#17 Taylor Swift – With her broad popularity, we are surprised she is not higher on the lists.  However, many of her songs are a medium tempo which creates havoc for many grooms.  Although the song Love Story is on the top of many wedding song lists.

#16 Carrie Underwood – Many of this Country superstar’s songs are wedding appropriate.  Our favorite is Mama’s Song for mother dedications.

#15 Colbie Caillat – With her very unique pop voice, she is on wedding song charts as a soloist Bubbly,I Do and as a duo with Jason Mraz – Lucky.

#14 Faith Hill – One of the Queens of modern country.  She has a list of her own of wedding appropriate songs like There You’ll Be, The Way You Love Me and Like We Never Loved At All.

#13 Madonna – Number one on VH1, we have to include dance hits like Holiday and Vogue and the love theme song from Vision Quest - Crazy For You.

#12 Shania Twain – Not only does Shania have a great wedding anniversary song, You’re Still The One, but she has a great first dance song, From This Moment On.

#11 Mariah Carey – Arguably the best artist of the 90s, she produced mere hit love songs galore such as Hero, I’ll Be There, One Sweet Day, Thank God I Found You and so on!

#10 Mary J. Blige – Mary sings with so much emotion.  However, our favorite wedding song of hers is Family Affair.  Beautiful is also a great wedding love song.

#9 Beyoncé – One of the leading women in the music industry.  She tops wedding song lists with Crazy In Love and Single Ladies (Put A Ring on It).

#8 Rihanna – Rihanna has produced a collection of songs to fill dance floors at wedding receptions like Don’t Stop The Music and We Found Love.

#7 Whitney Houston – Not only did Whitney produce a wedding mega- hit I Will Always Love You but she also produced Greatest Love Of All, I Have Nothing and Count On Me.

#6 Norah Jones – Known for two great Jazz songs that make great first dance songs and slow songs to fill wedding reception dance floors – Come Away With Me and Don’t Know Why.

#5 Alicia Keys – A Soulful R&B powerhouse, Alicia will be played at weddings for years to come with hits like No One, Fallin’ and If I Ain’t Got You.

#4 Sarah McLachlan – If your are looking for an offbeat first dance, think about the song Ice Cream.  If you are looking for a great in memory of song at a wedding, consider I Will Remember You.

#3 Adele - It is amazing how fast Adele has risen to the top.  She already has wedding songs like Lovesong, and One And Only.

#2 Sade – One of our favorite first dance songs is By Your Side.  However, Sade can fill dance floors with her unique voice as a Smooth Operator.

#1 Celine Dion – The queen of love songs, Celine will be played at weddings for years to come with pop mega hits such as Because You Loved Me, The Power Of Love and A Mother’s Prayer.

For a complete list of VH1′s 100 Greatest Women in Music, please see below.

100. Pussycat Dolls
99. Demi Lovato
98. Ashanti
97. Grace Potter
96. Mandy Moore
95. Wilson Phillips
94. Colbie Caillat
93. Feist
92. Jordin Sparks
91. Monica
90. Regina Spektor
89. Hillary Scott (Lady Antebellum)
88. SWV
87. Robyn
86. Ingrid Michaelson
85. Faith Evans
84. Avril Lavigne
83. Meg White (The White Stripes)
82. Miley Cyrus
81. Spice Girls
80. Sara Bareilles
79. PJ Harvey
78. Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
77. Hayley Williams (Paramore)
76. Leona Lewis
75. Kim Deal (The Breeders, The Pixies)
74. Paula Abdul
73. Dido
72. Brandy
71. Natalie Merchant
70. Macy Gray
69. Courtney Love
68. Indigo Girls
67. M.I.A.
66. Natasha Bedingfield
65. Liz Phair
64. Eve
63. Jill Scott
62. Leann Rimes
61. Shirley Manson (Garbage)
60. Florence + The Machine
59. Destiny’s Child
58. Miranda Lambert
57. Ke$ha
56. Gloria Estefan
55. Fiona Apple
54. Tori Amos
53. Sarah McLachlan
52. En Vogue
51. Nelly Furtado
50. Lauryn Hill
49. Amy Lee (Evanescence)
48. Aaliyah
47. Kylie Minogue
46. Toni Braxton
45. Lil’ Kim
44. Erykah Badu
43. Taylor Swift
42. Melissa Etheridge
41. Jewel
40. Nicki Minaj
39. Dixie Chicks
38. Salt N Pepa
37. Faith Hill
36. Shakira
35. Shania Twain
34. Queen Latifah
33. Norah Jones
32. Fantasia
31. Cher
30. Sade
29. Bjork
28. k.d. Lang
27. Fergie
26. Amy Winehouse
25. Sheryl Crow
24. Jennifer Hudson
23. Carrie Underwood
22. Annie Lennox
21. Celine Dion
20. Rihanna
19. Kelly Clarkson
18. Missy Elliott
17. Katy Perry
16. Jennifer Lopez
15. Alanis Morissette
14. Alicia Keys
13. Gwen Stefani
12. TLC
11. Britney Spears
10. P!nk
09. Mary J. Blige
08. Christina Aguilera
07. Janet Jackson
06. Whitney Houston
05. Adele
04. Lady Gaga
03. Beyoncé
02. Mariah Carey
01. Madonna

The fifties were the dawn of Rock and Roll.  However, the mainstream included Doo-Wop, Rhythm and Blues, Rockabilly, Country and many vocalists or Jazz artists.  Billboard nominated Elvis Presley as the artist of the decade of the Fifties.  If you are looking for a complete list of the best wedding songs from the 50s, please visit our Top 100 Songs of the 50s.

#18 Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) - The Penguins – Released in 1954, Doo-Wop

#17 In The Still of The Night – Five Satins – Released in 1956, Doo-Wop

#16 To Know Him is To Love Him – The Teddy Bears – Released in 1958, Pop

#15 That’s Amore – Dean Martin – Released in 1953, Pop

#14 I Only Have Eyes For You – The Flamingos – Released in 1959, R&B

#13 Memories Are Made Of This – Dean Martin – Released in 1956, Pop

#12 You Send Me – Sam Cooke – Released in 1957, R&B

#11 Pledging My Love – Johnny Ace – Released in 1955, R&B

#10 For Your Precious Love – Jerry Butler & the Impressions – Released in 1958, R&B

#9 Chances Are – Johnny Mathis – Released in 1957, Country

#8 Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley – Released in 1956, Rock

#7 This I Swear – The Skyliners – Released in 1959, Doo-Wop

#6 Only You – The Platters – Released in 1955, R&B

#5 The Twelfth of Never – Johnny Mathis - Released in 1957, Country

#4 When I Fall In Love – Nat King Cole – Released in 1956, R&B

#3 A Kiss To Build A Dream On – Louis Armstrong – Released in 1951, Jazz

#2 All The Way – Frank Sinatra – Released in 1951, Jazz

#1 One in a Million – The Platters – Released in 1956, R&B

12 Months – Announce your engagement, choose a wedding theme, work out a budget, research wedding professionals (caterer, florist, DJ or band, photographer and videographer) and venues.  You can also set appointments with the wedding pros at this time.

11 Months – Select a wedding consultant (if you are using one), meet with caterers and arrange tastings, select and book the caterer, select and book the music entertainment (band/DJ), decide on music selections, select and reserve your venue, (ceremony and reception), start thinking about your wedding dress.  If you are choosing a destination wedding, now would be the best time to send save the date cards.

10 Months – Choose and purchase your wedding dress and veil.  Choose attendants and discuss with them their duties and what you expect of them.  If choosing a park or recreational area for the venue, secure the proper permits.

9 Months – Register for your wedding gifts, decide on food for the reception, choose whether you will have an open bar, limited bar or no alcohol at your reception, make a playlist for your music, research places for guests to stay, reserve blocks of rooms at a local hotel for guests.

8 Months – Go to your first gown fitting, order bridesmaid dresses and accessories, look at wedding rings, confirm florist and discuss wedding theme and flower arrangements, start making a decision regarding invitations (style, color, font, etc),

7 Months – Review and finalize your wedding details with your consultant, set fittings for bridesmaids’ dresses, choose tux styles for groomsmen,  select a flower girl and ring bearer, choose and purchase wedding rings, finalize invitations.

6 Months – Review invitation proofs and make changes if needed, finalize invitations, discuss honeymoon ideas, meet with travel agent, work on wedding decorations (table decorations, favors, etc).

5 Months – Order place cards and programs, finalize honeymoon arrangements, make reservations for rehearsal dinner and menu.

4 Months – Get groom to try on tuxedos and purchase accessories, work on vow’s, make appoint with stylist regarding hair and makeup, address wedding invitations.

3 Months – Approve anything that is being printed for the wedding (programs, place cards, etc), decide about rehearsal dinner, next day brunch and reserve restaurants, discuss bachelorette party, review registry and make any adjustments.

2 Months – Mail invitations, purchase wedding gifts for wedding party members, go to second (possibly final) gown fitting, have groom make final decision regarding tux and reserve, arrange transportation for bride and groom to reception from ceremony site, purchase ceremony accessories (unity candle, wine glasses, etc).

6 Weeks – Send rehearsal dinner invitations, write thank you notes as you receive gifts, confirm music playlist with music entertainment, purchase any remaining wedding favors or table decorations, purchase a gift for your spouse-to-be, meet with stylist again for a practice run (take veil with you).

4 Weeks – Confirm with florist and arrange delivery times, meet with officiant to discuss details, determine any seating arrangements and reception layout, placement of cake table, placement of DJ or band, schedule an appointment for a mani/pedi  just before the wedding, schedule pick up of grooms tux, finalize photographer and videographer.

3 Weeks – Go over RSVP’s and finalize head count with caterer, call anyone who has not responded to get accurate count.

1 Week – Confirm honeymoon arrangements and start packing, pick up wedding dress and tux.

WEDDING DAY – Eat a good breakfast, attend hairstyle appointment and make up appointment.  RELAX and ENJOY  yourself!!

A typical song is about 3-4 minutes in length.  Therefore, plan for a minimum of 12 hours of practice to perfect your dance.  If you choose to make your first dance a waltz, contact your local dance studio and they will help with a choreographed routine.  If you select your first dance as a waltz, it is also commonly known as the Bridal Waltz.

If you are the bride and groom dancing a waltz for your first dance, be sure to practice with the bride wearing her wedding dress (even if it is in private without the groom).  This way you can test the length of the dress and the weight so all the turns can be performed as expected.

If you would like to see a waltz danced, view past shows of Dancing With The Stars and So You Think You Can Dance. Some of the songs listed below were danced to on past episodes. For your convenience, we also listed they music genre and release date of each song.

#1 You and Me – Lifehouse, 2005 (Rock)

#2 If I Ain’t Got You – Alicia Keys, 2003 (R&B)

#3 Come Away With Me – Norah Jones, 2001 (Jazz)

#4 Caribbean Blue – Enya, 1991 (New Age)

#5 I’ll Be – Edwin McCain, 1997 (Rock)

#6 Open Arms – Journey, 1981 (Rock)

#7 Nothing Else Matters – Metallica, 1991 (Hard Rock)

#8 No Ordinary Love – Sade, 1992 (R&B)

#9 Iris – Goo Goo Dolls, 1998 (Rock)

#10 Time Of My Life – David Cook (Winner of American Idol), 2008 (Rock)

#11 From This Moment On – Shania Twain, 1997 (Country)

#12 Satellite – Dave Matthews Band, 1993 (Rock)

#13 Kiss From A Rose – Seal, 1994 (R&B)

#14 Is It You (I Have Loved) – Becky Taylor (Featured in Shrek originally sung by Dana Glover in Little Mermaid), 2005 (Classical)

#15 When I Said I Do – Clint Black and Lisa Hartman, 1999 (Country)

#16 Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman? - Bryan Adams, 1995 (Rock)

#1 At Last – Etta James, Released in 1960 (Jazz)

#2 Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley, Released in 1962 (Rock)

#3 How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) – Marvin Gaye, Released in 1964 (R&B)

#4 I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher, Released in 1965 (Pop)

#5 Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers, Released in 1965 (Pop)

#6 What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong, Released in 1968 (Jazz)

#7 These Arms Of Mine – Otis Redding, Released in 1964 (R&B)

#8 Cherish – The Association, Released in 1966 (Pop)

#9 Bring It On Home To Me – Sam Cooke, Released in 1962 (R&B)

#10 The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra, Released in 1964 (Jazz)

#11 Moon River – Andy Williams, Released in 1962 (Jazz)

#12 So Much In Love – The Tymes, Released in 1963 (Vocal)

#13 This Magic Moment – The Drifters, Released in 1960 (R&B)

#14 L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole, Released in 1965 (R&B)

#15 I Can’t Help Myself – The Four Tops, Released in 1965 (R&B)

#16 Stand By Your Man - Tammy Wynette, Released in 1968 (Country)

#17 Stand By Me – Ben E. King, Released in 1961 (R&B)

#18 When a Man Loves A Woman – Percy Sledge, Released in 1966 (R&B)

#19 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Released in 1967 (R&B)

#20 Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You – Frankie Valli, Released in 1967 (Rock)