The 175 Best First Dance Songs of All Time
Find that memorable song that'll help you celebrate your first dance together as newlyweds - here are the best 175 first dance songs of all time, with something for every kind of couple
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The first dance is a classic, much-loved part of wedding tradition; romantic, personal and the signal that the party is about to start. Guests love crowding around to see a couple’s first dance as a married pair. But, let’s face it, choosing the best first dance song – something that is memorable and reflects you as a couple – is not an easy decision. You don’t want to have the same music as everyone else, and at the same time you want to create an unforgettable moment with your partner. So, what’s the right tune for you?
You might be a super cute pair that already has 'our song' but if not, don’t worry, there are some amazing choices out there. The first thing to decide is the vibe you want to create. For some couples a sweet and romantic tune with a choreographed routine is a must, for others, it might be all about the spectacle of creating a funny routine with pals, and others will just want to rock out and get everyone up and dancing.
There are classics that will set a romantic mood – such as ‘At Last’ by Etta James, ‘It Had To Be You’ by Frank Sinatra and ‘Always On My Mind’ by Elvis Presley – that are perfect if you want to create a slow dance with plenty of opportunities for twirls and dips. Or you can choose something more contemporary and upbeat that you can get more creative with; think ‘Black & White’ by Niall Horan or ‘Marry You’ by Bruno Mars. If you want something with more of a rock vibe that will get your friends on the dance floor, there are some amazing choices for this, too. Gloucestershire-based Tux Fizz say: “For us it’s anything that gets those feet tapping. Upbeat numbers which never go out of style like Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ or Mr Brightside by The Killers. These never fail to get a wedding crowd going.”
You can think outside of the box, too and get your wedding band to sing something acoustic or stripped back – it’s a great way to make the song even more unique to you. Holly of Dancefloored tells us: “We did a soft, stripped back version of ‘Still Into You’ by Paramore for a first dance song, and it just sounded really lovely in the moment. The bride and groom danced together and then everyone else filled the dance floor. It’s so nice to be able to do that kind of thing and it is a really beautiful song at its heart. What was even better, is that we transitioned straight into the full version, which was an absolute banger.”
Ready to find your perfect hit? We’ve found 175 of the best first dance songs of all time to suit you, whatever you taste in tunes. We have everything here from vintage classics, to romantic rock, something upbeat, modern favourites and a few alternative hits.
READ MORE:
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175 Best First Dance Songs for a Wedding
Best Classic First Dance Songs
Best Romantic First Dance Songs
Best Alternative First Dance Songs
32 Best Classic First Dance Songs
1. At Last – Etta James
Lyrics we love… “At last / My love has come along / My lonely days are over / And life is like a song”
2. What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
3. All You Need Is Love – The Beatles
Lyrics we love… “Nothing you can make that can't be made / No one you can save that can't be saved / Nothing you can do, but you can learn how to be you in time / It's easy / All you need is love.”
4. L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole
5. Your Song – Elton John
Lyrics we love… “I hope you don't mind / That I put down in the words / How wonderful life is while you're in the world.”
6. You Send Me – Sam Cooke
7. Over The Rainbow – Judy Garland
Lyrics we love… “Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue / And the dreams that you dare to dream / Really do come true”
8. The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
9. God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
Lyrics we love… “But long as there are stars above you / You never need to doubt it / I’ll make you so sure about it / God only knows what I'd be without you"
10. Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley
11. Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
Lyrics we love… ”And time goes by so slowly / And time can do so much / Are you still mine?”
12. You’re All I Need to Get By – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
READ MORE: The Best Love Songs for Your Wedding
13. The Very Thought of You – Billie Holiday
Lyrics we love… "I see your face in every flower / Your eyes in stars above / It's just the thought of you / The very thought of you, my love”
14. Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
15. Dream A Little Dream of Me – Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald
Lyrics we love… “You gotta make me a promise / Promise to me, you'll dream / Dream a little dream of me”
16. I Only Have Eyes For You – The Flamingos
17. Moon River – Andy Williams
Lyrics we love… “Two drifters, off to see the world / There's such a lot of world to see / We're after the same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend / My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me.”
18. Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
19. You’re the First, the Last, My Everything – Barry White
Lyrics we love… “Ahh, the first, my last, my everything / And the answer to all my dreams / You're my sun, my moon, my guiding star / My kind of wonderful, that's what you are.”
20. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Roberta Flack
21. Endless Love – Lionel Richie & Diana Ross
Lyrics we love… “Two hearts / Two hearts that beat as one / Our lives have just begun.”
22. Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
23. We Have All The Time In The World – Louis Armstrong
Lyrics we love… “We have all the love in the world / If that's all we have / You will find / We need nothing more.”
24. Islands In the Stream – Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers
READ MORE: The Best Country Wedding Songs
25. Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours – Stevie Wonder
Lyrics we love… “Oowee baby, you set my soul on fire / That's why I know you're my heart's only desire / Ooo baby, here I am / Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours.”
26. Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler
27. All These Things – Elvis Costello
Lyrics we love… “As long as you're here every night / Your love so warm and tender / The thrill is so divine / It is all these things that make you mine.”
28. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
29. I’ll Be There – Jackson 5
Lyrics we love… “I’ll reach out my hand to you / I’ll have faith in all you do / Just call my name and I'll be there (I'll be there)”
30. Cheek To Cheek – Fred Astaire
31. Everybody Loves Somebody - Dean Martin
Lyrics we love… “Everybody loves somebody sometime / And although my dream was overdue / Your love made it well worth waiting / For someone like you.”
32. La Vie En Rose – Edith Piaf
31 Best Rock First Dance Songs
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33. Kiss Me – Sixpence None the Richer
Lyrics we love… “Kiss me, beneath the milky twilight / Lead me out on the moonlit floor / Lift your open hand / Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance / Silver moon's sparkling”
34. Just Like Heaven – The Cure
35. I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing – Aerosmith
Lyrics we love… “I don't want to miss one smile / And I don't want to miss one kiss / And I just want to be with you / Right here with you, just like this.”
36. Iris – The Goo Goo Dolls
37. You Do Something to Me – Paul Weller
Lyrics we love… “You do something to me / Somewhere deep inside / Hoping to get close to you / A peace I cannot find.”
38. Love Will Keep Us Alive - Eagles
39. Wild Horses - The Rolling Stones
Lyrics we love… “Wild horses / Couldn't drag me away / Wild, wild horses / We'll ride them some day.”
40. Nothing Else Matters - Metallica
41. Every Breath You Take - The Police
Lyrics we love… “Oh, can't you see / You belong to me? / How my poor heart aches / With every step you take?”
42. You and Me - Alice Cooper
43. Something - The Beatles
Lyrics we love… “Something in the way she knows / And all I have to do is think of her / Something in the things she shows me / I don't want to leave her now.”
44. You Make Loving Fun - Fleetwood Mac
45. Champagne Supernova - Oasis
Lyrics we love… “Someday you will find me / Caught beneath the landslide / In a champagne supernova.”
46. You Really Got Me – Van Halen
48. Take On The World - You Me At Six
Lyrics we love… “And just say the word / We'll take on the world.”
47. Whole Lotta Love – Led Zeppelin
49. Rearrange - Biffy Clyro
Lyrics we love… “Cause I would never break your heart / I would only rearrange / All the other working parts, will stay in place.”
50. Best of You - Foo Fighters
51. Never Tear Us Apart – INXS
Lyrics we love… “I was standing / You were there / Two worlds collided / And they could never tear us apart.”
52. I’d Do Anything For Love - Meat Loaf
53. I Believe In A Thing Called Love – The Darkness
Lyrics we love… “I wanna kiss you every minute, every hour, every day / You got me in a spin but everything is A-okay.”
54. Tonight, Tonight – The Smashing Pumpkins
55. Love You ‘Till the End – The Pogues
Lyrics we love… “When the morning light explodes / On your face it radiates, I can't escape / I love you 'til the end.”
56. All I Want Is You - U2
57. (Everything I Do) I Do It for You - Bryan Adams
Lyrics we love… “Search your heart / Search your soul / And when you find me there / You'll search no more”
58. Never Tear Us Apart – The National
59. Can’t Help Falling in Love – Beck
Lyrics we love…“Take my hand / Oh take my whole life too / ‘Cause I can't help / Falling in love with you”
60. Everlong (Acoustic Version) – Foo Fighters
61. It Must Be Love – Madness
Lyrics we love… “As soon as I wake up / Every night, every day / I know that it's you I need / To take the blues away.”
62. Romeo and Juliet – The Killers
63. Always – Bon Jovi
Lyrics we love… “I’ll be there 'til the stars don't shine / ’Til the heavens burst and the words don't rhyme.”
30 Modern First Dance Songs
64. Better Together – Jack Johnson
65. Kiss Me – Ed Sheeran
Lyrics we love… “And your heart's against my chest / Your lips pressed to my neck / I’m falling for your eyes / But they don't know me yet.”
66. Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars
67. Marry You – Bruno Mars
Lyrics we love… “Is it the look in your eyes or is it this dancing juice?/ Who cares, baby, I think I wanna marry you.”
68. Love Me Like You Do – Ellie Goulding
69. Perfect – Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé
Lyrics we love… “Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms / Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favourite song.”
READ MORE: The Best Ed Sheeran Wedding Songs
70. Falling Like the Stars – James Arthur
71. There Will Be Time Mumford & Sons feat. Baaba Maal
Lyrics we love… “In the cold light, I live to love and adore you / It's all that I am / It's all that I have.”
72. Latch – Sam Smith
73. Ben Howard – Only Love
Lyrics we love… “Darling, you're with me, always around me / Only love, only love / Darling, I feel you, under my body / Only love, only love
74. Halo – Beyoncé
75. Little Things – One Direction
Lyrics we love… “You've never loved your stomach or your thighs / The dimples in your back at the bottom of your spine / But I'll love them endlessly.”
76. Next to Me – Emile Sandé
77. Greatest Day – Take That
Lyrics we love… ”Stay close to me (and the world comes alive) / Watch the world come alive tonight / Stay close to me (hold on).”
78. Yours – Ella Henderson
79. Rewrite The Stars – Zac Efron & Zendaya
Lyrics we love… ”What if we rewrite the stars? / Say you were made to be mine/ Nothing could keep us apart / You'd be the one I was meant to find.”
80. Lifetime – Justin Bieber
81. Could I Love You Any More – Reneé Dominique feat. Jason Mraz
Lyrics we love… “Sunrise, time flies, feels like a dream / Being close, inhaling, hard to believe / Seven billion people in the world / Finding you is like a miracle.”
82. Never Worn White – Katy Perry
83. My Love Won’t Let You Down – Little Mix
Lyrics we love… “We can sit on the edge of your bed / Tell me all of the fears in your head / And I'll sing you your favourite song / ’Til the pain and all the tears are all gone.”
84. XO – Beyoncé
85. Finally // Beautiful Stranger – Halsey
Lyrics we love… “I’ve never recognised a purer face / You stopped me in my tracks and put me right in my place / Used to think that lovin' meant a painful chase / But you're right here now and I think you'll stay.”
86. Better Half of Me – Tom Walker
87. Say You Won't Let Go – James Arthur
Lyrics we love… “I met you in the dark / You lit me up / You made me feel as though / I was enough”
88. Angels – Robbie Williams
89. Love You More – JLS
Lyrics we love… “Thought I couldn't want you, more than I did before / But everyday I love you a little bit more (and more).”
90. Better Half of Me – Tom Walker
91. A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
Lyrics we love… “How can I love when I'm afraid to fall / But watching you stand alone? / All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow.”
92. Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
93. Higher Love – James Vincent McMorrow
Lyrics we love… “Bring me a higher love / Where's this higher love I've been thinking of? / I will wait for it / I’m not too late for it.”
94.Sky Full Of Stars – Coldplay
27 Best Romantic First Dance Songs
READ MORE: The Best Vintage Wedding Songs
95. One Day Like This – Elbow
Lyrics we love… “'Cause holy cow, I love your eyes / And only now I see the light / Yeah, lying with you half awake / Oh, anyway, it's looking like a beautiful day.”
96. How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
97. Stand By Me – Ben E. King
Lyrics we love… “If the sky that we look upon / Should tumble and fall / Or the mountains should crumble to the sea / I won't cry, I won't cry, no, I won't shed a tear / Just as long as you stand, stand by me.”
98. Like a Star – Corinne Bailey Rae
99. You Are The Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
Lyrics we love… “We've come a long way, baby / You know, I hope and I pray that you believe me / When I say this love will never fade away.”
100. Two Hearts – Phil Collins
101. Make You Feel My Love – Adele
Lyrics we love… “I could make you happy, make your dreams come true / Nothing that I wouldn't do / Go to the ends of the Earth for you / To make you feel my love.”
102. Come What May – Ewan McGregor & Nicole Kidman
103. Can You Feel The Love Tonight – Elton John
Lyrics we love… “There's a rhyme and reason / To the wild outdoors / When the heart of this star-crossed voyager / Beats in time with yours.”
104. When You Say Nothing At All – Ronan Keating
105. She – Elvis Costello
Lyrics we love… “She may be the song that summer sings / May be the chill that autumn brings / May be a hundred different things / Within the measure of a day.”
106. No One – Alicia Keys
107. I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
Lyrics we love… “And I'm wishing you joy and happiness / But above all this, I wish you love.”
108. Shallow – Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper
109. All Of Me – John Legend
Lyrics we love… “Cause all of me/ Loves all of you/ Love your curves and all your edges / All your perfect imperfections.”
110. Somewhere Only We Know – Keane
111. Come Away With Me – Norah Jones
Lyrics we love… “And I want to wake up with the rain / Falling on a tin roof / While I'm safe there in your arms / So all I ask is for you / To come away with me in the night.”
112. Baby Can I Hold You – Tracy Chapman
113. Songbird – Eva Cassidy
Lyrics we love… ”And the songbirds keep singing like they know the score / And I love you I love you I love you /Like never before like never before.”
114. Love Is All Around – Wet Wet Wet
115. By Your Side – Sade
Lyrics we love… ”When you're lost and you're alone / And you can't get back again / I will find you / Darling, and I will bring you home"
116. Love – Lana Del Rey
117. All About You – McFly
Lyrics we love… “Yesterday, you asked me something I thought you knew / So I told you with a smile, "It's all about you" / Then you whispered in my ear and you told me too / Said, "You make my life worthwhile, it's all about you”.”
118. You Give Me Something – James Morrison
119. Cherish – Madonna
Lyrics we love… “Cherish the thought / Of always having you here by my side (oh baby I) / Cherish the joy/ You keep bringing it into my life (I'm always singing it).”
120. Eternal Flame – The Bangles
121. How Deep Is Your Love – The BeeGees
Lyrics we love… ”I believe in you / You know the door to my very soul / You're the light in my deepest, darkest hour / You're my saviour when I fall.”
25 Upbeat First Dance Songs
READ MORE: The Most Epic Wedding Party Songs
122. Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
123. Happy – Pharrell
Lyrics we love… "Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth/Because I'm happy."
124. Champagne Kisses – Jessie Ware
125. I’ll Be There – Jess Glynne
Lyrics we love… "When you need a little love, I got a little love to share / Yeah, I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna come through / You'll never be alone, I'll be there for you.”
126. Dancing in the Moonlight – Toploader
127. Always Be My Baby – Mariah Carey
Lyrics we love… “Now you'll always be a part of me / I’m part of you indefinitely / Boy don't you know you can't escape me / Oh darlin' 'cause you'll always be my baby.”
128. Sucker – Jonas Brothers
129. Electric Feel – MGMT
Lyrics we love… “All along the Eastern shore / Put your circuits in the sea / This is what the world is for.”
130. We Found Love – Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris
131. Shape of You – Ed Sheeran
Lyrics we love… “I’m in love with the shape of you/ We push and pull like a magnet do/ Although my heart is falling too/ I’m in love with your body"
132. Crazy in Love – Beyoncé
133. Still Falling For You – Ellie Goulding
Lyrics we love… “And just like that/ All I breathe/ All I feel/ You are all for me.”
134. Groove Is in the Heart – Deee-Lite
135. If I Can’t Have You – Shawn Mendes
Lyrics we love… “I can't write one song that's not about you / Can't drink without thinkin' about you / Is it too late to tell you that / Everything means nothing if I can't have you?”
136. Shut Up And Dance With Me – Walk The Moon
137. Walking On Sunshine – Katrina & The Waves
Lyrics we love… “I used to think maybe you loved me / Now I know that it's true / And I don't wanna spend my whole life / Just a waiting for you.”
138. I’ll Be There For You – The Rembrandts
139. Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher – Jackie Wilson
Lyrics we love… “Now once, I was down-hearted / Disappointment, was my closest friend / But then you, came and it soon departed /And you know he never /Showed his face again.”
140. Truly Madly Deeply – Savage Garden
141. Best Of My Love – The Emotions
Lyrics we love… "I like the way you make me feel about you, baby / Want the whole wide world to see.”
142. For Once In My Life – Stevie Wonder
143. Dreamlover – Mariah Carey
Lyrics we love…"Take me anywhere you want to baby now / I need you so desperately / Won't you please come around / 'Cause I wanna share forever with you baby"
144. Sweet Disposition – Temper Trap
145. I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor – Arctic Monkeys
Lyrics we love…"Stop making the eyes at me / I’ll stop making the eyes at you / What it is that surprises me / Is that I don't really want you to.”
146. Here Comes Your Man – Pixies
147. Teenage Dream – Katy Perry
Lyrics we love…"You make me / Feel like I'm livin' a teenage dream / The way you turn me on, I can't sleep / Let's run away and don't ever look back, don't ever look back.”
27 Alternative First Dance Songs
148. Maccabees – Toothpaste Kisses
Lyrics we love… “Lay with me, I'll lay with you / We'll do the things that lovers do / Put the stars in our eyes.”
149. Can't Help Falling In Love – Beck
150. Walking on a Dream – Empire of the Sun
Lyrics we love… “Thought I'd never see / The love you found in me / Now it's changing all the time / Living in a rhythm where the minute's working overtime.”
151. You Really Got A Hold On Me – She & Him
152. The Only One – Black Keys
Lyrics we love… “I'm so wrapped up in a daze / Hoping this is just a phase / But when all is said and done / I know you are still the one.”
153. I Would Do Anything For You – Foster The People
154. First Day Of My Life – Bright Eyes
Lyrics we love… “Yours was the first face that I saw / I think I was blind before I met you.”
155. Are You Gonna Be My Girl – Jet
156. Do You Realize?? by The Flaming Lips
Lyrics we love… “Do you realise / That you have the most beautiful face? / Do you realise?”
157. You’ve Got the Love – Florence + the Machine
158. I’m Sticking With You – Velvet Underground
159. Is This Love – Bob Marley
Lyrics we love… “Is this love, is this love, is this love, is this love that I'm feelin’?”
160. Everywhere - Fleetwood Mac
161. Five Years’ Time – Noah and the Whale
Lyrics we love… “Oh well, I look at you and say it's the happiest that I've ever been / And I'll say I no longer feel I have to be James Dean / And she'll say, yeah well, I feel pretty a happy too.”
162. Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
163. You & Me Song – The Wannadies
Lyrics we love… “Always when we fight / I kiss you once or twice / And everything's forgotten / I know you hate that.”
164. I’ll Stand By You – Pretenders
165. Baby I’m Yours – Arctic Monkeys
Lyrics we love… “Baby, I'm yours (baby, I'm yours) / And I'll be yours (yours) until the sun no longer shines / Yours (yours) until the poets run out of rhyme / In other words, until the end of time.”
166. Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
167. Heroes – David Bowie
Lyrics we love… “I, I will be king / And you, you will be queen.”
168. Maps – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
169. Ho Hey – The Lumineers
Lyrics we love… “I belong with you, you belong with me / You're my sweetheart.”
170. Two Doors Down – Mystery Jets
171. The Smashing Pumpkins – Tonight, Tonight
Lyrics we love… “And the embers never fade / In your city by the lake / The place where you were born.”
172. Don't Delete The Kisses – Wolf Alice
173. Something Changed – Pulp
Lyrics we love… “Do you believe that there's someone up above? And does he have a timetable directing acts of love?”
174. “You’re My Best Friend” – Queen
175. Songbird – Oasis
Lyrics we love… "She's a little pirate in my mind / Singing songs of love to pass the time."
Wedding First Dance Songs FAQs
What is the Best First Dance Song?
We'll let you into a little secret - there is no 'best' first dance song! The best first dance song you can choose for your wedding is the one that sums up you as a couple and makes you happy to dance to it. If that's an Ed Sheeran song, so be it. If it's Gangnam Style, also so be it! Choose the right song for one, one you love, and you'll have the best first dance song.
When Does the First Dance Happen?
Your first dance signifies the beginning of your wedding reception, so you'd typically do it around 7.30-8pm. Most couples tend to have the wedding breakfast and their speeches, and then wait for the evening guests to arrive before doing their first dance, encouraging others to join them on the dance floor after that special moment.
How Do We Choose a First Dance Song?
Is there a song you've both always loved? Not every couple has 'their' song, but if you do, that's a good place to start! It doesn't matter if it's a bit quirky or unusual, if it sums you two up as a couple and you can dance to it, you may already have your first dance song! If not, listen to artists and songs you love until you find one you both adore and can easily see yourself dancing to. This list should help!
How Long is the First Dance Supposed to Be?
Most songs are typically around the two and a half to three minutes mark - that's enough time for your photographer and videographer to capture the dancing action! If you feel uncomfortable dancing for that long alone together, you can always ask your wedding party to step on to the dance floor at a certain point in the song too, and to encourage your guests to join you.
How do We Dance to Our First Dance Song?
You might have seen videos of complex choreography, the Dirty Dancing lift or flash mobs making up part of the first dance, but if that's not your style, don't stress. You can easily just put your arms around each other, sway gently and move to the music to dance to your first dance song. It's as complicated or as simple as you choose it to be. If you're worried about your dancing, you could always arrange to have a couple of dance lessons, or, for a cheaper alternative, play your first dance song at home and practise dancing to it!
Now you've found your perfect first dance song, it's time to think about the last one! We've got the best last dance songs for a wedding here.
