125 Best First Dance Songs For Wedding Couples

 
When there are so many varieties of wedding ceremonies and reception styles, how do you define what is traditional for you? Should you choose to have the first dance as a newlywed couple, there are quite a few options. The best advice is to do something meaningful for you as a couple.

When Should You Choose Your First Dance Song?

Pick out your first dance song well in advance so you can practice that specific tune. The most important thing is to choose something memorable from the catalog of wedding songs. First dance songs are a symbol of your love and commitment, so take your time in choosing.

Also, if you use the recorded version of the song, then practice to that version. If the band or musician will play it live, try to get a recording of their version ahead of time. This is important for practice. Again, talk about this with your wedding planner.

Table of Contents:

• First Dance Songs
• Pop First Dance Songs
• R&B First Dance Songs
• Folk First Dance Songs
• Indie First Dance Songs
• Rock First Dance Songs
• Country First Dance Songs
• Miscellaneous First Dance Songs
• First Dance Songs Spotify Playlist
• Questions about the First Dance

Top 125 First Dance Songs: The List

We cannot name all the great first dance songs. This is why we have listed the most popular and unique wedding first dance songs around the United States.

First dance song list curated by Matthew Campbell
Last Updated: August 28, 2021

My Wedding Songs is a reader-supported website.  As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases.

Pop First Dance Songs

Justin Bieber – Lifetime
2021, Pop

Some people come in your life for a reason
Others they come in your life for a season
But baby, you are a lifetime

Calum Scott – Biblical
2021, Pop

And when you open your eyes / I’ll be there by your side / I wanna have it all with you

MAX, Ali Gatie – Butterflies
2021, Pop

You won’t stop runnin’ through my mind
For the rest of both our lives
You give me butterflies

Ben Platt – Imagine (Acoustic)
2021, Pop

I can’t imagine my life without you / I can’t imagine one night without you / If something happened, don’t know what I’d do

Drew Green – The Rest of Our Lives
2021, Pop

Whatever it is, it’ll be alright / As long as you love me and I love you / Girl, here’s to the rest of our lives

Ron Pope – Our Song (Acoustic)
2021, Indie

So won’t you take my hand / Take my heart / Promise to never stop dancing once we start / ‘Cause this is our song

Amy Shark, Keith Urban – Love Songs Ain’t for Us
2021, Pop

Perfect nights, it’s open doors / It’s feeling safe, it’s being sure / It’s a deep cut, crazy rush / To feel like us

Jeremy Zucker & Chelsea Cutler – this is how you fall in love
2021, Pop

Wherever we go, what glitters is gold / You’ll be my best friend until we grow old

Echosmith feat. Mat Kearney – Tell Her You Love Her
2021, Pop

Tell her she’s lovely / Always tell her the truth / When she says she loves you / Tell her you love her too

Picture This – If Ever However Whenever Forever
2021, Pop

I guess we’re the sum of their parts / We made one from two broken hearts / If I could rewind I’d only be yours

Niall Horan – Black And White (Stripped)
2020, Pop

Swear in front of all our friends / There’ll never be another / I promise that I’ll love you for the rest of my life

Ronan Keating – Forever Aint Enough
2020, Pop

I see a future in your eyes / The second I saw it, I knew / Forever ain’t enough with you

Forest Blakk – If You Love Her
2020, Pop

Stand side by side / And you’ll make it / She’s the best thing that you’ll ever have / She’ll love you If you love her like that

Andy Grammer – I Am Yours
2019, Pop

You take my breath away every night / Still can’t believe it when you say your mine and / I am yours

Ed Sheeran feat. YEBBA – Best Part Of Me
2019, Pop

Yeah, he loves me, he loves me / And I bet he never lets me go / And shows me how to love myself

Reneé Dominique feat. Jason Mraz – Could I Love You Any More
2019, Pop

But what we have I know is different / ‘Cause when I’m with you the world stops turning / Could I love you any more?

James TW – Incredible
2019, Pop

In your embrace, this crowded room doesn’t matter / But dancing like it’s our own stage / My love, I just wanna say that you look incredible tonight

James Arthur – Falling like the Stars
2019, Pop

And I need you to know that we’re / Fallin’ so fast, we’re fallin’ like the stars / fallin’ in love

Taylor Swift – Lover (First Dance Remix)
2019, Pop

Forever and ever / Take me out, and take me home / You’re my, my, my, my lover

A Great Big World – You
2018, Pop

I spent my whole life running / Then one day all of a sudden / There was you

Ryann Darling feat. Cory Ard – For a Lifetime
2018, Pop

Two hearts, one beat / You whisper to me / Be mine for a lifetime

Calum Scott & Leona Lewis – You Are The Reason
2018, Pop

I’d climb every mountain / And swim every ocean / Just to be with you

Frank Ocean – Moon River
2018, Pop

My dream maker / Heartbreaker / Wherever you’re going I’m going the same

Lukas Graham – Love Someone
2018, Pop

I thought it’d be hard to find / The one ’til I found you / And I find it bittersweet / ‘Cause you gave me something to lose

Phillip Phillips – Dance With Me
2017, Pop

So will you dance with me? / I will lead you / Give every moment that I have / Just to be near you

James Arthur – Say You Won’t Let Go
2016, Pop

I know I needed you / But I never showed / But I wanna stay with you until we’re grey and old

Haley Reinhart – Can’t Help Falling in Love With You
2015, Pop

Take my hand / Take my whole life too / Oh, for I can’t help / Fallin’ in love with you

Sara Bareilles – I Choose You
2014, Pop

I will become yours and you will become mine / I choose you

Ellie Goulding – How Long Will I Love You
2013, Pop

How long will I love you? / As long as stars are above you / And longer if I may

Ben Rector – Forever Like That
2013, Pop

I wanna spend all of my days with you / Carry your burden and be the wind at your back / Well, I wanna spend my forever

Christina Perri – A Thousand Years
2011, Pop

I have loved you for a thousand years / I’ll love you for a thousand more

Jason Mraz – I’m Yours
2008, Pop

But I won’t hesitate no more / No more it cannot wait, I’m yours

Country First Dance Songs

You – Dan + Shay
2021, Country

I got you, ooh, ooh
For the rest of my life
And if all else goes wrong, baby
I’ll be alright
‘Cause I got you

on God. – Sammy Arriaga
2021, Country

On God, on my Momma
If I gotta fight for ya I’m gonna / Yeah you know I’d leave this world / ‘Fore I leave you girl

Matt Cooper – This Room
2021, Country

Girl take my hand
We’ll paint this thing
With memories

Luke Combs – Forever After All
2021, Country

Other things that I could look at my whole life / A love like that makes a man have second thoughts / Maybe some things last forever after all

Adam Doleac – Another (Wedding Version)
2021, Country

Yeah, from the second that we f?ll into each other / Knew I was never gonna ever wanna / Never ever gonna want another

Kelsey Hart – Crazy ’bout You
2021, Country

Cuz I’m crazy about you

Spencer Crandall – My Person (Wedding Version)
2021, Country

My reason for speedin’ home from work / My saving grace, my everything / I’ve never been more sure that you’re my person

Drew Baldridge – That’s You
2021, Country

My sweetest sin, my do me in, my heaven-sent Hail Mary prayer / Yeah, my one I’d rather be down deep six feet than have to lose, that’s you

Alana Springsteen – Always Gonna Love You (First Dance Version)
2020, Country

I will always be in love with who you are / Right here, right now, with me tonight

Morgan Wallen – Cover Me Up
2020, Country

So cover me up and know you’re enough / To use me for good

Wade Bowen – Who I Am
2020, Country

I love that I’m your man / Now that you’re in my life, baby, I know / Exactly who I am

Jonny Houlihan – So in Love With You
2020, Country

Make me a happy man / By wear my ring on your hand

Anthony Nix – Because of You
2020, Country

Because of You / I have finally found a place where I can hang my hat / No need to keep looking around

Chris Stapleton – Joy of My Life
2020, Country

She takes me by the hand / I am the luckiest man alive / Did I tell you, baby / You are the joy of my life

Blake Shelton Duet with Gwen Stefani – Nobody But You
2019, Country

Wanna wake up with you next to me / I don’t wanna go down any other road now / I don’t wanna love nobody but you

Old Dominion – One Man Band
2019, Country

Baby, take my hand / I don’t wanna be a one man band

Chris Lane – Big, Big Plans
2019, Country

Asked her mama for permission and her daddy for her hand / I got some big, big plans

Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber – 10,000 Hours
2019, Country

If it’s ten thousand hours or the rest of my life / I’m gonna love you

Jason Aldean – Got What I Got
2019, Country

I said, “You know and I know / You’re perfect for me / Everything I’ll ever need”

Matt Stell – Prayed For You
2019, Country

It’s hard to imagine, bigger than I could fathom / I didn’t know you from Adam, but I prayed for you

Kane Brown – Good As You
2019, Country

So when it comes to lovin’ you, baby / No, it will never get old

Donovan Woods – Clean Slate
2019, Country

I wanna give you my heart, unburdened by all the uncertainty we face / I wanna love you with a clean slate

Jonny Houlihan, Briana Tyson – Couldn’t Love You More
2019, Country

‘Cause you just took my last name / We both kissed, turn around / And start go walking down the aisle / I can’t wait to live my life

Jasmine Rae – When I Found You
2018, Country

We’ll dance for the first time / As husband and wife / And my heart will keep dancing / For the rest of my life

Jimmie Allen – Best Shot
2018, Country

But I’ll love you with everything I’ve got / Girl, I’ll give you my best shot

Scotty McCreery – This Is It
2018, Country

Take my hand, just take it in / This is a moment we won’t forget / On top of the world here together

Dan + Shay – Speechless
2018, Country

I thank God you can read my mind / ‘Cause when you look at me with those eyes / I’m speechless

Kacey Musgraves – Butterflies
2018, Country

I was hiding in doubt ’til you brought me out of my chrysalis / And I came out new / All because of you

Luke Combs – Beautiful Crazy
2018, Country

Yeah, she’s crazy / But her crazy’s beautiful to me

Kane Brown – Heaven
2017, Country

‘Cause, I don’t know how, I don’t know how heaven, heaven / Could be better than this

Brett Young – In Case You Didn’t Know
2017, Country

I don’t tell you all the time / You had my heart a long, long time ago / In case you didn’t know

Blane Howard – Promise to Love Her
2017, Country

I promise to love her / With all that I have / I’ll put nothing above her / And I won’t turn my back

Chris Stapleton – Millionaire
2017, Country

Down deep as a diamond mine / She’s my treasure so very rare / She’s made me a millionaire

Russell Dickerson – Yours
2016, Country

You make me better than I was before / Thank God I’m yours

Thomas Rhett – Die A Happy Man
2015, Country

Oh, if all I got is your hand in my hand / Baby, I could die a happy man

Rascal Flatts – Bless The Broken Road
2004, Country

This much I know is true / That God blessed the broken road / That led me straight to you

Indie First Dance Songs

I GUESS I’M IN LOVE – Clinton Kane
2021, Indie

You’re everything that I want, but I didn’t think I’d find
Someone who is worth the wait of all the years of my heartbreak
But I know now I found the one I love

Drew Angus – Made to Love You
2021, Indie

Hearts were made to beat / hands were made to hold / now with you in front of me

Conor Maynard – Crowded Room
2021, Indie

I don’t deserve this night with you / But I’d love to / Spend my life with you

Phil Socci – For the Rest of My Life
2021, Indie

Through the ups and downs
And for the rest of my life
I choose you

John Adams – Amen
2021, Indie

Oh darling I’ve stopped praying for someone
Since you came along, so
Amen

Leah Nobel – Beginning Middle End
2021, Indie

Will you be my beginning, my middle, my end? / Will you be mine?

Aly & AJ – Slow Dancing
2020, Indie

Hell’s bending keeping me captive / Heaven’s here it’s right where you’re standing / Slow dancing

Hollow Coves – Evermore
2020, Indie

That day I came to find / That you are all / I was hoping for / It’s you I’ll call / My evermore

Tom Walker – Just You and I (Acoustic)
2019, Indie

‘Cause you’re the only one / Who brings light just like the sun / One step at a time / Just you and I

Samantha Durnan – I Found You
2019, Indie

Kodaline – The One
2015, Indie

You make my whole world feel so right when it’s wrong / That’s how I know you are the one

SafetySuit – Never Stop (Wedding Version)
2012, Indie

And with this love song to you / It’s not a momentary phase / You are my life, I don’t deserve you

Folk First Dance Songs

Paper Planes – The Best Thing
2021, Folk

Josh Beeman – Home
2021, Folk

Luca Fogale – You’re the One (Acoustic)
2021, Folk

So bend the rules
Or break them all
You and I
The same old cloth

Caleb Edens – I Chose You
2019, Folk

Romanticize life in 60 years / Singing we’ll grow young together, die in love together

Joy Williams – No Place Like You
2019, Folk

There ain’t nothing I can do / ‘Cause there’s no place / No place like you

Sheffield – Forever From Now
2019, Folk

I will love you forever from now / And I will hold you like no one’s around / Forever from now

Fortunate Ones – Before You
2018, Folk

And you can doubt every word I’ve ever said / Most of them are true / Like I can’t remember my life before you

Imaginary Future & Kina Grannis – I Will Spend My Whole Life Loving You
2017, Folk

Oh believe me / I’ve been counting my stars / Cause I will spend my whole life / Loving you

Johnnyswim – Touching Heaven
2016, Folk

You’ve been my glimpse of Kingdom right from the start / And you got me touching heaven

Ray Lamontagne – You Are The Best Thing
2008, Folk

You please me, you don’t even have to try / Oh, because / You are the best thing

Michelle Featherstone – We Are Man And Wife
2007, Folk

There is no doubt that / You are the one for me / Cause you are the love of my life

R&B First Dance Songs

Jay Sean – Incomplete
2021, R&B

Never know when it could be different / If there was no you, I’d be, I’d be incomplete

Eboni – Once Upon a Love
2021, R&B

Dionne Carole – I Love You More
2021, R&B

Otis Kane – Without You
2021, R&B

I don’t want to spend a day / Without you

Kem, Toni Braxton – Live Out Your Love
2020, R&B

I’m in love again / I’ll do whatever you want me to do / I’m in love again / With you

Ledisi & PJ Morton – Anything For You (The Duet)
2020, R&B

You are my life (my life), one means us two / (I’ll do) anything, anything for you

Pink Sweat$ – 17
2020, R&B

I wanna love you as strong / When we’re ninety-two, the same as seventeen

Phora feat. Jhené Aiko – Stars In The Sky
2020, R&B

You know I love you / I see a halo above you / Planets align when I touch you

Tiana Major9 & EARTHGANG – Collide
2019, R&B

And I love you religiously / With everything inside of me / As long as I’m / As long as I’m alive

Johnny Gill feat. Ralph Tresvant – Perfect
2019, R&B

Ooh, girl I’m telling you you’re perfect / Girl, you’re so damn perfect / You’re perfect for me

Rahsaan Patterson – Sent From Heaven
2019, R&B

A beautiful expression / An expression of love so glorious / Yeah, yeah, you are / Sent from heaven

Temmora feat. Karma – The Only One
2019, R&B

Baby you’re the only one / Got exactly what I want

Snoh Aalegra – Find Someone Like You
2019, R&B

And even when it’s bad, I love you / I’ve been waitin’ my whole life, to find someone like you

Derran Day – My Word
2018, R&B

We’ll never grow apart / I won’t let it happen / You have my word

Tamia – Today I Do
2018, R&B

So here I stand, baby this isn’t pretend / Oh, today I do / Today I’m saying I do to you

Leon Bridges – Beyond
2018, R&B

Will she have my kids? Will she be my wife? / She might just be my everything and beyond

H.E.R. feat. Daniel Caesar – Best Part
2017, R&B

Where you go I follow / No matter how far / If life is a movie / Oh you’re the best part

MAJOR. – Why I Love You
2016, R&B

Every moment that you smile chases all of the pain away / Forever and a while in my heart is where you’ll stay

Meghan Trainor feat. John Legend – Like I’m Gonna Lose You
2015, R&B

I won’t take you for granted / ‘Cause we’ll never know when, when we’ll run out of time / So I’m gonna love you like I’m gonna lose you

John Legend – All Of Me
2013, R&B

‘Cause all of me / Loves all of you

Eric Benet & Tamia – Spend My Life With You
2000, R&B

Can’t you just feel how much I love you / With one touch of my hand / Can I just spend my life with you

Rock First Dance Songs

Jax Hollow – Drift Together
2021, Rock

Welcome to my life / I’ve been waiting on you, waiting waiting for a long time

LANY – nobody else
2020, Rock

And if heaven doesn’t want us / Would you go with me to hell? / Hope you know I don’t want nobody else

O.A.R. – All Because of You
2019, Rock

I’ll be here forever / We’re so good when we’re together / Let me hold you ’til we’re older

Ed Sheeran – Perfect
2017, Rock

Darling, just hold my hand / Be my girl, I’ll be your man / I see my future in your eyes

Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud
2014, Rock

Place your head on my beating heart / I’m thinking out loud / That maybe we found love right where we are

Train – Marry Me
2010, Rock

Marry me / Today and every day / Marry me

Jack Johnson – Better Together
2005, Rock

It’s not always easy and / Sometimes life can be deceiving / I’ll tell you one thing / it’s always better when we’re together

Mazzy Star – Fade Into You
1994, Rock

You put your hands into your head
And then its smiles cover your heart
Fade into you

Miscellaneous First Dance Songs

Lil Yachty – Love Music
2021, Hip Hop

Good things about you and your ways
All I ever do is think of you (yeah)
Think of you and me holding hands

CHIKA – CINDERELLA, Pt. 2
2021, Hip Hop

Cinderella, you sound like me / I remember you from my dreams / When I’m with you, you make time freeze

Michael Buble – Everything
2007, Jazz

It’s you, it’s you, you make me sing / You’re every line, you’re every word, you’re everything

NewSong – When God Made You
2004, Christian

I wonder if He knew everythin I would need / Because He made all my dreams come true / When God made you

What is the Best First Dance Wedding Song?

The best first dance song as a couple is a subjective choice. BUT, if I had to choose just one song, it would be I Can’t Help Falling In Love. The original is by Elvis but many covers of this song are great like Kina Grannis, Haley Reinhart, and Music Travel Love. Many brides and grooms prepare for months for their first dance by attending dance lessons. You may want to learn a magnificent waltz, spicy tango, or a glamorous dance routine you saw on Dancing with the Stars.

It is a wonderful surprise for the guests if they are entertained by the couple’s dance number. If you plan on doing a special, professional dance for your first dance, contact a local dance studio and get lessons.

When is the first dance at my wedding?

The wedding first dance is the first dance between newlyweds as a married couple. This can be the first dance at the wedding reception.  The first dance can also start the formal dances following the meal.  This dance is commonly followed by the father-daughter dance and mother-son dance. The end of the ceremonial dances is marked by the entire wedding party dancing. The bridal party invites others to join.

It’s your wedding party. The timing of the bride and groom’s dance at the reception is based on your preferences. The first dance can be done immediately following the grand entrance. You can be surrounded by your wedding party if you wish. If being watched makes you uncomfortable, that’s okay, too.

Talk to your wedding planner, coordinate with the DJ, and earn more by reading our suggestion on how to format your wedding reception.

The progression of the evening is up to you: the wedding couple. The most important thing is to have the couple agree on a song that is special to them. To inspire you, we’ve curated the best 125 first dance songs out of thousands to choose from.

Similar song lists for further reading:

• 30 Classic First Dance Songs Perfect For Today
• 40 R&B First Dance Songs
• Best Country First Dance Songs
• 10 Wedding First Dance Songs Not Overplayed
• 21 Modern First Dance Songs

How Do You Make Your First Dance Special?

Making your first dance special is as simple as choosing a song that has meaning to you both — as a couple. Wedding first dance songs are remembered by the wedding couple for the rest of your lives. So, it’s important to pick a song that is significant to you. Some couples choose a funny song or an instrumental song. Those can be just as memorable as a touching ballad.

When the couple chooses the first song for a reason, it’s more special. Don’t be tricked into choosing a song because it was popular or traditional. Also, remember that though people are watching you, this dance is for you. Make eye contact. Chat with each other. Caress your partner. Enjoy the moment — it’s for you.

Does a First Dance Have to be Slow?

No. The first dance at your wedding reception does not have to be slow.  However, it does set the mood for the entire reception. If you don’t have a song, we suggest selecting a song where the lyrics mean something to you.

Why do you think that Sarah McLachlan’s song “Ice Cream” is on many first dance song lists? It’s because it has cool words like “your love is better than chocolate, better than anything else that I’ve tried.” Corny? Maybe. But who cares what everyone else thinks? Maybe you met at an ice cream parlor. Then, the song would be awesome as a first dance song.

It’s okay to be creative. You don’t have to be like everyone else and dance to the overplayed Celine Dion love songs (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

Not only does the song not have to be slow, but it doesn’t have to adhere to any musical genre. Many wedding couples take dancing lessons to a jazz song, classical, or a rock ballad. That way, bridal couples don’t look goofy dancing in a circle through the whole song (like we did).

Couples who take dance lessons have a deeper connection to the song. It will have significant meaning to them for the rest of their lives since they spent so long practicing it. They will also have the memories of getting the lessons together — a great break from the stress of planning the wedding.

What Should You Choose for Your First Dance Song?

Being music enthusiasts, this was an easy choice for both my wife and me. We dedicated a song to each other during our courting stage.

Wedding couples should choose a song that means something to them. It doesn’t even necessarily have to be a slow song. This will be the first song as a married couple you will dance to — in public! All eyes are on you.

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