Stevie Wonder is one of the most famous, talented, and accomplished singers to ever grace the stage.
Not only is he the quintessential musician, skilled in singing, songwriting, and producing, his body of work transcends generational barriers and continues to enthrall, inspire, and entertain each new crop of music lovers.
Long story short, there’s a reason that this 19-time Grammy Award Winner pops up on wedding playlists all across the world.
He’s got bluesy gems, R&B adjacent love songs, and fusions blends that can’t fit into one box — all paired with crisp, powerful crooning and unique lyrics that pull you into whatever story he’s trying to tell.
Whether you’re looking for music to set to your first dance, reception dance tracks, or even the bridal procession, you won’t go wrong with Mr. Wonder!
Here are 10 of the best Stevie Wonder wedding songs of all time!
“Isn’t She Lovely”
Lyrics you’ll love:
“Isn’t she lovely?/Isn’t she wonderful?/Isn’t she precious?/Less than one minute old/I never thought through love we’d be/Making one as lovely as she/ But isn’t she lovely made from love?”
You’ve heard it, your guests have heard it, and let’s be real…so have most people on the planet. “Isn’t She Lovely” is one of Stevie Wonder’s most popular and successful songs.
Even though the song is actually about the love that a father feels for his newborn child, the upbeat tempo and bluesy undertones make it a great track for a reception.
Of course, if you ignore the whole “less than one minute” old part of the song, the groom could also dedicate it to his bride as she walks down the aisle. Hopefully, your guests won’t listen all that hard and will instead be more focused on your gorgeous dress!
Trust us, you can’t go wrong!
“My Cherie Amour”
Lyrics you’ll love:
“My Cherie amour, lovely as a summer day/ My Cherie amour, distant as the Milky Way/ My Cherie amour, pretty little one that I adore/ You’re the only girl my heart beats for/ How I wish that you were mine.”
You’ll soon find in this list that many of Stevie Wonder’s songs work double duty. The energetic beats often pair with emotionally heavy, descriptive lyrics. Therefore, they could work for the bridal procession, first dance, or reception.
Stevie Wonder’s “My Cherie Amour,” first released way back in 1969, is a testament to that fact. This is another song well-known by the masses, which means you can expect your guests to sing over the lyrics and drown out Wonder’s voice completely!
“You Are the Sunshine of My Life”
Lyrics you’ll love:
“You are the sunshine of my life/That’s why I’ll always stay around/You are the apple of my eye (love has joined us)/Forever you’ll stay in my heart (love, sweet love)”
“You Are the Sunshine of My Life” is one of Stevie Wonder’s most successful singles. And for good reason. This mid-tempo track, first released in 1972, is a breezy tune in which Wonder sweetly serenades the object of his affection, making this a wonderful wedding song for a first dance.
“For Once In My Life”
Lyrics you’ll love:
“For once in my life, I won’t let sorrow hurt me /Not like it’s hurt me before (Not like it’s hurt me before)/For once, I have something I know won’t desert me/I’m not alone anymore (I’m not alone anymore)/For once I can say, This is mine, you can’t take it/As long as I know I have love, I can make it.”
When you hear the song “For Once In My Life,” I’m sure Stevie Wonder is the first artist to pop into your head. Or, let’s be honest…he’s probably the only artist.
However, Wonder’s uptempo version is actually a remake of what was supposed to be a ballad, proving sometimes that fate knows best!
This catchy tune not only thoughtfully evokes the feeling of relief when you finally find someone who’s 100 percent in your corner, but it’s also sure to help get your party started at your reception! Win/Win.
“Golden Lady”
Lyrics you’ll love:
“A touch of rain and sunshine made the flower grow/Into a lovely smile that’s blooming/And it’s so clear to me that you’re a dream come true/There’s no way that I’ll be losing.”
For women getting married (or just falling in love), there’s perhaps no sweeter feeling than hearing what your husband or partner thinks about you – especially when the feelings are as sweet as the lyrics from “Golden Lady.”
Even though this song isn’t quite as well-known as some of Stevie Wonder’s other hit records, it’s still a thoughtful exploration into the husband/partner’s point of view.
As a mid-tempo ballad, this song can work for either pre-wedding or post-wedding festivities, though we’d definitely regulate it to the reception. But that’s just us!
Your wedding, your rules!
“Superstition”
Lyrics you’ll love:
“Very superstitious/Writing’s on the wall/Very superstitious/Ladder’s ’bout to fall/13-month-old baby/Broke the looking glass/seven years of bad luck
The good things in your past/When you believe in things/That you don’t understand
/Then you suffer/Superstition ain’t the way, yeah”
No, “Superstition” doesn’t have to be an omen to post-marital destruction (even if the lyrics are a bit foreboding). It can — and definitely will be — the perfect song to get your party (well, reception) started.
This beloved party anthem, which garnered Stevie Wonder two Grammy Awards, is a favorite among wedding and party-goers everywhere. And if you add it to your reception playlist, you can be sure that your guests will make good use of your dance floor.
“Sign, Sealed Delivered, I’m Yours”
Lyrics you’ll love:
“You got my future in your hands/I’ve done a lot of foolish things/That I really didn’t mean, yeah, yeah, didn’t I/Oh baby, seen a lot of things in this old world/When I touch them, they mean nothing, girl/ Ooh baby, here I am/ Signed, sealed, delivered, I’m yours, I’m yours”
When you really think about it, marriage is a legally binding contract. And while that may not sound all that romantic, the facts are the facts.
Therefore, the spirit of ‘Sign, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours,” released by Stevie Wonder in 1970, is a great choice to celebrate the fact that, once you say your vows and sign your marriage license, you’re technically signing yourself over to your spouse.
Thankfully, all contracts can be broken (if needed), but in the meantime, you and your guests will have a blast grooving to this song at your reception!
“Overjoyed”
Lyrics you’ll love:
“Over time, I’ve been building my castle of love/ Just for two, though you never knew you were my reason/ I’ve gone much too far for you now to say/That I’ve got to throw my castle away.”
They say home is where the heart is, and if you’re involved romantically, I’d add that it’s also in those places your partner or spouse dwells — even when they’re away from home. “Overjoyed,” released by Stevie Wonder in 1985, beautifully expresses this sentiment.
Except, in this case, there’s a layer of melancholy, as Wonder croons about a relationship that hasn’t yet taken shape, but that he hopes will.
If unrequited love marked the early start of your life together, then perhaps “Overjoyed” can be a sweet call back to uncertain times, as you hope for certain futures!
“For Your Love”
Lyrics you’ll love:
“All the gold in all the world/Is nothing to possess/If all the things that it can bring/Can’t add up to one ounce of your happiness/And for your love/ I would do anything/ Just to see the smile upon your face.”
Whether or not we admit it, we all want someone who’s head over heels in love with us. More importantly, we want that love to translate to undying devotion in pursuit of our happiness (which we will also reciprocate). And even though this is a rare find, even when we find our “person,” we can enjoy the hopeful nature of this track.
This would be a great song to walk down the aisle to on your wedding day.
“Ribbon in the Sky”
Lyrics you’ll love:
“Love, we can’t lose with God on our side/We’ll find strength in each tear we cry/From now on it will be you and I/And our ribbon in the sky/Ribbon in the sky/A ribbon in the sky for our love.”
Remember when we mentioned that many of Stevie Wonder’s songs were so versatile that they could be played at any stage of your wedding? Well, no song is a better example of this than “Ribbon in the Sky.”
This is arguably Stevie Wonder’s most romantic song, and its lyrics evoke warm, fuzzy feelings, making it the perfect song to soundtrack the bride’s walk down the aisle.
Then again, imagine this song playing in the background, as you share your first dance as husband and wife. And don’t even get us started on the possibility of you serenading each other (granted you’re singers), as your guests look on in absolute awe.
