Wedding Wednesday: What's Your Song?

Some couples have a song long before they get married, the first song they danced to years ago or something from a special moment in their relationship. Others pick something for their first dance and it becomes their special song.

Jason and I danced to "Blue Eyes" by The Cary Brothers and although it was a song we both loved, it didn't' really have any major significance before our wedding. Teresa and Patrick chose Iron and Wine's "Love and Some Verses".

"At Last" by Etta James is probably the first dance song I hear the most, a great choice for sure, beautiful and classic. Ray Lamontagne "You Are the Best Thing" is also super popular and for good reason, the title says it all!

If you're still in the market for a song, here are some of my favorites that you might not have considered:




Bright Eyes "First Day of My Life" 

Eva Cassidy "Songbird" 

The Beatles "In My Life"

Dave Barnes "On a Night Like This" 

The Civil Wars "Dance Me to the End of Love" 

Van Morrison "Crazy Love"

Ingrid Michaelson "You and I" 

Frank Sinatra "The Way You Look Tonight" 

Peter Gabriel "In Your Eyes" 

Iron and Wine "Such Great Heights"

Ben Harper "Forever"

Billie Holiday "The Thought of You" 

Ben Folds "The Luckiest" 

The Moldy Peaches "Anyone Else But You"  

The Arctic Monkeys "Baby I'm Yours"

A couple of first dance tips...
If your song is super long, let the DJ know to fade it out at a certain point or have the band only do the first couple of verses. 6 minutes of having people watch you dance will seem like forever.

Even if you aren't planning a whole choreographed routine, taking dancing lessons can be a fun thing for couples to do together and a way to make you just a tad more graceful.

Whether you take lessons or not, you should definitely do a little practice. Try out dancing to your song at least once. Make sure you're both on the same page with how you're planning on dancing.

While you're at a dress fitting, take a spin around the dress shop too. Make sure you're comfortable moving around in your dress, that you're not tripping over the hem and everything is staying in place!

If you have a special song that isn't ideal for slow dancing to, why not incorporate it in somewhere else? One of my favorite weddings last summer had a live band that did an amazing rendition of Edward : and the Magnetic Zero's "Home" as part of the processional. Another couple walked back down the aisle to The Star Wars Theme, which was super cute because only some people caught the reference, the rest just thought it was a classy instrumental piece!

What's your song? I'd love to hear!


139 comments

  1. The supreme happiness in life is the conviction that we are loved. angelina

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    1. You are the Best Thing
      by-Ray Lamontagne

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    2. Love this song. But I also hope I can talk my sweetie into Maybe I'm amazed

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  2. I'm really gunning for Wintersleep's Sore, but the mister & I are worried that it's too slow.

    Sore, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abSYS7HWJyg

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  3. For the country folks out there, our song is "Makin' Plans" by Miranda Lambert. It helped us both get through his time away at boot camp, and I walked down the isle to it :)

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  4. Me and bf decided that when we get married our first dance song will be " my best friend " by Tim mcgraw . It has a significant meaning to us and I love hearing that song bc it makes me think of the relationship and the love we share.

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  5. Me and bf decided that when we get married our first dance song will be " my best friend " by Tim mcgraw . It has a significant meaning to us and I love hearing that song bc it makes me think of the relationship and the love we share.

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  6. My bf and I have decided on Taylor Swift's "Crazier" which has perfect lyrics for a beautiful dance :)

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  7. Ingrid's cover of "can't help falling in love with you" by Elvis

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  8. Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show

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  9. Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show

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  10. Just a heads up, Blue Eyes is actually by a guy NAMED Cary Brothers, not brothers named Cary. :P don't worry, I made the same mistake when I first heard it! Haha. :)

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  11. Absolutely perfect for a first dance... The Constantines & Feist cover Islands In The Stream http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfORU_DKp0w

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  12. "I should've known better" by She & Him

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  13. "When you got a good thing" by Lady Antebellum

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  14. "I Found a Reason" by Velvet Underground

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  15. I Cross My Heart by George Strait <3

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  16. "All my mistakes" by the Avett Brothers!!

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  17. I went to a wedding this past December whet they did rascal flats bless the broken road which was pretty cute

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  18. Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World

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  19. Right Down the Line by Gerry Rafferty. <3

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  20. Ho Hey is actually a song about a guy loosing this girl to another guy. It's a sad break up song, not a romantic song. Maybe think twice before having that as your "first dance" song unless you're thinking about someone else on your wedding day.

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  21. I have my set on "Call on Me" by Janis Joplin, but I also love "Crash into Me" by Dave Matthews as a first dance song. It is just really really long,

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  22. You and Me, Dave Matthews Band

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  23. "Lovely Tonight" by Joshua Radin

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  24. I don't want to miss a thing - Aerosmith . This song was ours when we were together in high school now 10 years later and 7.5 years apart we are back and stronger then ever and this song has only gained more meaning to us now

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  25. You are the Best Thing
    by-Ray Lamontagne

    GOOD stuff!

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  26. We found each other in the dark - City and Colour

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  27. true companion by marc cohn, maybe not as a first dance but definently in curch. can't be a better love song out there, at least not for a wedding?

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  28. I know slow dancing is what you normally see, but my fiancé and I decided to do "Lovin' You is Fun" by Easton Corbin. I am a little taller then him, so we are not huge slow dancers, plus I love being upbeat. =]

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    1. Love this Bethany! You're totally right, who said it has to be a slow song? I always encourage people to think outside of the box. Chances are, this is going to be much more fun for your guests to watch than 3 minutes of you guys swaying back and forth together.

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  29. Our song has always been the first song we ever danced to, Quietdrive's version of Time After Time. We will most likely use this for our first dance.

    Y'all have so many different fun and unique ideas! :)

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  30. My Best Friend by Tim Mcgraw. Looking for a contemporary version of the song. It describes my relationship so beautifully.

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  31. Well my cousin will be getting married soon and I don't know what her and her fiance's first song will be but, the song she wants to walk down the aisle to is christina perri's " A Thousand Years" but the piano/cello version.

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  32. Well my cousin will be getting married soon and I don't know what her and her fiance's first song will be but, the song she wants to walk down the aisle to is christina perri's " A Thousand Years" but the piano/cello version.

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  33. Groovy kind of love by Phil Collins

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  34. Home by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, but that may change. We aren't even engaged yet.

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    1. We discussed Home until we actually listened to the versus and decided that it may be better as a song we dance to that not everyone is focusedand intently listening to. I just didnt want my grandparents thinking being drunk and falling out of a window while smoking my last cigarette was significant. For as much as the day is about you and your hubby, you at least want it to appear a little classy

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    2. We discussed Home until we actually listened to the versus and decided that it may be better as a song we dance to that not everyone is focusedand intently listening to. I just didnt want my grandparents thinking being drunk and falling out of a window while smoking my last cigarette was significant. For as much as the day is about you and your hubby, you at least want it to appear a little classy

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  35. Once you’ve chosen a photographer that you think you can feel comfortable with, having an engagement session is a very good idea.
    city hall wedding photographer

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  36. He Is We- All About us. it is perfect. there will not be a dry eye in the room

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  37. "A Million Years" by Alexander of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes

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  38. I Cross My Heart by George Strait.

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  39. I Cross My Heart by George Strait.

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  40. A thousand years by christina perri

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    1. Ours too! Can't help but tear up when I hear it! I get married in 7 days!!!

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  41. Have not figured out our first dance song yet. But i am going to walk down the isle to my guy singing broken road by rascal flatts

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  42. Have not figured out our first dance song yet. But i am going to walk down the isle to my guy singing broken road by rascal flatts

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  43. Adele make you feel my love is the song we chose. I love her voice and its perfect to say that you will support your husband or wife through whatever comes your way.

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  44. Brown eyed girl by Van Morrison...this is mine and my boyfriends song and I absolutely love it!!

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  45. Uncle Kracker - Smile. Lyrics that leave you wanting to dance and tell our story

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  46. First Dance..I cross my heart by George Strait, as we was dating he would every once in awhile just sing me a line or two out of the blue.

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  47. Sade - By Your Side was our first dance.

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  48. Anne Murray, Could I Have This Dance. Before my husband and I were even boyfriend/girlfriend he asked me if I knew this song. I told him yes, my mom had the album and listened to it all the time. It instantly became our song.

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  49. "The Shape of Us" by Ian Britt - great love song. I also love "Gotta Have You" by the Weepies.

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  50. Either The Luckiest by Ben Folds, Everything by Michael Bublé, or a piano version of A Thousand Years.

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  51. i want "thousand years" by christina perri

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  52. Today by Joshua Radin was our first dance song

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  53. "If you're a bird" by the Scene Aesthetic is an amazing song, and it's inspired by "The Notebook." And "Come What May" by them is also amazing.

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  54. Hi, I am with Sage Magazine and we would love to feature this in our April issue. Just let us know if you are interested. Thank you! sagemagazineonline@gmail.com, sagemagazineonline.com

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  55. Sea of Love by the Honeydrippers

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  56. Then by Brad Paisley is my husband and my song perfect for a first dance.

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  57. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  58. 100 years- five for fighting

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  59. I think mine will be between "Man and wife" by Michelle Featherstone and "Marry me" by Train. I'll try to listen to those on your list :)

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  60. My fiance and I are dancing to 'Chasing Cars' but the Natasha Bedingfield Radio 1 Live Lounge Version :). I also think that 'Book of Love' by Peter Gabriel is absolutely beautiful and a brilliant first dance song as well.

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  61. We danced to "Tangled Up in You" by Staind. It always has and always will be a "our song." It's right around the 6 minute mark so about half way through we had our bridal party join us. <3

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  62. I'm walking down the eisle to the Phantom of the Opera theme song. Our song is Invincible by Crossfade.

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  63. I'm walking down the eisle to the Phantom of the Opera theme song. Our song is Invincible by Crossfade.

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  64. Our first dance was to "When you say nothing at all" by Alison Krauss.

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  65. Ours is I'll be by the goo goo dolls. love it but not sure if its first dance material

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  66. Michael Buble's Everything....we found it when planning our wedding and knew it was the one right away!.

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  67. I want to use Green Day's Last Night on Earth, but my partner hasn't really warmed up to the song.

    My dad and I have agreed since i was 3 years old, that we will dance to is Lil Red Riding Hood by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. He sang that song to me the whole way on an 11 hr road trip, and since then it has been our little song.

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  68. My fiance' picked out a song called "Endlessly" by the Cab for us and we are dancing to that for our first dance. :)

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  69. This is our year-Foo Fighters....this song just sounds like me and my fiance

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  70. Love the "Unchained Melody" of The Righteous Brothers...

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  71. My bf and I are using "Fall Into Me " by Brantley Gilbert. That is our song. He is much younger than I am and he would play the song whenever he would have contact with me. I finally fell into HIM.

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  72. My bf and I are using "Fall Into Me " by Brantley Gilbert. That is our song. He is much younger than I am and he would play the song whenever he would have contact with me. I finally fell into HIM.

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  73. The Boat Song by JJ Heller. It's our song and is going to be a perfect first dance song for us. :)

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  74. I do (cherish you) by mark wills (:

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  75. I havent chosen my firat dance song yet...but my walking dowm the aisle song is goiing to be Priscilla Ahn - Dream. Beautiful gives me goosebumps :) x

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  76. Adelaide wedding dj Mitchy Burnz located in Adelaide South Australia. A hospitality professional with over 10 years experience as an wedding dj.

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  77. My Best Friend by Tim McGraw has to be on there. Something wrong with country?

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  78. Nice collection of wedding songs! ♥ I could add some of these to my very own favorites =) Thank you!

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  79. You're my witness by Clay Walker is going to be our song :)

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  80. Thru the Years by Kenny Rogers

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  81. We're thinking about "If I Should Fall Behind," performed by Rose Cousins but originally by Bruce Springsteen.

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  82. Also, to second a few comments- "Ho Hey" has some lyrics that aren't necessarily fitting for a wedding ("I don't think you're right for him, think of what it might have been..."- it's not really about someone who actually ends up with the person they love!), and Cary Brothers is actually the artist's real name- no need for "the" before it! (I didn't know that until I saw him live!)

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  83. Ours will be 'How sweet it is(to be loved by you)' by James Taylor

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  84. Ours will be 'How sweet it is(to be loved by you)' by James Taylor

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  85. "It Had To Be You" Harry Connick Jr. version
    Fit perfectly with our relationship and story. Such a sweet, sentimental song but had a nice rhythm to it for us to have a fun (semi-upbeat) dance with each other.

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  86. Yours and Mine - Kyle Park
    Beautiful country song with lots of meaning

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  87. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  88. Can't Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley

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  89. Can I Have This Dance - Anne Murray

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  90. January Wedding- The Avett Brothers
    It fits because we are getting married in January and the lyrics fit us so well.

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  91. You Make It Real - James Morrison

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  92. Feels Like Home by Chantal Krevuziak

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  93. Or in a completely different more playful direction, Another First Kiss by They Might Be Giants

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  94. Great post you have here! this could be extremely useful. I'm glad I came across your diary. Also, for a live Wedding Music, i like to recommend hiring one of the live wedding funk bands from wedding. I agree. wonderful songs can extremely set the atmosphere for a pretty wedding.

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  95. Weddings are so exciting! The very moment I step into the wedding venue and upon hearing the wedding songs, geee it sends shiver to my spine! Maybe I’m just so inspired even to be giving the best wedding songs list to my friends. Whenever I attend weddings, I see to it I list down songs I hear and also tell them to those who are looking for the best suitable wedding songs aside from the couple’s own OST.
    Nice Wedding Songs you got here, might check on them too! Thanks dear!
    Best Wedding Songs

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  96. We're dancing to Sade By Your side. I'm walking down the aisle to Bound To You by Christina Aguilera.

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  97. We're dancing to Sade By Your side. I'm walking down the aisle to Bound To You by Christina Aguilera.

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  98. We're dancing to Sade By Your side. I'm walking down the aisle to Bound To You by Christina Aguilera.

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  99. Our first dance song is "Your song" by ellie goulding <3 Makes me cry every time i listen to it thinking of the love i have been blessed with.

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  101. God Blessed The Broken Road by Rascal Flatts and Green Eyes by Coldplay

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  105. The same reaction to protecting songs should be there for any serious songwriter. souldesire.co.uk

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