First Dance Song Ideas

When it comes to choosing your first dance song of 2023, it's essential to select a song that's meaningful to you and your partner but if you're feeling stumped on what song to pick for your big moment on the dance floor, we're here to help provide some inspiration! Here are a few songs that have created beautiful first dance moments with our couples, in no particular order:

1. "Baby I’M yours," by aRCTIC MONKEYS

Lyrics you'll love: "Baby, I'm yours / And I'll be yours (yours) until the sun no longer shines / Yours until the poets run out of rhyme
In other words, until the end of time"

This song was written an oath of love to your other half, and promises eternal devotion and unconditional love.

2. "Take the world" by Johnnyswim

Lyrics you'll love: "The future you and me we last forever / In the rising tide / No fear or fight that we can’t face together / Darling You and Me / We can take the world

This soulful love song is sung by the husband and wife duo behind the band - Johnnyswim. The song “Take the World” touches on their first-hand experience of love what their commitmenrt to forever means to them… in the end it’s: “You and me, and we can take the world”

3. "Can't Help Falling in Love," by Elvis Presley

Lyrics you'll love: "Take my hand / Take my whole life, too / For I can't help / Falling in love with you"

It's clear why this 1961 love song has been on wedding first dance song playlists for decades. It's easy to dance to, features swoon-worthy lyrics and of course, who doesn't love Elvis’ voice? There are numerous modern covers of this classic wedding song of 2023, performed by Haley Reinhart, U2, Britney Spears, Twenty one pilots and Michael Bublé.

4. "Joy Of My Life," by Chris Stapleton

Lyrics you'll love: "She' sweet to me / Must be the luckiest man alive / Did I tell you, baby / You are the joy of my life?"

If you're looking for a newer country wedding song to play at your reception, this is the one. This Kentucky-born singer, who performed the national anthem for Super Bowl, has powerful vocals that'll put anyone in the mood for love. And we love the message of this first dance song of 2023: The only thing that matters is being together.

5. "Growing Old With You," by Restless Road

Lyrics you'll love: "Every day I love you better / Than the day before / Watching sunsets fading / From the front porch / We'll build this home together / Weather any storm / And as the years keep rolling on / You'll be right where I belong"

This country music trio came in fourth on "The X Factor," an American singing competition series, in 2013 and hasn't stopped putting out beautiful love songs since then. This common first dance song speaks to how a special person can come into your life, change it for the better and leave you wanting to "put down some roots" and start a family together.

6. "At Last," by Etta James

Lyrics you'll love: "At last / My love has come along / My lonely days are over / And life is like a song / (Oh, yeah, yeah)"

This song has been a mainstay at weddings for years, but we never tire of hearing it. This 1961 tune is considered Etta James' signature song and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. From the gorgeous lyrics to James' stunning voice, the tune provides a sweeping and dramatic ambiance to your reception. It also makes a beautiful processional or recessional song for a wedding ceremony.

7. "I Get to Love You," by Ruelle

Lyrics you'll love: "I get to love you / It's the best thing that I'll ever do / I get to love you / It's a promise I'm making to you / Whatever may come, your heart, I will choose / Forever I'm yours, forever I do / I get to love you, I get to love you"

This is one of the best first dance songs of 2023 because Ruelle wrote this as a surprise for her future husband and had it playing during their first dance at their wedding. This slow song is about being happy and grateful you get the chance to love someone you care about. We suggest hiring a live band to perform an instrumental version of this heartwarming song during the processional.

8. "All of Me," by John Legend

Lyrics you'll love: "'Cause all of me loves all of you / Love your curves and all your edges / All your perfect imperfections / Give your all to me, I'll give my all to you / You're my end and my beginning / Even when I lose, I'm winning"

This song has been a common first dance song since its release in 2013 and has become one of Johns. Dedicated to Legend's wife, this song describes loving one's partner, flaws and all. And if that isn't a perfect sentiment for your big day, we don't know what is.

9. "Beyond," by Leon Bridges

Lyrics you'll love: "I'm scared to death that she might be it / That the love is real, that the shoe might fit / She might just be my everything and beyond (beyond) / Space and time in the afterlife / Will she have my kids? Will she be my wife? / She might just be my everything and beyond"

This soulful hit perfectly encapsulates the excitement and nervousness that accompanies a new relationship. It has an old-school vibe that guests of all ages will love—and its sultry feel makes it a unique first dance song. This romantic song was on Bridge's Good Thing album, which was nominated for the Best R&B Album Grammy Award in 2019.

10. "For all you give," by The Paper Kites

Lyrics you'll love: "I wanna take you everywhere I go / Have you by my side / Take a walk round in every town / Drive across state lines / Like the sun sends a golden stream into our front room"

This song opens like a whisper and progresses with a sound that is atmospheric and romantic with beautifully melded vocals, romantic lyrics and the soft plucking of the guitar. If you’re looking for a slower tempo first dance song to sway together, hug kiss and share meaningful whispers to… this is the one!

11. "That’s why," by troy cartwright

Lyrics you'll love: "'Cause girl we still got us / And I′ll keep on showing up / I already got more reasons than I need / To love you

If you love country, this song has the sweetest lyrics written about love and commitment that builds from a soft piano intro to a meaningful and heartfelt chorus.

12. "Yours- Wedding edition," by Russell Dickerson

Lyrics you'll love: "'I came to life when I first kissed you / The best me has his arms around you / You make me better than I was before / Thank God I'm yours / The worst me is just a long gone memory / You put a new heartbeat inside of me / You make me better than I was before
Thank God I'm yours

Another country love song inspired by his wife of four years, "Yours" tells the story of an "amazing" woman who helped a man change for the better. “It's mainly just about, 'You make me better than I was before,'" Dickerson explains to Taste of Country. "Her making me a better man than who I was before and who I am now that we've been married."

13. "Forever like that" by Ben Rector

Lyrics you'll love: "Well, I'm gonna love you forever, I do / I'm gonna spend all of my days with you / I'll carry your burden and be the wind at your back / I'm gonna spend my forever like that.

This meaningful song is chalk-full of ALL the good stuff with lyrics about love and what it means to spend your forever together.