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You are here: Home1 / Wedding Song Lists2 / First Dance Songs List
101 best first dance songs as married couple

125 Best First Dance Songs For Wedding Couples

 

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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.

The progression of the evening is up to you: the bride and groom. 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.

101 best first dance songs as married couple

 

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 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.

 

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 At Last by Etta James.  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 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.

 

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.

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

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 wedding first dance songs around the United States.

First dance song list curated by Matthew Campbell
Last Updated: January 24, 2021

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

SongAmazon Link
A Great Big World
You
2018, Pop
Adam Doleac
Another
2020, Country
Adele
Lovesong
2011, Pop
Alana Springsteen
Always Gonna Love You (First Dance Version)
2020, Country
Alex Harris
Falling for You
2020, R&B
Alicia Keys
No One
2007, R&B
Aly & AJ
Slow Dancing
2020, Indie
Amours
All The Time
2019, R&B
Andy Grammer
I Am Yours
2019, Pop
Anthony Hamilton
Best of Me
2011, R&B
Anthony Nix
Because of You
2020, Country
Ben Folds
The Luckiest
2001, Rock
Ben Rector
Forever Like That
2013, Pop
Blake Shelton Duet with Gwen Stefani
Nobody But You
2019, Country
Blake Shelton
God Gave Me You
2011, Country
Blane Howard
Promise to Love Her
2017, Country
Brad Paisley
Then
2009, Country
Brett Young
In Case You Didn't Know
2017, Country
Caleb Edens
I Chose You
2019, Folk
Calum Scott & Leona Lewis
You Are The Reason
2018, Pop
Chris Lane
Big, Big Plans
2019, Country
Chris Stapleton
Joy of My Life
2020, Country
Chris Stapleton
Millionaire
2017, Country
Chris Stapleton
Tennessee Whiskey
2015, Country
Chris Young
Who I Am With You
2014, Country
Christina Perri
A Thousand Years
2011, Pop
Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber
10,000 Hours
2019, Country
Dan + Shay
From the Ground Up
2016, Country
Dan + Shay
Speechless
2018, Country
Derran Day
My Word
2018, R&B
Donovan Woods
Clean Slate
2019, Country
Drew Holcomb & Ellie Holcomb
Electricity
2019, Pop
Echosmith feat. Mat Kearney
Tell Her You Love Her
2021, Pop
Ed Sheeran feat. YEBBA
Best Part Of Me
2019, Pop
Ed Sheeran
Perfect
2017, Rock
Ed Sheeran
Thinking Out Loud
2014, Rock
Ellie Goulding
How Long Will I Love You
2013, Pop
Eric Benet & Tamia
Spend My Life With You
2000, R&B
Fantasia
Enough
2019, R&B
Florida Georgia Line
Second Guessing
2020, Country
Forest Blakk
If You Love Her
2020, Pop
Fortunate Ones
Before You
2018, Folk
Frank Ocean
Moon River
2018, Pop
Greta Van Fleet
You're the One
2018, Rock
H.E.R. feat. Daniel Caesar
Best Part
2017, R&B
Haley Reinhart
Can't Help Falling in Love With You
2015, Pop
Hollow Coves
Evermore
2020, Indie
Imaginary Future & Kina Grannis
I Will Spend My Whole Life Loving You
2017, Folk
India.Arie
Steady Love
2019, R&B
Jack Johnson
Better Together
2005, Rock
James Arthur
Falling like the Stars
2019, Pop
James Arthur
Say You Won't Let Go
2016, Pop
James TW
Incredible
2019, Pop
Jasmine Rae
When I Found You
2018, Country
Jason Aldean
Got What I Got
2019, Country
Jason Aldean
You Make It Easy
2018, Country
Jason Mraz
I'm Yours
2008, Pop
Jeremy Zucker & Chelsea Cutler
this is how you fall in love
2021, Pop
Jimmie Allen
Best Shot
2018, Country
John Legend
All Of Me
2013, R&B
John Mayer
XO
2014, Rock
Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant
Perfect
2019, R&B
Johnnyswim
Touching Heaven
2016, Folk
Jonny Houlihan
So in Love With You
2020, Country
Joy Williams
No Place Like You
2019, Folk
Kacey Musgraves
Butterflies
2018, Country
Kane Brown
Good As You
2019, Country
Kane Brown
Heaven
2017, Country
Kane Brown
Homesick (First Dance Version)
2019, Country
Kem, Toni Braxton
Live Out Your Love
2020, R&B
Kiana Ledé
I Choose You (Acoustic)
2017, R&B
Kodaline
The One
2015, Indie
LANY
nobody else
2020, Rock
Lawson Bates feat. Olivia Collingsworth
One + One
2019, Country Christian
Ledisi & PJ Morton
Anything For You (The Duet)
2020, R&B
Ledisi
Anything For You
2020, R&B
Lee Brice
I Don't Dance
2014, Country
Leon Bridges
Beyond
2018, R&B
Lifehouse
You And Me
2005, Rock
Lukas Graham
Love Someone
2018, Pop
Luke Combs
Beautiful Crazy
2018, Country
Luke Combs
Better Together
2019, Country
MAJOR.
Why I Love You
2016, R&B
Matt Stell
Prayed For You
2019, Country
Meghan Trainor feat. John Legend
Like I'm Gonna Lose You
2015, Soul
Michael Buble
Everything
2007, Jazz
Michelle Featherstone
We Are Man And Wife
2007, Folk
Morgan Wallen
Cover Me Up
2020, Country
NewSong
When God Made You
2004, Christian
Niall Horan
Black And White (Stripped)
2020, Pop
O.A.R.
All Because of You
2019, Rock
Old Dominion
One Man Band
2019, Country
P!nk feat. Chris Stapleton
Love Me Anyway
2019, Pop
Phillip Phillips
Dance With Me
2017, Pop
Phora feat. Jhené Aiko
Stars In The Sky
2020, R&B
Pink Sweat$
17
2020, R&B
Rahsaan Patterson
Sent From Heaven
2019, R&B
Rascal Flatts
Bless The Broken Road
2004, Country
Ray Lamontagne
You Are The Best Thing
2008, Folk
Reneé Dominique feat. Jason Mraz
Could I Love You Any More
2019, Pop
Robin Thicke
That's What Love Can Do
2019, R&B
Ronan Keating & Emeli Sande
One Of A Kind
2020, Pop
Ronan Keating
Forever Aint Enough
2020, Pop
Ross David
In the End
2019, Pop
Russell Dickerson
Yours
2016, Country
Ryann Darling feat. Cory Ard
For a Lifetime
2018, Pop
SafetySuit
Never Stop (Wedding Version)
2012, Pop Rock
Samantha Durnan
I Found You
2019, Indie
Sara Bareilles
I Choose You
2014, Pop
Scotty McCreery
This Is It
2018, Country
Sheffield
Forever From Now
2019, Folk
Snoh Aalegra
Find Someone Like You
2019, R&B
Tamia
Today I Do
2018, R&B
Taylor Swift
Lover (First Dance Remix)
2019, Pop
Temmora feat. Karma
The Only One
2019, R&B
Thomas Rhett
Die A Happy Man
2015, Country
Tiana Major9 & EARTHGANG
Collide
2019, R&B
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
The Rest Of Our Life
2017, Country
Tom Odell
Grow Old with Me
2013, Indie
Tom Walker
Just You and I
2019, Indie
Train
Marry Me
2010, Rock
Tyler Shaw
When You're Home
2021, Pop
Vance Joy
I'm With You
2018, Indie
Wade Bowen
Who I Am
2020, Country
Whitney Houston
I Will Always Love You
1992, R&B


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14 responses to “First Dance Songs List”

  1. Avatar Devon Halsell says:
    January 17, 2021 at 7:30 am

    I was so excited to see Leon Bridges on this list! We plan on dancing to his song Coming Home for our first dance.

    Reply
    • Avatar Matthew Campbell says:
      January 17, 2021 at 7:59 am

      Congratulations Devon. Yes, Leon Bridges is one of our favorite artists for weddings.

      Reply
  2. Avatar Michael Taylor says:
    December 25, 2020 at 3:48 pm

    where can I find Once In A Lifetime by Robert J Walsh?

    Reply
    • Avatar Matthew Campbell says:
      December 26, 2020 at 2:54 pm

      Hi Michael. Thanks for your suggestion. Your suggestion is a very romantic love song. One that the generation of its time will cherish.

      Reply
  3. Avatar Anonincanada says:
    July 19, 2020 at 1:30 am

    Two I would add to this list would include Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville’s duet ‘All My Life’ (it’s best known as the wedding song from ‘Baywatch’ but was a popular first dance song in the 90s) and Anne Murray’s classic ‘Could I have This Dance’ from the movie ‘Urban Cowboy’.

    Reply
    • Avatar Matthew Campbell says:
      July 19, 2020 at 7:17 pm

      Thank you for the suggestions. Yes, the 2 songs you mentioned are great first dance songs. However, their popularity as first dance songs has diminished over time. We do have the songs mentioned on other playlists on the site.

      Reply
  4. Avatar Christe says:
    August 20, 2019 at 11:41 pm

    Kygo Firestone

    Reply
    • Avatar Matthew Campbell says:
      August 21, 2019 at 6:01 pm

      Thanks for the suggestion Christe. Here is a link to the song on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Sc-ir2UwGU

      Reply
  5. Avatar Victoria Brown says:
    July 3, 2019 at 10:17 pm

    This is an incredible list. Thank you so much. I will say though, my dream song since I was about 16 has been The Book of Love by Peter Gabriel.

    Reply
    • Avatar Matthew Campbell says:
      July 4, 2019 at 5:18 pm

      Thank you, Victoria. I still see it on wedding lists. However, his most popular wedding song remains as “In Your Eyes” from the movie Say Anything.

      Reply
  6. Avatar David says:
    May 2, 2019 at 2:52 pm

    While there’s thousands of good possibilities, another one that is worth mentioning is “You needed me” by Anne Murray.

    Reply
    • Avatar Matthew Campbell says:
      May 2, 2019 at 7:07 pm

      Hi David. Thanks for your suggestion. Anne Murray is an all-time Country legend and this song would make for the perfect first dance song.

      Reply
  7. Avatar Juliet says:
    March 8, 2017 at 7:08 am

    I’d add two songs
    1. Jessie Ware-Say you love me
    2. Kaliber-Call me out
    I’m so in love with them! ??

    Reply
    • Avatar Matthew Campbell says:
      March 8, 2017 at 7:35 am

      Thanks Juliet. Jessie Ware – Say You Love Me is a great song with a ton of emotion and even includes Ed Sheeran. However, the story of the song don’t make it perfect for a first dance song (in our opinion).

      Reply

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