The Top Wedding Songs of 2025 — September Update + 2026 Predictions for Charleston, SC

As 2025 enters its final months, couples are choosing romantic, lyric-forward songs for the moments that matter—and high-spirited, familiar hooks once the dance floor opens. 

Shane Griffin Entertainment builds your soundtrack around real Lowcountry timelines: ceremony mics dialed for outdoor vows, handpicked playlists with real mixing, and clean MC hosting so there’s no dead air and no cringe.

What are the top wedding songs of 2025 so far?

Short answer: softer, modern love songs for your spotlight moments; then upbeat, recognizable favorites for a packed floor.

Modern favorites (plug-and-play):

• “Ordinary” – Alex Warren (first dance or private last dance; intimate and current)

• “Die With a Smile” – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (sweeping, cinematic duet)

• “Birds of a Feather” – Billie Eilish(gentle, contemporary slow-up)

• “Good Luck, Babe!” – Chappell Roan(clean edit; joyful and anthemic)

• “Espresso” – Sabrina Carpenter(clean edit; fun request energy)

• “What I Want” – Morgan Wallen & Tate McRae (pop-country crossover for open dance)

Still-crushes in Charleston:“September,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” “Dancing Queen,” “Mr. Brightside,” “Shut Up and Dance,” “Yeah!” (clean), and “Uptown Funk.” These intergenerational sing-alongs open the floor fast.

If you’re searching for the top wedding songs 2025 Charleston SC couples actually love, start with the modern picks above and layer in two or three timeless crowd-pleasers that match your guests.

Explore more: See our Charleston Wedding DJ Packages & Pricing, Browse Photo Booth Rental options, Preview Uplighting & Dance Floor Lighting looks.

Which new songs make great first dances?

Go modern-romantic with clean lyrics and a timeless shape.

• “Ordinary” – Alex Warren (works at album tempo or as a gentle acoustic edit)

• “Die With a Smile” – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (big, heartfelt duet)

• “Yellow” – Coldplay (acoustic) or “Can’t Help Falling in Love” – Kina Grannis (string-friendly, elegant)

• “All of Me” – John Legend and “At Last” – Etta James (forever favorites for classic venues)

We’ll custom-edit your pick—trim a verse, shorten the bridge, and build a graceful outro into your first open-dance track.

What does a wedding DJ do besides play music?

We design the entire audio experience and host with polish.

• Planning + timeline: we map intros, toasts, parent dances, cake, and send-off.

• Mixing + flow: handpicked playlists, real mixing, and cue-to-cue transitions (no dead air).

• Clean MC: names pronounced correctly, zero cringe, family-friendly tone.

• Ceremony sound: separate system, wireless lapel/handheld mics, wind screens for outdoor vows.

• Backup plan: backup gear + backup DJ always ready.

Curious how that looks? Learn about our MC & Hosting and Explore our Ceremony Sound Packages.

What’s the best wedding DJ timeline for a stress-free reception?

Keep it intentional and front-load the “must-dos” while guests are attentive.

Sample Charleston timeline (4.5–5 hours):

1. Cocktails (45–60 min): coastal jazz, indie soul, string covers.

2. Grand entrances (5–10 min): tight, high-energy edits; each party gets a clean cue.

3. First dance + parent dances (10–15 min): captured early while emotions and attention are high.

4. Dinner (45–75 min): vibe-setting playlist at conversational volume; toasts paced between courses.

5. Open dance, set 1 (40–60 min):recognizable hooks to pack the floor quickly.

6. Dessert / late-night bite (15 min):tempo dips for a photo-friendly breather.

7. Open dance, set 2 (45–60 min): your “don’t-leave-the-floor” hits + clean throwbacks.

8. Last dance / private last dance (5 min): a tender closer or a sing-along classic, then send-off.

Noise-window tips for downtown

Downtown Charleston venues often enforce 10–11 p.m. noise windows; we pace toasts and parent dances early so you still get a full, unhurried dance block before the cutoff. For courtyard spaces, we’ll steer bass management and speaker placement to respect neighbors while keeping the energy inside the room.

Do we need ceremony microphones for an outdoor wedding?

Yes—if guests must hear your vows, you need dedicated ceremony audio.Lowcountry breezes, birds, and distant waves can swallow un-amplified voices. We bring lapel and handheld mics, a separate ceremony system, wind screens, and discreet speakers that blend with the setting. Planning outdoor vows? Explore our Ceremony Sound Packages.

How much does a wedding DJ cost in Charleston, SC?

Most couples book a DJ/MC with ceremony audio and basic lighting; add-ons shape the total.Your price depends on date, hours, multiple rooms, battery-powered ceremony rigs, travel, and special effects (cold sparks, dancing on a cloud). See our Charleston Wedding DJ Packages & Pricing for clear options, bundle discounts (DJ + lighting + photo booth), and easy payment plans.

Wedding DJ Charleston SC: what sets us apart?

Packed dance floor. Clean MC. Zero cringe. Shane Griffin Entertainment stands out for client-first planning, real-time reading of the room, and clean, family-friendly emceeing. We coordinate with your planner and venue, run tight introductions, and keep the energy balanced—never shouty, never cheesy.

Why couples book us:

• Handpicked playlists + real mixing(not a static list).

• Backup gear + backup DJ—redundancy from the first song to the last.

• Fully insured; venue COIs on request.

• Discreet, photo-friendly setups and lighting that looks great on camera.

• Transparent packages, simple contracts, and easy payment plans.

Explore more: See our Charleston Wedding DJ Packages & Pricing, Preview Uplighting & Dance Floor Lighting, Learn about MC & Hosting, Book a Photo Booth, Corporate & Private Events DJ.

Where couples celebrate around Charleston (venue-savvy notes)

Short answer: each neighborhood has its own acoustics, load-ins, and noise rules—plan sound accordingly.

• Downtown Charleston: Lowndes Grove, The Cedar Room, The Gadsden House, William Aiken House, Historic Rice Mill. Historic bones = lively rooms; we use discreet speakers and careful mic gain for toasts.

• Mount Pleasant: Boone Hall, The Creek Club at I’On, Alhambra Hall, Harborside East, Patriots Point (USS Yorktown). Waterfront breezes call for wind-screened mics and separate cocktail-hour coverage.

• West Ashley: Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Middleton Place, Legare Waring House (Charles Towne Landing). Ceremony system stays independent so vows carry under the oaks.

• Johns Island: The Island House. Long lawn runs? We plan power/battery and tidy cable paths.

• Daniel Island: Daniel Island Club.Polished, country-club flow with crisp intros and dance-floor lighting that photographs beautifully.

• Isle of Palms: Wild Dunes Resort.Beach setups need salt-air-safe cabling and wind-tested lapels.

• Folly Beach: Tides Folly Beach. Sunset flips fast; we lift energy right after golden hour.

• Kiawah Island: The Sanctuary, Ocean Course Clubhouse. Resort logistics (carts, load-ins) and strict cutoffs—timeline precision matters.

• Seabrook Island: Seabrook Island Club (Ocean Terrace). Directional mics keep surf ambience from washing out vows.

• Summerville: Pine Forest Country Club + historic garden venues. Softer cocktail sets, then cross-gen dance waves.

• North Charleston: Admiral’s House & Eternal Father of the Sea Chapel (Navy Yard). Stately rooms reward warm, articulate MC pacing.

Wherever you celebrate—courtyard, ballroom, beach, or marsh—Shane Griffin Entertainment adapts the plan so sound is clear, the timeline flows, and the dance floor stays magnetic.

What’s trending this fall—and what do we predict for 2026?

Fall 2025: lyric-forward ballads for key moments, then nostalgia + global pop to fill the floor. Think a slow, modern first dance (“Ordinary,” “Die With a Smile”) followed by waves of familiar sing-alongs and a few international hits (clean edits) to refresh the mix.

Our 2026 DJ forecasts:

• First dances: more “artist wedding versions,” acoustic edits, and tasteful country-pop crossovers alongside classics.

• Dance-floor peaks: curated throwback sets from late-2000s/early-2010s, plus global flavors (Afrobeats, dancehall, Amapiano) that test well with mixed-age crowds.

• Smart sound design: more battery-powered ceremony rigs for remote lawns, tighter noise-window compliance, and custom song editsas standard.

• Requests strategy: keep it clean, protect your vibe—guest requests filtered through your must-play and do-not-play guardrails.

Want a 2026-ready playlist mapped to your crowd? Schedule a free consultation.

How do we build a do-not-play list without killing the vibe?

Set guardrails, not handcuffs. Share three buckets—must-plays, avoid, and only if requested—and we’ll suggest smart substitutes that keep the feeling you like without the specific song you don’t. Skip “Sweet Caroline”? Try “September” or “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” for the same sing-along lift.

Last-Dance Ideas That Photograph Well

• “Ordinary” (Alex Warren) — candlelit private last dance.

• “Don’t Stop Me Now” (Queen) — confetti exit, high-energy.

• “Your Song” (Elton John) — classic arms-around sing-along.

• “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” (Whitney Houston) — lights up, full-crowd finale.

• “Die With a Smile” (Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars) — modern, tender close.

Quick song lists you can actually use

Grand Entrance / Energy Boost:

• “24K Magic” • “Crazy in Love” • “Levitating” • “Shut Up and Dance” • “Yeah!” (clean)

Open-Dance Starters (cross-gen):

• “I Want You Back” • “Uptown Funk” • “Dancing Queen” • “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” • “Mr. Brightside”

Clean 2025 Adds (sprinkle where they fit):

• “Birds of a Feather” • “Good Luck, Babe!” • “What I Want” • “Espresso”

📞 Get a free wedding DJ consultation. Call (843) 810-4192 or schedule online. Charleston Events DJ

★★★★★ “Shane was so great!! He definitely knew the vibe and played for it. Loved the communication and the walk through. Definitely made us feel secure. Thanks Shane!!!.” — Casey Jones, Charleston

Why Choose Us

• Professional DJs & MCs with hundreds of weddings

• Trusted by top venues in Charleston + nearby towns

• Fully insured; venue COIs on request

• Backup gear + backup DJ

• Clean, family-friendly emceeing

• Transparent packages + easy payment plans

• Dozens of ★★★★★ local Google reviews

Bundle & save: DJ + Photo Booth + Uplighting. Ask about off-peak/weekday incentives, service-member/teacher pricing, and venue-partner rates.

Explore more: See our Charleston Wedding DJ Packages & Pricing • Ceremony Audio • Uplighting & Dance Floor Lighting • Photo Booth Rental • MC & Hosting • Corporate & Private Events DJ

FAQ

How far in advance should we book?

Most dates go 9–12 months out; peak Saturdays go faster.

What’s included in your DJ packages?

Pro DJ/MC, planning calls, timeline coordination, setup/teardown; add ceremony audio if needed.

Do you take requests and honor a do-not-play list?

Yes—must-plays welcome; we filter requests to protect your vibe.

Do you provide ceremony microphones/speakers outdoors?

Yes—lapel/handheld options, wind screens, and a separate sound system.

Do you offer payment plans? What’s the deposit?

Yes—secure your date with a retainer; pay balance in installments.

How long is setup and soundcheck at Charleston venues?

Typically 60–90 minutes; more with multiple rooms or tricky load-ins.

Our Service Area

We proudly serve Charleston, SC and the Lowcountry—including Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Summerville, James Island, Johns Island, West Ashley, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, Daniel Island, and surrounding communities.

👉 Call (843) 810-4192 or 📅 schedule your consultation online today. Trusted by couples across Charleston and beyond—Shane Griffin Entertainment is ready to plan your soundtrack. Ask about bundle discounts and easy payment plans. Charleston Events DJ

Shane Griffin Entertainment — Charleston, SC • (843) 810-4192

Packed dance floor. Clean MC. Zero cringe.