Choosing your first dance song for your wedding is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning! The moment of your first dance signals the start of the partying – you’ll soon be surrounded by all your loved ones as you share your first dance as newlyweds, so you need to pick the right song!
We’ve rounded up 200 of the best first dance songs to inspire you – you’re bound to find the right first dance song for your wedding here, even if you’re struggling to decide on one right now.
Read more: Why couples who dance to Disney have the strongest marriages
What is the most popular first dance song at weddings?
According to Spotify, Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran is the most popular first dance for weddings, and is it any wonder? The tempo makes it perfect for a slow dance, and the lyrics are so beautiful.
How do you pick your first dance song?
It can seem like a daunting task – but there are a few tips to make picking your first dance song easy. Do you have any shared musical interests? Any bands you love, or gigs you’ve been to together? That’s a good starting point!
Once you’ve narrowed it down and found a type of music you both love, why not have a few practise runs? Have a dance around your living room to a few different songs and see what feels right.
If you both have a shared passion for an artist or have a song that is ‘yours’, then you’re sorted. It doesn’t matter if it’s not a traditional first dance song – make sure your wedding reflects who you are as a couple!
Read more: Personalised touches for your wedding
Spotify’s Top 50 Most Popular First Dance Songs for Weddings
- Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
- You Are The Best Thing – Ray Montagne
- At Last – Etta James
- All of Me – John Legend
- A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
- Make You Feel My Love – Adele
- I Won’t Give Up – Jason Mraz
- Everything – Michael Buble
- Better Together – Jack Johnson
- Amazed – Lonestar
- Come Away With Me – Norah Jones
- First Day of My Life – Bright Eyes
- Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
- Lucky – Jason Mraz, Colbie Caillat
- Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
- Marry Me – Train
- Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
- What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
- Crazy Love – Van Morrison
- I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
- The Luckiest – Ben Folds
- How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
- Your Song – Elton John
- Marry You – Bruno Mars
- The Way You Look Tonight – Tony Bennett
- Tenerife Sea – Ed Sheeran
- Then – Brad Paisley
- Stand By Me – Ben E. King
- Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers
- Ho Hey – The Lumineers
- You Are So Beautiful – Joe Cocker
- Iris – The Goo Goo Dolls
- My Girl – The Temptations
- L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole
- Truly Madly Deeply – Savage Garden
- (Everything I Do) I Do It For You – Bryan Adams
- I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
- Kiss Me – Ed Sheeran
- You and Me – Lifehouse
- Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
- My Best Friend – Tim McGraw
- Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Andy Williams
- When a Man Loves a Woman – Percy Sledge
- Your Song – Ellie Goulding
- The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
- Baby I’m Yours – Arctic Monkeys
- Stay With You – John Legend
- I Loved Her First – Heartland
- That’s How Strong My Love Is – Otis Redding
- You & Me Song – The Wannadies
Slow First Dance Songs
If your first dance style is more of a slow sway around the dance floor, these slow and emotional first dance songs will be perfect for you!
- I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
- A Moment Like This – Kelly Clarkson
- Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
- Shallow – Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper
- Halo – Beyonce
- Islands in the Stream – Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers
- Say You Won’t Let Go – James Arthur
- Baby I Love You – Aretha Franklin
- Harvest Moon – Neil Young
- Lover – Taylor Swift
- Coming Home – Leon Bridges
- If I Ain’t Got You – Alicia Keys
- Yellow – Coldplay
- All My Life – K-Ci, Jojo
- My Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder
- Faithfully – Journey
- Songbird – Eva Cassidy
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
- In My Life – The Beatles
- XO – John Mayer
- Heartbeats – Jose Gonzalez
- Fade Into You – Mazzy Star
- Make You Feel My Love – Adele
- By Your Side – Sade
- Maybe I’m Amazed – Paul McCartney
- Vision of Love – Mariah Carey
- Like a Star – Corinne Bailey Rae
- You’re Still the One – Shania Twain
- Everything Has Changed – Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran
- At Your Best – Aaliyah
- Slow Jam – Usher, Monica
- Thinkin Bout You – Frank Ocean
- Until the End of Time – Justin Timberlake, Beyonce
- Heaven – Bryan Adams
- Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper
Alternative First Dance Songs
If you’re not the type to have a traditional, romantic first song, then stay true to who you are with an alternative first dance song – here are a few ideas to inspire you.
Read more: The best rock songs for your wedding
- I Wanna Be Yours – The Arctic Monkeys
- For Lovers – Pete Doherty, Wolfman
- Toothpaste Kisses – The Maccabees
- I Found You – Alabama Shakes
- Everlasting Light – The Black Keys
- Lovesong – The Cure
- Grow Old With Me – Tom Odell
- There is a Light That Never Goes Out – The Smiths
- All of The Day and All of The Night – The Kinks
- Are You Gonna Be My Girl – Jet
- Video Games – Lana Del Ray
- Take Me to Church – Hozier
- Hold Back the River – James Bay
- Only Love – Ben Howard
- I’m Sticking With You – Velvet Underground
- Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
- Everlong – Foo Fighters
- Is This Love? – Bob Marley
- Invincible – Muse
- Anyone Else But You – Moldy Peaches
- Thank You – Led Zeppelin
- The Only Exception – Paramore
- Far Away – Nickelback
- All I Want is You – U2
- All My Love – Led Zeppelin
- Wild Horses – The Rolling Stones
- Heart Shaped Box – Nirvana
- You Are My Best Friend – Queen
- I Wanna Hold Your Hand – The Beatles
- Last Night on Earth – Green Day
- The Reason – Hoobastank
- Little Hands – Charlie Simpson
- 100 Suns – Thirty Seconds to Mars
- Accidentally in Love – Counting Crows
- Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen
- Hackensack – Fountains of Wayne
- Little Wing – Jimi Hendrix
- I’m With You – Avril Lavigne
- Somewhere Only We Know – Keane
- Fell in Love With a Girl – The White Stripes
- I Believe in a Thing Called Love – The Darkness
- Tonight, Tonight – The Smashing Pumpkins
- Make it Wit Chu – Queens of the Stone Age
- Mountains – Biffy Clyro
- All the Small Things – Blink 182
Unusual First Dance Songs
Perhaps you want a first dance song you know none of your guests will have experienced at another wedding? If you want a truly unique first dance song, we’ve rounded up some unusual songs to inspire you…
Read more: All the alternative wedding music choices you could ever need
- Re:stacks – Bon Iver
- She Treats Me Well – Ben Howard
- The Dress Looks Nice on You – Sufjan Stevens
- Best I Ever Had – Drake
- Higher Love – James Vincent McMorrow
- Wild Love – James Bay
- Slow Show – The National
- I Would Do Anything For You – Foster the People
- She’s So Lovely – Scouting For Girls
- Time is Dancing – Ben Howard
- Riptide – Vance Joy
- Pink + White – Frank Ocean
- Medicine – The 1975
- All Night – Beyonce
- Luh You – Anderson Paak
- Islands – The XX
- Delicate – Taylor Swift
- We – Mac Miller, Cee Lo Green
- Crazy For You – Adele
- Shine On – The Kooks
- Work Song – Hozier
- Heroes – David Bowie
- Where to Begin – My Morning Jacket
- Young & Beautiful – Lana Del Ray
- Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap
- Mushaboom – Feist
- Maps – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor – Arctic Monkeys
- Do You Realise – The Flaming Lips
- Sleepwalking – Modest Mouse
- Every Other Freckle – Alt J
- Ophelia – The Lumineers
- That Girl – Justin Timberlake
- Sway – The Kooks
- Jackie & Wilson – Hozier
Upbeat First Dance Songs
Some couples don’t love the idea of slowly swirling around a dancefloor, watched by all their loved ones, and that’s fine. Why not pick an upbeat and fun first dance song so you can jump around and beckon your guests to come and join you?
- You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oates
- Happy – Pharrell
- Love on Top – Beyonce
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered – Stevie Wonder
- This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
- Belter – Gerry Cinnamon
- Kiss Me – Sixpence None the Richer
- Dancing in the Moonlight – Toploader
- Nothin’ On You – B.O.B ft. Bruno Mars
- Cupid’s Chokehold – Gym Class Heroes
- You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate
- Look At Where We Are – Hot Chip
- We Found Love – Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna
- I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers
- Teenage Dream – Katy Perry
- I’ll Be There – Jess Glynne
- Crazy in Love – Beyonce ft. Jay Z
- Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- Cheerleader – OMI
- You’ve Got a Friend in Me – Randy Newman
- You Got the Love – Florence + The Machine
- When You’re Smiling – Louis Armstrong
- Adore You – Miley Cyrus
- Always Be My Baby – Mariah Carey
- It Must Be Love – Madness
- Here Comes Your Man – Pixies
- God Only Knows – Beach Boys
- One Day Like This – Elbow
- How Deep Is Your Love – Calvin Harris ft. Disciples
- Starry Eyed – Ellie Goulding
- Five Years Time – Noah & The Whale
- Fireflies – Owl City
- Champagne Kisses – Jessie Ware
- Love Me Like You – Little Mix
- Love Me Like You Do – Ellie Goulding
Once you’ve found your perfect first dance song for your wedding, why not watch these first dance wedding videos for some viral inspiration?
