Choosing Your First Dance Song

Sera Golding gives her advice on how to choose the song for your first dance at your wedding.

Greetings, wedding planning folk! I expect those of you with summer weddings are getting excitable, only a month or so to go until the wedding summer season kicks off in full swing!

I thought it might be time I wrote about first dances. In my office we’re constantly swamped with people asking advice on this subject, and I completely understand why. I’m sure for some of you, the thought of that magical ‘first dance’ fills you with absolute terror (and I can almost guarantee it does for the Hubby-to-be!), or perhaps you’re both demons on the dance-floor but are struggling with song choice. You’re faced with many questions... ‘Do we make it fun or serious?’; ‘What if nobody knows our song?’; ‘Do we choreograph a routine or just go with it?’.

I have to say I’ve seen some fabulous first dances in my time. It’s hard to say what makes them work but some ‘just do’, and I guess this is what you are all looking for! Funnily enough though, my favourites have all been very different. One couple looked so fantastically in love as they clutched to each other and hardly moved to ‘If You Knew’ by Jeff Buckley, it brought a tear to my eye.  Another started off with something obvious like ‘Unchained Melody’, then halfway through the groom ripped off the skirt of the bride’s wedding dress to reveal a killer mini-dress, and they broke into a very sexy routine to the Pussycat Dolls version of ‘Sway’. If that wasn’t enough, they topped it off by laughing and throwing each other around the dance-floor to ‘Lucky’ by Jason Mraz & Colbie Colliat (which is a gorgeous song for a first dance....by then myself and the rest of the audience were absolutely gushing!). However, probably my favourite of all favourites was a couple who chose ‘All these things I’ve done’ by Killers, which I can’t particularly find much lyrical meaning in, but they obviously just loved the song (and each other) so much that it was always one that stuck in my head as the ‘Ultimate First Dance’. They had such a fantastic time dancing away to it, with huge smiles on their faces; it’s always stayed with me.

I’d say that when thinking about your first dance, it’s important to sit down between the two of you and have a good chat about a few things...

• What sort of tempo do you want your dance to be? Do you want a fast song or a slow song? Funnily enough, different people are more comfortable with different things. I’ve spoken to a few people who couldn’t possibly consider doing a slow song but would be quite comfortable ‘shakin it’ to something a little more funky...yet I’d probably be the opposite.
• Is this a ‘serious’ dance, or would you rather something a little more fun? I really feel that your first dance should be a reflection of you both as a couple. If you’re a fun loving couple that are always having a giggle, then perhaps you’d prefer to do something a little more ‘you’. If you’re not sure what I mean, there are LOADS of examples on youtube...but check this one out, it made me laugh a lot! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbvWdVj4vGU
• Are you going to choreograph a dance? There are some fabulous companies out there who will help you choreograph your first dance, and this is an opportunity to really ‘WOW’ your guests! However, again, if this isn’t a reflection of the two of you and your personalities, don’t feel like you have to. I’ve seen some beautiful first dance’s that are off the cuff and perfect.
• Is there a song that means a lot to you? If so, perhaps this will make your decision a little easier! However....

What if there isn’t a song that means a lot to you?
If you’re really stuck then perhaps have a chat to your band or DJ about their ideas. They might have a list of songs that they like to recommend.

Here are a few songs that I usually suggest:

Classics/Slowies

• Let’s Stay Together - Al Green
• Can’t Take My Eyes Off You - Franki Vali
• Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
• Songbird - Eva Cassidy/Fleetwood Mac
• The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack
• Everything - Michael Buble
• Stand By Me - Ben E King
• Angels - Robbie Williams
• A Million Love Songs - Take That
• Amazed - Lonestar
• But I Do Love You - Leanne Rhymes
• Your Love is King - Sade
• Close to You - Carpenters
• Crazy for You - Madonna
• Don’t Know Much - Linda Rondstat and Aaron Neville
• Endless Love - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
• Eternal Flame - Bangles
• Everything I Do, I Do it for You - Bryan Adams
• Still The One - Shania Twain
• From This Moment - Shania Twain
• Have I Told You Lately - Van Morrisson

Something More Fun

• My First, My Last, My Everything - Barry White
• It’s All About You - Mcfly
• Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship
• Night Fever - Bee Gees
• Lucky - Jason Mraz & Colbie Colliat
• I’m Yours - Jason Mraz
• Better Together - Jack Johnson
• Can’t Get Enough of Your Love - Bad Company
• Especially For You - Kylie Minogue and Jason Donavon
• Greatest Day - Take That
• Rule The World - Take That

OR

Commission a song-writer to write your first dance
I can’t think of anything more beautiful than having a song written especially for you and your wedding! This isn’t actually as costly as you think, and if you can find the right song-writer this could be a lovely idea and something you really can keep forever that is especially for the two of you!

Really and truly, the emphasis here (I personally think) is to find something that is perfect for the two of you. Something you are comfortable with, something you’ll enjoy dancing to, and of course something you and your guests will always remember!

Have fun trawling through your records and itunes lists and I hope you find that perfect tune!

Love & Hugs

Sera x

Article by Wedding Entertainment Specialist Sera Golding

Images Courtesy of Surrey Wedding Photographer Matt Pereira Photography

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