Big Ray and The Kool Kats, from Charlottesville Virginia, has been playing live music together for many years. As a live music band, we can play a large selection of songs (from ceremony to the end of the night) and are always happy to discuss playing any song you feel appropriate for your occasion, so just ask!
Couples hire Big Ray and the Kool Kats to do multiple events in their lives because they know they provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience at every event they do.
Every list here is a starting point rather than a fixed set — just ask if there is something you would like to hear. Not sure how much music your day needs? Read our guide to how many wedding songs you need, or watch the band play live.
Pieces for the processional, the recessional and the moments in between.
Canon in D – Pachelbel
Romance from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik – Mozart
Hymne – Vangelis
Bridal March – Richard Wagner
Autumn: Four Seasons – Vivaldi
Amazing Grace – John Newton
Simple Gifts – Elder Joseph Brackett
You Are the Reason – Calum Scott
Aria – Vivaldi
La Vie En Rose – Edith Piaf
Wedding March – Felix Mendelssohn
Vivace – Ferdinando Carulli
Trumpet Voluntary – Jeremiah Clarke
Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
Ode to Joy – Beethoven
Jesu, Joy of Man’ Desiring – Bach
Ave Maria – Frank Schubert
Gift of Love – Hal Hopson
Gabriel’s Oboe – Ennio Morricone
Motown and soul for the dance floor. For more ideas, see our guide to Motown songs for weddings.
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye
My Girl – The Temptations
Soul Man – Sam & Dave
Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett
Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide – Martha & the Vandellas
Ain’t Too Proud to Beg – The Temptations
I Want You Back – Jackson 5
Superstition – Stevie Wonder
Dancing in the Street – Martha & the Vandellas
Sign, Sealed, Delivered – Stevie Wonder
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) – The Four Tops
Brick House – The Commodores
Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy – The Tams
Country and Americana, from slow two-steps to sing-along choruses.
Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker
Remember When – Alan Jackson
Country Roads – John Denver
All American Girl – Carrie Underwood
Dixieland Delight – Alabama
A Little Less Talk And A Lot More Action – Toby Keith
Be My Baby Tonight – John Michael Montgomery
Friends in Low Places – Garth Brooks
Pushing Up Daisies – Brothers Osborne
God Bless the USA – Lee Greenwood
Chattahoochee – Alan Jackson
Should’ve Been a Cowboy – Toby Keith
Tennesse Whisky – Chris Stapleton
Be My Baby Tonight – John Michael Montgomery
Man I Feel Like a Woman – Shania Twain
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Boot Scootin’ Boogie – Brooks & Dunn
My Wish – Rascal Flatts
Party songs across the decades. See also our pick of the best rock songs for weddings.
Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
Levitating – Dua Lipa
Get Lucky – Daft Punk
I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown
All of Me – John Legend
You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oates
Forget You! – CeeLo Green
You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Judy Garland/ Katherine McPhee
Happy – Pharrell Williams
Back in Love Again – LTD
Boogie Wonderland – Earth, Wind & Fire
Love Story – Taylor Swift
Cheap Thrills – Sia
We Are Family – Sister Sledge
Hit Me with Your Best Shot – Pat Benatar
This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
Mr. Brightside – The Killers
Dancing Queen – Abba
Pink Pony Club – Chappell Roan
Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You – Frankie Valli
Almost Like Being In Love – Frank Sinatra
Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
Espresso – Sabrina Carpenter
Some Kind of Wonderful – Grand Funk Railroad
I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
My First, My Last, My Everything – Barry White
I Want it That Way – Backstreet Boys
We are Family – Sister Sledge
Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
Proud Mary – Tina Turner
Locked Out of Heaven – Bruno Mars
Watermelon Sugar – Harry Styles
Dancing in the Moonlight – King Harvest
I’m Shipping Up to Boston – Dropkick Murphys
Shut Up and Dance with Me – Walk the Moon
Respect – Aretha Franklin
Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Whitney Houston
September – Earth, Wind & Fire
Build Me Up Buttercup – The Foundations
Love Train –The O’Jays
Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind & Fire
Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
Volare – Domenico Modugno
We Found Love – Rihanna
Wildest Dreams – Taylor Swift
Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
Treasure – Bruno Mars
Valerie – Amy Winehouse
Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) – Looking Glass
It’s The Same Old Song – The Four Tops
APT – Rosé & Bruno Mars
P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing) – Michael Jackson
Slower numbers for first dances and parent dances. If a Taylor Swift moment is on your list, see our best Taylor Swift songs for weddings.
Time of My Life – Bill Medley
At Last – Etta James
Devastating – Johnnyswim
You Are the Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder
Follow You Follow Me – Genesis
Can You Feel the Love Tonight – Elton John
Moon River – Henry Mancini
The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
Days Like This – Van Morrison
Sweet Pea – Amos Lee
I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You – Aretha Franklin
Cheek to Cheek – Irving Berlin
Fly Me to the Moon – Frank Sinatra
New York, New York – Frank Sinatra
Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
Natural Woman – Aretha Franklin
Unforgettable – Nat King Cole
Misty – Johnny Mathis
L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole
Latin numbers for cocktail hour and later in the night.
La Vida Es Un Carnival – Celia Cruz
Conga – Gloria Estefan
Despacito – Luis Fonsi
I Like It – Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin
La Bamba – Ritchie Valens
Bamboleo – Gipsy Kings
We play a range from Sinatra to today’s hits and everything in between. Check out our Live Music List for more. If you don’t see what you are looking for, we are happy to learn new songs for you and will work with you to execute YOUR musical vision.
The DO NOT PLAY list is a very important part of Big Ray’s planning…just shoot me an email.
We will play when scheduled on the timeline to that ensure your night runs as smoothly as possible with no lapses in energy and fun at just the WRONG time.
We typically play for 5 hours, which includes ceremony, cocktails, and reception with a few intermittent breaks. We are more than happy to accommodate your ideas and musical vision.
More answers on our wedding band FAQ page.
Big Ray and the Kool Kats play weddings and events across Virginia — Charlottesville, Richmond, the rest of Virginia and Washington DC.
