Top 10 first dance songs for your wedding

According to a recent study by life insurance broker Reassured, searches for ‘first dance songs 2022’ have increased by more than 1,300% and ‘first dance ideas for non-dancers' has increased by 300%*. With many couples looking for inspiration for their first dance, consider these top ten first dance songs on Spotify:

• Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran
• Perfect by Ed Sheeran
• All of Me by John Legend
• At Last by Etta James
• Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley
• Say You Won’t Let Go by James Arthur
• You Are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne
• Can’t Help Falling in Love by Haley Reinhart
• Your Song by Elton John
• Perfect Duet by Ed Sheeran with Beyoncé

If you're nervous about dancing in front of people, choose a well-known song and ask your guests to join you on the dancefloor

How to choose your first dance song

Ideally, your first dance song should be around three minutes long. Anything around a minute is too short, while five minutes and onwards is too long. Choose a song that you and your partner can dance to comfortably, ensuring that the tempo is suited to your dance style. If you want to surprise your guests with a choreographed routine, quicken your pace with an uplifting song choice. Alternatively, a slower beat may suit you and your partner as you sway together to the music.

If neither of you are strong dancers, consider choosing a well-known song and after a minute or two, invite your guests to join you on the dance floor. This takes the pressure off you and your partner while still making your first dance memorable as it segues into the evening festivities.

“A first dance song choice is very personal to the couple,” explains Ian and Angela Gladwell, owners of Celebration Sounds Disco. “Some have a special song from when they first met, others struggle to decide but it has to be your decision.

“Some go slow, and some go more upbeat and have dance lessons prior to the wedding. A lot of couples are nervous about dancing in front of everyone, but from our own experience, you are so into each other at the time that you don’t really think about it. You can also ask your DJ to get everyone to join in halfway through. Remember it’s about you and what makes you happy.”

Choose a song that you and your partner can dance to comfortably and confidently, or one that is meaningful to the both of you

If you don’t share similar music tastes, find common ground with your partner. Choose a genre together that neither of you would previously consider. You could also speak with your friends and family to see if they recommend any songs. For a themed wedding, choose a song that will suit the day. A jazz ballad would be an ideal choice for a vintage 1920s-inspired wedding, or a string quartet version of a song from your favourite film would tie in nicely with your first dance. If all else fails, look up the lyrics of a song and see if they resonate with you and your partner.

“Hearing your first dance song played by a string quartet is a unique and intimate experience,” explains Amy Goodwin, cellist with Haysden String Quartet. “A quartet's repertoire is so versatile and wide ranging. You could choose any genre or style that you wish to dance to, from Frank Sinatra's It Had To Be You and Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran to an upbeat tango or classical waltz.

“We also take special requests from clients. At a recent wedding, we arranged Unforgettable by Nat King Cole for the first dance. It was a song that had personal and special meaning to the couple, made all the more romantic by hearing it played by four string instruments.”

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