The Ultimate First Dance Song List - UKbride Blog

The Ultimate First Dance Song List

With 200 first dance songs categorised for every kind of couple, this is the ultimate first dance song list – you are sure to find the perfect song for you in this comprehensive list!

 

1. Most Popular

These are the 20 most popular songs selected for a first dance. If you’re looking to simply sway to a very romantic song, choose a song from this list.

The all-time most popular first dance songs
The all-time most popular first dance songs

 

  1. All of Me – John Legend
  2. A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
  3. Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
  4. Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
  5. How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
  6. Perfect – Ed Sheeran
  7. Make You Feel My Love – Adele
  8. Your Song – Elton John
  9. Come Away With Me – Norah Jones
  10. I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
  11. Marry You – Bruno Mars
  12. At Last – Etta James
  13. My Girl – The Temptations
  14. Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
  15. Amazed – Lonestar
  16. Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
  17. I Won’t Give Up – Jason Mraz
  18. Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers
  19. Iris – Goo Goo Dolls
  20. Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol

 

2. Modern

If you’re more of a modern couple and you want to dance to chart music, these hit songs from the past year will certainly feel like the ones for you.

Be a trendy couple and dance to modern songs.
Be a trendy couple and dance to modern songs.

 

  1. Shallow – Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
  2. Señorita – Shawn Mendes & Camilla Cabello
  3. No Tears Left to Cry – Ariana Grande
  4. Adore You – Miley Cyrus
  5. Someone You Loved – Lewis Capaldi
  6. Shotgun – George Ezra
  7. I Don’t Care – Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber
  8. Without Me – Halsey
  9. Promises – Calvin Harris & Sam Smith
  10. Lost Without You – Freya Ridings
  11. Hold Me While You Wait – Lewis Capaldi
  12. Just You and I – Tom Walker
  13. Piece of Your Heart – Meduza ft. Goodboys
  14. Hello My Love – Westlife
  15. So Am I – Ava Max
  16. Play – Jax Jones & Years and Years
  17. Sunflower – Post Malone ft, Swae Lee
  18. Giant – Calvin Harris & Rag ‘n’ Bone Man
  19. Happier – Marshmello ft. Bastille
  20. Walk Me Home – P!nk

 

3. Classical

You may want more of a classical first dance, spinning round the dance floor to Tchaikovsky or Debussy. If that’s the case, these songs will have your guests swooning as you spin!

Dance to classical for your first dance.
Dance to classical for your first dance.

 

  1. Moonlight Sonata – Beethoven
  2. Intermezzo from Cavaleria Rusticana – Mascagni
  3. O Mia Babbino Caro – Puccini
  4. Flower Duet – Delibet
  5. Für Elise – Beethoven
  6. Canon in D – Pachelbel
  7. Salut d’Amour – Elgar
  8. An Arc of Doves – Brian Eno
  9. Ave Maria – Bach
  10. Symphony No.5 in C Minor – Beethoven
  11. L’Arlésienne Suite No.1 – Bizet
  12. Clair de Lune – Debussy
  13. The Four Seasons – Vivaldi
  14. Wedding March – Andrew Grossman
  15. Piano Concerto No.2 – Rachmaninov
  16. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik – Mozart
  17. Bridal Chorus – Wagner
  18. Gymnopédie No.1 – Erik Satie
  19. Water Music Suite: Air – Handel
  20. A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Mendelssohn

 

4. Alternative

You may want something a little different to what everybody else has! Pick a song that will stick in the minds of your guests and make them remember your first dance.

Do something a little different.
Do something a little different.

 

  1. Toothpaste Kisses – The Maccabees
  2. You and Me Song – The Wannadies
  3. Heartbeats – José Gonzalez
  4. Songbird – Oasis
  5. California Daze – Peace
  6. Dog Days are Over – Florence + the Machine
  7. Just Like Heaven – The Cure
  8. Walking on a Dream – Empire of the Sun
  9. Skinny Love – Bon Iver (or Birdy)
  10. The Power of Love – Huey Lewis and the News
  11. You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oates
  12. Whistle for the Choir – The Fratellis
  13. A Certain Romance – Arctic Monkeys
  14. You’re Gorgeous – Babybird
  15. Forever – Ben Harper
  16. Last Nite – The Strokes
  17. My Favourite Room – Blossoms
  18. Always Like This – Bombay Bicycle Club
  19. Modern Love – Courteeners
  20. There Goes the Fear – Doves

 

5. Fun and Upbeat

You may want to avoid the stuffiness and the formality of a first dance! Let your hair down and have fun with your partner with these fun songs to make your guests giggle and to just enjoy it.

Have fun for your first dance!
Have fun for your first dance!

 

  1. You’re My Best Friend – Queen
  2. Walking on Sunshine – Katrina & the Waves
  3. Happy – Pharrell Williams
  4. Hey Ya! – Outkast
  5. Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
  6. Rock With You – Michael Jackson
  7. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
  8. I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
  9. Need U (100%) – Duke Dumont ft. AME
  10. Feel the Love – Rudimental
  11. I Love It – Icona Pop ft. Charli XCX
  12. On a Ragga Tip – SL2
  13. (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher – Jackie Wilson
  14. Teenage Kicks – The Undertones
  15. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
  16. Shake it Off – Taylor Swift
  17. Sexyback – Justin Timberlake
  18. Kiss – Prince
  19. Twist and Shout – The Beatles
  20. Ignition (Remix) – R Kelly

 

6. Jazz

Classic jazz songs are actually some of the most popular first dance songs! Just imagine swaying to Sinatra or dancing to Dean Martin. It’s a very romantic genre of songs that will feel really special.

Dance along to jazz!
Dance along to jazz!

 

  1. Everybody Loves Somebody – Dean Martin
  2. Unforgettable – Nat King Cole
  3. When You’re Smiling – Louis Armstrong
  4. You’re All I Need to Get By – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
  5. Let’s Fall in Love – Ella Fitzgerald
  6. L.O.V.E. – Nat King Cole
  7. Dream a Little Dream of Me – Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald
  8. Cheek to Cheek – Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald
  9. That’s Amore – Dean Martin
  10. At Last – Etta James
  11. What a Difference a Day Makes – Dinah Washington
  12. Georgia on My Mind – Ray Charles
  13. La Vie en Rose – Edith Piaf
  14. The Best is Yet to Come – Frank Sinatra
  15. Almost Like Being in Love – Nat King Cole
  16. What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
  17. Somethin’ Stupid – Frank Sinatra
  18. My Girl – The Temptations
  19. Strangers in the Night – Frank Sinatra
  20. Someone to Watch Over Me – Blossom Dearie

 

7. Songs You Haven’t Thought Of

There’s a handful of songs that would make incredible first dance songs that no one seems to have considered! We think some of these should be in the most popular list so check them out and choose something different…

Have an upbeat fun dance! Many couples get dance lessons.
Have something a little different for your big day.

 

  1. You are the Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder
  2. How Sweet it is (to be Loved by You) – Marvin Gaye
  3. Someone Like You – Van Morrison
  4. You Send Me – Aretha Franklin
  5. You Make Loving Fun – Fleetwood Mac
  6. That’s How Strong My Love Is – Otis Redding
  7. Love Story – Taylor Swift
  8. I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
  9. So High – John Legend
  10. Something – The Beatles
  11. Love on Top – Beyoncé
  12. Nothing Even Matters – Lauryn Hill ft D’Angelo
  13. If I Ain’t Got You – Alicia Keys
  14. (You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman – Aretha Franklin
  15. Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You – Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
  16. You Only Get What You Give – New Radicals
  17. I Swear – All-4-One
  18. My Eyes Adored You – Frankie Valli and the Four Season
  19. Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Deep Blue Something
  20. Kiss Me – Sixpence None the Richer

 

8. Rock

You may be going for a festival theme or you may be massive rock fans who just want something classically rock ‘n’ roll to express your personality. These are the top picks for rockin’ couples!

Express your personality with a rock theme.
Express your personality with a rock theme.

 

  1. Wild Horses – The Rolling Stones
  2. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
  3. You Really Got Me – The Kinks
  4. You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
  5. Iris – Goo Goo Dolls
  6. White Wedding – Billy Idol
  7. Everlong – The Foo Fighters
  8. No One Knows – Queens of the Stone Age
  9. Love Her Madly – The Doors
  10. Addicted to Love – Robert Palmer
  11. Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
  12. Are You Gonna Be My Girl – Jet
  13. November Rain – Guns ‘N’ Roses
  14. Today – Smashing Pumpkins
  15. I Would Do Anything for Love – Meatloaf
  16. Love of My Life – Queen
  17. Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
  18. She’s Always a Woman – Billy Joel
  19. Maggie – Rod Stewart
  20. One – U2

 

9. Film 

There are some famous dances portrayed by Hollywood and even just some brilliant songs that feature in some of our favourite films. If you have a favourite film, why not dance to it on the big day?

Who doesn't want to do 'that' lift from Dirty Dancing?
Who doesn’t want to do ‘that’ lift from Dirty Dancing?

 

  1. (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life – Bill Medley (Dirty Dancing)
  2. Rewrite the Stars – Zac Efron & Zendaya (The Greatest Showman)
  3. City of Stars – Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone (La La Land)
  4. All You Need is Love – The Beatles (Love Actually)
  5. Us – Regina Spektor (500 Days of Summer)
  6. Never Enough – Loren Allred  (The Greatest Showman)
  7. She’s Like the Wind – Patrick Swayze (Dirty Dancing)
  8. Take My Breath Away – Berlin (Top Gun)
  9. Andante Andante – ABBA (Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again)
  10. Shallow – Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born)
  11. My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion (Titanic)
  12. Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers (Ghost)
  13. She’s Got You High – Mumm-Ra  (500 Days of Summer)
  14. Breaking Free – Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical)
  15. Fall Again – Glenn Lewis (Maid in Manhattan)
  16. We Go Together – Grease Cast (Grease)
  17. Songbird – Eva Cassidy (Love Actually)
  18. Without Love – Hairspray cast (Hairspray)
  19. You’re the One that I Want – Grease cast (Grease)
  20. Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Andy Williams (10 Things I Hate About You)

 

10. Celebrity First Dances

Over the years, celebrities have danced to everything often performed by the original artist. You may not be able to bag Ellie Goulding yourself, but you can dance to Will and Kate’s first dance song performed by her!

 

  1. It Had to Be You – The Starlight Orchestra (David & Victoria Beckham)
  2. Your Song – Ellie Goulding (Duke & Duchess of Cambridge)
  3. Everybody Loves Somebody – Dean Martin (Michael Bublé & Luisana Lopilato)
  4. Chandelier – Sia (Jennifer Aniston & Justin Theroux)*
  5. Crazy in Love – Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z (Beyoncé & Jay-Z)
  6. A Song for You – Donny Hathaway (Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel)
  7. All of Me – John Legend (Kim Kardashian & Kanye West)
  8. You & I – Stevie Wonder (Barack & Michelle Obama)
  9. Easy – The Commodores (Tom & Giovanna Fletcher)
  10. If There is Something – Roxy Music (Kate Moss & Jamie Hince)*
  11. A Moment Like This – Kelly Clarkson (Neil Patrick Harris & David Burtka)
  12. At Last – Etta James (Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban)
  13. My Valentine – Paul McCartney (Paul McCartney & Nancy Shevell)
  14. Wanna Dance With Somebody –Whitney Houston (Meghan & Harry)
  15. Why Shouldn’t I – Cole Porter (Amal & George Clooney)
  16. Ribbon in the Sky – Stevie Wonder (Ellen DeGeneres & Portia de Rossi)
  17. Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (Channing Tatum & Jenna Dewan)*
  18. Last Night on Earth –Green Day (Mark Zuckerberg & Priscilla Chan)
  19. Make You Feel My Love –Bob Dylan (Reese Witherspoon & Jim Toth)
  20. I’m Your Man – Michael Bublé (Shania Twain & Frederic Thiebaud)

 

*This celeb couple have now split!