How to choose your first dance song. What on earth do you choose for the most important dance of your life? That eagerly-anticipated (at least for the guests!), much speculated-upon, damp eye-inducing moment when – a hundred plus pairs of eyes upon you – you take to the dancefloor for your first sway as husband and wife?
It can be tough. Not, perhaps, if you’re one of those couples – who have been together for ever – who already have “our song”. But they’re the lucky few, I reckon. Most of us probably have to search a bit harder, dig a bit deeper into the recesses of our relationship history before we have that lightbulb moment when we realise we do have song after all, or maybe even a few…
Maybe it was the song playing when you first said “I love you”? The most played track of the summer you went on your first holiday together? Lyrics that epitomise your relationship, or with a certain line one of you is always saying to the other? The song you had on repeat throughout your most memorable road trip? The ballad always guaranteed to have you both welling up? The golden oldie family favourite you know means your dad, the groom’s mum, or whoever won’t need to be asked twice to join you on the dancefloor?
But if you’re still drawing a blank about how to choose your first dance song, why not take inspiration from others? Below you’ll find arguably the Top 100 First Dance Tracks of all time (list courtesy of Plan Your Perfect Wedding)
Now we love a list here at Storm DJs, but do bear in mind the following tips when making your choice:
- Before you start trawling through lists, stop to think about what kind or song you actually want to dance to. What sums you up as a couple? What fits with the style of the wedding? Do you want it to be romantic, sexy, fun or sophisticated? Or just different?
- When to go for something slow? An emotional ballad or slow song lends itself to a gentle sway (no practice necessary!), and is perhaps the best bet for shy types or those with two left feet. After all, a choreographed spectacle à la Strictly isn’t everyone’s idea of fun!
- When to go for the up-tempo? If you quite fancy the idea of a few dance lessons, and love the idea of 5 minutes in the spotlight wowing your guests with moves mastered in secret, then what better opportunity than now to pick a real show-stopper…
- Study the lyrics, please. You might love the melody, the pace, the artist or what the track means to you, but now is not the best time to be swaying to a song about unrequited love, cheating, breaking up…or something inappropriate!
- Think about your dress. This might be a key consideration if it’s short, very restrictive or heavy. The last thing you want is a rip! That said, you could always think about a change of outfit to leave you free and unfettered for the big performance, if you are set on incorporating fancy footwork.
- How long do you want it to last? Asked how to choose a first dance song, most wedding planners recommend something around the 3-minute mark. If, in truth, the idea of all eyes on (judging!) you while you dance is enough to make you want to forgo the wedding altogether, why not opt for a fun classic and get everyone to join you on the dance floor after the first 60 seconds?
- Consider the size of the dancefloor: if it’s small, you can’t be doing Dirty-Dancing-esque lifts, and you don’t want to be waltzing and spinning into things (or people!). It may sound obvious, but it was probably ages ago you visited the venue by the time you get round to picking a first dance, and even then you may not have seen the dance floor set up. So it’s worth finding out the dimensions if you’re not sure.
- Top Tip: Don’t be afraid to be unconventional. If you can’t decide between two or even three or more songs; you love the melody of one track but have your heart set on particular lyrics from another; you just have to have the chorus of that song but aren’t fussed about the rest of it; or you want to speed up a ballad or slow down something up-tempo, ask your DJ to prepare a customised rendition or record a completely bespoke mix. Because that’s really unique.
- Lastly, remember that it’s your wedding, your moment, and should be about you as a couple. Forget about everyone else. Try to enjoy the process of choosing something, and certainly don’t let it become an ordeal!
Plan Your Perfect Wedding’s Top 100 First Dance Tracks of all time.
[row]
[one_half]
1) At Last, Etta James
2) First Day Of My L
3) It Had To Be You, Harry Connick Jr.
4) Iris, The Goo Goo Dolls
5) Marry You, Bruno Mars
6) Into My Arms, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
7) All You Need Is Love, The Beatles
8) Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Andy Williams
9) These Arms Of Mine, Otis Redding
10) Can’t Help Falling In Love, Elvis Presley
11) Make You Feel My Love, Adele
12) I’m Yours, Jason Mraz
13) Let’s Stay Together, Al Green
14) Greatest Day, Take That
15) Amazed, Lonestar
16) Unforgettable, Nat King Cole
17) Stand By Me, Ben E. King
18) Turn Your Lights Down Low, Bob Marley & The Wailers
19) The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Roberta Flack
20) You Got The Love, Candi Staton
21) I’ll Be There, Jackson 5
22) You Make My Dreams, Hall & Oates
23) Such Great Heights, The Postal Service
24) Dog Days Are Over, Florence + The Machine
25) By Your Side, Sade
26) Heroes, David Bowie
27) I Will Wait, Mumford & Sons
28) For Once In My Life, Stevie Wonder
29) You Do Something To Me, Paul Weller
30) Closing Time, Semisonic
31) She’s So Lovely, Scouting For Girls
32) Crazy In Love, Beyoncé & Jay-Z
33) Something, The Beatles
34) Tiny Dancer, Elton John
35) Loving You, Paolo Nutini
36) Turn Me On, Norah Jones
37) I Say A Little Prayer, Aretha Franklin
38) Reet Petite, Jackie Wilson
39) My Baby Just Cares For Me, Nina Simone
40) I Believe In A Thing Called Love, The Darkness
41) The Way You Look Tonight, Tony Bennett
42) Have I Told You Lately That I Love You, Van Morrison
43) You Are The Best Thing, Ray LaMontagne
44) My Lady’s House, Iron & Wine
45) Fidelity, Regina Spektor
46) I Only Have Eyes For You, The Flamingoes
47) Keep Your Heart, TV On The Radio
48) For Lovers, Wolfman & Pete Doherty
49) You Turn Me On I’m A Radio, Joni Mitchell
50) God Only Knows, The Beach Boys
[/one_half]
[one_half]
51) Waterloo Sunset, The Kinks
52) I Was Made For You, She & Him
53) Dance Me To The End Of Love, Leonard Cohen
54) (I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You, UB40
55) Accidentally In Love, Counting Crows
56) Straight To Love, Nick Cave
57) So Beautiful, Darren Hayes
58) Somebody Loved, The Weepies
59) You And Me Song, The Wannadies
60) What A Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong
61) All Of Me, John Legend
62) Your Song, Elton John
63) Why Shouldn’t I? Cole Porter
64) Thinking Out Loud, Ed Sheeran
65) How Sweet it is (to be Loved by You), James Taylor
66) Only Love, Ben Howard
67) How Long Will I Love You, Ellie Goulding
68) Real Love, Tom Odell
69) I Won’t Give Up, Jason Mraz
70) Ho Hey, The Lumineers
71) Anyone Else But You, The Moldy Peaches
72) Everlong, Foo Fighters
73) Beyonce, XO
74) Pharrell Williams, Happy
75) Imagine Dragons, On Top of The World
76) James Blunt, Bonfire Heart
77) Let’s Get It On, Marvin Gaye
78) Groovy Kind of Love, Phil Collins
79) Des’ree, Kissing You
80) Colorblind, Counting Crows
81) Five Years Time, Noah and the Whale
82) Home, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
83) She’s the One, Robbie Williams
84) I Only Want To Be With You, Dusty Springfield
85) Moon River, Andy WIlliams
86) You’ve Got The Love, Florence + The Machine
87) Better Together, Jack Johnson
88) You’re My Best Friend, Queen
89) You Do Something To Me, Paul Weller
88) One Day Like This, Elbow
89) Still Into You, Paramore
90) A Thousand Years, Christina Perri
91) Run, Leona Lewis
92) Truly, Madly, Deeply, Savage Garden
93) Love You Till The End, The Pogues
94) Chasing Cars, Snow Patrol
95) Just The Way You Are, Bruno Mars
96) Kiss Me, Ed Sheeran
97) The Blower’s Daughter, Damien Rice
98) Songbird, Eva Cassidy
99) It Must Be Love, Madness
100) You Are So Beautiful, Joe Cocker
[/one_half]
[/row]
