Top 10 Wedding Dance Floor Opener Songs
- DJ Mico Migliarese
- Sep 19, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 2
Dinner was delicious, speeches were short, real, and sweet, and now it's time to open up the dance floor.
The goal is to unite as many people as possible, so it’s especially important that the first few tracks are classics that everyone knows and loves. Even the adamant non-dancers will come up for the first few, to show their love for the newlyweds.
After DJing weddings for over 14 years across Calgary, Alberta, BC, and even Melbourne, Australia, I’ve learned there are a few songs that are absolutely guaranteed to work.
I have no stress before I hit that play button, because I already know people will be hitting the dance floor.
In these crucial first moments, I only play the tried and true. No surprises, no remixes — just pure gold.
These are my top 10 wedding dance floor openers:
Joyful, funky, and instantly recognizable with that high-energy horn intro. Guests of all ages rush to the floor when they hear it. It’s PG and family-friendly — a perfect way to start the night off.
This really gets the people going. There’s usually at least one guest ready to bust out the Rasputin dance move they’ve been practicing their whole life. Before you know it, they’re in the middle of a dance circle with everyone clapping along.
The Majestic version is also great, I play them interchangeably.
Pure happiness in song form. From the first piano riff, people are smiling, clapping, and pulling each other onto the floor. Our parents generation will remember this when it came out, and lots of millenials will know and love this song because it was popularized by the movie Step Brothers. Great movie, great song.
ABBA is pure wedding gold. People belt out the lyrics in unison without fail. Honestly, you’re uncool if you don’t join everyone on the dance floor for this one.
I use cue points to skip to the most energetic parts and speed up that long interlude near the end. Sometimes I’ll even play it again later — nobody has ever complained.
Yes, it’s obvious — and yes, it works. Every single time. If you’ve got a mixed-age crowd, this is the safest way to guarantee a packed floor right from the start.
Sometimes the goal isn’t just to get people dancing — it’s to get them singing. This one has “group karaoke” energy written all over it. Since it’s fast-paced (over 130 BPM), I often save it for later in the night when energy is high.
A funky 70s gem that had a huge revival thanks to Guardians of the Galaxy. Slower than most tracks on this list, but the hook is irresistible and the singalong potential is huge. It brings people together and sets a feel-good tone before ramping things up.
Fuego. Instant energy. This Latin anthem is one of the most surefire ways to hype everyone up. The rhythm is universal, and it signals that it’s party time.
A rock ’n’ roll throwback that still slaps. Older guests especially love it — and younger ones often join in too.
Note: this one is not as universally guaranteed as the others, but for some crowds it’s an absolute home run. And if the response is lukewarm? No problem — I already have plan B loaded up and ready to go. A quick transition and it's gone like the wind. People won't even know what happened.
If people do go ham, I know I the next track could be Blue Suede Shoes, Don't be Cruel, or the following song on this list...
Instantly recognizable and timeless, this one is a certified banger — not only for the boomers and grandparents, but quite often for the whole fam.
Who don't love a good twist, am I right?
More Than Just the Songs
It’s not just about what song you pick — it’s when and how you drop it.
A great DJ reads the room and knows when guests are ready to explode onto the floor. Sometimes that means playing a safe classic (Dancing Queen), sometimes surprising them (Jailhouse Rock), and sometimes holding back with a slower track (Come and Get Your Love) until everyone’s back from photos, cake, or the bar.
The people always make the party, but it takes a good DJ to feed their energy — cueing songs at the right time, keeping the sound balanced, and working seamlessly with the planner, venue staff, and the couple.
Closing Thoughts
These 10 songs have proven themselves across hundreds of weddings, but the “perfect” opener will always depend on your guests, your vibe, and the flow of your day. That’s why I never lock myself into a rigid playlist — flexibility is everything.
If you want more ideas, check out the full playlist on Spotify here.
And if you’re planning a wedding in Calgary, Canmore, Banff, or anywhere in Alberta, check out our DJ packages — we’d love to help you craft a night where the dance floor never stops.
