Wedding Cocktail Hour Playlist

Updated October 2026 · 26 songs · Titles and artists only

Cocktail hour sets the tone while the couple takes photos. The music should be warm and easy to talk over. This list mixes classic jazz, soul and gentle modern songs, with no sudden jumps in energy.

The playlist

Guests arrive

Jazz standards that feel like a nice room.

1. Fly Me to the Moon — Frank Sinatra
2. The Way You Look Tonight — Frank Sinatra
3. L-O-V-E — Nat King Cole
4. Unforgettable — Nat King Cole
5. Beyond the Sea — Bobby Darin
6. Sway — Dean Martin
7. Georgia on My Mind — Ray Charles
8. What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong
9. Feeling Good — Nina Simone
10. The Girl from Ipanema — Stan Getz and João Gilberto

Mingling

Soul and light pop with a steady groove.

11. Moondance — Van Morrison
12. Come Away with Me — Norah Jones
13. Don't Know Why — Norah Jones
14. Lovely Day — Bill Withers
15. Ain't No Sunshine — Bill Withers
16. Sunday Kind of Love — Etta James
17. Put Your Records On — Corinne Bailey Rae
18. Valerie — Amy Winehouse
19. Dreams — Fleetwood Mac
20. Here Comes the Sun — The Beatles

Before dinner

Sunny songs that lift the room a little.

21. Banana Pancakes — Jack Johnson
22. Three Little Birds — Bob Marley & The Wailers
23. Is This Love — Bob Marley & The Wailers
24. Budapest — George Ezra
25. Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay — Otis Redding
26. My Funny Valentine — Chet Baker

Tips for your wedding cocktail hour music

• Keep the volume low. Guests should talk without leaning in.
• Avoid songs with a strong build or a loud chorus. Save those for the dance floor.
• Run the list for 45 to 60 minutes, then switch to the dinner playlist.
• Do not leave long gaps between songs. Use crossfade in Apple Music if you want smooth changes.
• Let guests request songs, but tell them cocktail hour is for mellow picks.

Let guests vote instead of playing DJ

Open a Jukebox session with the cocktail hour list as the starting queue. Guests can vote on songs that fit the mood and request one of their own. The room helps shape the hour and you do not need to touch a phone.

Here is how it works. The host starts a session from Apple Music. Guests join by 6-digit code, QR code or by being nearby. They vote on songs, request their own and vote to skip. The most-voted song plays next. Guests need no account, and only the host needs Apple Music.

Frequently asked questions