This list was originally posted on Canvas and Clover, a now-defunct blog featuring wedding advice. We were asked to develop a handful of sample playlists for them to share with their readers, and since their site is down now, we figured it would be a good idea to post them here for posterity. We’ve updated each of them a bit from their original form in 2008, and if you have any additional suggestions please leave them in the comments!
As professional disc jockeys in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. metro area, we’re thrilled that couples are now requesting more personalized music than ever for their wedding. Gone are the days of cheesy, cookie-cutter receptions where everyone knows the music but no one, including the bride and groom, likes it much. Couples now are choosing songs that reflect their own unique tastes on the most special day of their lives.
Here, we share some suggestions for indie and alternative music for weddings, straight from our clients’ requests and our own collection. Enjoy!
Indie Wedding Songs:
Verve: Sonnet
Echo & the Bunnymen: Rust
Hold Steady: Stuck Between Stations
Old 97′s: Designs on You
Rilo Kiley: Silver Lining
Arctic Monkeys: I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor
Detroit Cobras: Cha Cha Twist
Feist: 1,2,3,4
Hot Hot Heat: Middle of Nowhere
Modest Mouse: Dashboard
Go Team: Huddle Formation
Jose Gonzalez: Heartbeats
The Von Bondies: C’Mon C’Mon
Decemberists: Yankee Bayonet
Band of Horses: No One’s Gonna Love You
The Postal Service: Grow Old With Me
Cowboy Junkies: Anniversary Song
Death Cab for Cutie: I Will Follow You Into the Dark
Le Tigre: Deceptacon
Nick Drake: Pink Moon
Bright Eyes: First Day of My Life
Badly Drawn Boy: Magic in the Air
Regina Spektor: Us
Frou Frou: Let Go
Elliott Smith: Between the Bars
Belle and Sebastian: Expectations
Iron and Wine: Such Great Heights
Lykke Li: Dance, Dance, Dance
Peter Bjorn and John: Young Folks
Supergrass: Alright
Yo La Tengo: Autumn Sweater
Scritti Politti: The Sweetest Girl
LCD Soundsystem: Someone Great
Ben Folds: The Luckiest
Don’t see your favorite? Add it in the comments! We’re always looking for new and interesting music to suggest to our clients for their weddings. Thanks!
That’s a great list of songs. Another good one is Rhett Miller’s “Question” (singer for The Old 97′s).
Thanks, Drew!!
I LOVE that Death Cab song. Maybe this list needs some Imogen Heap?
I’d also like to submit “Year Long Winter” by Punchline as an indie (ok, more punk rock) processional song
Great suggestions, thanks Janice!!
band of horses rocks! such a good song! pretty much anything by them is good.
I like the acoustic “Till Kingdom Come” by Coldplay. Not getting married anytime soon-but when I Do..
(no pun intended)
Nice list! I’ll have to keep this one on file.
thanks so much!
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I know this thread has been inactive for a while, but here’s a brief selection of what will be playing at my wedding next spring at various parts of the ceremony:
Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
Camera Obscura – French Navy
Jens Lekman – Black Cab
Real Estate – Beach Comber
Department of Eagles – No One Does It
Neko Case – That Teenage Feeling
She & Him – Black Hole
Spoon – I Turn my Camera On
Hercules and Love Affair – Blind
Justice – DVNO
Cut Copy – Time Stands Still
Great choices! That Department of Eagles song is amazing!