having that person constantly on your mind — as the lyrics state, “Heaven help the fool who falls in love.”
Sure, the song is more about forbidden or lost love, but it’s still a great song for a first dance.
Big Parade
“Big Parade” begins with a quick pace, moves into slow guitar strums, and then brings the beat back again. It’s a unique choice for a first dance. But trust us when we say the lyrics are just right.
The song is about being unable to see the good in the world until you find the special person who changes your perspective, showing that love can change our viewpoint on life and bring us out of a rut.
Classy Girls
With its beautifully slow pace and cascading piano, “Classy Girls” is another option for your first dance as a married couple.
As the song carries on, it builds up to a quick rhythm and slapping beat — perfect for people who want to start slow and finish with an upbeat ending. The lyrics tell of the singer meeting a classy girl in a bar and trying to kiss her, only to be told that classy girls don’t kiss in bars. The simple meet-cute makes for a beautiful love song.
Lumineers Father-Daughter or Mother-Son Dance Songs
Whether you want a fast or slow dance, you’ll want the song for your wedding’s parent-child dances to have lyrics that capture the bond between a father and daughter or mother and son. Give these Lumineers songs a listen to see if they sum up your relationship with your parent.
Where We Are
This song’s soft trilling piano and beautiful melodies pair perfectly with the special moment a father-daughter or mother-son duo share on the dance floor during the reception.
The singer wrote these beautiful lyrics after surviving a car accident that happened so fast, they didn’t realize what happened. It’s about not knowing where you are but picking up the pieces together and knowing it will all be OK. In our opinion, “Where We Are” can symbolize the bond between a parent and child well, showing that no matter where they are or what happens, they’ll be fine as long as they have each other.
Holdin’ Out
“Holdin’ Out” is a little less known, as The Lumineers wrote it for the “Storks” movie soundtrack. But the fact that you won’t find it on one of the band’s albums makes it a more unique choice for your parent-child dance.
The strummy, acoustic ballad is great for dancing to, and it’s about patiently waiting for your child to arrive just so you can hold them. Play this special song during the dance, and you’ll have all your guests in tears.
Lumineers Wedding Reception Songs
Keep these four tracks by the Lumineers in mind as you make a list of romantic songs to play at your reception.
Cleopatra
“Cleopatra” is about a point in someone’s life when they should have said yes to love but chose not to, missing out on a romantic adventure. While it’s a great reminder to take a chance on love and where it could lead, it isn’t the most traditional choice for a wedding. But it’s an upbeat song with a rhythm that’ll get your guests out on the dance floor.
Brightside
“Brightside” is a mid-pace track with rock guitar that’s fun to dance to. The lyrics about someone who is feeling numb to the world and has no motivation to move forward are written from the point-of-view of a person who loves them and is trying to bring them out of the darkness. Ultimately, it reflects the natural ups and downs of life and the strength that comes from taking it all on together.
Flowers In Your Hair
With a steady beat, upbeat tambourine, and cello, “Flowers In Your Hair” is a fun, exuberant song — definitely one that’ll have guests dancing the night away.
The beautiful song is about the nostalgia of childhood, as the singer tells of falling in love with a girl he grew up with. If you’re a couple who met during childhood and fell in love when you got older, you need this track in your playlist.
Scotland
“Scotland,” a super upbeat song with quick drums and a Scottish-inspired beat, is about feeling that the world and people around you won’t always understand you. Couples can use this song to make a statement about facing the world together and doing what’s best for them, even if others don’t understand or like their decisions. If we had to pick a Lumineers song to play during the send-off, it’d be this one!
