Grand entrance songs that bring the room to its feet.
Pick a song with a hook in the first few seconds. I cue your names right on it.
Key takeaways
- Pick a hook that lands in the first few seconds, or let me cue past a long intro.
- Plan 30 to 60 seconds for the couple, then a clear spot to walk to.
- Get the room standing before the music starts. That is half the entrance.
On this page
How I cue the entrance
After eight years of DJing and doing the announcements in one flow, I know the song is half of it. The other half is how I get the room ready.
- Get the room up first
I ask everyone to stand a beat before the song starts. The doors open into a cheering room.
- Land your names on the hook
I time your names to the drop, so the cheer and the beat arrive together.
- Start at the best part
Most entrance songs have an intro you do not want to walk through. I start at the hook.
- Give you a destination
Head table, dance floor or straight into your first dance. No where do we go pause.
- Set the wedding party order
Order, pairs and wording are agreed in advance. It builds toward you as the finale.
- Land the ending
I ride it for 30 to 60 seconds, then cut or fade on a planned cue.
Songs by entrance style
These are hooks I know guests recognize. Your own pick can sit outside this list.
Big hype
| Song | Artist | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| All I Do Is Win | DJ Khaled | The horns hit as the whole wedding party walks in. Hands go up. |
| Lose Yourself | Eminem | I cue the drop after the piano riff for a forceful walk in. |
| Power | Kanye West | The chant intro gives a bold, cinematic entrance. |
| Sandstorm | Darude | The build and the drop are playful. Good for a lighter wedding party. |
| Crazy in Love | Beyoncé | I start the horns before the vocals for a confident entrance. |
| Levels | Avicii | A big build and a bigger lift. Good when you want arena energy. |
| Can't Hold Us | Macklemore and Ryan Lewis | A fast build into a loud chorus. Good for a high-energy wedding party. |
My take. Start at the drop, not the top. Nobody wants to walk in through 30 seconds of intro.
Warm and classy
| Song | Artist | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Feeling Good | Michael Bublé | I let the slow brass swell run. Grown up, without club volume. |
| Marry You | Bruno Mars | An upbeat wedding theme. Guests clap and sing along. |
My take. Grown up songs work best when dinner comes next, not the dance floor.
Fun
| Song | Artist | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| I Gotta Feeling | The Black Eyed Peas | I cue the hook so guests can sing along. |
| Shut Up and Dance | Walk the Moon | A fast chorus for a younger crowd heading straight to the floor. |
| Uptown Funk | Mark Ronson | The horns and the first-bar groove give your walk a strut. |
| Can't Stop the Feeling! | Justin Timberlake | A bright entrance that carries straight into the party. |
| Good as Hell | Lizzo | A confident, clap-along beat for a wedding party that wants to strut. |
My take. Pick the hook your guests can sing.
Latin
| Song | Artist | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Vivir Mi Vida | Marc Anthony | I cue the celebration chorus so guests join in with raised hands. |
| La Vida Es un Carnaval | Celia Cruz | The salsa brass gives even seated guests a clapping beat. |
| Danza Kuduro | Don Omar | A fast beat. Good when the entrance leads straight into dancing. |
| Mi Gente | J Balvin and Willy William | A bouncy reggaeton hook that gets people moving. |
My take. These have a beat everyone can clap to, even people who never dance.
Classics your parents will ask for
These still work, and I can play any of them. Use one when your crowd is mixed in age.
| Song | Artist | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) | Stevie Wonder | The joyful hook works across generations as the doors open. |
| September | Earth, Wind & Fire | The ba-dee-ya hook gets guests clapping, so I cue it there. |
| This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) | Natalie Cole | Bright Motown soul that older guests love. |
| Don't Stop Me Now | Queen | A fast tempo for a spirited couple. It lifts the room. |
My take. Older guests clap to these first. One can warm up the room before the louder picks.
Entrance timing
These times are a guide. We set the exact order, names and cues on our planning call.
- Before the music
I gather the room and ask everyone to stand.
- 0:00 to 0:45, the wedding party
The song starts on its hook. I introduce the party pair by pair, and raise the volume for each cheer.
- 0:45 to 1:15, the couple
Your names land at the song's peak as you walk in. The room cheers and the phones come out.
- 1:15 to 1:30, the handoff
I guide you to your destination and cut or fade into the head table, a toast or your first dance.
Tell me if you want the explicit version or a radio edit, especially if kids or grandparents will be listening. I also check the door swing and the walk length at the venue, and adjust my mic timing.
Choosing for your crowd
Think about your guests' ages and which hooks they know. A personal favourite can get a quiet response if few guests know it.
I match the entrance to what follows. Hype leads into dancing. A calmer song leads into dinner or toasts.
What couples say
Sean had the dance floor moving all night, and family kept asking how we found our DJ. Hit after hit, I would recommend him to everyone.
Sean did an amazing job, engaged all our guests with oldies and newer music
Grand entrance songs FAQ
The song
How long should a grand entrance song play?
I usually play 30 to 60 seconds for the couple, then move to the head table or first dance. For the wedding party, I can raise the volume for each pair or prepare 10 to 15 second snippets. A full three minute track leaves people standing around, so I cut to the hook and end on a cue.
What makes a good entrance song versus a first dance song?
I look for a hook in the first few seconds and a beat guests can clap to as you walk. A first dance is slower and focused on the two of you. If your entrance song has a long intro, I cue straight to the drop so the energy arrives at the doorway.
Can we use a song with a slow intro if it means a lot to us?
I usually edit out the slow opening and start at the energy. If you want the build, I time the walk so you appear just when the lift hits. That keeps a long opening from draining the room before you even walk in the door.
Can you play a Latin song for the entrance?
Yes. Salsa and reggaeton tracks like Vivir Mi Vida and Danza Kuduro give guests a strong beat to clap to. I prepare the right version, cue its hook and read the room, so the entrance connects straight to the party that follows.
The cue
Should the wedding party and the couple use the same song?
I can use one song throughout, raising the volume for each pair and saving the peak for you. Separate songs give the party a fun entrance and you a bigger musical moment. Send me the list early so I can prepare and order each cut before the day.
How do you cue the entrance so it does not fall flat?
I get everyone's attention and ask guests to stand before the music starts. I announce your names on the hook, then point you to the head table, dance floor or first dance. On our planning call, we rehearse the order and the wording so the announcement and the music arrive together.
How do you keep the announcement from stepping on the drop?
I cue the track at the beat with the most impact, then count through my announcement so the last syllable of your names lands on that downbeat. I practise the count until it is smooth, so the words finish just as the drop arrives and the room cheers on time.
Keep reading
Send me your entrance song picks.
I can map your chosen hooks to the introduction order before our call. Include the version you want and where you plan to walk after entering.