Songs for Cake Cutting, Bouquet Toss, and Garter Toss
Quick answer: The best cake cutting, bouquet toss, and garter toss songs are brief, clean, and instantly recognizable, like “How Sweet It Is” for cake cutting, “Single Ladies” for the bouquet toss, and “Another One Bites the Dust” for the garter toss. A good MC cuts each track once the moment is complete so the reception keeps moving.
Key takeaways
- Cake cutting songs should be playful and brief, with sweets-themed options like “How Sweet It Is” or “Cake by the Ocean.”
- Bouquet toss songs need a quick build so guests gather before the chorus hits, with “Single Ladies” as the enduring default.
- Garter toss songs work best when they are short and cheeky, ending as soon as the toss is complete.
- Many couples now invite all guests to join the bouquet toss rather than only single women, and some skip the garter toss entirely.
- A professional MC timing each track to the actual moment matters more than the exact song choice.
Why These Three Moments Need Different Music Than the Rest of Your Reception
Cake cutting, the bouquet toss, and the garter toss are short, scripted moments, not open dance floor time. The music needs to do a specific job: signal what’s happening, hold the room’s attention for under two minutes, and then get out of the way so the party keeps moving.
That means these songs should be more recognizable and more literal than your first dance or entrance music. A playful lyric about sugar, love, or chasing someone down works better here than a deep cut, because guests need to understand the moment in about three seconds. An experienced wedding MC will also time the song to the action rather than letting it play start to finish, since the goal is a quick, fun beat in the night, not a music break.
Couples often plan these song choices together, although cake cutting may happen separately from the bouquet and garter tosses. If you haven’t nailed down your bigger playlist yet, our reception song list guide covers the full night.
Cake Cutting Song Ideas
A cake cutting song should be light, a little silly, and usually tied to sweets, sugar, or love in some way. Many couples now cut the cake in the middle of dancing rather than waiting until after dinner, which keeps the energy up and gives the DJ a natural reason to pause the floor for a minute.
- How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) — Marvin Gaye or James Taylor: a warm, classic choice that fits almost any reception style.
- Cake by the Ocean — DNCE: an obvious pun that always gets a laugh, especially at shore venues.
- Marry You — Bruno Mars: upbeat and widely loved across age groups.
- Love and Marriage — Frank Sinatra: a classic, slightly retro pick for a more formal room.
- That’s Amore — Dean Martin: a favorite for Italian-American receptions and anyone who wants a nostalgic feel.
- Watermelon Sugar — Harry Styles: a modern, radio-friendly option with the right sweet theme.
- You’re My Best Friend — Queen: works well if the couple wants something warmer than sugar-themed.
Keep the song brief, and have the DJ fade it once the cutting, feeding, and key photos are complete rather than playing the full track.
Bouquet Toss Song Ideas
A bouquet toss song needs a quick build: the MC calls guests to the floor, the song plays while everyone gathers, and the toss should land right around the chorus. Energy matters more than lyrical meaning here, though a few songs have become so associated with this moment that they’ve become the default.
| Song | Artist | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) | Beyoncé | The modern standard; instantly recognizable beat that gets guests moving into position |
| Girls Just Want to Have Fun | Cyndi Lauper | Bright and nostalgic, works across generations in the room |
| Wannabe | Spice Girls | High energy, makes friends pull each other onto the floor |
| I’m Every Woman | Whitney Houston | Joyful build that gives the toss a celebratory feel |
| Man! I Feel Like a Woman | Shania Twain | Fun crossover pick for country-leaning receptions |
| Flowers | Miley Cyrus | A modern, tongue-in-cheek nod to the bouquet itself |
A growing number of couples invite everyone who wants to catch the bouquet to the floor rather than calling out only single women by name, which keeps the moment inclusive and avoids putting any one guest on the spot. If this tradition doesn’t feel like you, it’s completely fine to skip it. Our must-play and do-not-play list guide walks through how to tell your DJ which traditions to keep or drop.
Garter Toss Song Ideas (and Why Some Couples Skip It)
Garter toss songs are usually cheeky, dramatic, or a little over the top, since the whole point is a quick, funny moment rather than anything serious. If you keep the tradition, plan for it to last about one to two minutes from start to finish.
- Another One Bites the Dust — Queen: the classic choice, with a bass line built for suspense as the groom works the garter down.
- Bad to the Bone — George Thorogood & The Destroyers: a swaggering guitar riff suited to a playful entrance.
- U Can’t Touch This — MC Hammer: fun, familiar, and easy for guests to clap along to.
- Gimme All Your Lovin’ — ZZ Top: a good pick for a rock-leaning couple.
- You Sexy Thing — Hot Chocolate: upbeat and widely recognized at receptions.
The garter toss is one of the more polarizing wedding traditions, and it is entirely optional. Some couples skip it outright, while others choose a quick, low-key version. There’s no wrong answer; it should match what feels comfortable for the couple and their families.
How Long Should Each Song Play?
One of the most common reasons these moments drag is a song playing all the way through instead of being cut once the action is finished. As a rule of thumb for timing:
- Cake cutting: Fade the song once the cutting, feeding, and key photos are complete.
- Bouquet toss: Let the track play while guests gather, then cut it just after the toss lands.
- Garter toss: End the track as soon as the removal and toss are complete.
This is really a job for your MC rather than a playlist decision. A good host watches the room, confirms the bride and groom are ready, and calls the song in and out at the right second rather than letting a track run its course. Our NJ wedding reception timeline guide shows where these moments typically fall relative to dinner, toasts, and open dancing.
Keeping These Songs Clean for a Mixed-Generation Crowd
Cake cutting, bouquet toss, and garter toss moments usually happen while grandparents, kids, and coworkers are all watching, so this is not the time for explicit lyrics or anything that might feel awkward with extended family in the room. Even songs that are generally considered wedding classics sometimes have explicit versions circulating on streaming platforms, so it’s worth confirming you (or your DJ) are using the radio edit.
If clean lyrics are a priority across your whole reception, not just these three moments, our guide to handling guest song requests and our must-play and do-not-play list guide both cover how to flag songs you want kept off the playlist entirely.
Should You Skip Any of These Traditions?
None of these three moments are required, and plenty of couples drop one or more of them without anyone noticing or minding. Some common alternatives worth considering:
- Skip the garter toss if it feels outdated or uncomfortable; many couples replace it with nothing at all, or move straight into open dancing.
- Replace the bouquet toss with an anniversary dance, where all married couples dance together and the longest-married pair receives the bouquet at the end.
- Keep cake cutting but skip the formal announcement, cutting the cake quietly mid-reception while the DJ keeps music playing in the background.
There is no rule that says a reception needs all three. The right call depends on your families, your guest list, and what actually sounds fun to you as a couple. A team that has worked weddings across New Jersey, New York, and the Philadelphia area, like FNA Events, can help you decide what to keep based on your guest mix and venue, whether that’s a backyard celebration or a ballroom like The English Manor.
Working These Moments Into Your Reception Timeline
Cake cutting, bouquet toss, and garter toss moments typically land somewhere between dinner and the start of open dancing, though many couples now move cake cutting earlier to avoid interrupting the dance floor later in the night. Garter and bouquet tosses are usually paired back-to-back since they use similar energy and crowd setup.
FNA Events’ DJ and MC team can help coordinate these moments with the reception timeline, photography schedule, and guest participation. If you’re still working out your full timeline, our NJ wedding reception timeline page breaks down a typical reception hour by hour, and our entertainment packages page outlines what’s included with DJ and MC coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we have to do the garter toss at our wedding?
No, the garter toss is entirely optional. Many couples skip it because it can feel outdated or uncomfortable for some guests. If you’d rather not, simply tell your DJ or MC to leave it off the timeline and move straight from dinner into open dancing or another tradition like the anniversary dance.
Can the DJ play a clean or edited version of a garter toss song?
Yes, most DJs keep radio edits of popular songs on hand specifically for moments like this where kids and older relatives are watching. If a specific song matters to you but has explicit lyrics in its original version, ask your DJ to confirm they have the clean edit before your wedding day.
Should the bouquet toss only include single women?
That’s changing. Many couples now invite anyone who wants to catch the bouquet to the dance floor, regardless of relationship status, which keeps the moment lighter and avoids singling out guests. It’s your call, and your MC can phrase the invitation however feels most comfortable for your group.
What if we don’t want a cake cutting song at all?
That’s fine. Some couples cut the cake quietly during dinner or cocktail hour with background music already playing, rather than stopping the room for a formal moment. Let your DJ or venue coordinator know your preference ahead of time so it’s built into the timeline.
How far in advance should we give our DJ our song picks for these moments?
Most DJs ask for your song selections a few weeks before the wedding as part of final planning, though you can change your mind closer to the date if needed. Share these preferences with FNA Events before the wedding so the MC can prepare the right edits and timing in advance.
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If you are planning a wedding or celebration in New Jersey, New York, or the Philadelphia area, the FNA Events team can walk you through DJ and MC entertainment, photography, videography, live music, enhancements, and photo booths, all run by one coordinated crew. Call (844) 373-7411 or visit our contact page to share your date and venue and get pricing for your celebration.
Written by the team at Fresh New Angle Events, Toms River, New Jersey wedding DJs, photographers, videographers, and event professionals serving couples across New Jersey, New York, and the Philadelphia area.
