First Dance Songs Every Wedding DJ Should Know (by Theme & BPM)

Quick Take: First Dance Songs for Wedding DJs – 100+ tracks organized by theme, BPM, and key to help you wow couples during their most emotional moment. Updated for 2025 wedding trends.

As a fellow wedding DJ, I’ve learned that the first dance sets the tone for the entire reception. The right song can transform a room, elevate emotion, and showcase your ability to read a couple’s vibe. This list isn’t just for inspiration; it’s a working tool for DJs who want to deliver unforgettable first dance moments, complete with BPM, key, and emotional theme data for smooth mixing and confident recommendations.

This includes my own first dance to Tanya Tucker’s ‘Two Sparrows In A Hurricane’. Below, I’ve curated a list of songs not just by popularity, but by the emotional connection and lyrical story they tell, a key to a perfect first dance.

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How DJs Can Use This List

• Use the BPM & key data to build seamless transitions from the first dance to open dancing.
• Create first dance mixes or short-edit versions for couples with time constraints.
• Offer song discovery by introducing couples to songs before they trend.
• Use this page as a consultation guide during music planning meetings.

Pro Tip: Build a First Dance Vault – Maintain your own playlists for different moods (classic romance, country love, indie acoustic, upbeat fun).

First Dance Songs by Theme

Modern first dance songs

Modern first dance songs capture the contemporary romance of today’s couples with fresh tracks and powerful lyrics. In my experience as a DJ, top choices often include Luke Combs’ ‘Beautiful Crazy’ and John Legend’s ‘Conversations In The Dark’. This list comprises popular hits that are frequently requested and are perfectly suited for a modern-day first dance.

• All of Me – John Legend & Lindsey Stirling
• All the Way – Shane Smith & the Saints
• All Your’n – Tyler Childers
• Amazing – Teddy Swims
• Amen – John Adams
• Baby I’m Yours – Arctic Monkeys
• Beautiful Crazy – Luke Combs
• Better Together – Luke Combs
• Beyond – Leon Bridges
• Conversations In The Dark – John Legend
• Dance With You – Brett Young
• Find Someone Like You – Snoh Aalegra
• First Date (Acoustic) – Taylor Acorn
• Forever After All – Luke Combs
• From The Ground Up – Dan + Shay
• I Am Yours – Andy Grammer
• In Case You Didn’t Know – Brett Young
• In Your Love – Tyler Childers
• Joy of My Life – Chris Stapleton
• Life With You – Kelsey Hart
• Lifetime – Justin Bieber
• Love Someone – Lukas Graham
• Love You Anyway – Devon Gilfillian
• Love You Anyway – Luke Combs
• Lover – Taylor Swift
• Made For Me – Muni Long
• Made to Love You – Drew Angus
• My Best Friend – Tim McGraw
• My Person (Wedding Version) – Spencer Crandall
• Never Stop (Wedding Version) – SafetySuit
• Perfect – Ed Sheeran
• Perfect For Me – Bradley Marshall
• Pointless – Lewis Capaldi
• Promise to Love Her – Blane Howard
• Say You Won’t Let Go – James Arthur
• Sent From Heaven – Rahsaan Patterson
• Tennessee Whiskey – Chris Stapleton
• That’s What Love Is – Alexandra Kay
• Until I Found You – Stephen Sanchez
• You (Acoustic) – Dan + Shay

New First Dance Songs

This list features newly released love songs that are perfect for a first dance. These tracks are on the rise but haven’t reached mainstream popularity yet, allowing you to choose a song that feels truly unique to your wedding. Consider gems like Noah Kahan’s “Forever” or Dean Lewis’s “Love Of My Life”.

• 10-90 – Muscadine Bloodline
• All I Want Is You – The Decemberists
• ALL MY LOVE – Coldplay
• Always You – Skip Ewing
• Fade Into You – Sponge
• Forever – Noah Kahan
• Forever To Me – Cole Swindell
• Invisible – Knox
• Last Lover – Tommee Profitt & Stanaj
• Let’s Fall In Love – Raheem DeVaughn
• Lose Her Forever – Jon Langston
• Lost in You (Remix) – Jade Novah & Kevin Ross
• Love Of My Life – Dean Lewis
• Seven Lions, SLANDER, & Dabin – First Time feat. Dylan Matthew
• Warrior – Jana Kramer
• Wondering Why – The Red Clay Strays

Classic First Dance Songs

Many love songs from the past remain popular first dance choices for their timeless lyrics and nostalgic feel. From the soulful sound of Etta James’s “At Last” to the iconic romance of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love’, these classics ensure a truly memorable moment that never goes out of style.

• Amazed – Lonestar
• At Last – Etta James
• Bless the Broken Road – Rascal Flatts
• Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley
• Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You – Frankie Valli
• Everything – Mary J. Blige
• I Cross My Heart – George Strait
• I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing – Aerosmith
• Stand By Me – Ben E. King
• The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
• Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton

Duet First Dances

A duet offers a beautiful way to highlight a couple’s partnership through music. These love songs feature two vocalists and are a popular choice for first dances. The list includes fan favorites like Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani’s “Nobody But You” and newer hits like Kane and Katelyn Brown’s “Thank God”.

• Anything For You (The Duet) – Ledisi & PJ Morton
• Best Part – H.E.R. feat. Daniel Caesar
• If You Love Her – Forest Blakk feat. Meghan Trainor
• Like I’m Gonna Lose You – Meghan Trainor feat. John Legend
• Never Til Now – Ashley Cooke, Brett Young
• Nobody But You – Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani
• Space In My Heart – Enrique Iglesias, Miranda Lambert
• Thank God – Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown
• The Rest of Our Life – Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
• You Are The Reason – Calum Scott & Leona Lewis

LGBTQ+ First Dance Songs

This curated list features powerful love songs performed by artists from the LGBTQ+ community. These tracks are chosen for their gender-neutral lyrics and universal messages of love, offering beautiful and inclusive options for any couple. Top picks include Calum Scott’s “Biblical” and Ben Platt’s “Imagine (Acoustic)”.

• Biblical – Calum Scott
• Heaven – Calum Scott
• If There Was No You – Brandi Carlile
• Imagine (Acoustic) – Ben Platt
• Never Love You Enough – Chely Wright
• Sweet Symphony – Joy Oladokun, Chris Stapleton

Movies & TV First Dance Songs

Sometimes, the perfect first dance song comes from a film or TV show. These tracks became massive hits after being featured in cinematic moments. Think of the sweeping romance of Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years” from Twilight or Lady Gaga’s emotional “I’ll Never Love Again” from A Star Is Born.

• A Thousand Years – Christina Perri (Twilight)
• I’ll Never Love Again – Lady Gaga (A Star Is Born)

Unique first dance songs

For couples who want a truly non-traditional and unique first dance song, this list features hidden gems that you won’t hear at most weddings. These tracks, such as Hollow Coves’ ‘Evermore’ or Clark Beckham’s ‘Luckiest Man’, are perfect for a couple who wants a song that is uniquely theirs and a surprise for their guests.

• Best Friend – Pacific Skyway
• Dressed Up In White – Cal
• Evermore – Hollow Coves
• Forever From Now – Sheffield
• I GUESS I’M IN LOVE – Clinton Kane
• I Will Spend My Whole Life Loving You – I. Future & K. Grannis
• If I Didn’t Love You – Ben Abraham
• Luckiest Man – Clark Beckham

Upbeat & Fun First Dance Songs

If you want to add a bit of fun personality to your first dance, this list is for you. These upbeat, high-energy songs are perfect for couples who want to surprise their guests with a more lively dance. Get the party started with iconic hits like Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” or WALK THE MOON’s “Shut Up and Dance”.

• Dancing Queen – ABBA
• I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston
• September – Earth, Wind & Fire
• Shut Up and Dance – Walk the Moon
• You Are The Best Thing – Ray Lamontagne

Songs Written for the Dance

The following songs were written specifically for a romantic dance or with a wedding in mind. These tracks are often marked with phrases like “First Dance Version” or “Wedding Version,” making them an intentional and touching choice for your big day. Examples include Alana Springsteen’s “Always Gonna Love You (First Dance Version)” and Taylor Swift’s “Lover (First Dance Remix)”.

• Always Gonna Love You (First Dance Version) – Alana Springsteen
• First Dance – Hasan Green
• First Dancin’ – 2 Lane Summer
• Growing Old With You (First Dance Version) – Restless Road
• Lover (First Dance Remix) – Taylor Swift
• Spin You Around (1/24) – Morgan Wallen

First Dance Tracks with BPM and Key

For those planning the perfect dance routine, or for DJs managing the flow of the night, this table provides crucial data. Knowing a song’s BPM (beats per minute) and its musical key can help you choose a song that matches your dance style and makes for a seamless mix.

*BPM and key pulled from SongData.io

Stream the First Dance Wedding DJ Playlist on Spotify

Do you have a favorite first dance song? Please share your song below in the comments.

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