You could probably name a dozen songs that you hear on repeat during wedding season, particularly for a first dance.
When we were planning our wedding, our biggest goal was to make everything very custom to who we are as a couple. I’ve been to a lot of weddings over the years, and I do hear a lot of repeats of songs for first dances. (Perfect by Ed Sheeran, All of Me by John Legend, I Won’t Give Up by Jason Mraz, Die A Happy Man by Thomas Rhett, you get the picture…)
We bounced around a couple ideas including City Kids by Flyleaf, which we felt was “our song,” but something about a screaming section of the song, the lyrics being a little too real, we opted against it. We ultimately decided on Diamonds or Twine by Ryan Hurd, which I’ve only heard at one other wedding from one of my couples.
This is not a blog to knock on people that do choose any of those songs, if a song speaks to you, it speaks to you, and that’s important! This is for people that love finding new music, and would love some fresh ideas!
1. I Found You – Alabama Shakes
I adore this song. I have no idea where I found it, or how I came across it, but it’s one of my favorites. This is for people that like blues and rock, they’ve got kind of a vintage sound, but the lyrics hit right
Cuz i remember them days i waited so patiently
Alabama Shakes – I Found You
For god to bring someone who’s gonna be good to me
And then he blessed my soul
Well, i traveled a long way
And it took a long time to find you…
But i finally found you…
2. Bonfire Heart – James Blunt
This man’s voice is unique, but it’s a sound I’m drawn to. This is a more upbeat song for people that may not be so serious in their relationships. A little laughter is good! And your first dance song can be upbeat!
James Blunt – Bonfire Heart
“Days like these lead to
Nights like this lead to
Love like ours
You light the spark in my bonfire heart
People like us, we don’t
Need that much just someone that starts
Starts the spark in our bonfire hearts”
3. First Try – Johnnyswim
This is kind of a unique love song about getting it right for life, it’s a little blues-y, a little gospel-y. This band has so many amazing songs, and you should definitely go check them out!
Before we ever wrote a song
Johnnyswim – First Try
Before you ever sang along
I knew you were the only, the only one I needBefore you ever came around
Or kissed me on my mama’s couch
I knew your life was meant for me
4. Let’s Stay Home Tonight – Needtobreathe
So this is another song that people wouldn’t think of as a wedding song since it’s talking about staying home, but I feel like it so perfectly describes the beauty in the mundane that does end up being a lot of our lives. We were hooked on this song the moment we first heard it.
Baby, let’s stay home tonight
Needtobreathe – Let’s Stay Home Tonight
We can put a couple records on
We can build a fire alright
Maybe we can dance till dawn
Everything will be just fine
Don’t even have to put clothes on
I can keep you warm inside
Baby, let’s stay home tonight
5. Tennessee Whiskey – Chris Stapleton
I’ve got a little thing for county and blues, and this one is definitely an everyday favorite around here. This might not be the best option if you have a very religious family gathering, but if you’re a whiskey lover like me, this could be a great option!
You’re as smooth as Tennessee whiskey
Chris Stapleton – Tennessee Whiskey
You’re as sweet as strawberry wine
You’re as warm as a glass of brandy
And honey, I stay stoned on your love all the time
6. Intertwine – PALA
The bass line and guitar picking in this song is everything. The lyrics are beautifully intimate, and real to life.
I know I’m not perfect, babe,
PALA – Intertwine
But I promise I’ll try everyday
To make you smile, and make you laugh
And wipe your tears, and hold your hand
Share my soul with yours and yours with mine
I give you all of me, and intertwine…
7. Turning Page – Sleeping At Last
This is actually a lesser-known song from the Twilight Saga soundtrack (Christina Perri kind of took all the thunder with A Thousand Years). What’s interesting is the accidental overlap of lyrics at the beginning, but I feel like Sleeping at Last hits all the raw emotions so much stronger. I get chills every time.
Your love is my turning page
Where only the sweetest words remain
Every kiss is a cursive line
Every touch is a redefining phrase
8. Unconditional – Freya Ridings
I heard this song at a wedding about a year ago, and nearly lost it. Her voice, the strumming, it’s perfection.
That there’s nothing I could say
That would make you go away
No danger I was in
And you wouldn’t step in my way
I’m not alone anymore
This love’s unconditional
9. Banks – Needtobreathe
I’ve also got a thing for this band. They released this song in August of 2020, and I think I listened to this song more than anything else this entire year. You can suffocate someone in a relationship, but amazing things can happen when you find that balance, and that’s something that’s so important in a marriage.
You are beautiful and wild at every turn
Who am I to take control of that
But everybody needs a voice they can follow
When the water and the winds get badYou know my love is not the jealous type
And it don’t matter if we win or lose
Oh, I could push or I could pull
No matter what you’re trying to do
As long as I can flow along with you
10. 25 Years – Dan Rodriguez
We got married on a Monday, and Spotify releases their “discover weekly” on Mondays. This song ended up on that playlist the day of our wedding. Listen to it, fall in love with it, and then go buy tickets when he tours because he is an incredible musician and songwriter.
In 25 years, I’ll be looking at you
Wondering what did I do
To find someone like this
In 25 more, we’ll be looking older
Our Story won’t be over,
All we’ll need is another 25 years
11. Light – Sleeping at Last
I’m going to mention this artist a couple more times because I love his music so much. This song is another good-chills kind of a song. There isn’t a single lyric I don’t love in here. It’s a powerful song.
I’ll give you everything I have
I’ll teach you everything I know.
I promise I’ll do better.
I will always hold you close,
But I will learn to let you go.
I promise I’ll do better
I will soften every edge,
I’ll hold the world to its best,
And I’ll do better
With every heartbeat I have left
I will defend your every breath,
And I’ll do better.
12. Hearts Racing – The Bones of J.R. Jones
This was the first dance song of one of my amazing elopement couples. I love the way the song feels and the lyric “let our wild run free.” There’s so much freedom and joy to be found in marriage, and there’s so much you can do as a couple to grow that wild in each other.
Don’t you wanna see just what this love can do?
Don’t you wanna see just what trouble we can get into?
Our hearts our racing, let’s go chase them down
We’re looking for an excuse to get out of this town
13. Make You Mine – Jacob McCoy
I found this song and use it for Colleen & Bryan’s wedding video (they were also the couple that danced to the same song we did).
What is life inside a story?
Girl, you’re my glimpse of glory
Sweet love of mine I wonder what you’d uncover in my eyes
What would you find? Would you change your mind?
But girl, this time I won’t run and hide
Cause baby I
Baby I… I’ll make you mine
14. Darling – Roan Ash
I found this song the week after our wedding. If I knew it before, we DEFINITELY, no questions asked, would have danced to this at our wedding. The line “When love’s a decision, with you there’s no choice” really hits all the right feels.
Oh paint your dreams on a snow white canvas
You know I will stand here and hold you so close
And as your eyes fall softly at the sound of my voice
When love’s a decision, with you there’s no choice
When love’s a decision, with you there’s no choice
15. Stand By Me – Any cover, original, whatever
This is a good one, nothing else needs to be said about it. I filmed a wedding a few years ago where the bride gave the lyrics to everyone to sing along with the guitarist as she walked down the aisle. I cried. I still cry thinking about that moment.
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we’ll see
No I won’t be afraid
Oh, I won’t be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
16. Dear True Love – Sleeping at Last
This is a wedding song, 100%, but I adore it.
So with this ring
May you always know one thing:
What little that I have to give
I will give it all to you
You’re my one true love
17. Slow Dancing In A Parking Lot – Jordan Davis
We got to see this song performed when we went to a Kip Moore concert (it was my wedding gift to my husband). It’s a little different, and I’ve never heard it at a wedding, but I love that it describes a couple that just makes the ordinary, extraordinary. As a bonus, the song the couple danced to in the song is “She’s Every Woman” by Garth Brooks, which could also be an amazing song.
Slow dance with you
Spinning you around by the Walmart sign
And moving our feet over the painted white lines
Getting close to you
Making the most of whatever we got
Even if it’s just a slow dance in a parking lot
18. Last Shot – Kip Moore
Sorry for all the country and whiskey references, but they’re some great songs!
If you were my last breath, I’d just wanna hold you
If you were my last night of hell on wheels
I’d wanna drive you like I stole ya
If you were my last shot, last shot of whiskey (last shot of whiskey)
I’d press you to my lips, take a little sip
Swirl you around and around and around
Then I’d shoot you down
19. Fade Into You – Nashville
Don’t judge me for this one, but I watched the whole series and absolutely loved it. This song stuck out because I love the imagery of two people coming together and being inseparable.
If you were the ocean and I was the sun
If the day made me heavy and gravity won
If I was the red and you were the blue
I could just fade into you
If you were a window and I was the rain
I’d pour myself out and wash off the pain
I’d fall like a tear so your light could shine through
Then I’d just fade into you
20. Lover – Taylor Swift
Don’t judge me for this one either, I loved it. I was surprised that I only heard it once at a wedding the year it came out. I thought it would become “the song” and I would get sick of it, but I think it’s such a great option.
We could leave the Christmas lights up ’til January
And this is our place, we make the rules
And there’s a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you dear
Have I known you 20 seconds or 20 years?
Picking the “right” song comes down to the lyrics.
I think music and television has a habit of creating more or less unrealistic ideas of what love and relationships are actually like, and it’s things that sound nice on paper, but sometimes, they just don’t connect. I love Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” but it missed so many marks for us. We’ve never danced barefoot in the grass, we’re not even really dancers, so while it was beautiful, it didn’t fit who we are. Find music that resonates with you! Find a song that gives you the feels, a line that send a *good shiver down your spine
So these are just a few songs that I adore, and I hope that it gives you some inspiration or at a minimum introduces you to some new favorite artists!
Cheers,
Elizabeth Mae
Great post! So sick of the same ol’ same ol’!
This is an amazing list and an even better title! 😂