10 First-Dance Songs to Rock Your Big Day

Our favorite classics and curveballs.

Photo: Amber Schoniwitz of Schyne Photography

The lights are dim. Your favorite, most beloved people in the whole world are gathered around the beautiful venue at the event you spent months decorating, planning and executing. You’ve just committed to being with your best friend for life, and they’ve done the same. You look ah-MAZE.

Then the music swells with …

What comes next in this series of perfect moments differs from gal to gal and guy to guy. But whatever song you let take the reins at this intense emotional high point has got to pack a punch in just the right way.

Are you a fun-loving couple who wants to get the party started, ASAP? Are you a hopeless romantic ready to live out your fairy-tale waltz? Totally traditional, or anything but? Here are our picks for classic go-to’s, plus a few curveballs your guests haven’t heard used as first songs before (again and again and again) that we’d love to see a contemporary couple rock on their big day.

Hopelessly Romantic Picks

 Photo: June Cochran Photography

To get the waterworks started

“At Last” by Etta James

For the old-fashioned romance feel

“Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley

For the “dawwwwww” moment

“God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys

For the way fun and way, way fierce

“Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé

For the modern-day fairy-tale couple

“All of Me” by John Legend

For Something a Little Different

For the drama-loving jokesters

“Forever Young” by Alphaville

For the hipster millennials

“Slow Show” by The National

For the artsy, edgy lovebirds

“Hysteric (acoustic)” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

For the folksy softies

“I Will Follow You Into the Dark” by Death Cab For Cutie

For the jolly kids in love

“Like U Crazy” by Mates of State

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Read More Stories by Natalie Schack