130+ Best First Dance Wedding Songs for Wedding 2024 💃🕺

The first dance at a wedding is a special moment. It’s the moment in which you and your spouse or partner get to dance alone while everyone else watches. It’s also the final chance for you to share a little bit of time together before all of your guests take their seats and start eating cake (or whatever other food they brought). And yet, most people don’t know what songs are good choices for first dances! Whether you’ve been planning your big day with someone else or have been working on it solo, I’m here to help.

I’ve put together this definitive list of the very best first dance wedding songs out there. Whether you’re looking for bang up-to-date, modern first dance songs, a classic movie soundtrack or something a little bit vintage, you’ve come to the right place.

Your first dance song doesn’t need to be a smoochy love song if you don’t want it to be, there are unlimited options on the table, from fun upbeat TV theme tunes to the downright silly and utterly unique.

By the end, I hope this comprehensive list will give you some fresh ideas about what kind of music makes sense for playing during your wedding reception’s first dance—and maybe even inform some decisions about where else in your event things might need sprucing up!

If you’re stuck for that perfect first dance song, here are some of the best wedding songs to get you started…

In This Article show

Classic Wedding Songs For The First Dance

When you think of a wedding, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the first dance. This is where you and your partner will spend some time alone in front of everyone else to show off your moves and make memories that last forever. The classic first dance song you choose will always be remembered with great joy by those who were there.

If you’re looking for traditional songs with a timeless quality, these tracks might be perfect for your big day:

“At Last” by Etta James
“Always On My Mind” by Elvis Presley
“The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
“Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley
“Unforgettable” by Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole
“It Had To Be You” by Frank Sinatra
“Your Song” by Elton John
“How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” by James Taylor
“Fly Me To The Moon” by Frank Sinatra
“It Had To Be You” by Harry Connick Jr.
“Dream A Little Dream Of Me” by Michael Bublé
“You Send Me” by Sam Cooke

Popular First Dance Song Ideas

Wedding songs are always a big deal. You have to pick out the song for your first dance, and you want it to be perfect. Here are some popular songs that can help you and your partner choose a song:

“Perfect” by Ed Sheeran
“Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arthur
“Delicate” by Taylor Swift
“Deeper” by Tamia
“You Are The Reason” by Calum Scott, Leona Lewis
“This Will Be (an Everlasting Love)” by Natalie Cole
“A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri
“Amazed” by Lonestar
“All of Me” by John Legend
“At Last” by Etta James
“Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley
“Everything I Do I Do It for You” by Bryan Adams
“God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys
“You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne
“Your Song” by Elton John

Those three pop-up on most lists as great options for couples who want something romantic without being too cutesy or over-the-top. There’s also Can’t Help Falling in Love With You (Elvis Presley), When I Fall In Love (Nat King Cole) and many more classics that will strike just the right note on this important day!

80s First Dance Songs

If you’ve got a love of the 80s, this section is for you. The songs are all classics and some might even be your first dance song. They’re great for any couple who wants to get in touch with their inner teenager, or if they just want to be cool and unique at their wedding.

All these songs have been remixed so they sound as fresh as ever!

“Heaven” by Bryan Adams
“The Promise” by When in Rome
“Take My Breath Away” by Berlin
“Endless Love” by Diana Ross and Lionel Ritchie
“Time After Time” By Cyndi Lauper
“Right Here Waiting” by Richard Marx
“Faithfully” by Journey
“Crazy For You” by Madonna
“You’re The Inspiration” by Chicago
“Open Arms” by Journey
“In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel
“Love Song” by The Cure
“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” by Starship
“Eternal Flame” The Bangles
“The Lady In Red” by Chris de Burgh

90s First Dance Songs

First dance songs are a big deal, and they’re not just for the bride and groom. First dances show how much you care about your loved ones, so make sure to choose something that’s perfect for them.

Here are some 90s first dance song ideas:

“Always Be My Baby” by Mariah Carey
“Kiss From A Rose” by Seal
“I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain
“Truly Madly Deeply” by Savage Garden
“All My Life” by K-Ci & JoJo
“(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” by Bryan Adams
“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston

Top Country First Dance Songs

For even more country first dance songs (and songs to use on the rest of your wedding day), check our newest article: 130 The Most Popular Country Love Songs

“Amazed” by Lonestar
“From The Ground Up” by Dan + Shay
“My Best Friend” by Tim McGraw
“Speechless” by Dan + Shay
“Islands In The Stream” by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers
“Yours” by Russell Dickerson
“Better Together” by Luke Combs
“I Don’t Dance” by Lee Brice
“Golden Hour” by Kacey Musgraves
“Bless The Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts
“God Gave Me You” by Blake Shelton
“Change Your Name” by Brett Young
“You Make It Easy” by Jason Aldean
“Then” by Brad Paisley

Rock and Roll Music Choices (Including Alternative and Classic Rock)

You’ve got a lot of music to choose from, and it can be hard to narrow down the perfect first dance song. Here are some fun options that may help you decide:

“I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing” by Aerosmith
“Just The Way You Are” by Billy Joel
“Love Of A Lifetime” by Firehouse
“Can’t Fight This Feeling” By REO Speedwagon
“Here Comes The Sun” by The Beatles (more songs by The Beatles to use at your wedding)
“You’re My Best Friend” by Queen
“Forever” by KISS
“I Believe In A Thing Called Love” by The Darkness
“I’ll Be There For You” by Bon Jovi
“In My Life” by The Beatles
“All My Love” by Led Zeppelin
“Can’t Stop Loving You” by Van Halen
“I’ll Stand By You” by The Pretenders
“Crazy Love” by Van Morrison
“Here, There And Everywhere” by The Beatles

R&B First Dance Songs (Including Motown and Old School Hits)

A wedding first dance song is a special moment that’s worth spending time researching and considering. You can’t go wrong with a slow and romantic number, but if you’re looking for something more upbeat and fun, we’ve got plenty of those as well. Whether your wedding is small or large, whether it’s just family or everyone in the world watching, we’ve got everything you need to make this one of the best moments of your life.

First Dance Songs:

“Conversations In The Dark” by John Legend
“How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” by Marvin Gaye
“If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys
“Overjoyed” by Stevie Wonder
“Stand By Me” by Ben E. King
“You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” by Stevie Wonder
“This I Promise You” by *NSYNC
“How Deep Is Your Love” by The Bee Gees

Best Acoustic First Dance Songs

Acoustic guitar is a great choice for a first dance. There are so many songs that fit this mood and have the right tempo to keep things feeling intimate, while still being upbeat and fun.

Here are some of our favorite acoustic wedding dance songs:

“Take Me Home, Country Roads (John Denver)” by Music Travel Love (such an amazing acoustic version that would be perfect for the first dance)
“Better Together” by Us the Duo
“More Than Words” by Extreme
“You’re The One That I Want” by Julia Stone and Angus
“A Thousand Years” by Jasmine Thompson
“Time After Time” by Iron and Wine
“You Were Meant For Me” by Jewel
“True Colors” by Justin Timberlake & Anna Kendrick

New (Modern) Hits (And Some That Are Newish)

There is a whole slew of modern hits that are perfect for the first dance. These songs are popular right now and have been for some time, so they will be familiar to most guests at your wedding. But there are also a few songs that are newer than your grandparents! If you’re nervous about choosing something too out of the ordinary, don’t worry—these picks will help ease you into the idea of playing something fresh and new.

If none of these songs strike your fancy, just ask your DJ or band what they would recommend as an appropriate song choice for the first dance (or consult this list). They know their audience better than anyone else does!

“Perfect Duet” by Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé
“Like I’m Gonna Lose You” by Meghan Trainor and John Legend
“Just Married” by Steven Lee Olsen
“Kiss Me” by Ed Sheeran
“You Are The Reason” by Calum Scott
“Rewrite The Stars” by Zac Efron and Zendaya (From The Greatest Showman)
“Like I’m Gonna Lose You” by Jasmine Thompson
“Give Me Love” by Ed Sheeran
“I Am Yours” by Andy Grammer
“You Are The Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne
“Baby I’m Yours” by The Arctic Monkeys
“Lover” by Taylor Swift
“Sweetest Devotion” by Adele
“Lucky” by Colbie Caillat and Jason Mraz
“Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” by Sleeping At Last
“Your Song” by Ellie Goulding
“Could I Love You Anymore” by Jason Mraz & Reneé Dominique

Most Romantic Love Songs To Play During The First Dance

There are many love songs that can be played during the first dance at a wedding. Here are some examples:

“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by Sleeping At Last
“Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers
“L-O-V-E” by Nat King Cole
“Endless Love” by Lionel Ritchie & Shania Twain
“Marry Me” by Train
“The Luckiest” by Ben Folds
“Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley
“The Way You Look Tonight” by Tony Bennett
“When I Fall In Love” by Nat King Cole
“Come Away With Me” by Nora Jones
“Make You Feel My Love” by Adele

Fun and Upbeat Music Choices

When it comes to the first dance at your wedding, you want a song that’s going to make you feel like a million bucks and make your partner look like the king or queen of their own personal rockstar fantasy. You’ve earned this moment, after all—you’ve been together for years and are about to tie the knot!

The good news is there are lots of songs out there that can help you get in the mood for dancing with your significant other on one of the most important days of your life. Some popular first dance choices include “At Last” by Etta James and “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley (who also sang another classic, “Love Me Tender”).

If these songs aren’t exactly right for you, don’t worry! There are plenty more options out there; it just takes some digging around before finding what makes sense for both partners’ tastes in music. And once you do find something perfect? Well then come back here so we can talk about how amazing both parties looked while cutting loose on that dance floor…

“I Believe In A Thing Called Love” by The Branches
“Love On Top” by Beyoncé
“You Make My Dreams” By Daryl Hall & John Oats
“You’re My First My Last My Everything” by Barry White
“Wouldn’t It Be Nice” by The Beach Boys
“Happy Together” by The Turtles
“Friday I’m In Love” by The Cure
“Just The Way You Are” By Bruno Mars
“Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” by The Police
“You’re The One That I Want” by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
“Marry You” by Bruno Mars
“Adore You” by Harry Styles

When is the first dance at the wedding reception?

Typically the bride and groom, bride and bride, or groom and groom do their first dance as soon as they get announced into the their wedding reception.

This is the best time to do the dance because all guests are already seated to watch the reception entrances. All eyes are already on the couple as they enter.

Tips for getting the best photos of your first dance

Try not to chat through the entire dance – It makes it very difficult for the photographer to get amazing photos that look natural if the couple is talking the entire time (this goes for the mother-son and father-dances too)
Don’t cut the dance too short – Some couples don’t like being the center of attention, and that’s ok. Give your photographer at least 2 minutes to get some awesome photos. And let them know ahead of time if you are cutting the song short. This way they can prepare.
Tell your photographer about any choreographed dances or surprises during the first dance – By telling your photographer about your dance plans, they can be in the right position for any lifts, dips, surprises, etc.

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you to find some great first dance songs. Remember that the most important thing is to choose a song that best reflects your relationship, and that’s what will make your first dance moment so special!

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