The Best Cocktail Hour Music For A Wedding

These 125 wedding cocktail hour songs will not disappoint.

Cocktail hour music played at The Foundry in New York City

Photo: Craig Paulson Studio

Updated Sep 20, 2024

When it comes to ensuring a fun and memorable wedding day for you and your guests, music is instrumental (see what we did there?). And while the focus may be on creating a playlist for your wedding reception and ceremony, don't forget about your cocktail hour music, which marks the midpoint of the big day.

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Your cocktail hour is the perfect time for guests to socialize over drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Use this time to create a fun, memorable and relaxing environment for your guests before dancing the night away. Further, adding the best wedding songs to your cocktail hour is an easy way to elevate the ambiance.

Not only does cocktail hour music serve as excellent entertainment for your guests, but it also helps set the scene for all the fun that's yet to come at the wedding reception. Whether you choose to hire a wedding band or a full string quartet, the options are truly limitless—so feel free to get creative.

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To help get some inspiration flowing, you'll find a list of our top wedding cocktail hour songs, which include everything from romantic pop ballads to jazzy duets and much more. There are no hard-and-fast rules, but most couples do opt for songs that exude romance or relaxing vibes so guests can focus on mingling rather than dancing. However, feel free to include any song that best celebrates your love: It's your big day, after all!

There is one thing to note: After you've finalized your cocktail hour music, send your top picks to your wedding band and ask your wedding DJ about your requests. The goal is to give them as much notice as possible before the big day so that they have enough time to work your cocktail hour music picks into their song lineup.

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Types of Cocktail Hour Music in this Story:

Bonus: Listen to our picks with The Knot's Cocktail Hour Songs playlist on Spotify.

Cocktail Hour Music: Editor's Picks

Whether you hire a wedding DJ or manage your own playlists, have a listen to our current picks and use them in your wedding cocktail hour playlist.

"Cruisin' to the Parque," by Durand Jones & The Indications
"Mariposa De Coalcoman," by Y La Bamba
"Good Times," by Jungle
"People Everywhere," by Khruangbin
"Sonido Cosmico," by Hermanos Gutierrez
"Wheels Turning," by Pratt & Moody, Cold Diamond & Mink
"Is It Any Wonder," by Durand Jones & The Indications
"Easier Said Than Done," by Thee Sacred Souls
"No Quit," by Michael Nau
"It's Our Love," by Thee Sacred Souls
"Back Pocket," Vulfpeck
"Hermosa Drive," by Hermanos Gutierrez
"State Line," by The Dip
"It Was Only A Dream," by Joey Quinones, Thee Sinseers
"Mad About You," by Son Little
"Hombre Honrado," by Hermanos Gutierrez
"Never Be Another You," by Lee Fields & The Expressions
"Ride or Die," by Durand Jones & The Indications
"May Ninth," by Khruangbin
"River," by Leon Bridges
"Casio," by Jungle
"Tres Hermanos," by Hermanos Gutierrez, Dan Auerbach
"Pictures of You," Drugdealer, Kate Bollinger
"Rose," by Moderator

Funky Cocktail Hour Music

If you want a cocktail hour that'll leave your guests feeling groovy and excited for your reception, add these ultra-funky songs to your cocktail hour music list. If you plan on hiring wedding musicians, make sure to discuss your picks with them ahead of time—some of the tracks are super technical, so keep communication open and clear to ensure your expectations are aligned with their abilities.

"Just Kissed My Baby," by The Meters
"God Make Me Funky," by The Headhunters
"Miss Mess," by Brooklyn Funk Essentials
"Simple Step," by Vulfpeck, Antwaun Stanley
"Cosmic Sans," by Cory Wong, Tom Misch
"Chips & Dip," by Sam Greenfield
"Do It, Fluid," by The Blackbyrds
"Harlem River Drive," by Bobbi Humphrey
"Superfly," by Curtis Mayfield
"Harpejji I," by Vulfmon
"Wait for the Moment," by Vulfpeck
"Thinking," by Louis Cole
"Dominoes," by Donald Byrd
"Get Into The Groove," by Giacomo Turra, Mikey Jose
"3 on E," by Vulfpeck, Antwaun Stanley
"Mean Green," by Snarky Puppy
"Sauna," by Vulfpeck
"Summer In The City," by Quincy Jones
"California Soul," by Marlena Shaw

Romantic Cocktail Hour Music

When it comes to cocktail hour music, you really can't go wrong with these romantic picks. They'd be fantastic additions to your ceremony playlist, too.

"What a Wonderful World," by Louis Armstrong
"At Last," by Etta James
"Song For You," by Rhye
"Love Song - Helado Negro Remix," by Devandra Banhart, Helado Negro
"How Sweet It Is," by Marvin Gaye
"You're So Fine," by Papa Bear & His Cubs
"Nothing Can Change This Love," by Sam Cooke
"Come On In," by Lady Wray
"Baby," by Donnie & Joe Emerson
"You Send Me," by Sam Cooke
"You and Me," by Aretha Franklin
"Mistakes," Lake Street Dive
"I Think Of You," Rodriguez
"Kathy's Song," by Simon & Garfunkel
"Day Dreaming," by Aretha Franklin
"Sea Gets Hotter," by Durand Jones & The Indications
"Can I Call You Rose?" by Thee Sacred Souls
"Make You Feel My Love," by Ane Brun
"So in Love," by Curtis Mayfield
"Home Again," by Michael Kiwanuka
"Love Train," by The O'Jays
"Ribbon in the Sky," by Stevie Wonder
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours" by Stevie Wonder
"The Way You Look Tonight," Frank Sinatra
"Stand By Me," Ben E. King
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
"Lovely Day," by Bill Withers

Modern Cocktail Hour Music

Looking for fun and fresh tunes to play during your wedding's cocktail hour? Here are some modern tracks we love.

"Back On 74," by Jungle
"Beautiful Things," by Bensoon Boone
"Water," by Tyla
"Houdini," by Dua Lipa
"Bed Chem," by Sabrina Carpenter
"Birds of a Feather," by Billie Eilish
"Smile Meditation," by Vulfpeck
"Oh, My Darling," by Basia Bulat
"Lover," by Taylor Swift
"Mystery of Love," by Sufjan Stevens
"Young And Beautiful," by Lana Del Rey
"Only Love," by Ben Howard
"I Like Me Better," by Lauv
"Mi Negrita," by Devandra Banhart
"Pink Pony Club," by Chappell Roan
"Music For A Sushi Restaurant," by Harry Styles
"Beyond," by Leon Bridges
"Dreams Tonite," by Alvvays
"Good Days," by SZA
"Still Together," by Mac DeMarco
"Adore You," by Harry Styles
"This Is What Falling In Love Feels Like," by JVKE
"Ends of the Earth," by Lord Huron
"Real Love Baby," by Father John Misty
"Connaissais de Face," by Khruangbin
"Whole Wide World," by Bahamas
"Sweet Creature," by Harry Styles
"the boy is mine," by Ariana Grande
"Today Was a Fairytale," Taylor Swift
"Taste," by Sabrina Carpenter
"Who," by Jimin
"Too Sweet," by Hozier
"Good Guy," by Devon Cole
"Say Yes To Heaven," by Lana Del Rey
"Touch," by KATSEYE
"LUNCH," by Billie Eilish

Cocktail Hour Music: Laid-Back House

Keep the lyrics to a minimum with these laid-back house songs. They're upbeat enough to keep the energy at a good level, but not so intense to make your guests feel like they're at a nightclub.