When it comes to your big day, there are so many decisions to make: which venue to choose? What shall we eat? Must we invite Weird Cousin Steve? One decision often overlooked, but in our humble opinion, as important as the rest of them: What song to play for your first dance as a married couple?
If you are trying to avoid traditional pop choices such as “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran or “All Of Me” by John Legend, then our guide on how to choose the perfect first dance song will help steer you in the right (one) direction. We should add at this point that Sheeran, Legend and indeed One Direction are all great first dance song choices, but let’s not forget the big wide world beyond pop music; where first dances are concerned, there are no boundaries.
Factors To Consider When Choosing Your First Dance Song
Let’s be clear: on your special day, you can do Whatever. You. Want. However, if you do want to take the tastes of your multi-generational guest list into account, from your hippest nephew to your deafest Great Aunt, there are a few factors to consider before you deep dive into Spotify’s 80 millions song choices (yes, really):
PERSONAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Yay: The song should have personal meaning to both of you. That meaning can be as deep or or superficial as you like, but it’s got to mean something. It could be the ditty playing in the cafe when your eyes first met, the melody bubbling away when you first kissed or the thunderous din booming from the speaker stack as you enjoyed your first mosh pit together.
Nay: Avoid a song with lyrics inappropriate to the occasion – bear in mind the breadth of ages and sensibilities in attendance: No matter how much you love NWA or Limp Bizkit, their profanity laden catalogue might be a bit spicy for the first dance – save them for the late night dancefloor, when the oldies have retired to bed. It would also be good to steer clear of songs with political / divisive language or lyrics, unless of course you want to whip up a finger wagging contest between family factions right there on the dancefloor. We suggest not.
TEMPO:
Yay: Be selfish here. It’s you and your new spouse who will have to dance, alone at first, to the song. So it should have a tempo that you find comfortable to dance to. This might explain why slow songs are traditionally favoured as first dances – most couples would rather glide across the floor than skid around it, but look, it’s your life – if you have the moves, and stamina, consider a faster tempo. Hell, make an extreme sport of it if you like. It’s your day.
Nay: Along with the speed of the song, try and avoid any strange rhythms in the music. We needn’t get too technical as it’s unlikely rhythm should be a concern; most pop and commercial songs are in the 4/4 rhythm we all know and love. Obviously you will practice a few times to the chosen song before the big day (you will, right??), but keep an eye on the flow of the music and how you move to it. A tempo that’s too slow can feel sluggish; too fast can make it difficult to move comfortably. You don’t want your first dance video to look like a Benny Hill sketch.
LENGTH:
The song should be long enough for you to dance comfortably, but not so long that it becomes tedious. Your guests will be eager to join you on the dance floor too. A 10 minute live version of your favourite ballad is going to drag. For some, there’s no such thing as too short a first dance song. It’s unlikely the first dance will be played on its own, i.e. the DJ or band will kick in with their set straight away, so you won’t be short of music even if you pick a ringtone as your first dance (don’t do this).
If you feel you have your perfect song but the original version is either too short or too long, there is a Euphonica hack for that. If your first dance song will be performed by a live band, then we can arrange for them to adjust the length according to your preference – a longer intro perhaps, or cutting out the noodly guitar solo halfway through it…. If you book a Euphonica DJ to play your first dance, we can make an edit of your chosen song, exactly as you like it.
GENRE:
Yay: The song should be a genre that you both enjoy and that fits the overall vibe of your wedding. There is no set rule for this: if you are planning a heavy metal wedding and want to have your first dance to an AC/DC song, then who are we to judge?!
Nay: Again, be selfish. We once saw a couple choose a piece of classical music as their first dance, because the groom’s father liked it. The first dance ended up a cross between a ballet and a funeral march, and not in a good way. Don’t be that couple. Unless YOU want to!
DJ or Band: Who Should Be in Charge of Your First Dance?
There’s a popular misconception that DJs are a lesser (cheap) alternative to live entertainment. While it is true that Euphonica DJs can be a more cost-effective option than live bands, the cost of hiring a DJ can vary greatly. This can depend on the DJ’s experience and reputation, whether they provide their own PA and DJ equipment, and if you are looking for a very specific music genre as opposed to a more ‘standard’ open-format DJ.
Different songs can have different impacts if played by a DJ or performed by a band, so you might want to consider that before moving forward with your decision. For instance, if your first dance song will be something like “You Are The First, My Last, My Everything” by Barry White, it might not be as simple as you think to recreate the song with a live band (unless you are planning on booking a full-on orchestra and know someone with such a voice as deep, rich and resonant voice as Big Baz himself). In this particular case, a DJ might be the best option.
Otherwise, if you have decided to go for something a little broader in style, say for example “Everything” by Michael Bublé, then a live band could really take that and run with it, and make it extra impactful and emotional.
Another element to consider might be how you plan to spend the rest of your wedding: do you want to keep people on the dance floor or were you thinking of something more relaxed?
Both DJs and live bands can be great at involving guests and keeping them on the dance floor. However, DJs can usually perform for longer and without breaks, while bands usually perform for a maximum of 2 x 45 min breaks, with a minimum of 15 min breaks in between sets. If you’d like to book a type of entertainment that will get the party started right after your first dance songs and will keep it going for as much as 4 hours, then definitely a DJ is what you are looking for.
Otherwise, if you’d rather limit the dancing and focus more on socialising with your guests and eating all the amazing food that you have been dreaming of since the day of the proposal… then live band all the way!
List of the most popular first dance songs
We thought at this point it might be useful to share a list of the most popular first dance songs, which in our experience, we get asked to play most at weddings. Whether you want to use this list to pick from, or use it to steer clear of popular choices, or just to get a better idea of what could work as first dance song at your wedding, here they are:
“Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley
“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
“Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran
“A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri
“All of Me” by John Legend
“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith
“You Are the Love of My Life” by Sam Cooke
“I Choose You” by Sara Bareilles
“Love on Top” by Beyoncé
Is there such a thing as a perfect first dance song?
Ultimately, no. If you’re still with us at this point, you will hopefully have taken in what we have said, and be an expert in the decision making process behind the most important decision of all. You will also have realized, that there’ is no right answer, no perfect first dance song.
It is really unlikely that all the guests at your special day will absolutely love the song that you chose for your first dance, so relax – there is really no need to stress about it. Eventually, the people who will remember that moment forever will be you and your partner so the main think to think of is to choose a song that has a special meaning for both of you and that you both feel comfortable dancing to.