First Dance Songs: 63 Picks You Can Filter by Feel, Voice and Length
SongGiftly gives you a free list of 63 first dance song picks you can filter by feel (slow sway, medium or upbeat), voice (male, female or duet), genre, decade and length, with the artist and year on every track. Open any song on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube, heart your favorites and share the shortlist with your partner. Free, no sign-up.
- Free, no sign-up
- Slow, medium or upbeat
- Duets and solo voices
- Share your shortlist
Showing 63 of 63 songs
Perfect
Ed Sheeran2017
Written for a slow dance, with a gentle sway built into every bar.
- Slow sway
- Pop
At Last
Etta James1960
The classic first dance: sweeping strings and a voice that fills the room.
- Slow sway
- R&B & Soul
- Jazz & Standards
Can't Help Falling in Love
Elvis Presley1961
About three minutes, simple and timeless, so nobody gets tired of swaying.
- Slow sway
- Pop
- Rock
All of Me
John Legend2013
Just piano and a promise, dedicated to his wife.
- Slow sway
- Pop
- R&B & Soul
Thinking Out Loud
Ed Sheeran2014
A slow-burning song about growing old together, great for a simple turn and dip.
- Slow sway
- Pop
A Thousand Years
Christina Perri2011
The Twilight ballad with a waltz-like lilt that suits a slow twirl.
- Slow sway
- Pop
Die with a Smile
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars2024
A recent retro-soul duet with plenty of drama for a big moment.
- Slow sway
- Pop
- Rock
Tennessee Whiskey
Chris Stapleton2015
Smoky, soulful country with a slow groove that is easy to follow.
- Slow sway
- Country
- R&B & Soul
Unchained Melody
The Righteous Brothers1965
A soaring old-school slow dance that builds to one huge note.
- Slow sway
- Pop
- R&B & Soul
The Way You Look Tonight
Frank Sinatra1964
An elegant swing standard for couples who took a few dance lessons.
- Medium
- Jazz & Standards
Lover
Taylor Swift2019
A hazy, waltzing love song that already sounds like a wedding vow.
- Slow sway
- Pop
Make You Feel My Love
Adele2008
Adele's piano version of the Bob Dylan song, quiet and devoted.
- Slow sway
- Pop
Golden Hour
JVKE2022
Sweeping piano for an outdoor reception at sunset.
- Medium
- Pop
Until I Found You
Stephen Sanchez2021
A new song with a 1950s slow-dance sound, made for a vintage-style wedding.
- Slow sway
- Pop
- Rock
How Long Will I Love You
Ellie Goulding2013
A soft, simple cover of The Waterboys song from the film About Time.
- Slow sway
- Pop
Halo
Beyoncé2008
A big, glowing ballad with a steady beat, for couples who like a strong finish.
- Medium
- Pop
- R&B & Soul
Just the Way You Are
Bruno Mars2010
A sunny compliment of a song, light on its feet and easy to smile through.
- Medium
- Pop
Lucky
Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat2008
A sweet acoustic duet that feels like a conversation between the two of you.
- Medium
- Pop
- Indie & Folk
I Won't Give Up
Jason Mraz2012
An acoustic promise to stay through the hard parts, honest rather than flowery.
- Slow sway
- Pop
- Indie & Folk
Everything
Michael Bublé2007
Happy and mid-tempo, for couples who would rather bounce than sway.
- Medium
- Pop
- Jazz & Standards
Beyond
Leon Bridges2018
Gentle modern soul about realizing this is the one.
- Medium
- R&B & Soul
Adorn
Miguel2012
A silky R&B groove for a first dance with a little more swagger.
- Medium
- R&B & Soul
Like I'm Gonna Lose You
Meghan Trainor feat. John Legend2015
A piano duet about loving every day like it counts.
- Slow sway
- Pop
The Book of Love
Peter Gabriel2004
A slow, string-backed cover of The Magnetic Fields song, tender and a little wry.
- Slow sway
- Pop
Yellow
Coldplay2000
For couples who met at a gig: warm guitars and a chorus you can both sing.
- Medium
- Rock
Kiss Me
Sixpence None the Richer1997
Light, jangly and sweet, a first dance that feels like a 1990s rom-com.
- Medium
- Pop
- Rock
Better Together
Jack Johnson2005
Laid-back ukulele for a beach or backyard wedding.
- Medium
- Indie & Folk
Speechless
Dan + Shay2018
A country-pop ballad about seeing your partner on the wedding day.
- Slow sway
- Country
- Pop
Joy of My Life
Chris Stapleton2020
A plain-spoken love song with a gentle shuffle, easy for non-dancers.
- Slow sway
- Country
Better Together
Luke Combs2019
A different song from the Jack Johnson one: a slow country list of things that belong together.
- Slow sway
- Country
Die a Happy Man
Thomas Rhett2015
A simple, devoted country ballad that sounds like a toast to the bride.
- Slow sway
- Country
You're Still the One
Shania Twain1997
A love song for couples who beat the odds, sung from her side.
- Slow sway
- Country
- Pop
Bless the Broken Road
Rascal Flatts2004
About every wrong turn that led to the right person.
- Slow sway
- Country
Amazed
Lonestar1999
A big country-pop ballad from the late 1990s, still a reception favorite.
- Slow sway
- Country
- Pop
From the Ground Up
Dan + Shay2016
About building a life together, one plank at a time.
- Slow sway
- Country
Then
Brad Paisley2009
A love that keeps growing, told from the first date to the wedding.
- Slow sway
- Country
God Gave Me You
Blake Shelton2011
A grateful country ballad for couples with faith at the heart of the day.
- Slow sway
- Country
I Cross My Heart
George Strait1992
A classic country promise and an easy two-step for beginners.
- Slow sway
- Country
Forever and Ever, Amen
Randy Travis1987
A bouncy country vow with a grin in it.
- Medium
- Country
Islands in the Stream
Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton1983
The feel-good country duet, so both of you get to sing along.
- Medium
- Country
- Pop
10,000 Hours
Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber2019
A breezy country-pop love song with an easy sway.
- Medium
- Country
- Pop
Your Song
Elton John1970
Sweet, unpolished devotion on piano.
- Slow sway
- Pop
- Rock
Wonderful Tonight
Eric Clapton1977
A slow, easy groove for a couple who just want to hold on and sway.
- Slow sway
- Rock
Stand by Me
Ben E. King1961
A famous bass line and a promise of loyalty, loved by every generation.
- Medium
- R&B & Soul
Let's Stay Together
Al Green1971
Warm Memphis soul with a relaxed groove that is easy to step to.
- Medium
- R&B & Soul
Crazy Love
Van Morrison1970
Short, soft and soulful, with nothing to rush.
- Slow sway
- Rock
- Indie & Folk
Something
The Beatles1969
George Harrison's love song, a quieter Beatles pick for music lovers.
- Slow sway
- Rock
Have I Told You Lately
Van Morrison1989
A gentle, grateful love song that Rod Stewart later made a hit too.
- Slow sway
- Rock
- Indie & Folk
Endless Love
Diana Ross & Lionel Richie1981
The definitive love duet of the 1980s.
- Slow sway
- Pop
- R&B & Soul
I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
Aerosmith1998
The power ballad for a rock-loving couple, strings and all.
- Slow sway
- Rock
Faithfully
Journey1983
A rock ballad about loving each other across the miles.
- Slow sway
- Rock
Fly Me to the Moon
Frank Sinatra1964
Swing for couples who want to show off a few steps.
- Medium
- Jazz & Standards
L-O-V-E
Nat King Cole1964
A bright, spelled-out love song that is over in about two and a half minutes.
- Upbeat
- Jazz & Standards
September
Earth, Wind & Fire1978
Skip the awkward sway: this one starts the party with your first dance.
- Upbeat
- R&B & Soul
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
Stevie Wonder1970
Joyful Motown that says "it's official" with a smile.
- Upbeat
- R&B & Soul
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell1967
A two-voice promise that you can sing to each other mid-spin.
- Upbeat
- R&B & Soul
You Make My Dreams (Come True)
Daryl Hall & John Oates1980
Bouncy and goofy in the best way, for couples who can't keep a straight face.
- Upbeat
- Pop
- Rock
Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Frankie Valli1967
Starts slow, then the horns kick in: a built-in surprise switch.
- Upbeat
- Pop
I'm Yours
Jason Mraz2008
Easygoing reggae-pop for a relaxed beach wedding.
- Medium
- Pop
- Indie & Folk
You're the One That I Want
John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John1978
The Grease duet, made for a rehearsed routine that brings the house down.
- Upbeat
- Pop
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Queen1979
Rockabilly fun for a swing or jive first dance.
- Upbeat
- Rock
Love on Top
Beyoncé2011
Key change after key change, perfect for a routine that keeps building.
- Upbeat
- R&B & Soul
- Pop
Uptown Funk
Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars2014
The classic surprise switch: start with a ballad, then cut to this.
- Upbeat
- Pop
- R&B & Soul
Find Your First Dance Song by Feel, Voice and Length
Picking a first dance song is mostly three questions: how fast do we want to move, whose voice do we want to hear, and how long can we stay out there with everyone watching? The filters answer all three. Choose Slow sway if you plan to hold on and rock, Upbeat if you would rather party, Duet if you both want a voice in the song, and Under 3 min if the spotlight makes you nervous.
- Feel filter: slow sway, medium or upbeat, shown on every song
- Voice filter: male voice, female voice or a duet
- Length filter from the original recording: under 3, 3 to 4 or over 4 minutes
- Vibe, genre and decade filters, plus search by title or artist
Why Choose Your First Dance Song Here
Made for two people who need to agree on one song.
Sorted by how it dances
Each first dance song carries a feel badge, so you can tell a slow sway from a swing number before you press play.
Pick the voice
Want a woman singing, a man singing or a duet for two? The Voice filter narrows the list in one tap.
Know the length
The Length filter uses the original recording, so you know which songs need a fade and which are short already.
Checked facts
Every artist, year and length was checked against MusicBrainz, a public music database.
Listen where you like
Links open a search on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube, so you can practice to the song in the app you already use.
One shared shortlist
Heart your favorites, drag them into order and send your partner a link that opens the same list.
How to Pick a First Dance Song Together
A simple way for two people to land on one song.
- 1
Each make a shortlist
Set the feel you both want, then each heart five songs on your own phone without looking at the other list.
- 2
Swap links
Send each other a share link. Any song on both lists goes straight to the final round.
- 3
Dance it in the kitchen
Play the finalists at home and sway to each one. The first dance song that makes you both laugh or tear up is the one.
What the First Dance Songs Playlist Can Do
Four filters you will not find on a plain list of first dance songs.
A feel badge on every song
Slow sway, medium or upbeat, printed right on the row. It is our honest ear for how a song dances, not a measured BPM, so trust your own feet too.
Filter by feelDuets and solo voices
The Voice filter splits the list into male voice, female voice and duet, which helps when you want a singer who sounds like one of you, or both.
Find a duetSong length at a glance
Under 3 minutes, 3 to 4, or over 4, from the length of the original release. Pick a short one, or plan a fade with your DJ after the second chorus.
See the short songsA shortlist for two
Heart up to 100 songs, name the list and reorder it. Copy it, download a text file or share a link that opens the same shortlist on your partner's phone.
Start our shortlistExample: A Two-Part First Dance Song Mashup
Start slow for the photos, then surprise the room. Built from the Feel filter.
Part one, about 90 seconds of "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran (2017), slow sway, for the photos and a turn and dip. Part two, a hard cut into "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire (1978), upbeat, and the wedding party joins you on the floor. Swap in "Can't Help Falling in Love" (1961) for the slow half or "Uptown Funk" (2014) for the fast half. Ask your DJ to make the cut; we only help you pick the songs.
First Dance Song Tips for Nervous Dancers
Four small choices that make the spotlight easier.
Keep it to about 3 minutes
Pick a song from the Under 3 min filter, or ask the DJ to fade after the second chorus. Guests remember the feeling, not the bridge.
Choose a steady beat
A slow sway with a clear beat, like "Thinking Out Loud" or "Tennessee Whiskey", is easier to follow than a free-flowing ballad.
Learn one move
A single turn and a dip at the last chorus looks rehearsed even if it is the only thing you practiced.
Plan the hand-off
Ask the DJ to invite the wedding party halfway through. The floor fills up and the pressure is gone.
Slow, Medium or Upbeat: Which First Dance Song Feel?
The Feel filter in plain words. Pick the one that sounds like the two of you.
| Slow, Medium or Upbeat: Which First Dance Song Feel? | Slow sway | Medium | Upbeat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Holding on and rocking | A few simple steps | A party or a routine |
| Dance lessons needed | None | Maybe one | Helps a lot |
| Guests feel | Teary | Charmed | Ready to dance |
| Try | "At Last" (1960) | "The Way You Look Tonight" (1964) | "September" (1978) |
| Good with a mashup |
First Dance Songs by Genre and Style
A taste of each filter. Every song is a real release with the artist and year checked.
Timeless classics
"At Last" by Etta James (1960), "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley (1961), "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers (1965) and "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton (1977).
Modern pop
"Perfect" by Ed Sheeran (2017), "Lover" by Taylor Swift (2019), "Golden Hour" by JVKE (2022) and "Die with a Smile" by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars (2024).
Country
"Tennessee Whiskey" by Chris Stapleton (2015), "Speechless" by Dan + Shay (2018), "Die a Happy Man" by Thomas Rhett (2015) and "Better Together" by Luke Combs (2019).
Duets
"Islands in the Stream" by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton (1983), "Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie (1981) and "Lucky" by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat (2008).
Upbeat and fun
"September" (1978), "You're the One That I Want" from Grease (1978), "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen (1979) and "Love on Top" by Beyoncé (2011).
Soul and R&B
"Let's Stay Together" by Al Green (1971), "Stand by Me" by Ben E. King (1961), "Adorn" by Miguel (2012) and "Beyond" by Leon Bridges (2018).
A First Dance Song Written About You
Every first dance song on this list was written about someone else. A custom love song is written about the two of you: your names, how you met and the promise you are making, in the style and feel you can actually dance to, from $19.99.
Pick from the playlist firstFirst Dance Song FAQ
Choosing, timing and dancing your first song as a married couple.
What is the most popular first dance song?
What are the top wedding songs for a first dance?
How long should a first dance song be?
Should our first dance song be slow or upbeat?
Is the Feel filter based on BPM?
What is a good first dance song if we cannot dance?
What are good country first dance songs?
What are good upbeat or funny first dance songs?
What are good first dance songs for two voices?
What is a good first dance song for a same-sex couple?
Can we do a first dance mashup?
Can I listen to the songs here?
Can I save or share our first dance shortlist?
How were the songs picked and checked?
Can we get a first dance song written just for us?
Custom Songs for the People You Love
For the partner you are marrying and the family dancing with you.