Shakespeare once wrote that “music is the food of love.” It can be hard to deny this. Throughout history, songs have been written about every aspect of romance. There are tunes geared toward young lovers, passionate affairs, unrequited pining, lost romances, new flames, and pretty much any scenario that can arise between humans falling into the throes of love. Still, members of the LGBTQ+ community can attest to the fact that these songs have been vastly heterosexual in nature. This can create some problems when it comes to finding the right music for a same-sex wedding.

Though the concept of falling in love might seem universal, there are nuances to heterosexual and homosexual relationships that cannot always be captured in a generic song about romance. Look over these songs geared toward LGBTQ+ couples, and find a new favorite tune to use on your big day.

Emotional and Poignant

Weddings are known for inducing a certain amount of sentimentality in participants and guests alike. A lot of this has to do with the emotional, sometimes sappy songs chosen to underscore the events of the day. Music has a way of kicking around the heartstrings and causing happy tears to brim up in all the eyes observing the couples. These first suggestions are songs meant to elicit an emotional response, whether that’s during the first dance or one of the many other big moments throughout the wedding.

Brett Every’s “What a Beautiful Day” is a lovely choice to use at some point during your big day. The song is about two men who decide to get married, and it is peppered with sentimental lyrics about family and love. Similarly, “She” by Jen Foster is an emotional song about two women in love. There is a rousing quality to Foster’s tune, one that seeks to inspire tolerance for all love. Finally, “Capers” by Kele Okereke is a same-sex song about insisting you aren’t in love when, in truth, you totally are.

Allies You Can Dance With

There are far more LGBTQ+ artists and musicians nowadays than there were in the past. Still, most of these artists don’t get the attention required to make their songs familiar to large crowds. If you want to play music that your straight friends and relatives might recognize while still helping to showcase your unique connection, there are some great options. Patti LaBelle has long been a supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, and her song “If Only You Knew” utilizes gender-neutral language in the lyrics. This is because LaBelle supposedly wished to create songs her gay fans could connect to.

These days, more artists are considered allies to the LGBTQ+ community than in the past. This makes it a bit easier to play recognizable tunes at your wedding that still capture the feelings of having a same-sex romance. Artists you might want to consider playing are Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Robyn, Madonna, and plenty of other pop starlets. Using songs by these artists can offer an array of stylistic choices, but a vast majority of the tunes released by these chart-toppers are ideal for kicking off your shoes on the dance floor and having some fun.

A World of Genre Options

LGBTQ+ artists can take many forms. You can explore the science-fiction-infused ballads of Janelle Monae, the passionate raps of genderqueer Mykki Blanco, or the all-American lyrics of gay country singer Steve Grand. No matter what your preferred genre of music might be, there are some fantastic artists representing the LGBTQ+ community you may find perfect for providing the soundtrack to your big day.

Music is definitely the food of love. Just like food, you want to take a bit of time to consider tastes before picking your playlist. Do a little research, and you’ll be sure to find the perfect LGBTQ+ musicians to provide tunes for your big day.