21 Alan Jackson Wedding Songs for Your Once-in-a-Lifetime Love

Thinking about which Alan Jackson wedding songs to add to your playlist? When it comes to wedding planning, nailing down details like your music selection can be a challenge. Just knowing your genre-of-choice is country music, for example, is not enough, as you may likely find yourself spending hours scrolling through Spotify in search of the best wedding songs for your big day playlist.

That's why we're highlighting singer-songwriter Alan Jackson's love songs. Jackson is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, the voice behind 16 studio albums and an artist who has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide. Whether you're an Alan Jackson enthusiast or a country music fan more broadly, the 21 hits listed below are worthy of an appearance at your celebration. Be sure to ask your wedding DJ or wedding band to include these Alan Jackson wedding songs in advance so they're ready for your big day.

Bonus: Listen to our picks with The Knot's roundup of Alan Jackson Wedding Songs playlist on Spotify.

1. "Remember When," Greatest Hits Volume II

Lyrics you'll love: "Remember when we vowed the vows and walked the walk/Gave our hearts, made the start and it was hard/We lived and learned, life threw curves/There was joy, there was hurt/Remember when"

This slow song is a classic—the kind of song you can't help but belt out when you hear it. In the song, Jackson reflects on his life with his wife, with sweet lyrics that would make for a lovely country first dance song. Released in October 2003, "Remember When" struck a chord, topping Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart for two weeks and at one time reaching the 29th spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Due to its timeless melody and message, it still resonates nearly two decades later, so make sure your wedding DJ adds it to the setlist.

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2. "I Do (Written for Daughters' Weddings)," Where Have You Gone

Lyrics you'll love: "And she said, 'I'll be with you/And I'll stay with you/And I'll love you all of my days/And I'll walk with you/Through life, I'll dance with you/And I hope you feel the way that I do'/And he said, 'I do'"

Appearing on his 2021 album, Where Have You Gone, Jackson wrote "I Do" for his daughter's 2020 wedding. In the song, he shares the perspective of a couple committing to each other through their vows. This Alan Jackson wedding song needs no greater explanation than that; it is a beautiful ballad about marriage that would be the perfect complement to your own wedding ceremony.

3. "Love's Got a Hold On You," Don't Rock the Jukebox

Lyrics you'll love: "I said my hands are sweaty and my knees are weak/I can't eat and I can't sleep/It's turning me every way but loose/He said it sounds like love's got a hold on you/No doubt love's got a hold on you"

Another to reach number one on Billboard's country music chart, "Love's Got a Hold On You" is the final single from Jackson's second album, Don't Rock the Jukebox. The uptempo song highlights the narrator falling in love. It's a fun track with a romantic message, and it could be a nice addition to your party playlist.

4. "Chattahoochee," A Lot About Livin' (And A Little 'Bout Love)

Lyrics you'll love: "Yeah, way down yonder on the Chattahoochee/Never knew how much that muddy water meant to me/But I learned how to swim and I learned who I was/A lot about livin' and a little 'bout love"

When your reception rolls around, and you're ready to get the party started, ask your wedding musicians to cue up "Chattahoochee" an uber-popular single from Jackson's 1992 album, A Lot About Livin' (And A Little 'Bout Love). The upbeat jam earned Jackson two coveted CMA awards for Single of the Year and Song of the Year, and it remains a fan favorite—with over 172 million plays on Spotify. On your big day, after exchanging your vows, the hit will help you, your new spouse and your guests keep the good times going.

5. "Livin' On Love," Who I Am

Lyrics you'll love: "It sounds simple, that's what you're thinkin'/But love can walk through fire without blinkin'/It doesn't take much when you get enough/Livin' on love"

Jackson's "Livin' On Love" can amplify any moment of a wedding, whether it be soothing cocktail hour background noise or the soundtrack to a quicker-paced first dance. Released on his 1994 album, Who I Am, the song became Jackson's 15th number one single. Add it to your playlist, and you and your love will certainly be living on love yourselves.

6. "There Goes," Everything I Love

Lyrics you'll love: "And there go your paralyzin' eyes/There goes your tantalizin' smile/There goes my act of playin' it cool/And there go the words I meant to say/There go the games I wanted to play/There goes my heart fallin' for you"

From the album Everything I Love, "There Goes" was at one time (not shockingly) another number one hit for Jackson. The song conveys the intense emotions the narrator is feeling as they are falling in love. It's a sweet song with adorable lyrics that resemble many romantic relationships, making it great for a first dance as newlyweds.

7. "Right On the Money," High Mileage

Lyrics you'll love: "She's right on the money/She goes direct to my heart/When it comes to lovin' me/She's everything I need, bulls eye-perfect/She's right on the money"

This smooth country wedding song from Jackson's 1998 album, High Mileage, became his 16th number-one single. The sentimental lyrics fit nicely into a wedding day atmosphere, and the instrumentals are just the right pace to keep guests swaying while sipping during cocktail hour.

8. "Margaritaville" (with Jimmy Buffet), Under the Influence

Lyrics you'll love: "Wasted away again in Margaritaville/Searching for my lost shaker of salt/Some people claim that there's a woman to blame/But I know it's nobody's fault"

Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville" needs no introduction. The hit has cemented itself as a classic for music fans across genres. In 1999, Alan Jackson covered the song with Buffett on the album Under the Influence. If you and your spouse-to-be love Jackson, why not add his version of "Margaritaville" to your playlist? Many of your guests will sing along, eagerly, to the song no matter when it plays on your big day.

9. "It Must Be Love," Under the Influence

Lyrics you'll love: "It must be love, it must be love/I fall like a sparrow and fly like a dove/You must be the dream I've been dreamin' of/Oh what a feelin', it must be love"

Also on Jackson's Under the Influence album, released in 1999, is "It Must Be Love." The song was first recorded by Don Williams in 1979, and both artists' versions would become number-one hits. The traditional country song has a track record of transcending generations, meaning crowds young and old will bop to its melody at your wedding.

10. "When Somebody Loves You," When Somebody Loves You

Lyrics you'll love: "But when somebody loves you/There's nothing you can't do/When somebody loves you/It's easy to get through/When somebody loves you/The way I love you"

Country music fans will be swept away from the first note of Jackson's "When Somebody Loves You." The ballad is a quintessential first dance song, with lyrics that encapsulate how you should feel on your wedding day—so in love that "there's nothing you can't do."

11. "I Slipped and Fell In Love," Drive

Lyrics you'll love: "I hope that you're feeling the way that I feel/It's just like flying but you're standing still/The birds and the bees are sure powerful stuff/Whoops, I slipped and fell in love"

Drive, Jackson's 10th studio album, features a number of hugely successful songs for the country star. But others, like "I Slipped and Fell In Love," flew much more under the radar. However, with its relaxed feel and lovey-dovey lyrics, "I Slipped and Fell In Love" is deserving of its moment in the spotlight at your wedding.

12. "Too Much of a Good Thing," What I Do

Lyrics you'll love: "But too much of a good thing is a good thing/Feelings like this can't be wrong/And too much of a good thing is a good thing/And we've got a good thing going on"

"Too Much of a Good Thing" was the lead single off Jackson's twelfth album, What I Do, peaking at number 5 on the Billboard country chart in June 2004. The song is great for a first dance because its message will resonate with couples who know that, in love, there's no such thing as too much good.

13. "Like Red On a Rose," Like Red On a Rose

Lyrics you'll love: "Like red on a rose/When your lips first smiled at me/I was captured instantly/To each his own/Like blue in the sky/The gaze of your willing eyes/Touched something deep inside/And the truth be known/That I love you"

You'll find yourself enraptured from the first note of "Like Red on a Rose," the title track from Jackson's namesake 2006 album. No matter the setting of your big day—ballroom, beach, outdoors and beyond—it'll be easy to imagine yourself and your partner swaying along to this beautiful, moody Alan Jackson love song.

14. "Never Loved Before" (with Martina McBride), Good Time

Lyrics you'll love: "You held the door when we went to the movies/I like your quirky, sneaky sense of humor/You're strong and sweet and all the things I needed/You're the one that keeps my heart beating, baby/Oh, I love you like I never/Oh, I love you like I never/Oh, I love you like I never loved before"

Martina McBride and Alan Jackson are a match made in country music heaven, and their 2008 jam, "Never Loved Before," is as great as you'd expect a duet from the duo to be. The primary lyrics of "I love you like I've never loved before" couldn't be more fitting for a wedding celebration, particularly during the reception as guests are happily vibing on the dance floor.

15. "Good Time," Good Time

Lyrics you'll love: "I've been workin' all week/And I'm tired and I don't wanna sleep/I wanna have fun/Time for a good time/Hey!"

Your wedding day is supposed to be one of life's best times. Let that message ring true with Jackson's fun track, "Good Time"—the singer's 24th number-one hit. Many of your guests will relate to the message behind the song: letting go of the workweek and unwinding. It's a sure way to get everyone fired up to party after you say "I do."

16. "Right Where I Want You," Good Time

Lyrics you'll love: "Cause you've got me right where I want you/And there's not a thing I can't do/Completely consumed all about you/You've got me right where I want you"

Also on the album Good Time, "Right Where I Want You" is a ballad about the narrator letting down his walls for the person he loves. It's hard to miss the song's message of an all-consuming love, and it's easy to envision slow-dancing to the melody with your new spouse.

17. "True Love Is a Golden Ring," Freight Train

Lyrics you'll love: "Love is so much more than a one night stand/Like the endless turn of a wedding band/Looking in your eyes I found the truth/After all this time I found you"

As far as Alan Jackson wedding songs are concerned, playing "True Love Is a Golden Ring" is a no-brainer. The title of the song is a clear nod to its message—highlighting just how meaningful wedding bands and vows are in representing true love. Everything about the tune is truly perfect for a celebration of marriage, whether you dance to it for your first dance or have it playing in the background while you cut your cake.

18. "The Best Keeps Getting Better," Freight Train

Lyrics you'll love: "I love you now more than ever/And you appreciate me more today/Melted together, hearts and minds/The best keeps getting better all the time"

"The Best Keeps Getting Better," from Jackson's Freight Train, is a wonderful representation of a relationship that has stood the test of time. If you and your future spouse have undergone many of life's chapters together—yet somehow each day is better than the last—this song can bring greater meaning to your first dance.

19. "Big Green Eyes," Freight Train

Lyrics you'll love: "My baby has big green eyes/Brighter than the bluest sky/Softer than an angel flies/Sweeter than a lullaby/And she loves me without design/Her picture never leaves my mind/I don't deserve a love this fine/Baby and her big green eyes"

At this point, it's clear Jackson has a slew of romantic songs that are lovely wedding playlist options. "Big Green Eyes" is just another contender—this one especially meaningful for, you guessed it, green-eyed brides. It's a love note from the narrator to the lady he loves … a message you and your partner just might relate to yourselves.

20. "You Can Always Come Home," Angels And Alcohol

Lyrics you'll love: "Spread your wings/Don't be afraid to try/The world can be hard/You gotta live a little/'Fore you die/So open that door/Step out in the bright sunshine/Follow your heart/And remember anytime…/You can always come home"

Rounding out this list are two songs that switch gears away from a partner's love to a love equally as special—that of a father. First up is Jackson's "You Can Always Come Home" from his 2015 album Angels And Alcohol. The message is one many children can remember being told: Go live your life, but know you can always come home. It's an excellent father-daughter wedding song option to play during your dance with your dad.

21. "You'll Always Be My Baby (Written for Daughters' Weddings)," Where Have You Gone

Lyrics you'll love: "Now you're a woman on your own/All in love and nearly gone/But you'll always be my baby/No matter where you are/You'll always be my baby/Forever in my heart"

Like "I Do," Alan Jackson wrote "You'll Always Be My Baby" for his three daughters. The narrator shares that, from "first steps, first words" to present day, his daughter will always remain in his heart. If you are doing a father-daughter dance, this heartwarming, nostalgic ballad will bring tears to many eyes—yourself and Dad included.