Worst Wedding Songs

Whether it’s during the first dance or when everyone is getting their groove on at the reception, bad music can happen to any well-intentioned wedding.

Surprising as it may seem, many people don’t pay attention to what the lyrics of their wedding songs are really saying.

As a result, the subject matter of some common wedding songs ranges from breaking up to unrequited love, stalkers, cheating and even death!

You’re Beautiful, by James Blunt

A song about two complete strangers who will never be together, sung by a British guy with a screeching, high-pitched voice is not a good song to play at your wedding. In the music video, Blunt is so upset that he’ll never be with this dream girl that he takes off his shoes, empties his pockets and jumps off a cliff into the ocean.

If you think this song is the perfect way to say “I love you,” to your new spouse, maybe you should go jump off a cliff too.

You’re beautiful. You’re beautiful.
You’re beautiful, it’s true.
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don’t know what to do,
‘Cause I’ll never be with you.

A Whole New World, from Aladdin

There’s nothing like cartoon characters riding around on a magic carpet to say, “let’s build a life together.” Hopefully if you’ve decided to marry someone it’s not a “whole new world” for you and you already know them very well.

Maybe this guy can sing your wedding song

I Will Survive, by Gloria Gaynor

This song is about surviving a breakup, plain and simple. And it’s overplayed. Sure it’s great to dance to but it does not go along with the theme of the day. Repeat after me: I will not play break-up songs at my wedding, I will not play breakup songs at my wedding, I will not…

Go on now go walk out the door
just turn around now
’cause you’re not welcome anymore
weren’t you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
did you think I’d crumble
did you think I’d lay down and die

If You Want to be Happy, by Jimmy Soul

Otherwise known as “If you want to piss off the bride, play this song!” People with a keen sense and appreciation for irony might laugh though.

If you wanna be happy
For the rest of your life,
Never make a pretty woman your wife,
So from my personal point of view,
Get an ugly girl to marry you.

My Heart Will Go On, by Celine Dion

This song is about a love that has been lost due to none other than—death! That’s right, you may think this song is sweet but, remember in Titanic when Leo DiCaprio’s frozen body sinks into the ocean? That’s what this song is about. One lover becomes fish food and the other vows to remember them in their heart forever. Nice, but not wedding material.

Every night in my dreams I see you.
I feel you.
That is how I know you go on.

Far across the distance
And spaces between us
You have come to show you go on.

Every Breath you Take, by The Police

This song is about a stalker. A creepy, won’t leave you alone, “I know where you live” kind of stalker. Maybe this is how you and your fiancé met, but I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that it’s not. This is not a love song. Don’t use it!

Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
Ill be watching you

Since you’ve gone I been lost without a trace
I dream at night I can only see your face
I look around but its you I cant replace
I feel so cold and I long for your embrace
I keep crying baby, baby, please…

Iris, by the Goo Goo Dolls

Speaking of stalkers, the popular Goo Goo Dolls song “Iris” was written from the point of view of a stakeriffic recluse angel from the movie City of Angels. The movie is essentially about star-crossed lovers, an angel who “falls” in order to become human, and then loses the woman he loves. Yes, loses the woman he loves, as in he does not spend forever with her.

And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
Cause sooner or later it’s over
I just don’t want to miss you tonight

And you can’t fight the tears that ain’t coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything seems like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know your alive

I Will Always Love You, by Whitney Houston

This song is about a goodbye, plain and simple. It is not in any way appropriate for two people who are about to join together “forever.” Not sweet, not lovey, not happy, it’s about saying GOODBYE FOREVER. Try again.

Bittersweet memories
that is all I’m taking with me.
So, goodbye. Please, don’t cry.
We both know I’m not what you, you need.

Truly, Madly, Deeply, by Savage Garden

While the message in this song is more on point with the kind of message you should be going for, do you really want to use this cheesy song? “I want to stand with you on a mountain, I want to bathe with you in the sea”? Come on people, this song is so overplayed—it’s even had nearly a ten million views on YouTube!

I want to stand with you on a mountain
I want to bathe with you in the sea
I want to lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

Crash into Me, by the Dave Matthews Band

At first, this song seems very sweet and romantic, but upon careful inspection it’s easy to see that it is obviously about a peeping tom. It’s a great song but is this really what you want to be dancing to as the people in your wedding party watch? They’re going to think the groom is a total perv like Dave Matthews.

Hike up your skirt a little more
And show the world to me
Hike up your skirt a little more
And show your world to me
In a boys dream.. in a boys dream
Oh I watch you there
Through the window
And I stare at you
You wear nothing but you
Wear it so well
Tied up and twisted
The way Id like to be
For you, for me, come crash
Into me

Butterfly Kisses, by Bob Carlisle

Horrible, horrible, awful song. This might be one of the sappiest songs ever written. A lot of people like to choose it for the father-daughter dance. Gag me!

She leaned over…gave me butterfly kisses with her mama there,
Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair
“Walk my down the aisle, Daddy-it’s just about time.”
“Does my wedding gown look pretty, Daddy? Daddy, don’t cry!”

Lips of an Angel, by Hinder

This song is about cheating, plain and simple! A song about talking to your ex while your current lover is in the next room is so not wedding-appropriate material. You can be guaranteed that the lips of the angel being referred to are NOT yours. If this song describes your relationship in any way, call the wedding off now!

Well, my girl’s in the next room
Sometimes I wish she was you
I guess we never really moved on
It’s really good to hear your voice saying my name
It sounds so sweet
Coming from the lips of an angel
Hearing those words it makes me weak

And I never wanna say goodbye
But girl you make it hard to be faithful
With the lips of an angel

Gold Digger, by Kanye West

This popular hit single may be catchy, but its lyrics are definitely not something that you would want to start your marriage off with, thematically speaking at least. Not a good way to set the tone for the rest of your lives together, unless you’re cool with only being married for your money.

She went to the doctor got lypo with ya money
She walkin around lookin like Michael with ya money
Should of got that insured got GEICO for ya moneeey
If you aint no punk holla
We Want ‘Prenup’ WE WANT ‘prenup’!, Yeaah

The Wind Beneath My Wings, by Bette Midler

This hit song from the movie Beaches was voted most-played song at British funerals in 2002!! The “wind beneath my wings” sentiment is nice but it’s just not right for a wedding.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that’s your way.
You always walked a step behind.

So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.

I’ll Make Love to You, by Boyz II Men

You should play this if you want to make everyone at your wedding throw up.

I’ll make love to you
Like you want me to
And I’ll hold you tight
Baby all through the night
I’ll make love to you
When you want me to
And I will not let go
Till you tell me to

This I Promise You, by N’SYNC

Not only is this an annoying boy-band song from the early 2000s, but the lyrics don’t make much sense.

When the visions around you
Bring tears to your eyes
And all that surrounds you
Are secrets and lies

All that surround you are secrets and lies?! Kind of weird for a wedding.

The One I Love, by R.E.M.

Can you just read the lyrics, please? It’s about a relationship that has ended: This one goes out to the ONE I’VE LEFT BEHIND!

This one goes out to the one I love
This one goes out to the one I’ve left behind
A simple prop to occupy my time
This one goes out to the one I love
Honorable Mention: At Last, by Etta James. It’s a nice song, but it’s SO overplayed at weddings! If you’re cool with using a clichéd song that a billion other couple have already used, more power to ya.

And that’s just to name a few. This list could keep going and going, but it doesn’t have to be this way. There are plenty of great love songs out there that aren’t horribly cheesey or about breaking up and unrequited love. I challenge you to find one, it shouldn’t be too hard!