101 Best First Dance Wedding Songs

Some couples have their song: a symbolic, romantic tune that personifies their entire relationship. When it comes time for a first dance wedding songs,that tune is their go-to. For those who don’t have a song, however, choosing a first dance song can be a little more difficult. We talked to DJs and wedding planners to find out what songs should make the cut. Here, the definitive list of the best first dance songs, based on their insights.

Classic First Dance Songs

1. "Ain't That A Kick In The Head," by Dean Martin
2. "At Last," by Etta James
3. "Baby I'm Yours," by Arctic Monkeys
4. "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe," by Barry White
5. "Can't Help Falling in Love," by Elvis Presley
6. "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," by Andy Williams
7. "Come Fly with Me," by Frank Sinatra
8. "Crazy Love," by Van Morrison
9. "Dancing in the Moonlight," by King Harvest
10. "Dream a Little Dream of Me," by Etta Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
11. "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," by Roberta Flack
12. "Fly Me to the Moon," by Frank Sinatra
13. "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)," by Four Tops
14. "I've Got the World on a String," by Louis Armstrong
15. "L-O-V-E," by Nat King Cole
16. "Let's Fall in Love," by Vic Damone
17. "Let's Stay Together," by Al Green
18. "Sunday Kind of Love," by Etta James
19. "That's Amore," by Dean Martin
20. "Unchained Melody," by The Righteous Brothers
21. "What a Wonderful World," by Louis Armstrong
22. "When You're Smiling," by Louis Armstrong
23. "You Are the Best Thing," by Ray LaMontagne
24. "You Send Me," by Sam Cooke
25. "You're All I Need to Get By," by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
26. "The Way You Look Tonight," by Frank Sinatra
27. "When I Fall in Love," by Nat King Cole
28. "You Are," by Lionel Richie
29. "(I've Had) The Time of My Life," by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
30. "Endless Love," by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross

Contemporary First Dance Songs

31. "Perfect," by Ed Sheeran
32. "A Thousand Years," by Christina Perri
33. "All My Life," by K-Ci and JoJo
34. "All of Me," by John Legend
35. "Back at One," by Brian McKnight
36. "Because You Loved Me," by Céline Dion
37. "Better Together," by Jack Johnson
38. "By Your Side," by Sade
39. "The Luckiest," by Ben Folds
40. "Everything," by Michael Bublé
41. "First Day of My Life," by Bright Eyes
42. "Halo," by Beyoncé
43. "Here and Now," by Luther Vandross
44. "How Long Will I Love You," by Ellie Goulding
45. "I Do (Cherish You)," by 98 Degrees
46. "I Love You Always Forever," by Donna Lewis
47. "I Won’t Give Up," by Jason Mraz
48. "I'll Make Love to You," by Boyz II Men
49. "In Your Eyes," by Peter Gabriel
50. "Lucky," by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat
51. "Make You Feel My Love," by Adele
52. "Sway," by Michael Bublé
53. "The Power of Love," by Céline Dion
54. "Thinking Out Loud," by Ed Sheeran
55. "When a Man Loves a Woman," by Michael Bolton
56. "You and Me," by Lifehouse
57. "Something in the Way She Moves," by James Taylor
58. "The Book of Love," by Peter Gabriel
59. "Over the Rainbow," by Ingrid Michaelson
60. "I'm Kissing You," by Des'ree

Unique First Dance Songs

61. "Crash Into Me," by Dave Matthews Band
62. "Dog Days Are Over," by Florence + The Machine
63. "Dr. Feelgood," by Aretha Franklin
64. "Fade Into You," by Mazzy Star
65. "Faster," by Matt Nathanson
66. "Good Life," by One Republic
67. "Higher Love," by James Vincent McMorrow
68. "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)," by Sleeping at Last
69. "Magic," by Kira Grannis
70. "Sea of Love," by Cat Power
71. "Everything has Changed," cover by Jasmine Thompson and Gerald Ko
72. "Riptide," by Vance Joy
73. "Love Someone,"by Jason Mraz
74. "Skinny Love," by Bon Iver
75. "Home," by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
76. "You and I," by Ingrid Michaelson
77. "Is This Love," by Corinne Bailey Rae
78. "God Only Knows," cover by Kira Grannis and Imaginary Future
79. "Love on Top," by Beyoncé
80. "Faster," by Matt Nathanson

Country First Dance Songs

81. "From the Ground Up," by Dan + Shay
82. "Cowboy Take Me Away," by The Dixie Chicks
83. "Deeper than the Holler," by Randy Travis
84. "Forever and Ever, Amen," by Randy Travis
85."From this Moment On," by Shania Twain
86. "God Gave Me You," by Black Shelton
87. "Speechless," by Dan + Shay 88. "Wanted," by Hunter Hayes
89. "I Need You," by Leann Rimes
90. "I Swear," by John Michael Montgomery
91. "I Walk the Line," by Johnny Cash
92. "I Want Crazy," by Hunter Hayes
93."Lost in This Moment," by Big & Rich
94. "Love Your Love the Most," by Eric Church
95. "Me and You," by Kenny Chesney
96. "Must Be Doin' Something Right," by Billy Currington
97."Shameless," by Garth Brooks
98. "This Kiss," by Faith Hill
99. "Wanted," by Hunter Hayes
100. "Your Man," by Josh Turner
101. "I Run to You," by Lady Antebellum
102. "It’s Your Love," by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
103. "When I Say I Do," by Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black
104. "Amazed," by Lonestar
105. "Hey Pretty Girl," by Kip Moore
106. "I Don't Dance," by Lee Brice
107. "Making Memories of Us," by Keith Urban
108. "Me & You," by Kenny Chesney
109. "I Cross My Heart," by George Strait
100. "Ain't Nothin' Bout You," by Brooks & Dunn
101. "Die a Happy Man," by Thomas Rhett

For further inspiration, a few Vogue editors share the songs—including some unconventional choices—that they used, or would choose, for their first dance.

"Shade and Honey," by Sparklehorse

“Sparklehorse’s ‘Shade and Honey.’ In our early days as a couple, my husband and I bonded over our mutual affection for the Lisa Cholodenko film Laurel Canyon. This beautiful song has a starring role in the movie.”
— Nicole Phelps, Director, Vogue Runway

"Two of Us," by The Beatles

“One of my favorite childhood memories is listening to the Beatles with my dad on the way to school, so I’m a die-hard fan—I even took a Beatles history class in college. ‘Two of Us’ from Let It Be is one of my all-time favorites, and it’s exactly what I’d want to dance to at my future wedding. Not only are the lyrics really sweet, but the upbeat, slightly folksy rhythm would get everyone moving.”
— Emily Farra, Vogue.com Fashion News Associate

"Embraceable You," by Nat King Cole

“I imagine my first dance being incredibly meaningful to me and the groom. Nothing beats an old romantic classic. Nat King Cole’s ‘Embraceable You’ is the ideal first-dance song. My favorite line, ‘My heart grew tipsy in me,’ puts a smile on my face. It’s much how I imagine I will feel when dancing with my new husband on our wedding night: weak in the knees, heart tipsy, and absolutely head over heels in love.”
— Brooke Ely Danielson, Vogue.com Accessories Editor

"Stand by Me," by Ben E. King

“My husband and I danced to Ben E. King’s ‘Stand by Me.’ We picked it because we liked the message, but it’s also really easy to dance to, which is pretty crucial in my book.”
— Alexandra Macon, Vogue.com Managing Editor

"Green Eyes," by Hüsker Dü

“Hüsker Dü’s ‘Green Eyes’ is, in my mind, one of the most simply romantic songs ever, and would be perfect for a hypothetical first dance. Still, in the interest of something a bit more slow-danceable, I’d probably have to go with the Stones’s ‘You Got the Silver,’ penned by Keith Richards, reportedly about his stormy relationship with Anita Pallenberg.”
— Kristin Anderson, Vogue.com Fashion News Writer

"Two Become 1," by Spice Girls

“ ‘2 Become 1’ by the Spice Girls, because ‘tonight is the night where two become one.’ It wouldn’t be my wedding without a throwback Victoria Beckham music moment. It was the perfect first dance wedding song.”
— Edward Barsamian, Vogue.com Style Editor

"I Won't Share You," by The Smiths

“It may not be the most traditional choice for a first-dance song, but ‘I Won’t Share You’ by The Smiths encapsulates how I feel (or how I think I’ll feel, granted, as a currently unmarried and very single 23-year-old) about marriage. Like so many of Morrissey’s songs, it’s not jovially upbeat or entirely optimistic but hauntingly poignant—when can you be a bit selfish about romantic love with another if not in a marriage?”
— Olivia Goodman, Vogue.com Market Assistant