When it comes to favorite country wedding songs, Reese has two: “Forever & Ever Amen” by Randy Travis and “This is Us” by Mark Knopfler & Emmy Lou Harris. We added those to our list of best country wedding songs put together by Lauren Black, the editor at fabulous country music site Sounds Like Nashville and our go-to gal for Southern music.
Take a listen and read on to hear what Lauren has to say about this best country wedding songs playlist. (Oh, and if you’re wondering, why we’re talking so much about weddings around here, it’s because our Draper James wedding collection is launching later this month!)
Lauren Black’s List of The Best Country Wedding Songs (the last two are Reese’s Picks!)
1. “Die a Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett
2. “From the Ground Up” – Dan + Shay
3. “Then” – Brad Paisley
4. “Making Memories of Us” – Keith Urban
5. “Head Over Boots” – Jon Pardi
6. “When You Got a Good Thing” – Lady Antebellum
7. “Bless the Broken Road” – Rascal Flatts
8. “I Cross My Heart” – George Strait
9. “It’s Your Love” – Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
10. “I Don’t Dance” – Lee Brice
11. “Forever & Ever Amen” – Randy Travis
12. “This Is Us” – Mark Knopfler & Emmy Lou Harris
From Lauren Black, Editor of Sounds Like Nashville:
When I think of the term, “Southern wedding,” the first word that comes to my mind is rustic—pastel florals with a mix of wood and metal décor, to to mention the requisite mason jars! And of course, Southern cuisine. Forget the fancy food; I love to see biscuits, fried chicken, and mac & cheese on the menu! Country music also plays a big part in the festivities, including the iconic first dance, father/daughter dance, and mother/son dance.
All weddings are special, but there is something about a Southern wedding that feels particularly inviting. A wedding is supposed to be a big party where everyone feels welcome and at home, and I think Southern weddings do just that.
This country wedding songs playlist is the perfect backdrop to any Southern wedding. One of my favorite things about it is that it features a variety of country artists, both legendary and new. For the traditional bride, you’ve got George Strait and Tim McGraw with Faith Hill, and for the newer country fan, there are artists such as Thomas Rhett, Jon Pardi, and Dan + Shay. There’s really something for everyone here.
As for the songs, I think these are some of the format’s most iconic love songs. How can any bride resist sweet lyrics like Keith Urban’s “Making Memories of Us” (“And I’m gonna love you like nobody loves you/ And I’ll earn your trust making memories of us…”) or Brad Paisley’s “Then” (“And now you’re my whole life/ Now you’re my whole world/ I just can’t believe the way I feel about you, girl”)? My heart just melts every time I hear these songs!
Something else fun to point out is Jon Pardi’s “Head Over Boots.” It stands out among these songs because it’s not your traditional love song, but it’s so much fun and has become a favorite of brides over the past year.
And finally (and at the risk of sounding cheesy!), if I have to pick my own personal favorite from this list, I am going to say that my favorite Southern wedding song is “When You Got a Good Thing” by Lady Antebellum. It was actually my first dance song at my own wedding, and I think it’s one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. It was not a radio single, so it’s not well-known to country fans, but it deserves to be heard. The lyrics and the vocals are perfection.
