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.

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.

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.

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 TitleArtist
1.Can’t Help Falling in LoveElvis Presley
2. Unchained MelodyThe Righteous Brothers
3.At LastEtta James
4.AmazedLonestar
5.A Thousand YearsChristina Perri
6.All of MeJohn Legend
7.The Way You Look TonightFrank Sinatra
8.Beat of a HeartWarren Brothers
9.Can’t Take My Eyes off of YouFrankie Valli
10.Your SongElton John
11.Make You Feel My LoveAdele
12.My Best FriendTim McGraw
13.PerfectEd Sheeran and Beyoncé
14.The LuckiestBen Folds
15.LuckyJason Mraz and Colbie Caillat
16.I Don’t Wanna Miss a ThingAerosmith
17.The Wonder of YouElvis Presley
18.Black and WhiteNiall Horan
19.How Long Will I Love YouEllie Goulding
20.Wonderful TonightEric Clapton
21.Just the Way You AreBruno Mars
22.SugarMaroon 5
23.LoverTaylor Swift
24.La Vie En Rose​Daniela Andrade
25.Endless LoveDiana Ross and Lionel Ritchie
26.Beautiful in WhiteShane Filan
27.From This Moment OnShania Twain
28.Mine Would Be YouBlake Shelton
29.I’m YoursJason Mraz
30.Love StoryTaylor Swift
31.A Moment Like ThisKelly Clarkson
32.Everything Has ChangedTaylor Swift and Ed Sheeran
33.EverythingMichael Bublé
34.How Sweet It IsJames Taylor
35.Glory of LovePeter Cetera
36.Let’s Stay TogetherAl Green
37.It Had to Be YouHarry 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.

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.

Elaine Keep

Elaine Keep is an accomplished content writer with over 15 years of experience in the field of marketing and content creation for many leading brands, where she shares her passion for research and helping others through her articles. You can also find her in 'mum mode', walking in the countryside or enjoying the dreamy combo of a new non-fiction book with a tea and chocolate bar to hand.

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