Bouquet Toss, Garter & Anniversary Dance Songs

The right songs for the bouquet toss, the garter toss and the anniversary dance are short, upbeat and a little playful — these are the reception's lighthearted moments, and the music tells guests to gather, cheer and laugh. This guide gives you song ideas for each tradition, plus the shoe game and the money dance, explains how each one usually works, and offers tasteful alternatives for couples who would rather skip the garter. Use what feels like you, leave out what doesn't, and let your MC handle the timing.

Bouquet toss songs

A bouquet toss song needs a quick, fun build: the MC invites guests to the floor, the music plays while everyone gathers, and the toss lands on the chorus. Songs that make the moment:

• Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) — Beyoncé: the modern classic for this moment, with a beat that gets the crowd moving into position.
• Girls Just Want to Have Fun — Cyndi Lauper: bright, nostalgic and loved across generations.
• Wannabe — Spice Girls: a playful burst of energy that makes friends drag each other onto the floor.
• I'm Every Woman — Whitney Houston: a powerful, joyful build that makes the toss feel like a celebration.
• Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend — Marilyn Monroe: a vintage, glamorous pick for an elegant reception.
• Catch My Breath — Kelly Clarkson: a title that makes guests laugh as the bouquet flies.
• Material Girl — Madonna: an eighties favorite with a cheeky, retro feel.
• Flowers — Miley Cyrus: a modern, tongue-in-cheek nod to the bouquet itself.

Many couples now invite "everyone who wants to catch it" rather than calling only single women to the floor, which keeps the moment inclusive and avoids putting anyone on the spot.

Garter toss songs — and tasteful alternatives

Garter toss songs are usually tongue-in-cheek: dramatic, suspenseful or a little silly, so the moment reads as fun rather than awkward. If you keep this tradition, these work well:

• Another One Bites the Dust — Queen: the classic garter song, with a bass line made for suspense.
• Bad to the Bone — George Thorogood & The Destroyers: a swaggering guitar riff for the groom's big moment.
• The Pink Panther Theme — Henry Mancini: sneaky, comic and completely family-friendly.
• Mission: Impossible — Lalo Schifrin: the TV theme that turns the search for the garter into a spy movie.
• U Can't Touch This — MC Hammer: a playful wink that gets the whole room laughing.
• Eye of the Tiger — Survivor: for the toss itself, as the groomsmen square up.

Tasteful alternatives to the garter toss

Plenty of couples skip the garter entirely, especially with grandparents, children or more traditional relatives in the room. Popular alternatives:

• Skip the removal, keep the toss. The garter is removed privately beforehand, and the groom simply tosses it.
• Toss something else. A football, a mini bottle of champagne or a stuffed animal tied to the couple's story.
• A bouquet-only moment. Keep the bouquet toss and let the garter go.
• Replace both with the anniversary dance. It honors every married couple in the room and ends with a sweet moment instead of a scramble.
• A sparkling send-off instead. A burst of cold sparks around the couple's last dance gives guests the photo moment without any toss at all.

The anniversary dance: how it works and what to play

The anniversary dance at a wedding invites every married couple onto the floor and gradually narrows the group until only the longest-married couple is left dancing. It is one of the most heartwarming moments of a reception and a lovely way to honor parents and grandparents.

Here is how it usually runs. The MC invites all married couples to the floor as a slow song begins. After a minute, the MC asks couples married less than a year to sit down, then less than five years, then ten, twenty-five, forty — and the room cheers each time. When one couple remains, the MC asks how long they have been married, guests applaud, and many couples hand that pair their bouquet or ask them for one piece of marriage advice. Anniversary dance songs for a wedding reception:

• At Last — Etta James: timeless, slow and made for couples who have danced together for decades.
• The Way You Look Tonight — Frank Sinatra: an elegant standard that every generation can sway to.
• Can't Help Falling in Love — Elvis Presley: gentle and familiar, perfect as the floor slowly clears.
• Wonderful Tonight — Eric Clapton: a tender classic for long-married couples.
• You're Still the One — Shania Twain: a song about love that lasted, which is the whole point of this dance.
• Grow Old With You — Adam Sandler: sweet, simple and a little funny, a crowd favorite.
• Endless Love — Diana Ross and Lionel Richie: a big romantic duet for the final couples standing.
• Let's Stay Together — Al Green: smooth soul that keeps the moment warm rather than weepy.
• Stand by Me — Ben E. King: steady and heartfelt, ideal for a longer dance.

The shoe game and other reception games

The shoe game is a quick, funny reception game where the couple sits back to back, each holding one of their own shoes and one of their partner's, and raises the shoe of whoever best fits the answer to the MC's questions. Who is the better cook? Who said "I love you" first? Who takes longer to get ready? Eight to ten questions — about five minutes — is plenty. Light background music while the questions are asked:

• I Got You Babe — Sonny & Cher: a playful duet for a couple's game.
• You're the One That I Want — John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John: upbeat and instantly recognizable.
• Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) — Stevie Wonder: a joyful cue to start or wrap up the game.
• Jackson — Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash: a back-and-forth duet that matches the game's spirit.

Other reception games that work: a couples' trivia round run by the MC, a family-versus-family dance-off, or a photo slideshow on an LED screen with guests guessing the year. Keep each game short; the dance floor is still the main event. Our MC service page explains how a host runs these moments.

Money dance songs

The money dance is a wedding tradition in many cultures — Mexican, Filipino, Polish, Greek and Nigerian families among them — where guests pin money on the couple, shower them with bills or pay for a turn to dance with the bride or groom, as a wish for prosperity. Customs vary widely, so follow your family's version. Songs that suit it:

• For the Love of Money — The O'Jays: a funky, knowing wink that gets guests laughing.
• Money, Money, Money — ABBA: playful and theatrical for a lighthearted version.
• Make You Feel My Love — Adele: a slow, tender choice when the dance is more sentimental than silly.

Many families prefer music from their own heritage for this moment — a favorite song from the couple's culture often means more than any hit. Tell your DJ in advance so the right track is ready.

Which traditions to keep (and which to skip)

Keep the traditions that feel like you, and skip anything that would make either of you — or your guests — uncomfortable. A few questions help couples decide:

• Does it reflect your personalities? A playful couple will love the shoe game; a private couple may prefer the anniversary dance.
• Who is in the room? With many grandparents or young children present, the bouquet toss and anniversary dance usually land better than the garter.
• Is there time? Each tradition takes five to ten minutes. Two well-run moments are better than four rushed ones.
• Does your culture already have its own version? Many families replace Western traditions with their own dances and rituals.

Most couples schedule these moments after the first long dance set, when guests are warmed up but still energetic, and let the DJ return straight to dancing afterwards. For more ideas on the bigger reception moments, see our guide to bridal party entrance songs and ideas.

Bouquet, Garter and Anniversary Dance FAQ

What is the anniversary dance at a wedding?

The anniversary dance invites every married couple to the dance floor. The MC gradually asks couples married for shorter times to sit down until only the longest-married couple remains, who are celebrated by the room and often receive the bouquet or share a piece of marriage advice.

Do couples still do the garter toss?

Some do, but many couples now skip it or choose a tasteful version — removing the garter privately, tossing something else, or replacing it with the anniversary dance. It is entirely a personal choice.

When does the bouquet toss happen?

Usually mid-reception, after the first long dance set and often before the cake cutting, when guests are already on the dance floor. Your MC will gather everyone and cue the song.

What is a good song for the bouquet toss?

Upbeat, recognizable songs with a quick build work best, such as Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Wannabe or I'm Every Woman.

What is the money dance?

The money dance is a tradition in many cultures where guests pin money on the couple, shower them with bills or pay for a dance with the bride or groom, as a wish for prosperity. Each family's version is a little different.

How long does the shoe game take?

About five minutes with eight to ten questions. Keep the questions lighthearted and family-friendly, and end on a sweet one, such as who fell in love first.

The playful moments are often the ones guests remember most fondly, as long as they are short, well timed and true to you. See our wedding DJ services, compare wedding packages, or book a free consultation to plan your reception.