The Best First Dance Wedding Songs, According to a Wedding Guest
Millions of love songs out there, but you only need one for your first dance. A lifelong wedding guest shares his definitive picks — in no particular order.
By Joe C, Groom and Vision Pro Enthusiast
A bride and groom have just exchanged their vows of love to each other in the eyes of their closest friends and family and sealed that promise with a first kiss… time for a dance party! Traditionally, the newlywed couple is given the honor to handpick a song of their choice for their first dance as man and wife — but when there are literally millions of songs performed about love, how do you choose what to dance to?
Well, as someone who has personally attended dozens of weddings, and listened to plenty of music over the course of my lifetime, I've put together a definitive list of my personal picks. Just be aware: these are in no specific order.
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The picks
"In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel — The iconic song from the film Say Anything earned its status for a reason. Plenty of couples may choose it purely out of a shared love of the movie that featured it, but this beautiful song stands perfectly on its own, even if your guests are unfamiliar with the film. Just make sure to have one of your groomsmen or bridesmaids hold up a boombox in the background during your first dance.
"I'll Be" by Edwin McCain — A classic 90s love song where a person lays their feelings bare for the other. This is a fantastic slow dance song for those looking for something less traditional. Personally, I first heard it played during the mostly forgotten television show Seven Days, and it stuck with me ever since. The tempo is slow, but it has just a grungy edge that may appeal to couples interested in an alternative wedding setlist.
"All My Life" by K-Ci & JoJo — Our first R&B hit on this list. The harmonious duo sing beautiful lyrics like "I prayed for someone like you," which is a sentiment many brides and grooms may share. This song defines romantic R&B, and I can't believe I haven't heard it at more of the weddings I've attended.
"I Can Love You Like That" by All-4-One — A song performed by a four-man R&B group, this is possibly one of the best songs ever played during a 90s prom. The lyrics are clean, and the more upbeat tempo may appeal to couples interested in dancing at a faster pace, while still dancing to a song about a man who promises his heart to his partner.
"Someone Like You" by Van Morrison — Without a doubt one of the most romantic songs I've ever heard, and from what I've been told, this is a VERY popular choice amongst newlyweds. Van's unique voice absolutely pierces the romantic melody, and the lyrics "I've been searching a long time for someone exactly like you" can be true for many couples who find each other later in life.
"Black" by Pearl Jam — Time to get a little grungy. I admit the tone on this one may not be to everyone's taste, but if your wedding party is made up of people who grew up in the 1990s or still listen to their alternative radio stations, this hit will be very familiar to them. Eddie Vedder's lyrics power through rock guitar as he tells a personal story that will bring everyone to tears.
"Stand By Me" by Florence + the Machine — I'm going to be controversial here and admit that I've chosen a cover version of an iconic Ben E. King staple over his original — but that's because Florence's version is just THAT good. Originally produced by Square Enix to include in the game Final Fantasy XV, her version was meant to invoke the theme of four friends taking one last road trip before one of them would be wed. Its lyrics, as sung by Florence, clearly could be applied to a bride speaking about her groom, but personally, what makes this the superior version was the way Florence hit that last high note.
"Late Goodbye" by Poets of the Fall — Goodbyes are hard, especially when you have to say goodbye to your romantic partner. This song may not be familiar to the mainstream, but I assure you it will be familiar to every person who played video games in the early 2000s — this was the ending theme to one of the greatest video games of all time, Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. It was the perfect song to listen to during the drive home after a date with my girlfriend.
If you intend to use any of these songs for your own first dance, we'd love to hear about it!
Don't forget to capture the dance
The DJ handles the soundtrack and your photographer handles the formal portraits — but the candid shots of Aunt Linda sobbing during "Black"? Those come from your guests' phones. flshbckz turns every guest's phone into a shared event camera, with six film looks baked in and an album reveal you schedule for the perfect moment.
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Keep reading
- Digital Disposable Cameras Are Replacing Physical Ones at Weddings — Why couples are switching from film to digital
- How to Get Better Wedding Guest Photos Without a Photo Booth — Capture every candid moment without renting a booth
- Your Wedding Needs a Partner Photo App — Why every guest should be a photographer
Cover photo by Still Media Group