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Wedding First Dance Songs, Top 10 First Dance Wedding Songs

Traditionally, the first dance song at every wedding was always a waltz and still today the first dance is often referred to as the 'first waltz' or 'bridal waltz'. Although a waltz is still a great choice, for the 21st Century Bride and Groom there is an incredibly diverse repertoire of music available. What you choose for your first dance on your wedding day is also a serious statement of personal style: sleek and modern, sexy and simple, refined, decadent or demure - the choice is yours.

If you are a little nervous, or you don’t like all eyes on you, then go for a song that you can easily move to and then let the band invite your guests to join you on the dance floor.

Do check out the lyrics. Every year the song "I Will Always Love You" is in the top 20 list of top wedding first dance songs. Nevertheless, the line "I'm not what you need" is clearly about breaking up!

Do think carefully about performing a choreographed first dance routine. Sometimes nerves can get the better of you and it's a big enough day already without adding the extra pressure of dancing to a live wedding band.

Divided into categories for the dancers and non-dancers among you, here are a few great suggestions along with the suggested dance.

Traditional Waltzes

A waltz is a great choice for a first dance as it has reasonably simple dance steps and looks very majestic.

Moon River (Andy Williams)
I'll Be Loving You Always (Frank Sinatra)
Around The World (Nat King Cole)
True Love (Bing Crosby)
Fly Me To The Moon (Frank Sinatra)
Fascination (Al Martino / Nat King Cole)

Fred & Ginger Film Songs

These great movie songs from the 1930’s form an integral part of the Great American Songbook repertoire. Songs by composers such as Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern and Cole Porter are ideal for an elegant choreographed first dance routine or for an informal spin around the dance floor.

The Way You Look Tonight - Foxtrot
Night and Day - Foxtrot or Quickstep
Cheek To Cheek - Quickstep
Let's Face The Music and Dance - Quickstep
Nice Work If You Can Get It - Quickstep

Rat Pack Swinging Love Songs

A little more informal, the Rat Pack songs make ideal wedding first dances and have a certain bounce to them that is both uplifting and classy. They could be easily choreographed if necessary but are equally just as good to sway along to.

Come Fly With Me - Quickstep
Fly Me To The Moon - Foxtrot
Sway - Cha Cha
The Best Is Yet To Come - Foxtrot
I've Got You Under My Skin - Foxtrot
Nice 'n Easy - Slow Foxtrot

Classic Standards

These timeless evergreen songs have wonderful lyrics with meaning and a great melody too. You really can’t go wrong with a wedding first dance to one of these!

It Had To Be You - Foxtrot
At Last - Slow Dance
Just The Way You Are - Rhumba
I Only Have Eyes For You - Foxtrot
When I Fall In Love - Slow Foxtrot
What A Wonderful World - Slow Dance
Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Unforgettable - Slow Dance
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life - Rhumba
You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You - Slow Foxtrot

The Celebrity First Dance

It's always inspiring to know what the rich and famous choose for their wedding first dance song and here are a few celebrity choices:

At Last (Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster / Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban / Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore)
Moon River – Billy Joel and Katie Lee
Someone to Watch Over Me - Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr
In a Sentimental Mood - Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman
Love and Marriage - Kirk Douglas and Anne Buydens
Fly Me To The Moon - Michael Flatley (Lord of the Dance) and Niamh O'Brien
Unchained Melody - Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner
Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Mariska Hargitay ("Law and Order: SVU") and Peter Hermann
Beyond The Sea - Lucy Lawless ("Xena") and Rob Tapert
It Had To Be You - Sharon Stone and Phil Bronstein / LeAnn Rimes and Dean Sheremet