The Best First Dance Songs For 2020

A wedding couple’s first dance together is one of the most pivotal moments of any wedding ceremony, so choosing the perfect song for that special occasion is of utmost importance. 

From country to vintage, these are must-have first dance songs!

You could choose any number of first dance wedding songs for pretty much any reason, the possibilities are endless.

I’m going to try and give you some songs to think about broken down into three basic categories.

Here we go!

Younger wedding couples, quite honestly, may be oblivious to some of these suggestions for first dance wedding songs.

I beg the under 40 wedding couple who’s trying to decide on their first dance wedding song to give these a listen and also read the lyrics—then you’ll see why these songs are so high on my list.

But if you’re 40+ and getting married, these beautiful and moving vintage first dance wedding songs will definitely strike a chord with you.

01.

Well, Bob Dylan and Billy Joel both released this heartfelt romantic tune in 1997. But Dylan wrote it, so I proudly declare it his. Sorry Billy!

Interestingly enough, ‘Make You Feel My Love’ was a feature track from the ‘Hope Floats’ soundtrack with Garth Brooks doing the cover.

Just look at this snippet of the lyrics and you’ll be able to understand why this is one of my top choices for a first dance wedding song.

In fact, I had chosen this for my wedding song but never got to hear it because somebody decided to bail on me and marry someone else and not tell me for almost two years (thanks babe, by the way you’re out of my will!).

“I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn’t do
Go to the ends of the earth for you
To make you feel my love”

For a more modern twist on this classic track, check out the Adele cover which currently has over 167 million views on YouTube.

02.

I don’t think many people would expect to hear ‘Someone Like You’ (Van Morrison, 1987) played as a wedding couple’s first dance wedding song. But why not?

The lyrics are touching, and the music is oh-so-easy on the ears. Other artists covering ‘Someone Like You’ include Dina Carroll, John Waite and Vanessa L. Williams.

This was such a wonderfully romantic song that it was included in several movie soundtracks including ‘Only the Lonely’, ‘One Fine Day’ and ‘Bridget Jones’ Diary’ (salute to that steaming hot kiss between Bridget and her Mark Darcy!).

Here’s a brief chorus to try and convince you to choose this as your first dance wedding song.

“Someone like you makes it all worthwhile
Someone like you keeps me satisfied
Someone exactly like you”

PS: Other great Van Morrison songs to consider as your first dance wedding song include ‘Into the Mystic’ (1970) and ‘Reason to Believe’ (covered in 1971 by Rod Stewart).

03.

A Confession is forthcoming. When I actually did get married many moons ago, this was my first dance wedding song.

I mean seriously, how can a wedding couple not consider this timeless classic?

And if the happy couple are a couple of movie buffs then they are sure to love this track from the tear-jerker movie Ghost.

“Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand,
Take my whole life, too
For I can’t help falling in love with you”

For many of us, both music and the movies are integral parts of our lives.

So, it makes sense for a couple who’s into both movies and music to choose a song from their favorite movie soundtrack as their first dance wedding song.

Let’s take a look at a handful of them to see why they deserve some serious consideration.

04.

Fooled you, didn’t I? I’m betting you thought I’d kick off this list with ‘Shallow’ from the soundtrack Bradley Cooper’s 2018 rendition of ‘A Star is Born’ (there were several versions before, remember?).

While it’s true that ‘Shallow’ has earned more recognition, ‘I’ll Always Remember Us This Way’, when you take a closer look at the lyrics, truly is a beautiful song with an equally beautiful message.

OK so there may be some ‘colorful’ words involved, but maybe your guests won’t notice?

“Lovers in the night
Poets trying to write
We don’t know how to rhyme
But, damn, we try
But all I really know
You’re where I wanna go
The part of me that’s you will never die”

05.

06.

If you’re a couple who met and flourished along the lines of Jerry Maguire (#youcompleteme), then you might want to look at ‘Secret Garden’ as your first dance wedding song.

It really has some relevant and amazingly moving lyrics. And it would be a pleasant yet surprising choice.

“She’ll lead you down a path
There’ll be tenderness in the air
She’ll let you come just far enough
So you know she’s really there
She’ll look at you and smile
And her eyes will say
She’s got a secret garden
Where everything you want
Where everything you need
Will always stay
A million miles away”

OK so the country music genre is insanely popular, which is why it makes complete sense that a wedding couple would look at a country song to play as their first dance wedding song.

These are some great ones, let’s look at ‘em!

07.

Alright, I might as well tell you now that I have a serious thing for Jason Aldean. So, of course I would suggest ‘You Make it Easy’ as a possible choice for your first dance wedding song.

I don’t think there’s a whole lot that could come close to topping these heart-stopping and swoon-inducing lyrics. @Jason_Aldean, will you marry me?

“You make it easy
Lovin’ up on you
Make it easy
With every little thing you do
You’re my sunshine in the darkest days
My better half, my saving grace
You make me who I wanna be
You make it easy”

08.

‘Just Got Started Lovin’ You’ was the first song that Mr. Previous sent me when we first started dating and it will forever have a special place in my heart.

I actually gained a Twitter follow from the artist, James Otto (@jamesotto) because I shared this information with him.

I haven’t had a chance to tell him yet that it didn’t work out for me, I’ll take care of that some other time.

All personal stories aside, this soulful, playful and downright sexy song should definitely get a good look as you search for your own first dance wedding song.

“You don’t have to go now honey
Call and tell ’em you won’t be in today
Baby there ain’t nothin’ at the office
So important it can’t wait
I’m thankful for the weekend
But two days in heaven just ain’t gonna do
This is gonna take forever darlin’
Girl I just got started lovin’ you”

09.

Nothing says sweet and pure country love more than a song by George Strait and ‘Carrying Your Love with Me’ is all about that.

Just listen to these smooth and sultry lyrics.

“Cause I’m carrying your love with me
West Virginia down to Tennessee
I’ll be moving with the good Lord’s speed
Carrying your love with me
It’s my strength, for holding on
Every minute that I have to be gone
I’ll have everything I’ll ever need
Carrying your love with me”