1980s Wedding Songs as You Make My Dreams Come True

Updated November 1, 2023 | Author: Matthew Campbell

Whitney Houston wanted to dance with somebody, David Bowie raised the cry “Let’s Dance!” and we can’t forget about the “Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats.

After all, can we even be friends if you don’t dance to ’80s music?

As an experienced wedding DJ, I’ve assembled a list of popular 1980s songs to get people on the dance floor and for romance at your wedding! The list is grouped by genre to match your taste in music.

Trending 1980s Wedding Songs

1. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston
2. “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey
3. “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi
4. “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins
5. “Love Shack” by B-52’s
6. “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC
7. “Come On Eileen” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners
8. “Pour Some Sugar On Me” by Def Leppard
9. “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper
10. “You Make My Dreams (Come True)” by Daryl Hall & John Oates
11. “Summer of ’69” by Bryan Adams
12. “Celebration” by Kool & The Gang
13. “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
14. “Africa” by Toto
15. “(I’ve Had The) Time Of My Life” by Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
16. “Let’s Groove” by Earth, Wind & Fire
17. “It’s Tricky” by Run-DMC
18. “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield
19. “Electric Boogie” by Marcia Griffiths
20. “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley

1980s Wedding Songs by Genre

Pop

1. Walk Like An Egyptian – The Bangles
2. (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life – Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes (last dance song)
3. Hot Hot Hot – Buster Poindexter
4. Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley (party dance song)
5. True Blue – Madonna
6. Kiss – Prince
7. Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves (recessional song)
8. Into the Groove – Madonna
9. Take On Me – a-Ha (party dance song)
10. Thriller – Michael Jackson
11. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Wham!
12. Girls Just Want To Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper (bouquet toss song)
13. Let’s Dance – David Bowie
14. Billie Jean – Michael Jackson (party dance song)
15. Flashdance…What A Feeling – Irene Cara
16. 1999 – Prince
17. You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oates (recessional song)
18. New York, New York – Frank Sinatra
19. My Sharona – The Knack
20. Rock With You – Michael Jackson

Rock

1. Love Shack – The B-52’s (party dance song)
2. Pour Some Sugar On Me – Def Leppard
3. Sweet Child o’ Mine – Guns N Roses (father-daughter dance song)
4. Mony Mony – Billy Idol (party dance song)
5. Need You Tonight – INXS
6. Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi(party dance song)
7. The Lady In Red – Chris De Burgh
8. Take Me Home Tonight – Eddie Money (last dance song)
9. The Power Of Love – Huey Lewis and the News
10. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey (last dance song)
11. Your Love – Outfield (party dance song)
12. You Can Call Me Al – Paul Simon
13. Summer of ’69 – Bryan Adams
14. Dancing In The Dark – Bruce Springsteen
15. I Want To Know What Love Is – Foreigner
16. Footloose – Kenny Loggins (party dance song)
17. Uptown Girl – Billy Joel
18. Total Eclipse Of The Heart – Bonnie Tyler
19. Faithfully – Journey (first dance song)
20. Jump – Van Halen
21. White Wedding – Billy Idol
22. Electric Avenue – Eddy Grant
23. Jack & Diane – John Mellencamp (cocktail hour song)
24. Somebody’s Baby – Jackson Browne
25. Rock This Town – Stray Cats
26. Africa – Toto
27. Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top (groomsmen song)
28. Centerfold – J. Geils Band
29. I Love Rock ‘N Roll – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
30. Under Pressure – Queen & David Bowie
31. Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield (party dance song)
32. 867-5309 / Jenny – Tommy Tutone
33. Back In Black – AC/DC
34. You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC (party dance song)
35. Any Way You Want It – Journey
36. Another One Bites The Dust – Queen
37. Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
38. What I Like About You – The Romantics

R&B

1. Working My Way Back To You – The Spinners
2. Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car – Billy Ocean
3. My Prerogative – Bobby Brown
4. I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston (party dance song)
5. Word Up! – Cameo (party dance song)
6. How Will I Know – Whitney Houston
7. Jump (For My Love) – The Pointer Sisters
8. All Night Long (All Night) – Lionel Richie
9. Sexual Healing – Marvin Gaye
10. Get Down On It – Kool & The Gang (party dance song)
11. Endless Love – Lionel Richie & Diana Ross
12. Super Freak – Rick James
13. Lovely One – The Jacksons
14. Celebration – Kool & The Gang (party dance song)
15. You And Me – Rockie Robbins

Hip Hop

1. Wild Thing – Tone-Loc
2. Bust A Move – Young MC
3. It Takes Two – Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock (party dance song)
4. Fight For Your Right – The Beastie Boys
5. Push It – Salt ‘N Pepa (party dance song)

Country

1. Copperhead Road – Steve Earle (group dance song)
2. Fishin’ In The Dark – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
3. Forever and Ever, Amen – Randy Travis (recessional song)
4. You And I – Eddie Rabbitt & Crystal Gayle (first dance song)
5. Lady – Kenny Rogers

New Wave

1. Everybody Have Fun Tonight – Wang Chung
2. You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) – Dead Or Alive
3. Karma Chameleon – Culture Club
4. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Eurythmics (party dance song)
5. One Thing Leads To Another – The Fixx
6. Come On Eileen – Dexy’s Midnight Runners (party dance song)
7. I Ran (So Far Away) – Flock Of Seagulls
8. The Safety Dance – Men Without Hats
9. I Melt With You – Modern English
10. Call Me – Blondie
11. Come Dancing – The Kinks (sister-brother song)
12. Whip It – Devo

Disco

1. You Dropped A Bomb On Me – The Gap Band
2. Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind & Fire (party dance song)
3. I’m Coming Out – Diana Ross
4. Funkytown – Lipps Inc. (party dance song)

Reggae

1. Electric Boogie – Marcia Griffiths (group dance song)
2. Red Red Wine – UB40 (cocktail hour song)

Have a favorite 1980s wedding song, not on my list?  Please share the song below so I add it!

Why trust Matthew Campbell?

DJ, Author, Music Lover

I have always had a love for music and the way it makes you feel. My passion grew for wedding celebrations with years as a wedding DJ. Now, as a wedding music planner, I research popular and unique wedding songs to create personalized playlists for couples and help wedding pros curate crowd-cheering music. Let’s get the party started! – Read More About Me