5 Yacht Rock Songs That Belong On Every Wedding Playlist

Weddings often require a ludicrous amount of planning, and one contentious item on that list is putting together the perfect playlist to celebrate the occasion. Fear not, for we have turned to the ideal genre for weddings, yacht rock, with its mellow, uplifting sound. Yacht rock can effortlessly create a breezy atmosphere that'll encourage people to socialize with one another, and abounds with songs full of lyrics about love and devotion, while still being perfectly capable of getting feet moving on the dance floor.

The yacht rock songs we've chosen are perfectly suited for the entire day of nuptials, from relaxing, stress-reducing tunes before the ceremony begins to uplifting, celebratory numbers during cocktail hour after the couple swaps vows. And, of course, instantly recognizable hits that will rouse guests from their seats at the reception. From Christopher Cross to Toto, these are the yacht rock songs that shouldn't be left off any wedding day playlist.

Some of the best wedding songs not only have a laid-back feel, but are also dripping with romantic lines, which makes Ambrosia's "Biggest Part of Me" ideal to play on a day of matrimony. Written and sung by David Pack, "Biggest Part of Me" is about life never being the same after meeting the right partner.

Such a message is perfect to communicate on a day of love, with Pack singing, "There's a new sun arisin' (In your eyes) I can see a new horizon / (Realize) That will keep me realizin' / You're the biggest part of me." Musically, each instrument floats along gently, soothing a jittery bride and groom before vows are exchanged or letting guests calmly chat and mingle during cocktail hour. But overall, it's ideal to have a song on a wedding-day playlist that'll keep the feeling of romance and devotion in the air, and Ambrosia's 1980 gem — one of the best yacht rock hits of the '80s — will accomplish that wonderfully.

When listening to the mature, smooth, elegant sound of Bobby Caldwell's "What You Won't Do for Love," you can almost visualize people dressed in formalwear and enjoying their drinks right before the reception starts. The concept of the song, about a person searching high and low for love, also matches the day's theme of finding that special someone.

The soulful-sounding tune, released in 1978, starts with those memorable horns right before Caldwell's vocals drift in, and by the time the first chorus hits, you're already enveloped in the song's lushness. But the Miami-raised singer didn't spend weeks or even months putting the cut together; he did it in practically no time at all.

"Wrote it in a day, cut the rhythm track, overdubbed the horns, I sang the song, and literally turned it in three days after," Caldwell told Wax Poetics. "And lo and behold, the one song I gave the least thought to ended up being a national anthem." Caldwell probably didn't intend for it to be an excellent song for a wedding day playlist either, but he pulled that off, too.

There are a good number of Hall & Oates songs — ignoring "Maneater" — that belong on a yacht rock wedding playlist, from "One on One" to "You Make My Dreams, but the one that'll fit best is "Kiss on My List," as it serves a few purposes. Its easygoing feel will set a relaxed mood for those feeling the pressure of the big day, yet it's also danceable if played at the reception. Although it's not a traditional, lyrically sweet love tune, "Kiss on My List" will still add to a feeling of wedding-day bliss.

The song was supposed to belong to its co-writer, Janna Allen, the sister of Daryl Hall's girlfriend, Sara Allen, since Janna wanted to become a singer. But Hall & Oates chose to keep it, and it spent three weeks at the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of the duo's six No.1 singles. 

Although Christopher Cross' 1980 hit "Sailing" is about the peaceful, restorative feeling that an artist gets when creating, most listeners share a mental image of gliding across the high seas in a boat. Either way, the song widens wedding-day smiles and is a popular choice, often played by bands during the reception. From the rich-sounding strings that open the song to its melodic synths, "Sailing" is an eminently happy-sounding tune that lifts spirits and warms hearts.

As for Cross, he knew right off the bat that he had a top-notch song on his hands, even if it took him years to complete it, something that he revealed to Songfacts. "So I got up and wandered around the apartment just thinking, 'Wow, that's pretty f****** great.' I just thought, 'That's really cool,'" Cross said when he came up with the chorus. "So then I sat down and had to try to come up with other stuff to make the rest of the song, but I thought I had something there." 

Even though Toto's David Paich pretty much wrote "Africa" as an ode to the continent, the cut still fits seamlessly into any wedding-day playlist, as its toe-tapping, warm sounds keep the good times rolling. The timeless, iconic song is as well-suited to spontaneous sing-alongs as it is to grooving on the dance floor, or even inspiring wedding-day flash mobs to take over the reception. Either way, you can't blame guests for losing themselves when it comes on, as the tune's famous opening synth riff is guaranteed to lift people out of their seats.

From those who first listened to "Africa" when it was released in 1982 to younger folk who'll recognize it from "Stranger Things" and "Love Island," Toto's only No. 1 hit has universal appeal. So, if you're getting married and looking for a song that'll please all of your guests, look no further than "Africa." You won't be sorry.