30+ First Dance Wedding Songs for You
What does it take to deliver a memorable first dance at your wedding – one that you can be proud of or, at the very least not embarrassed by? Not everyone is born a ‘twinkle toes’ – not every guy a Fred Astaire, and every gal a Ginger Rogers, but for one moment – your moment – it would be nice to feel like you belong on the dance floor.
But does it really matter what dance sequence you choose and the music you pair it with? In short, yes, especially if you are choosing a traditional first dance. You want to marry the timing of both step and sound together to put your best foot forward. You will also want to think about details such as the length of your song, the lyrics, the time signature, and more.
This article will share expert advice on both trending wedding music and dances for your special day. Remember to set up a Collection Pot for the big day to allow your guests to contribute, as well as being able to put song suggestions forward for the playlist.
![Bride and groom dancing under fairy lights outside.](https://collectionpot-static.b-cdn.net/blog/30%2B%20First%20Dance%20Wedding%20Songs%20for%20You/UPDATED.%20Wedding%20Couple.jpg)
Traditional wedding dance types
Whether you choose the Tango, Rumba, Waltz, Bachata, Salsa, Foxtrot, Swing, or the simple two-step sway – the floor is yours during the couple’s first dance. Do your homework before you decide which dance style is right for you. The step and the timing are important factors, but you also have movement elements, such as pivots, slides, pauses, spins, lifts, and holds. There are variations to the traditional styles to contemplate as well. If you like the idea of a waltz but you want a faster version, there are also the Viennese, French, American, International and more.
If traditional isn’t your thing, you could go for a quirky, street-style dance paired with “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It”, or you might even want to emulate the Hitch closing dance scene, by getting your friends and family to participate in a dance off to Heavy D’s “Now That We Found Love”.
Maybe you will choose to have a dance line, just make sure any choreographed dance steps are simple to pick up for guests not within the wedding party! Another fun and meaningful option is a dance circle made around the wedding couple, where everyone is joined together by hand and you don’t need to have a partner to participate.
![Wedding guests dancing in formation the bride and groom.](https://collectionpot-static.b-cdn.net/blog/30%2B%20First%20Dance%20Wedding%20Songs%20for%20You/UPDATED.%20Wedding%20Group%20Dance.jpg)
But whoever you are as a couple, and whatever your approach, you want to feel comfortable, you want it to go well, and you want to show others what your love means to you.
The history behind the first dance
Wedding dances are rich in tradition in many cultures and date as far back as Ancient Greece and medieval Europe. Today, the first dance is a special moment in both European and American weddings. It is the moment you and your partner, as the guests of honour, take to the dance floor for the first time to display an intimate picture of your love by working together, and literally showing how in sync you are. It symbolises partnership, joy and celebration, and it represents the coupling of the two espoused.
Consider taking some dance lessons or watching an online tutorial to try out a few dance styles to find your groove.
Meaningful wedding songs
![Bride and groom kiss in the aisle between their wedding guests.](https://collectionpot-static.b-cdn.net/blog/30%2B%20First%20Dance%20Wedding%20Songs%20for%20You/UPDATED.%20Wedding%20Dance.jpg)
What does your song say about you? Do you want it to represent the sentiment of your vows in a tune? Or maybe it was the moment you realised you were in love? Perhaps, you want it to show a lighter side of your commitment to each other. All of these are some points to consider when choosing your song are length, tempo, style, and wording.
Choosing a song, where the dance step fits well, represents who you and your partner are together and what you mean to each other can seem daunting, especially since there are so many choices available.
We want to help make your decision easy for you, so we have put together 30+ first dance wedding song mixes with different styles and tempos for you to consider (not in any ranking order).
Song Title | Artist | |
1. | Can’t Help Falling in Love | Elvis Presley |
2. | Unchained Melody | The Righteous Brothers |
3. | At Last | Etta James |
4. | Amazed | Lonestar |
5. | A Thousand Years | Christina Perri |
6. | All of Me | John Legend |
7. | The Way You Look Tonight | Frank Sinatra |
8. | Beat of a Heart | Warren Brothers |
9. | Can’t Take My Eyes off of You | Frankie Valli |
10. | Your Song | Elton John |
11. | Make You Feel My Love | Adele |
12. | My Best Friend | Tim McGraw |
13. | Perfect | Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé |
14. | The Luckiest | Ben Folds |
15. | Lucky | Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat |
16. | I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing | Aerosmith |
17. | The Wonder of You | Elvis Presley |
18. | Black and White | Niall Horan |
19. | How Long Will I Love You | Ellie Goulding |
20. | Wonderful Tonight | Eric Clapton |
21. | Just the Way You Are | Bruno Mars |
22. | Sugar | Maroon 5 |
23. | Lover | Taylor Swift |
24. | La Vie En Rose | Daniela Andrade |
25. | Endless Love | Diana Ross and Lionel Ritchie |
26. | Beautiful in White | Shane Filan |
27. | From This Moment On | Shania Twain |
28. | Mine Would Be You | Blake Shelton |
29. | I’m Yours | Jason Mraz |
30. | Love Story | Taylor Swift |
31. | A Moment Like This | Kelly Clarkson |
32. | Everything Has Changed | Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran |
33. | Everything | Michael Bublé |
34. | How Sweet It Is | James Taylor |
35. | Glory of Love | Peter Cetera |
36. | Let’s Stay Together | Al Green |
37. | It Had to Be You | Harry Connick Jr |
With the music and dance style all but chosen, here are a few extra tips to think about.
Pro tips for wedding dances
Pro tip 1: Take a few dance lessons, and practice dancing in the shoes you are going to wear on the day.
Pro tip 2: If your wedding gown has a heavy skirt and you are not used to dancing in one, rent a wedding dress similar to your own to practice your dance moves before the big day.
Pro tip 3: Think about your wardrobe when choosing your moves so that there are no embarrassing wardrobe malfunctions. There are some things grandma should never see!
If your wedding dress has a low-cut bodice or is a form-fitting style, such as a mermaid dress, a low-dip finish may not be the right move for you.
Equally, if your suit pants are a slim, sleek fit, you might need to consider how easily you can move and how low you can go on the dance floor. You might consider having both wedding ceremony attire and reception outfits.
Your first dance should be an amazing display of your love and partnership, but it should never be a terrifying spectacle from which people are left dazed or blinded!
And finally, have you set up your Wedding Pot?
Unlike the cynical statistics in The Wedding Planner film, the song you choose and the colour of your bridesmaid dresses will not determine the outcome of your relationship. Your day is what you make it.
![Silhouette of bride and groom dancing with backdrop of bridge.](https://collectionpot-static.b-cdn.net/blog/30%2B%20First%20Dance%20Wedding%20Songs%20for%20You/UPDATED.%20Wedding%20Couple%20Final.jpg)
Set up your Collection Pot and get the funds you need to make it the ultimate day of a lifetime, or to kickstart savings towards your honeymoon or newlywed home.