You’re getting married, you’ve planned everything, well almost everything…Have you thought about the music that will be the soundtrack to your wedding day?
Here’s my top 10 alternative wedding songs if you are looking for something a little more rock and roll to play during your first dance as husband and wife.

White Lies - To Lose My Life

“Let’s grow old together, and die at the same.”
How beautiful is this line? It sums up everything that true love is about.
I get goosebumps every time I hear this. It’s a gloriously perfect dark pop song.

The Cure – The Love Cats

I could have chosen many songs from the Cure, ‘Friday I’m In Love’ (if you’re getting married on a Friday), ‘Love Song’ (Which Robert Smith wrote as his wedding gift for his wife.) but I went for ‘The Love Cats’ purely because I have never heard it played as a first dance song at a wedding and I think it would make a great up beat alternative to a slow dance.
It is also one of Ollie, my 5 year old son's favourite songs, and it was the first 12” record I bought him.

Jefferson Airplane – Somebody To Love

Another song that gives me goose bumps whenever I hear it, this is one of my favourite songs of all time. In fact, Jefferson Airplane make my “best songs of all time” list twice as I absolutely love “White Rabbit” as well.

Tiger Army - Santa Carla Twilight

This goth infused psychobilly gem is a love song about vampires set in “the murder capital of the world” what’s not to like about that?
If you’re a Lost Boys fan you need this played at your wedding!

Wonk Unit – I Love My Nagging Wife

I’m honoured that I can count these guys as friends. If you feel weddings can get a little solemn, give this this tongue in cheek punk rock sing-a-long a spin and watch everyone’s faces brighten up at the light-hearted lyrics.

The only ones – Another Girl Another Planet

Here’s one for the original punks. This song and the compilation album I first heard it on (Sound of the Suburbs) got me through my college years. Ok so it might actually be about heroin addiction, but no one will be listening to the lyrics that closely.

Billy Idol – White Wedding

Because its Billy fucking Idol!
You cannot say you are planning an alt wedding and not play this song. It was regarded as cheesy for many years but I’m bringing it back and I’m not ashamed to say I love it. Play this straight after your first dance and it’s guaranteed to get EVERYBODY on the dance floor. 

Sick Of It All – Sanctuary

Fancy something a bit heavier that still carries that loving feeling?
Maybe instead of a slow dance you fancy a circle pit, or lining up the in-laws on each side of the room and kicking off the evening celebrations with a “wall of Death”?
I’m a big a fan of this band, my first tattoo was the Sick Of It All ‘Alleyway Dragon’ logo.

Johnny Cash – I Walk The Line

Another artist that has so many songs you could choose for a wedding.
I have chosen ‘I walk the line’ because it is the song Dawn and I played during our recessional (The bit where you walk back down the aisle after you are married.) It’s a song about staying faithful to the one you love, and I also have the lyrics tattooed along my arm.

Tom Waits – Little Trip To Heaven

Probably the most conventional song on the list, but from the least conventional artist.
This song, and the whole of ‘Closing Time’ the album it comes from evokes that 3am feeling. It’s just the 2 of you, dancing alone in the club while the caretaker sweeps up around you.
And those lyrics! Just listen to them and tell me it’s not like Tom has written them personally for how you feel about the one you love?

And finally, I know I said it was a top 10 but here is the song Dawn and I had as our first dance.

Satellite Party – Awesome

Because Dawn is AWESOME!
 

Thanks for reading, you please feel free to leave any suggestions for more alternative wedding related songs in the comments below.
A playlist of these songs can be found on my Spotify here.



If you are getting married and you like any of the songs on this list, I know we get along so please check out the rest of site and give me shout if you want to chat about your wedding photography.