Michael Jackson Wedding Songs: 20 of the Best

Michael Jackson's biopic has put the King of Pop back at the centre of the conversation, and couples are already adding his songs to their wedding playlists in bigger numbers than ever.

It is easy to see why. MJ's catalogue spans five decades and covers every mood a wedding day needs, from tender ballads that will have guests reaching for tissues to floor-fillers that nobody can resist dancing to. There is genuine range here, and that is what makes him such a natural fit for weddings.

We have picked the 20 best Michael Jackson songs for weddings, covering every moment of the day. These tracks sound even better when performed live, and most professional wedding bands will have at least a handful of MJ songs in their repertoire. Worth asking when you enquire.

Michael Jackson Songs for Your Ceremony and First Dance

Michael Jackson wrote some genuinely beautiful love songs that get overlooked because his dance anthems are so dominant. These are the ones worth considering for your more intimate wedding moments.

1. Ben (1972)

Originally written about a rat, which is not something you would normally put in a wedding speech, but the lyrics work perfectly as a tender declaration of love and loyalty. It is one of the most requested MJ songs for wedding ceremonies, and when performed by a wedding singer or acoustic duo, is genuinely moving.

2. Speechless (2001)

MJ wrote this after a water balloon fight with children in Germany, wanting to capture pure joy in a song. The result is one of his most breathtaking recordings. Stripped back and genuinely beautiful, it works perfectly for a ceremony or a quiet moment during the signing of the register.

3. I Just Can't Stop Loving You (1987)

A proper slow dance love song from the Bad era. MJ recorded this as a duet with Siedah Garrett and the warmth between the two voices makes it a natural first dance song. It has all the devotion you want from a wedding moment without being overwhelming.

4. You Are Not Alone (1995)

One of the biggest ballads of MJ's career and a song that still stops people in their tracks. You Are Not Alone has a gravity and sincerity that makes it a powerful choice for a first dance or a ceremony moment. When performed live, it tends to silence a room.

5. Human Nature (1982)

One of MJ's most beautiful and underrated songs. The melody is gorgeous and the mood is intimate rather than dramatic, which makes it ideal for a ceremony signing moment or a relaxed first dance for couples who want something a little different from the obvious choices.

6. For All Time (1982/2008)

Its exact origins are disputed — some sources place it in the Thriller era, others credit the Dangerous sessions — but it did not surface until the 25th anniversary edition of Thriller in 2008. One of MJ's best kept secrets. A beautiful, unhurried love song with lyrics that feel genuinely written for a wedding day. Most guests will not have heard it before which makes it a brilliant choice for couples who want something meaningful and personal rather than the obvious pick.

7. The Lady in My Life (1982)

The closing track on Thriller and one of MJ's most quietly romantic moments. A slow, soulful groove that works beautifully as a first dance, especially when performed by a live band with a bit of soul behind it.

If you are still choosing your first dance song, take a look at our guide to the best first dance songs.

Michael Jackson Songs for the Drinks Reception and Wedding Breakfast

These tracks sit in the middle ground. Upbeat enough to get people smiling but not so high-energy that they feel out of place earlier in the day. Perfect for drinks receptions, the wedding breakfast or gently building energy before the evening kicks in.

8. Rock With You (1979)

Smooth, warm and effortlessly cool. Rock With You sits somewhere between a slow dance and something you could genuinely move to, which makes it a brilliant drinks reception track or an alternative first dance for couples who want something that feels natural rather than staged.

9. Love Never Felt So Good (2014)

Released posthumously but instantly one of the most joyful things MJ ever recorded. Love Never Felt So Good has a classic Motown energy that works brilliantly for a wedding entrance, a recessional or a cocktail hour playlist. It is impossible not to smile at.

10. The Way You Make Me Feel (1987)

A song about being completely smitten with someone, which is fairly appropriate for a wedding day. The chorus is irresistible and the whole track has a lightness that suits the celebratory mood perfectly. One of MJ's most joyful recordings and a reliable crowd-pleaser at any point in the day.

11. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) (1982)

Playful and impossible not to smile at. P.Y.T. is a great choice for a wedding breakfast playlist or a drinks reception when you want a bit of energy without committing to full dancefloor mode. It tends to put people in a good mood without them even knowing why.

Michael Jackson Songs for the Dance Floor

This is where MJ is genuinely unmatched. These songs do not need much introduction. They are among the most recognisable tracks in the history of popular music and they work on every dance floor, every time.

12. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (1979)

The opening salvo of the Off the Wall era and still one of the greatest party songs ever put to tape. If your wedding band launches into this one, the dance floor will fill in seconds. No exceptions.

13. Billie Jean (1982)

The bassline alone is enough to stop a room. Billie Jean is arguably the most iconic song MJ ever recorded and it has a tension and drama that makes it a brilliant dancefloor moment at any wedding. When a live band nails this one, it tends to be the highlight of the night.

14. Beat It (1982)

The rock crossover moment that proved MJ could do anything. Beat It brings a different energy to the dance floor, a bit of swagger and attitude that makes it a great change of pace during an evening set.

15. Thriller (1982)

There is only one rule with Thriller at a wedding: play it. Whether your band performs it live or the wedding DJ drops it, the reaction will be the same every time.

16. Remember the Time (1991)

Smooth, funky and completely irresistible. Remember the Time is one of MJ's most underplayed wedding songs and it deserves to be on more playlists. The groove is perfect for a mid-evening moment when you want to keep the energy high without going full throttle.

17. Smooth Criminal (1987)

The coolest song MJ ever made. Smooth Criminal has a cinematic quality that makes it feel like an event when it comes on. Save it for later in the evening when the dance floor is already warm and it will go off.

18. Black or White (1991)

A proper feel-good anthem that works brilliantly as a singalong crowd-pleaser. The guitar riff is immediately recognisable and the song has a joyful, celebratory energy that suits the mood of a wedding evening perfectly.

19. Man in the Mirror (1987)

More anthemic than danceable, but it belongs on this list because the reaction it gets at weddings is something else. When the gospel-influenced final chorus kicks in and the whole room starts singing, it is one of those moments that makes a wedding feel genuinely special. Save it for the right moment and it will pay off.

20. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (1982)

The opening track on Thriller and one of the most relentlessly energetic songs MJ ever recorded. Save this one for when the dance floor is already going and wants to go further. Once it starts, people tend not to sit back down.

Michael Jackson Wedding Songs: FAQs

MJ's catalogue is one of the greatest in pop history and weddings are one of the few occasions where you genuinely get to play all of it, from tender early ballads right through to unstoppable dancefloor anthems.

Browse our handpicked selection of the UK's best wedding bands and find musicians who can bring these songs to life on your big day.