2000s Wedding Songs: 50 of the Best for 2026

The 2000s (or noughties as most of us called them) were a golden decade for wedding music. It was the era of big indie anthems, soulful R&B, guilty-pleasure pop and some genuinely beautiful first dance songs that still hold up.

If you got married between 2000 and 2010, you probably had a few of these. If you're getting married now and grew up listening to this stuff, you're in good company. Noughties songs are consistently some of the most requested on FixTheMusic.

This list covers every part of the day, from the ceremony walk to the last song of the night. We've also put together our picks for the best first dance songs, entrance songs and exit songs if you want to go deeper on any of those moments.

2000s First Dance Songs

The 2000s were brilliant for first dance songs. Less obvious than the classics, but more personal than modern pop. These are the ones couples still choose.

1. Better Together — Jack Johnson (2005)

Warm, acoustic and completely unpretentious. Better Together is one of those songs that feels written for weddings without being a wedding song. Jack Johnson's laid-back delivery makes it work for almost any couple.

2. If I Ain't Got You — Alicia Keys (2003)

One of the great love songs of the decade. The piano intro alone is enough to bring a room to attention. This is the song for couples who want something with genuine soul rather than just a familiar name.

3. Chasing Cars — Snow Patrol (2006)

Few songs from this era have aged as well. The build from quiet to anthemic works perfectly for a first dance, and the lyrics are about as wedding-appropriate as indie rock gets.

4. I'm Yours — Jason Mraz (2008)

Probably the most wedding-friendly song Jason Mraz has written, which is saying something. Light, optimistic and easy to dance to. A good choice if you want something that feels current without being too modern.

5. Put Your Records On — Corinne Bailey Rae (2006)

Understated and warm. This song has a gentle confidence to it that makes it a lovely choice for couples who want something a little different from the usual first dance picks.

6. Everything — Michael Bublé (2007)

Classic Bublé. Romantic, big-band influenced and built for slow dancing. If your parents will be watching and you want something they'll recognise too, this is a safe bet.

7. No One — Alicia Keys (2007)

Alicia Keys appears twice in this list because she was simply untouchable in the 2000s. No One is the more uplifting of the two; a great choice for couples who want a first dance that feels celebratory as well as romantic.

8. Fix You — Coldplay (2005)

Unconventional as a first dance but not as unusual as you might think. The song's emotional arc (quiet and tender, then slowly building) mirrors a lot of wedding ceremonies. Better suited to the ceremony or drinks reception, but some couples make it work beautifully as a first dance.

9. We Belong Together — Mariah Carey (2005)

A proper R&B love song. Mariah Carey at her most accessible, and the feeling of the song is pure joy. Works well for couples who want something with a bit more energy than a slow ballad.

10. Halo — Beyoncé (2008)

One of Beyoncé's most straightforward love songs and consistently one of the most requested first dance songs on FixTheMusic.

2000s Aisle Songs

The walk down the aisle needs something that holds the moment without overpowering it. These 2000s tracks all do that in their own way.

11. Somewhere Only We Know — Keane (2004)

One of the definitive British songs of the decade. The piano opening is immediately recognisable and sets a tone that is emotional without being overwhelming. A brilliant aisle song for couples with indie leanings.

12. The Blower's Daughter — Damien Rice (2002)

Sparse, fragile and completely beautiful. The Blower's Daughter is for couples who want the ceremony to feel intimate and genuinely moving. Not one for those who want to keep it upbeat.

13. Yellow — Coldplay (2000)

Still one of the most distinctive opening guitar lines in British music. Yellow has a wistful, open quality that works well for a slow walk. Many couples choose it because it was the song playing when they first met or fell in love.

14. Come Away With Me — Norah Jones (2002)

Quiet, jazz-influenced and perfectly paced for a walk down the aisle. Norah Jones's voice has a warmth that fills a room without demanding attention, which is exactly what you want at this moment.

15. Falling Slowly — Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová (2007)

From the film Once. One of the most genuinely moving songs of the decade and a brilliant choice for couples who want something that feels a little cinematic. If you have a live musician at your ceremony, this is one to ask them to learn.

16. Lucky — Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat (2008)

A duet about two people feeling lucky to have each other. Works beautifully as a ceremony song or a first dance. The conversational back-and-forth between the two vocalists mirrors the feeling of the day itself.

17. Babylon — David Gray (2000)

One of the defining songs of the early 2000s singer-songwriter era. Babylon has a particular kind of warmth that suits a ceremony walk. Slightly unexpected, which is exactly why it works.

2000s Dancefloor Anthems

This is where the noughties really shine. The dancefloor songs from this era are almost universally brilliant. They bring instant recognition and get every generation moving.

18. I Gotta Feeling — Black Eyed Peas (2009)

Still the gold standard for a wedding opening number. The "tonight's gonna be a good night" hook is practically designed to start a party. If your band opens with this, your dance floor will be full within thirty seconds.

19. Crazy In Love — Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z (2003)

The horn intro alone is enough. Crazy In Love is one of those rare songs that sounds as good at a wedding reception as it does in a club. A guaranteed floor-filler and one of the most frequently covered songs by wedding bands on FixTheMusic.

20. Hey Ya! — Outkast (2003)

Shake it like a Polaroid picture. Hey Ya! is almost impossible not to dance to, which is why it keeps appearing on wedding playlists more than twenty years after its release. The energy it brings to a room is unmatched.

21. Mr. Brightside — The Killers (2004)

Few songs in British wedding culture have the pull of Mr. Brightside. It is the song that gets people who claim they do not dance onto the floor. Ask any wedding band in the UK: this one never fails.

22. Murder On The Dancefloor — Sophie Ellis-Bextor (2001)

Had a second life after appearing in Saltburn, but it was always a classic. Kitsch, high-energy and surprisingly sophisticated. A great mid-set track that shows your playlist has personality.

23. Yeah! — Usher ft. Lil Jon & Ludacris (2004)

One of the most recognisable opening seconds in 2000s music. The moment this comes on, everyone knows what is happening. Hard to overstate how well this works at a wedding.

24. Toxic — Britney Spears (2003)

Genuinely one of the most well-produced pop songs of the decade. Toxic is a great choice for couples who want the playlist to have some edge. It plays well across ages and never outstays its welcome.

25. Chelsea Dagger — The Fratellis (2006)

The ultimate crowd participation song. Once that chorus kicks in, you have no choice but to join in. A brilliant late-night track when you want the energy to peak.

26. Sex on Fire — Kings of Leon (2008)

Big, anthemic and impossible to ignore. Sex on Fire sounds incredible when performed live by a band. If your wedding band can pull off the guitar work, ask them to include it.

27. Get The Party Started — P!nk (2001)

Exactly what it says. A great opening track or a solid mid-set burst of energy. P!nk's vocal performance is so committed that it is hard not to get swept up in it.

28. Single Ladies — Beyoncé (2008)

The ring is already on your finger by this point, but Single Ladies still works brilliantly at weddings. One of the most energetic songs of the late 2000s and a reliable dancefloor moment.

29. Hips Don't Lie — Shakira ft. Wyclef Jean (2006)

Latin-influenced, irresistibly rhythmic and universally loved. Hips Don't Lie is one of those songs that works across every demographic at a wedding. Even your great aunt will be nodding along.

30. Umbrella — Rihanna (2007)

The moment Rihanna became inescapable. Umbrella has a pace and structure that works well in a set. It gives dancers a moment to breathe before the chorus lifts everything again.

31. Pump It — Black Eyed Peas (2006)

Built on a sample of Misirlou (the Pulp Fiction theme), Pump It is one of those songs that sounds enormous in a room with a good sound system. A great choice for couples who want their playlist to have some swagger.

32. 1, 2 Step — Ciara ft. Missy Elliott (2004)

One of the most underrated dancefloor songs of the decade. If you want to give your playlist an R&B edge that goes beyond the obvious choices, this is a great place to start.

33. Use Somebody — Kings of Leon (2008)

Works as both a dancefloor track and a slower moment, depending on how your band plays it. The chorus is enormous and the verses give people a chance to catch their breath.

34. Shut Up And Let Me Go — The Ting Tings (2008)

Short, sharp and completely infectious. Shut Up And Let Me Go is a great mid-set track that changes the energy in the room without slowing things down.

35. Foundations — Kate Nash (2007)

An unusual choice but one that lands brilliantly in the right room. Foundations has a punky, spoken-word quality that makes it stand out from the usual playlist fare. Best for couples with an indie-leaning crowd.

2000s Songs for the Drinks Reception

The drinks reception needs something that creates atmosphere without demanding attention. These 2000s tracks all work as background music that feels genuinely good rather than filler.

36. Thank You — Dido (2000)

One of the most played songs of the early 2000s and still a genuinely beautiful piece of music. Dido's voice is warm and unhurried, which makes this perfect background listening.

37. Upside Down — Jack Johnson (2006)

Acoustic and genuinely joyful, exactly the tone you want for a drinks reception. From the Curious George soundtrack, which makes it sound less cool than it is.

38. Songbird — Eva Cassidy

Eva Cassidy became a household name in the UK in the 2000s. Songbird is still one of the most requested songs at wedding ceremonies and drinks receptions. If you have a live singer, ask them about this one.

39. Bubbly — Colbie Caillat (2007)

Bubbly does not take itself too seriously, which makes it a lovely choice for a relaxed drinks reception or early evening moment.

40. Unwritten — Natasha Bedingfield (2004)

One of the most optimistic songs of the decade. About new beginnings and possibilities. Works as background music or as a more upbeat moment on the dancefloor later.

2000s Songs for the Last Dance

The last song of the night is the one people remember on the way home. These 2000s tracks all make a proper closing statement.

41. Angels — Robbie Williams

Still the most requested final song at UK weddings. Technically a 90s song, but it truly belonged to the noughties in terms of cultural presence. If you want to end the night with a room full of people singing together, this is hard to beat.

42. Don't Stop Believin' — Journey (2000s wedding staple)

Technically older but it became a wedding institution through a generation rediscovering it via Glee and The Sopranos. The singalong factor is enormous and it has a way of bringing an entire room together for one final moment. Hard to top as a closing song.

43. You're Beautiful — James Blunt (2005)

One of the most played songs of the mid-2000s and still a surprisingly effective last dance. The simplicity of the melody means everyone can sing along, and there is something in the wistfulness of it that suits the end of an evening perfectly.

44. Fix You — Coldplay (2005)

The build in Fix You — from quiet and restrained to the full band release — mirrors the arc of a good wedding evening. A more emotional closing choice that works best when the room is ready for it.

45. Falling Slowly — Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová (2007)

Bittersweet and cinematic. If you want the last dance to feel like the closing scene of a film, this is the one.

2000s Songs Couples Often Overlook

These do not always appear on the obvious lists but consistently work well at weddings.

46. Stolen — Dashboard Confessional (2006)

A genuinely lovely love song from the emo-adjacent side of the decade. Tender and specific in a way that makes it feel personal. A great first dance for couples who want something unexpected.

47. Fall For You — Secondhand Serenade (2008)

A slightly more obscure pick that appeals strongly to couples who were into alternative music in the late 2000s. The acoustic version is particularly suited to a ceremony performance.

48. I Will Follow You Into The Dark — Death Cab for Cutie (2005)

One of the most requested alternative first dance songs of the decade. Stripped back, intimate and quietly devastating in the best way. Works particularly well performed live by a solo acoustic musician or acoustic duo.

49. Make You Feel My Love — Adele (2008)

Adele's version of the Bob Dylan song became the definitive recording for a generation. It's restrained and emotionally direct. One of the most versatile songs on this list: it works for the ceremony, drinks reception or first dance.

50. Chasing Pavements — Adele (2008)

Adele's debut single and still one of her most powerful performances. The raw emotion in her voice makes this a compelling choice for a ceremony or first dance for couples who want something that feels real rather than polished.

FAQ about 2000s Wedding Songs

Finding a Band to Cover These Songs

Most professional wedding bands on FixTheMusic can cover a strong selection of 2000s songs alongside more recent hits. If there is a specific track you want performed live, it is worth asking in advance.

For more inspiration, take a look at our guides to the best 90s wedding songs and best first dance songs.

If you are ready to find a band for your wedding, submit an enquiry and receive free quotes from hand-picked musicians.

Whatever part of the day you are planning for, the noughties have something that will work. The best 2000s wedding playlists tend to mix the obvious floor-fillers with a few personal picks that mean something to the couple, and that combination is what people remember.