35 Perfect Songs for Your First Dance
Start the celebrations off on the right foot with these romantic picks.
Committing to eternity is a lot, and is so finding the exact song to encapsulate that forever feeling. Whether you’re looking for something light, something romantic, or something a bit more dramatic, we’ve taken all of the best anthems, bops, and slow jams from the likes of Alicia Keys, Aaliyah, and Al Greene, and rounded up the best first dance songs for your wedding day.
“YOUR SONG” BY ELTON JOHN
Elton John’s “Your Song” pretty much speaks for itself when it comes to romance. This 1970 classic is heartfelt and honest in all the best ways. For a more modern rendition? Opt for the crisp, stripped-down version by Ellie Goulding.
“I FOUND YOU” BY ALABAMA SHAKES
With a casual, distinctive, and soulful sound, this Alabama Shakes song has lyrics like, “I finally found you” that suits the setting and make it a unique—and bluesy—option for your first dance.
“ALL OF ME” BY BILLIE HOLIDAY
“You took the part that once was my heart / So why not take all of me” is a not-so-subtle love song that feels dreamy, genuine—and sets a sultry mood.
“MARRY ME” BY TRAIN
This meet-cute melody from Train’s lead vocalist, Pat Monahan, is about the hypothetical of a love-at-first-sight moment, which is beautiful, sweet, and obviously, so wedding-worthy.
“ENDLESS LOVE” BY LIONEL RICHIE & DIANA ROSS
This ’80s declaration of love by the powerhouse vocals of Lionel Richie and Diana Ross makes it one of the greatest duets of all time and ideal for a couple looking for an epic entry on to the dancefloor.
“THE WAY I AM” BY INGRID MICHAELSON
Crisp sweetness is the best way to describe this 2007 hit with real yet quirky lyrics like “If you are chilly, here take my sweater / Your head is aching, I’ll make it better.”
“THEY CAN’T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME” BY ELLA FITZGERALD & LOUIS ARMSTRONG
Introduced originally by Fred Astaire in the 1937 film Shall We Dance, the 1956 version by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong is full of soul and feels both cool and classic.
“FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE” BY STEVIE WONDER
An uptempo arrangement from music legend Stevie Wonder, this Motown masterpiece will set the tone for a fun evening of dining and dancing.
“GROOVE IS IN THE HEART” BY DEEE-LITE
The top first dance, this dance band ditty is unconventional and unexpected for the couple that’s just looking to have a good time.
“FLOAT” BY PACIFIC AIR
Your guests won’t hate swaying along to the sound of your first foray onto the dance floor when they’re enjoying the two of you taking a spin to this optimistic whistle tune.
“WITH A GIRL LIKE YOU” BY THE TROGGS
“I want to spend my life with a girl like you / Ba ba ba ba bah ba ba ba ba” basically speaks for itself. This popular, mid-tempo sing-along by the English rock band that brought us “Wild Thing” in 1966, is first dance approved.
“PUT IN ALL ON ME” BY ED SHEERAN FEAT. ELLA MAI
Sheeran’s “Perfect” had its run in weddings, and it’s a bit overplayed; opt for one of the chart topper’s latest collaborations with artist Ella Mai for a sensual, yet high energy, first dance pick.
“COME AND GET YOUR LOVE” BY REDBONE
With an upbeat and albeit funky disposition, this 1973 classic from Native American rock band, Redbone, is a true crowd-pleaser.
“FOREVER” BY BEN HARPER
This singer-songwriter fan favorite is raw and real. Simplistic in its delivery, there won’t be a dry eye in the room listening to the sweet lyrics of “So give me your forever / Please your forever / Not a day less will do, from you.”
“CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF OF YOU” BY MS. LAURYN HILL
A classic rendition turned R&B, this “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” arrangement is casual, cool, and undoubtedly romantic.
“AT YOUR BEST (YOU ARE LOVE)” BY AALIYAH
With a recent rendition from Frank Ocean and original takings by the Isley Brothers, “At Your Best” is an ever-evolving R&B staple. Somewhere in all of that lies Aaliyah’s ethereal take on the track—a silky-soft reimagining of reaffirmation.
“IF I AIN’T GOT YOU” BY ALICIA KEYS
With one of the most iconic, lasting vocal performances of the last few decades, “If I Ain’t Got You” is a commanding surrender to vulnerability.
“DONTCHANGE” BY MUSIQ SOULCHILD
“Dontchange” is quintessential heavy-handed early 2000s R&B. Musiq Soulchild is up-front, wind-in-the-hair (and the unbuttoned shirt) soul music, and while it borders on corny, there’s something to be said about being this explicitly romantic on your big day.
“MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE” BY ADELE
Adele’s magic lies in the way she can make any hyperbole sound convincingly commonplace. “Make You Feel My Love,” the British singer’s version of Bob Dylan’s 1997 original, is so serious that it carries a seemingly somber undertone; but lines like, “Go to the ends of this Earth for you / To make you feel my love” make it a piano-laced love anthem for the ages.
“STAY WITH YOU” BY JOHN LEGEND
If you want the John Legend effect, but don’t want to be one of three friends in your circle who’s first-danced to “All of Me,” this closing cut from the singer’s first album is perfect for a wholesome, contemporary pick.
“AT LAST” BY ETTA JAMES
At its core, “At Last” is a song that’s basically about finding the right man after years of shitty dating—an uber-romantic sigh of relief. Etta James floats above a humming string section, celebrating the “dream that I could speak to / a dream to call my own.”
“TO KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE HIM ” BY AMY WINEHOUSE
For all of the times Amy Winehouse has sung of self-sabotage and tainted romance, there lies the handful of tracks that seem to prove why she believes in love at all. On “To Know Him Is To Love Him,” she takes a song that originally came out in 1958 and delivers a hauntingly stripped-back, lullaby-like version.
“FIRST DAY OF MY LIFE” BY BRIGHT EYES
“First Day of My Life” leads with its lyrics. Paired with nothing but some light, acoustic guitar strums, frontman Conor Oberst’s delivery is closer to a soft-spoken speech than it is to singing when he delivers lines like, “This is the first day of my life / I’m glad I didn’t die before I met you.”
“LET’S STAY TOGETHER” BY AL GREEN
An omnipresent classic with a steady drum line leading Green’s vocals, “Let’s Stay Together” is an obvious first dance choice that doesn’t spare its groove for lofty romanticism. It’s a convincing confession of all that’s everlasting, from the king of all things love.
“MY CHERIE AMOUR” BY STEVIE WONDER
If you’re going to commit to eternity, let it be Stevie Wonder’s inimitable pipes that lead you there. With a sing-along “la-la-la” tying the track together, “My Cherie Amour” is a meaningful crowd-pleaser.
“IT HAD TO BE YOU” BY RAY CHARLES
For something a bit more retro, “It Had to Be You” is Ray Charles’s shining, swinging take on a classic jazz standard.
“THE MAKINGS OF YOU” BY CURTIS MAYFIELD
With a fairytale-like opening—complete with dazzling piano ripples and topped off with smooth horns—Curtis Mayfield’s “The Makings of You” is a dreamy ode to the woman he loves, captured by some of this century’s best songwriting.
“SEND IT ON” BY D’ANGELO
D’Angelo as a first dance song isn’t necessarily a shy couple’s pick. Backed by Questlove on drums, “Send It On” is a soaring classic that swings in and out of rhythms, all while holding a certain sensuality.
“BETTER TOGETHER” BY JACK JOHNSON
With lines about “mango trees” lead by harmonica notes and hums, “Better Together” is a simple, beachy love song that’s not doing too much, nor trying to say too much.
“THAT’S HOW STRONG MY LOVE IS” BY OTIS REDDING
There are moments that Otis Redding sings with the enthusiasm of a near shout on “That’s How Strong My Love Is,” but he always seems to pull himself back into sweet, softer-spoken reassurance.
“HOW SWEET IT IS (TO BE LOVED BY YOU)” BY JAMES TAYLOR
With an almost elementary-like effect, “How Sweet It Is” is a wholesome, jangle-y rendition of a Marvin Gaye original. Plus, iconic sing-along lines like, “I wanna stop / And thank you, baby” make it open for audience involvement.
“BEST PART” BY DANIEL CAESAR FEAT. H.E.R.
The effortlessly ethereal pairing of H.E.R. and Daniel Caesar tackles the rare, non-corny duet on “Best Part,” a stunning exchange between two of modern R&B’s best voices.
“FOR THE LOVE OF YOU, PTS. 1 & 2” BY THE ISLEY BROTHERS
“For the Love Of You” is a potent mix of sultry and sweet, a combination perfected countless times by The Isley Brothers. This is a family party staple that works just as well as a black-tie crossover.
“THE POINT OF IT ALL” BY ANTHONY HAMILTON
Meant for swaying and snapping, “The Point of It All” opens up the first dance to styles other than a three-minute slow embrace. This Anthony Hamilton cut is for couples looking for something a bit more up-tempo on their big debut.
“BY YOUR SIDE” BY SADE
On “By Your Side,” Sade casts away any doubts, leaning in with comforting reassurance via her signature casual, cool delivery.
FIRST DANCE IS THE BEST DANCE CLASSES IN GURGAON AND DELHI NCR.
Gurgaon with its cosmopolitan society is demanding in its requirement of entertainment and socializing. Hence, dance classes in Gurgaon are in big demand for all those wanting to learn various styles of dance.
