We get a lot of brides and grooms that want to have their wedding bands learn a song for their first dance. We are always happy to accommodate – our wedding bands can easily learn songs and will almost always learn wedding songs for free. However, many brides just can’t seem to make up their minds as to what songs might be a good fit for them.
It’s very convenient if the bride and groom have a song already in mind, but that is not always the case. To those of you struggling with these decisions, here are a few pointers:
1.) A good wedding song has special meaning.
– Whether you and your fiancee have had a song themed specifically for your relationship, make sure that your first dance song follows a genre that you both enjoy as well as lyrics that you can both relate to.
2.) A good wedding song is timeless.
– In picking a song, stay away from extremely current songs that may be “faddish.” Some of these songs may seem fresh and exciting, but there is little guarantee that they will stand the test of time. It may be a good idea to find a classic that you both enjoy.
3.) A good wedding song is short.
– One thing that brides and grooms don’t often think about is how long they actually want to be on the dance floor. If you are planning a choreographed dance number, that is one thing. If you are just going out and slow dancing, a 3-4 minute song is usually too long for most people. A good wedding band can do a shortened version of your song.
With these tips in mind, here are a list of classy, effective first dances that may be a starting point ranging from classics to modern to underutilized:
Classics
– “At Last” by Etta James
– “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole
– “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra
– “L.O.V.E” by Natalie Cole
– “Georgia on my Mind” by Ray Charles
– “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
– “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King
– “My Girl” by the Temptations
– “Your Song” by Elton John
– “In My Life” by the Beatles
– “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” by Elvis Presley
– “Just the Way You Are” by Billie Joel
– “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
More Modern
– “Just a Kiss” by Lady Antebellum
– “Everything” by Michael Buble
– “Lucky” by Jason Mraz & Colbie Callait
– “I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz
– “Marry Me” by Train
More Unique
– “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye
– “Love & Happiness” by Al Green
– “God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys
– “The Book of Love” by Peter Gabriel
– “the Luckiest” by Ben Folds Five
– “This Thing Called Love” by Queen
– “I Wanna Grow Old With You” by Adam Sandler
– “Try a Little Tenderness” by Otis Redding
Hopefully this can get your brain juices flowing. A first dance is most effective when it is either planned out, or short & sweet. If you are going to have parent/child dances, similar rules apply, though there is usually more room to have some fun with your song selection 🙂
-This article was written by Stephen Tobian; Manager at Utah Live Bands