First Dance Songs

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Top Wedding First Dance Songs Playlist

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Top Wedding First Dance Songs Playlist

I know it can be challenging to choose a first dance song, or a father-daughter or mother-son song for your wedding. With the entire history of music available, plus new wedding love songs coming out every year, it can seem overwhelming to narrow it down.

If you are actually planning to dance during your first dance or parent dances (and not just prom sway), then the best playlists to listen through are ones compiled by wedding dance instructors. (Hint: if you are reading this, you are in the right place!)

First Dance Songs from Real 2021 Weddings

First Dance Songs from Real 2021 Weddings

It’s been a minute since I’ve published a yearly list of REAL first dance songs from REAL weddings. But here I am with the roundup from 2021. Pop open a bottle of champagne with your fiancé and listen together — this is the easiest way to choose your first dance song.

Popular First Dance Songs by Andy Grammer

Popular First Dance Songs by Andy Grammer

Andy Grammar has become one of the most popular artists for first dance songs in the past couple of years. Dare I say it, but he’s kind of like an Ed Sheeran — multiple, really good options for first dance songs that are not only beautiful but fun to dance to.

Here are some of my favorite Andy Grammar songs for your first dance.

First Dance Song Review: Beyond by Leon Bridges

First Dance Song Review: Beyond by Leon Bridges

So you love “Beyond” by Leon Bridges and are considering dancing to this song for your first dance. Join the club!

Beyond was one of 2020’s most popular first dance songs at my wedding dance studio and online. Earlier this year, I shared a video on YouTube of one of my 2019 couples dancing to this song and the feedback has been so positive! I even received multiple requests to create an online tutorial based on this dance.

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Be Like The Royals: Thoughts On Meghan & Harry's First Dance to "I'm In Love" by Wilson Pickett

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Be Like The Royals: Thoughts On Meghan & Harry's First Dance to "I'm In Love" by Wilson Pickett

Have you heard the news?

Apparently, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry actually danced to a different first dance song then previously reported. (WHAT?!)

My thoughts on both songs, as well as links to listen, after the jump.

First Dance Song Review: The Luckiest by Ben Folds

First Dance Song Review: The Luckiest by Ben Folds

I have loved the first dance song, “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds for a really long time and used to dream of my future boyfriend putting it on a mixed cd for me.

Keep reading to learn the pros, cons and my recommendation on whether to choose this song for your first dance.

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Five Non-Traditional First Dance Songs to Get The Party Started

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Five Non-Traditional First Dance Songs to Get The Party Started

Some couples cringe at the thought of slow dancing to a sentimental love song for their first dance. If that’s you, take heart! I have worked with lots of couples who have chosen less traditional songs to dance to at their wedding. Whether it’s a song that you both love dancing and singing to in the car, or a song that gives off unmistakable party vibes, these non-traditional songs are fun and easy to dance to and a great way to kick off the reception.

First Dance Song Review: Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You by Frankie Valli

First Dance Song Review: Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You by Frankie Valli

When you hear the lyrics, “you’re just too good to be true...can’t take my eyes off of you...,” who else immediately thinks of the scene from “Ten Things I Hate About You” where Heath Ledger serenades Julia Stiles over the PA system during soccer practice? 🙋‍♀️

It would be impossible to come up with ten things to hate about this first dance song! Keep reading for my recommendation as well as photographic inspiration for those of you considering this song for your first dance.

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First Dance Song Review: Mean to Me by Brett Eldredge

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First Dance Song Review: Mean to Me by Brett Eldredge

Take a listen to Mean to Me by Brett Eldredge and check out my pros, cons and recommendation after the jump. And if you are hoping to dance to this song for your wedding and don’t live nearby, check out my online course for beginners. The steps you learn through the course go perfectly with this song!

Most Popular First Dance Songs of 2017

Most Popular First Dance Songs of 2017

Here are the most popular first dance songs of 2017 (plus all of the songs that my students chose to dance to this year.) If you are searching for a first dance song, you've come to the right place.

29 First Dance Songs from Real 2015 Weddings

29 First Dance Songs from Real 2015 Weddings

Does the giant 200+ "greatest first dance songs" playlist that you stumbled across on the internet leave you feeling overwhelmed and confused? While many first dance song lists mean well, they often forget to consider the most important aspect of the first dance song - whether or not you can actually dance to it!

The following list encompasses 29 songs that real 2015 couples and students of First Dance Charlotte danced to on their wedding day. The list runs the gamut from Motown to R&B, Top 40 Hits to Country, well-known to unknown, and everything in between. 

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Five First Dance Songs for Laid-Back Outdoor Summer Weddings

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Five First Dance Songs for Laid-Back Outdoor Summer Weddings

Hot and sultry summer weddings deserve first dance songs that fit the weather and the mood of summer love. The following are some of my favorite first dance songs for a laid-back summer wedding, preferably outside near a beautiful body of water.

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Lauren & Stephen | Ritchie Valens First Dance Song

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Lauren & Stephen | Ritchie Valens First Dance Song

"Practice makes permanence." Lauren, a former ice skater, spoke these words during our first wedding dance lesson last summer. I realized how very true these words are when applied both to learning how to dance and to the marriage that comes after the wedding.

First Dance Song Review: By The Way They Dance by Jump, Little Children

First Dance Song Review: By The Way They Dance by Jump, Little Children

You know those bands that you love at one point in your life and then completely forget ever existed 10 years later? Enter Jump, Little Children. I had almost forgotten about this band until I ran across their song, "By The Way They Dance."

Spotify Lists Top 10 Wedding First Dance Songs

Spotify Lists Top 10 Wedding First Dance Songs

Spotify recently compiled a list of the top 10 wedding first dance songs of 2014 based on analysis of more than 30,000 wedding playlists in their database. I decided to take a closer listen to each of the top first dance songs and re-rank them based on a super-scientific rubric that I made up just for this occasion.

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Christen & Ben | Dave Matthews First Dance Song

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Christen & Ben | Dave Matthews First Dance Song

Oh, Christen and Ben. These long-time love birds came to me just a few short weeks before their wedding for two lessons of first dance preparation. Luckily, they were already pretty confident dancing together and just needed help pairing the right steps with the music.

They also brought me a challenge.

First Dance Song Review: The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson

First Dance Song Review: The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson

I know, I know. This song is old news. I can hardly believe how much time has passed (and how many artists have borrowed her sound) since Ingrid Michaelson first came onto the music scene. When this song came on my Pandora recently, I was reminded why her video for “The Way I Am” has more than 12 million views on YouTube.

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Amy & Jim | Frank Sinatra First Dance Song

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Amy & Jim | Frank Sinatra First Dance Song

I had the pleasure of working with Amy and Jim a few weeks before their May wedding. They chose the classic love song “All The Way” by Frank Sinatra for their first dance. I wasn’t very familiar with this song when we began our lessons; however, you can almost never go wrong with Frank and this song certainly does not disappoint. All The Way is a wonderful first dance song for a classic and classy wedding and I’m sure Amy and Jim looked as stunning and dapper on dance floor as a modern-day Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

First Dance Song Review: I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz

First Dance Song Review: I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz

I am often asked my opinion on whether to use certain songs as a first dance song. Couples may love the lyrics of a particular song, but want to know if they can really dance to it.

Today, I will review Jason Mraz’s “I Won’t Give Up” from his 2012 album, Love Is A Four Letter Word.