First dance songs

What are classic first dance songs?

Classic first dance songs include At Last by Etta James (3:00), Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley (3:01) and Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers (3:36). Songs from the 1950s and 60s are short and slow, which makes them the easiest first dances there are.

1. 01At LastEtta James · 1960 · 3:00The first-dance standard. Slow, steady and easy to sway to.
2. 02Can't Help Falling in LoveElvis Presley · 1961 · 3:01A gentle sway, and only three minutes, so you’re not on display for long.
3. 03Unchained MelodyThe Righteous Brothers · 1965 · 3:36Starts slow and builds to a huge finish. Plan a dip for the last note.
4. 04L-O-V-ENat King Cole · 1965 · 2:32Bright, swinging and barely two and a half minutes. Good for couples who want to smile, not cry.
5. 05I Only Have Eyes for YouThe Flamingos · 1959 · 3:22Dreamy doo-wop with lots of echo. Very slow.
6. 06Earth AngelThe Penguins · 1954 · 2:57A slow-dance doo-wop in a steady rock, made for the prom-style sway.
7. 07Let It Be MeThe Everly Brothers · 1960 · 2:36Close harmony and a vow-like lyric. Short and simple.
8. 08Dream a Little Dream of MeThe Mamas & The Papas · 1968 · 3:12Light and lilting, like a dance in a kitchen.
9. 09La Vie en roseLouis Armstrong · 1950 · 3:53Trumpet and that voice. Slow, romantic and a little French.
10. 10Someone to Watch Over MeElla Fitzgerald · 1950 · 3:13A soft jazz ballad for a quiet, close dance.

What are the best 70s and 80s first dance songs?

The best 70s and 80s first dance songs include Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton, Truly by Lionel Richie and The Lady in Red by Chris de Burgh, soft ballads with a gentle, even pulse. They suit couples whose parents will know every word.

11. 11Wonderful TonightEric Clapton · 1977 · 3:44A gentle, rocking guitar ballad. Very easy to dance to without lessons.
12. 12TrulyLionel Richie · 1982 · 3:19Piano ballad with a soft, unhurried pulse.
13. 13LadyKenny Rogers · 1980 · 3:51Written by Lionel Richie, sung by Kenny. Slow and tender.
14. 14The Lady in RedChris de Burgh · 1986 · 4:14The slow-dance song of the 80s. Ideal if your dress is red.
15. 15Up Where We BelongJoe Cocker · 1982 · 3:52The duet with Jennifer Warnes. Builds to a soaring chorus.
16. 16Always and ForeverHeatwave · 1977 · 4:47Smooth soul ballad, made for a slow turn.
17. 17Annie's SongJohn Denver · 1974 · 2:58A gentle waltz written for his wife. Lovely three-beat sway.
18. 18We've Only Just BegunCarpenters · 1970 · 3:04Soft 70s pop about a couple just starting out, and a wedding staple ever since.
19. 19Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for YouGeorge Benson · 1985 · 4:02Smooth and steady, with a promise in the title.
20. 20Open ArmsJourney · 1982 · 3:19A power ballad that starts soft and goes big.

What are good 90s and 2000s wedding songs?

Good 90s and 2000s wedding songs for a first dance include I Swear by All-4-One, I’ll Be by Edwin McCain and Come Away with Me by Norah Jones. Power ballads from this era often run past four minutes, so check the lengths and plan a fade.

21. 21I SwearAll-4-One · 1994 · 4:19Harmony-heavy vow of a song. Slow and very danceable.
22. 22I'll BeEdwin McCain · 1998 · 4:26A rough-voiced, heartfelt promise. A late-90s wedding favourite.
23. 23Come Away with MeNorah Jones · 2002 · 3:18Hushed piano and voice, almost a whisper. For a calm, close dance.
24. 24(Everything I Do) I Do It for YouBryan Adams · 1991 · 6:34The big 90s power ballad. The album version runs long, so trim it.
25. 25Back at OneBrian McKnight · 1999 · 3:17R&B ballad that counts out its promises. Smooth and slow.
26. 26I Don't Want to Miss a ThingAerosmith · 1998 · 4:59Huge and dramatic. For couples who want the room on its feet.
27. 27Can You Feel the Love TonightElton John · 1994 · 4:03The Lion King single. Warm, familiar and gently paced.
28. 28CollideHowie Day · 2004 · 4:09Acoustic and earnest, about two different people fitting together.
29. 29You and MeLifehouse · 2005 · 3:15A soft rock ballad about losing track of everything but each other.
30. 30All My LifeK-Ci & JoJo · 1997 · 5:31A late-90s R&B slow jam about finally finding the one.

What are modern first dance songs?

Modern first dance songs include Perfect and Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran, All of Me by John Legend and A Thousand Years by Christina Perri, four modern wedding staples. Newer picks like I Get to Love You by Ruelle have become wedding favourites in their own right.

31. 31PerfectEd Sheeran · 2017 · 4:23A slow waltz written for a first dance in all but name.
32. 32Thinking Out LoudEd Sheeran · 2014 · 4:41About loving someone into old age. The easiest modern song to sway to.
33. 33All of MeJohn Legend · 2013 · 4:29Piano ballad about loving every part of someone.
34. 34A Thousand YearsChristina Perri · 2011 · 4:45A slow, patient song that works for the walk and the dance.
35. 35Say You Won't Let GoJames Arthur · 2016 · 3:31Tells a whole relationship in three verses. Mid-tempo, so it moves along.
36. 36I Choose YouSara Bareilles · 2014 · 3:38Written like a set of vows. Bright and hopeful.
37. 37Love SomeoneLukas Graham · 2018 · 3:25A soft piano song about how loving someone changes you.
38. 38Forever Like ThatBen Rector · 2015 · 4:14Upbeat and sweet, about wanting this feeling to last.
39. 39I Get to Love YouRuelle · 2016 · 4:00A modern wedding favourite that swells from quiet to cinematic.
40. 40Like I'm Gonna Lose YouMeghan Trainor · 2015 · 3:45The duet with John Legend about loving like there’s no tomorrow.

What are good country first dance songs?

Good country first dance songs include From This Moment On by Shania Twain, It’s Your Love by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, and I Cross My Heart by George Strait. If you know a two-step, Head Over Boots by Jon Pardi in the upbeat list is worth a look.

41. 41From This Moment OnShania Twain · 1998 · 4:43A country-pop vow, big and sweeping.
42. 42BreatheFaith Hill · 1999 · 4:10Slow and dreamy, about being lost in each other.
43. 43It's Your LoveTim McGraw · 1997 · 3:47The duet with Faith Hill. Easy, warm and unhurried.
44. 44I Cross My HeartGeorge Strait · 1992 · 3:30A simple, sincere promise. A classic country first dance.
45. 45ThenBrad Paisley · 2009 · 5:22Each verse loves her more than the last. Slow and steady.
46. 46Making Memories of UsKeith Urban · 2005 · 3:54A gentle list of plans for a life together.
47. 47God Gave Me YouBlake Shelton · 2011 · 3:49Grateful and slow, popular with faith-minded couples.
48. 48YoursRussell Dickerson · 2017 · 3:36Written for his wife. Soft verses, big chorus.
49. 4910,000 HoursDan + Shay · 2019 · 2:47The duet with Justin Bieber, sweet and mid-tempo.
50. 50HeavenKane Brown · 2017 · 2:57A smooth modern country slow dance.

What are upbeat first dance songs?

Upbeat first dance songs include Marry You by Bruno Mars, Ain’t That a Kick in the Head by Dean Martin and Love on Top by Beyoncé. They suit couples who took a few lessons, want a choreographed routine, or simply want the first dance to feel like a party.

51. 51Marry YouBruno Mars · 2010 · 3:50Bells, handclaps and a spur-of-the-moment proposal. Good for a choreographed first dance.
52. 52You're the First, the Last, My EverythingBarry White · 1974 · 4:36Disco strings and a deep voice. Starts the party.
53. 53Ain't That a Kick in the HeadDean Martin · 1960 · 2:24Swinging, cheeky and short. Great for a ballroom-style dance.
54. 54I'm YoursJason Mraz · 2008 · 4:02Breezy reggae-pop. Relaxed and smiley.
55. 55Love on TopBeyoncé · 2011 · 4:28Key change after key change. For couples who want to finish big.
56. 56Head Over BootsJon Pardi · 2016 · 3:25A country two-step, light and quick.
57. 57How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)James Taylor · 1975 · 3:35Relaxed and grateful, with a gentle groove for a smiley two-step.
58. 58SwayMichael Bublé · 2003 · 3:08Latin-flavoured swing. Fun if you’ve taken a few lessons.
59. 59Dancing in the MoonlightKing Harvest · 1972 · 3:01Easygoing 70s groove, good for a relaxed dance.
60. 60Best of My LoveThe Emotions · 1977 · 3:39Bright disco soul to pull the room onto the floor.

What makes a good slow dance song?

A good slow dance song has a steady beat you can feel without counting, a pace slow enough to take one small step per beat, and a start that doesn’t leave you standing still: At Last by Etta James, Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton and I Swear by All-4-One are three of the easiest. Some plain-English tempo notes:

• Aim for about 3 minutes. Most first dances last 2½ to 3½ minutes. Give the DJ a fade timestamp for anything longer, or ask them to invite guests onto the floor for the last minute.
• Listen for the intro. A long quiet opening means 30 seconds of standing and smiling. Ask the DJ to start a few seconds in if you need to.
• Practise in your shoes. Two or three run-throughs are enough to know where the turn goes.
• Check the version. Ask for the studio recording; live versions run longer and sometimes speed up. Everything in the slow lists is clean, and if you add a newer pop song, confirm the clean version.

Planning the other big moments? See our wedding entrance songs, the mother son dance songs and the father daughter dance songs.

How do you keep your wedding songs?

The simplest way to keep your wedding songs is a CD of the day’s music, which makes a good first-anniversary gift because the paper anniversary suits a printed tracklist and cover. One 80-minute CD holds about 18 to 22 songs: your first dance song, the processional, the parent dances and the songs that filled the floor.

• Total your list with the playlist length calculator; our guide to how many songs fit on a CD explains the 80-minute limit.
• Sequence it like the day, and finish with your first dance. Our guide to making a mixtape has the details.
• Print an insert with the CD case template, with the date and venue on the cover.
• Burn from tracks you bought or own. Spotify and Apple Music downloads are copy-protected and can’t be burned.

No burner at home? We’ll burn your wedding playlist to a custom CD, with your wedding photo as the cover.