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Your First Dance Is On This List! 250 Song Ideas

Last Updated: 9th January 2023

When it comes to choosing music for your big day, choosing a first dance song is surely one of the hardest decisions you’ll make. How do you choose a song that represents you as a couple, has the right sentiments and will give you all the feels every time you hear it after the wedding? It’s a tough job so we’ve done our best to help you out by creating the ultimate list of first dance wedding songs!

You might be looking for a classic, contemporary, unusual, rock, upbeat or even funny song for your first dance. Whatever it is you’re after, you’ll find inspiration here.

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So how do you choose the perfect first dance song?

  • Firstly, decide what style of music to go for. Even if one of you loves death metal and the other is a cheesy-pop fan, there will be something that you’ll both enjoy. Find the common ground and start from there.
  • Next, have a listen to the lyrics. Do they mean something to the both of you? When you actually sit down and listen to songs, you’ll be surprised at how some will speak to you and others will leave you cold.
  • Then consider the pace of the song. You might want to slow dance or you might feel more comfortable with a faster-paced number. If you’re planning a choreographed dance, a song at a faster speed or with a heavy beat will probably be more suitable. If you’re shy and don’t like the limelight this can also be a great option as it makes it easier for your guests to join you as soon as you ask them to.
  • Lastly, just because some songs are traditional or extremely popular doesn’t make them right for you. Go with your gut when you hear the perfect song!

So let’s have a look at some of the first dance song ideas we have collated. We’ve put them into categories to make it easier to sift through them. Happy hunting! We hope you find your first dance!

  • Pop First Dance Songs
  • Rock First Dance Songs
  • Golden Oldies
  • Soul And Motown First Dance Songs
  • RnB First Dance Songs
  • Indie First Dance Songs
  • Country First Dance Songs


    • Pop First Dance Songs

    Within this list of pop first dance songs, you’ll find romantic songs that have been featured in films, cute love songs and outright declarations of love – all would make brilliant choices!

    (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life – Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes

    A Million Love Songs – Take That

    A Moment Like This – Kelly Clarkson

    A Sky Full of Stars – Coldplay

    A Thousand Years – Christina Perri

    Accidentally In Love – Counting Crows

    Adore You – Miley Cyrus

    Ain’t No Stopping Us Now – McFadden & Whitehead

    All About You – McFly

    Alone – Jessie Ware

    Angels – Robbie Williams

    Better – Tom Baxter

    Better Half of Me – Tom Walker

    Better Together – Jack Johnson

    Budapest – George Ezra

    By Your Side – Sade

    Can You Feel The Love Tonight – Elton John

    Can’t Smile Without You – Barry Manilow

    Cannonball – Damien Rice

    Come Away With Me – Norah Jones

    Crush – Dave Matthews Band

    Everything – Michael Bublé

    Everything Has Changed – Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran

    Falling In Love With You Again – Imelda May

    Faster – Matt Nathanson

    Fireflies – Owl City

    First Times – Ed Sheeran

    Forever – Ben Harper

    Forever Like That – Ben Rector

    Girl You’re Alright – Paul Otten

    Give Me Love – Ed Sheeran

    God Only Knows – The Beach Boys

    Greatest Day – Take That

    Grow Old With You – Adam Sandler

    Have You Ever Been In Love – Celine Dion

    Higher Love – Steve Winwood

    Hold You in My Arms – Ray Lamontagne

    Honeybee – The Head and the Heart

    How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding

    I Am Yours – Andy Grammer

    I Knew I Loved You – Savage Garden

    I’ll Never Not Love You – Michael Bublé

    I Love You – Celine Dion

    I Wanna Grow Old With You – Westlife

    I Won’t Give Up – Jason Mraz

    Is This Love? – Bob Marley

    Kiss Me – Ed Sheeran

    Latch (Acoustic) – Sam Smith

    Like Teenage Gravity – Counting Crows

    Little Things – One Direction

    Love – Lana Del Rey

    Love Conquers All – Deep Purple

    Love In Slow Motion – Ed Sheeran

    Love Me Like You Do – Ellie Goulding

    Lover – Taylor Swift

    Lovesong – Adele

    Loving You – Paolo Nutini

    Lucky – Jason Mraz, Colbie Caillat

    Medicine – The 1975

    Only Wanna Be With You – Hootie and the Blowfish

    Only You – Yazoo

    Over And Over Again – Nathan Sykes

    Pointless – Lewis Capaldi

    Save The Best For Last – Vanessa Williams

    Say Yes – Elliott Smith

    Say You Won’t Let Go – James Arthur

    She’s The One – Robbie Williams

    Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwoʻole

    Songbird – Eva Cassidy

    Speechless – Dan + Shay

    The Book Of Love – Peter Gabriel

    The Look of Love – Dusty Springfield

    The Luckiest – Ben Folds

    Truly Madly Deeply – Savage Garden

    Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers

    Us Against the World – Coldplay

    When You Say Nothing At All – Ronan Keating

    When You’re Home – Tyler Shaw

    Where I Sleep – Emile Sande

    Who Would Have Thought – Dylan Dunlap

    Who’s Lovin’ You – Michael Bublé

    Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler

    Work Song – Hozier

    You Are So Beautiful – Joe Cocker

    You Are The Reason – Calum Scott & Leona Lewis

    You Do Something to Me – Paul Weller

    You Make It Real – James Morrison

    You’ve Got A Friend In Me – Randy Newman

    You’re the One That I Want – John Travolta and Olivia Newton

    You’ve Got the Love – Florence + the Machine

    Yours – Ella Henderson


    Rock First Dance Songs

    If you’re a couple who’d prefer to rock out for their first dance, you might find a song you love in this selection of classic rock ballads by some of the biggest rock bands of all time.

    All I Want Is You – U2

    All You Need Is Love – The Beatles

    At My Most Beautiful – R.E.M.

    Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison

    Come and Get Your Love – Redbone

    Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen

    Drops Of Jupiter – Train

    Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – The Police

    Fell in Love With a Girl – The White Stripes

    Have I Told You Lately – Van Morrison

    Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles

    I’m A Believer – The Monkees

    In My Life – The Beatles

    Keep On Loving You – REO Speedwagon

    Last Night On Earth – Green Day

    Livin’ for You – Boston

    Maybe I’m Amazed – Paul McCartney

    Nothing’s Going to Stop Us Now – Starship

    Romeo and Juliet – The Killers

    The Deeper The Love – Whitesnake

    Tonight, Tonight – The Smashing Pumpkins

    You’re My Best Friend – Queen

    You’re the Inspiration – Chicago




    Golden Oldies

    These songs might be old, but they’ve never gone out of style and never will! If you choose one, your first dance will be timeless.

    All My Tomorrows – Frank Sinatra

    All Of Me – Billie Holiday

    All The Way – Frank Sinatra

    Always – Sarah Vaughan & Billy Eckstein

    Because Of You – Tony Bennett

    Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley

    Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Andy Williams

    Cheek to Cheek – Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

    Come Rain or Come Shine – Ray Charles

    Fly Me to the Moon – Frank Sinatra

    I Get A Kick Out Of You – Frank Sinatra

    I’ve Got A Crush On You – Linda Ronstadt

    I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm – Ella Fitzgerald

    I’ll Be Seeing You – Billie Holiday

    It Had To Be You – Frank Sinatra

    L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole

    La Vie En Rose – Edith Piaf

    Let There Be Love – Nat King Cole

    Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love) – Ella Fitzgerald

    Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley

    Moon River – Andy Williams

    My Baby Just Cares For Me – Nina Simone

    My Favorite Things – John Coltrane

    She – Elvis Costello

    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Roberta Flack

    The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra

    The Wonder of You – Elvis Presley

    They Can’t Take That Away From Me – Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

    True Love Ways – Buddy Holly

    We Have All The Time In The World – Louis Armstrong

    What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong

    When a Man Loves a Woman – Percy Sledge

    When I Fall in Love – Nat King Cole

    When You’re Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You) – Louis Armstrong

    Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton



     


    Soul and Motown First Dance Songs

    Many soul and Motown songs lend themselves perfectly for a first dance song. These are all unbelievably romantic!

    (There Is) No Greater Love – Amy Winehouse

    Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

    Baby, I Need Your Lovin’ – Four Tops

    Be My Baby – The Ronettes

    Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me – Gladys Knight & The Pips

    Endless Love – Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross

    Everlasting Love – Love Affair

    For Once In My Life – Stevie Wonder

    For The Love Of You Pts. 1 and 2 – The Isley Brothers

    Hold Me – Stevie Wonder

    How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) – Marvin Gaye

    I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) – Four Tops

    I Found You – Alabama Shakes

    I Have Nothing – Whitney Houston

    I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston

    I Was Made To Love Her – Stevie Wonder

    I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston

    I’m Kissing You – Des’ree

    I’ll Always Love You – The Spinners

    I’ll Be There – Jackson 5

    Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder

    It Takes Two – Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston

    My Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder

    My Girl – The Temptations

    Overjoyed – Stevie Wonder

    Perfect Day – Lou Reed

    Reach Out I’ll Be There – Four Tops

    She’s Got a Way – Billy Joel

    Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours – Stevie Wonder

    This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You) – The Isley Brothers

    You Are – Lionel Richie

    You’re All I Need to Get By – Aretha Franklin

    You’re The First, The Last, My Everything – Barry White

    You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me – The Miracles

     


    RnB First Dance Songs

    If RnB is more your style, here’s our selection of modern and old-school hits that we think would all be brilliant for a first dance.

    All My Life – K-Ci & JoJo

    Angel Of Mine – Monica

    At Your Best (You Are Love) – Aaliyah

    Best I Ever Had – Drake

    Best Part – Daniel Caesar ft. H.E.R.

    Beyond – Leon Bridges

    Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Ms. Lauryn Hill

    Conversations in the Dark – John Legend

    Dontchange – Musiq Soulchild

    End Of Time – Beyoncé

    Find Someone Like You – Snoh Aalegra

    I Swear – All-4-One

    I’m Gonna Make You My Wife – The Whispers

    If I Ain’t Got You – Alicia Keys

    Incomplete – Sisqo

    Like I’m Gonna Lose You – Meghan Trainer ft. John Legend

    More Than You’ll Ever Know – Boyz II Men feat. Charlie Wilson

    Nobody – Brian McKnight

    One In A Million – Will Downing

    Send It On – D’Angelo

    Sent From Heaven – Rahsaan Patterson

    Share My Life – Kem

    Slow Jam – Usher, Monica

    Spend My Life With You – Tamia & Eric Benet

    Stay With You – John Legend

    That’s When I Knew – Alicia Keys

    The First Time – Surface

    The Point Of It All – Anthony Hamilton

    Thinkin Bout You – Frank Ocean

    Until the End of Time – Justin Timberlake, Beyonce

    Vision of Love – Mariah Carey


    Indie First Dance Songs

    If you’d like something a little bit cool and a little more unexpected, these indie first dance songs might be perfect for you.

    Baby I’m Yours – Arctic Monkeys

    Come Home – OneRepublic

    Don’t Delete The Kisses – Wolf Alice

    Happy Together – The Turtles

    Here Comes Your Man – Pixies

    Home – Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

    I Always Knew – The Vaccines

    I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor – Arctic Monkeys

    I’ll Be There For You – The Rembrandts

    It’s Time – Imagine Dragons

    Love You ‘Till the End – The Pogues

    Maps – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

    One Day Like This – Elbow

    Run – Snow Patrol

    She Moves In Her Own Way – The Kooks

    She’s So Lovely – Scouting For Girls

    Somewhere Only We Know – Keane

    That Kiss – The Courteeners

    There Is A Light That Never Goes Out – The Smiths

    With A Girl Like You – The Troggs

    XO – John Mayer


    Country First Dance Songs

    There won’t be a dry eye in the house if you choose one of these stunning country songs for your first dance. They are sentimental and tuneful – you really can’t go wrong if you pick one!

    10,000 Hours – Dan + Shay featuring Justin Bieber

    Amazed – Lonestar

    Annie’s Song – John Denver

    Blessed – Thomas Rhett

    From This Moment On – Shania Twain & Bryan White

    In Case You Didn’t Know – Brett Young

    Inside Your Heaven – Carrie Underwood

    Islands In the Stream – Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers

    Lady – Kenny Rogers

    Lay Your Heart Next to Mine – Steve Azar

    Love Never Fails – Brandon Heath

    Love You Like I Used To – Russell Dickerson

    Loving You Easy – Zac Brown Band

    My Best Friend – Tim McGraw

    One Great Mystery – Lady A

    Then – Brad Paisley

    We Will Dance – Steven Curtis Chapman

    What If – Colbie Caillat

    You and Me – Lifehouse

    You Are My Sunshine – Johnny Cash

    You’re Still the One – Shania Twain


    Perhaps you’re looking for something a little more alternative for your first dance? Check out these 20 first dance song you’ve never thought of!

    So there you have it! We really hope that you’ve found inspiration for your first dance song. A unique, live performance of a first dance will always feel more special, so if you haven’t already booked a wedding band, check out hundreds of the best bands available in the UK, most of which will learn your first dance for free. Yay! See a band you like? Get in contact for a free, competitive quote.

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