The first dance is a pivotal moment in your ceremony. You’ve exchanged your vows at the altar, shared a kiss in front of your nearest and dearest, cut the first slice into your beautiful cake, and now, before all your friends and family finally let loose and party down, you’ve got one more opportunity to thrust your love into the spotlight. So you’re going to need a song that summarises all of these things and more, not to mention one that you both enjoy.
With every other song in music’s vast back catalogue being a love song, it can be tricky to know where to begin. It will, of course, be a far more special moment for you both if you and your beloved have chosen a song together that means something particular about your relationship. It could be a song from the first movie you watched together, or one that was playing in the background on your first dinner date, or a song that just reminds you of one another – whatever the reason, the two of you will have much fonder memories of your first dance if it’s to a song that’s of some significance.
But, for a myriad of reasons – like, if the run up to your wedding becomes a little too hectic, or if you simply have too many favourite songs between you to choose from – a list such as this may come as a relief. We do tend to notice trends in this business, and even if these suggestions aren’t quite your cup of tea, they may well help to spark off some ideas. At any rate, at the time of writing, these are some of the most popular first dance numbers from our wedding bands and musicians:
1. I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
Cast all doubt aside – your gentle, slightly reggae-flavoured moment is here, courtesy of Mr Mraz! These playfully romantic lyrics would be a lovely follow up to your vows and best man’s speeches.
2. Iris – Goo Goo Dolls
This may have been a one-hit-wonder for these 90s alt-rockers, but it hits pretty hard. For a swaying song with a rock-tinted edge, you can do no better.
3. At Last – Etta James
An enduring classic, these soulful jazz vocals sit perfectly over a wistful dreamscape of music. Celebrate finally finding your soulmate in style with Miss Peaches herself!
4. Wherever You Will Go – Charlene Soraia
Swapping out the guitars for tentative piano, this cover brings a new tenderness to the Calling’s monster hit, and its catchy chorus promises to make this moment unforgettable.
5. A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
The Twilight film franchise may have divided the opinions of cinema-goers, but it’s hard to deny the power behind this song’s message. Undying love that stretches across millennia isn’t just for vampires.
6. Perfect – Ed Sheeran
A study conducted by VoucherCodesPro showed that an estimated 1 in 7 couples would tie the knot to a song penned by this lovable redhead, and this schmaltzy modern take on 50s love songs goes some way to explain why.
7. Halo – Beyonce
A confession of vulnerability from a figure as strong and independent as Queen Bee is all the more meaningful, especially as it’s a vulnerability rooted in love. A pop ballad as powerful as this is really going to highlight to you both how important you are to each other.
8. Toothpaste Kisses – Maccabees
A celebration of the minutiae that make our relationships unique, this is an upbeat indie alternative to the more pop-orientated choices.
9. The Luckiest – Ben Folds
A simple, quirky piano ballad, reminiscent of a modern Disney song, inviting you sway lovingly before each other whilst appreciating how fortunate you both are that things turned out this way.
10. Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
This ubiquitous 2000s track creates a moment where everything else ceases to matter – it’s just you and your beloved. And when that chorus kicks in, everyone in the room will be reaching for the nearest dance partner.
11. I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Frankie Valli
This classic has everything – key changes, sing-along-able horns and a chorus to floor them all. Could you be any more frank with lyrics like ‘I love you baby’? Be sure to also check out Lauryn Hill’s fantastic cover for an updated, RnB feel.
12. All of Me – John Legend
The legendary purveyor of love songs strikes again! There won’t be a dry eye in the house as you dance with the partner you love with your entire being, down to the last atom.
13. Amazed – Lonestar
A well-timed left turn from these Country & Western darlings gave us this 90s gem – an ideal sentiment to share with the one you want to spend the rest of your life with.
14. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
This power ballad had us all weeping in Armageddon, and that wasn’t just because the world was coming to an end. Far from it, in fact: this song’s lilting tempo wraps us in a blanket of devotion that seems to last forever.
15. Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
Here he is again! Good old Ed’s a guaranteed crowd pleaser, as his position at the top of every popular first dance song choices list would suggest, and Thinking Out Loud’s romantic music video proves that this earnest, mid-tempo ode to growing old together is destined to be the soundtrack of countless weddings to come.