Song Recommendations for Your First Dance During the Wedding Reception

by Donn Durante, Principal at ChicagoWeddingServices.com | Photo by Ramiz Dedaković on Unsplash

You’ll find many lists around the web of traditional and modern songs for your first dance. I once found a nice list of “Top 100 Wedding First Dance Songs,” but too many choices makes it hard to choose. As a former wedding DJ, below are my personal favorites and recommendations. I tried to cover a range of tastes while limiting this list to only those I would personally endorse – using my music aficionado instincts. I’ve bolded the songs which I don’t think you’ll find on other lists.

Before we jump into the list, though, I have a spoiler…

The best song for your first dance is probably not found in the list below

…or any other published list for that matter. The perfect music for you will be as unique as you are. It will mean something that would be difficult for any song to express unless the songwriter has experienced what the two of you have together. That said, this top 20 list is recommended simply as a starting point. (*Since music is difficult to appreciate without hearing it, you can click now to listen to all of the songs below on Donn’s Spotify playlist of First Dance Songs.)

Donn’s Top 20 First Dance Songs

1. Fallen (Bonus Track) – Lauren Wood
2. So Amazing – So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross by Beyoncé & Stevie Wonder
3. I Cross My Heart – 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: Best of George Strait
4. My Commitment – Open Road by Gary Barlow
5. Make You Feel My Love – 19 by Adele
6. The Way You Look Tonight – Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett
7. By Your Side – Lovers Rock by Sade
8. Lucky (feat. Colbie Caillat) – We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things by Jason Mraz
9. Faithfully (feat. Arnel Pineda) – Revelation by Journey
10. Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
11. L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole
12. It Had to Be You (Big Band and Vocals) – Harry Connick, Jr.
13. A Thousand Years, Pt. 2 (feat. Steve Kazee) by Christina Perri
14. You And Me – Lifehouse **
15. I Like Me Better – LAUV
16. How Long Will I Love You – Bonus Track – by Ellie Goulding
17. You and I – Like Us by Jon McLaughlin
18. I Choose You – Sara Bareilles
19. The Vow – RuthAnne
20. Love Is Here To Stay – Hooray for Love by Curtis Stigers

** Special thanks to cantantedecanciones for adding this suggestion to our collaborative Spotify playlist

How vs. What

If you’re a creative soul, I suspect you’re looking for something that will set your first dance apart from the stereotypical. In that case, I’ve found that it’s helpful to focus on the “how” rather than the “which” or the “what”. Instead of picking some obscure song just to be different, you could innovate by creating a personal medley, mashup, or remix of familiar songs. How you mix them together, and then how you dance to it, is where the difference is made. While this approach is not new, the potential combination of songs and dance routines is infinite.

Timeless Songs with Universal Appeal

Music tastes will vary but certain songs have a more universal appeal. When the music you decide not only has universal appeal but also is considered timeless or classic, you’ll be setting up your first dance to be one that both smothers you and your partner with tear-welling joy and also easily connects to the hearts of your family and friends.

Choreograph It

Your “first” dance at the wedding reception is an official symbol for the beginning of many. It’s important to start things off on the right foot. (Sorry, I had to say it 🙂 One way to do that is by choreographing your dance. Sign up for dance lessons, hire a professional dance choreographer, or even better, choreograph the steps yourself! Adding the dance practice experience itself will help solidify the special memory for years to come.

Listen on Spotify: First Dance Song Recommendations

Listen to this playlist on Spotify: “First Dance: Wedding to Remember“. This playlist will include the top 20 highlighted above as well as additional alternatives if nothing from the initial list strikes your fancy. Since the playlist is set up as collaborative, feel free to add your own recommendations!

(Another idea to leverage Spotify: start your own collaborative playlist for different reception scenarios and invite your friends to add to it. For example, create a playlist for song requests during the open dance floor portion. You can then share this with your wedding DJ or wedding band prior to the big day so they can be better prepared.)

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Donn Durante started DJing in his basement as a teen, eventually becoming a club DJ in college and a wedding DJ after a stint overseas. Although semi-retired as a DJ, he continues to be an avid music fan collecting music favorites from all genres.

You can listen to some of his music mixes on SoundCloud, or follow Donn on Spotify.

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