Your Guide to The Wedding First Dance and 50 Passionate Songs
The First Dance symbolizes the dawn of a life of unending love shared by newlyweds
This dance can be an expression of harmony and unity with the love of your life! 💖
Or 3 minutes of a couple anxiously swaying in front of a crowded reception. 😬
We are expert wedding dance choreographers, here to give you all the resources you need to make your first dance the happiest moment of your life!
You might be wondering:
Is there any first dance etiquette I need to know when I plan my wedding?
Should I prepare for my first dance with a choreographer?
What song should I choose for my first dance?
How will I calm my nerves when it’s time to dance on the big day?
We expert wedding dance choreographers are here to answer your questions, help you nail your first dance, and make your wedding a night everyone will remember!
Table of Contents:
The Etiquette and Traditions of the Wedding First Dance
Ultimately, the choice of sticking to tradition or going your own way is up to you!
We are here to answer any questions you may have about how to plan a traditional first dance at your wedding if that is your choice.
Traditional Origins of The First Dance
This time-honored wedding tradition comes from the royal courts of Europe in the 17th century. An altogether different first dance was the opening act at ballroom festivities.
The guests with the highest social status would be chosen as the guest of honor and they would lead the first dance of the party with their partners.
Sometime in the 19th century, this ballroom tradition inspired the addition of the first dance at weddings.
Today, the song and vibe of the first dance are up to the newlywed couple to choose.
Of all the dances during the wedding festivities, this one is the most traditional and meaningful.
✨ Want to make your first dance WOW! rather than meh? ✨
With our wedding dance choreography, you will dazzle your guests, and truly enjoy yourselves!
When To Perform the First Dance at Your Wedding
Traditionally the first dance will take place at the beginning of the wedding reception.
After everyone is settled in their seats, the newlyweds will make their grand entrance to the applause of family and friends. The DJ will turn on the chosen song as the couple moves directly to the dance floor to commence the first dance.
Does The First Dance Come Before or After the Cutting of the Cake?
The first dance comes before. Many engaged couples plan the cutting of the cake to immediately follow the first dance. This is an excellent time to cut the cake, giving guests the energy to start dancing themselves.
Some couples like the dance to be later, after dinner, but the issue with that to consider can be you’re too full from eating, and also maybe drinking a bit much.
We don’t recommend too many drinks before your dance, because you’ll want to be fully present with each other, and not forget the steps!
(We know of a sad story where the groom had to guide his bride through the entire dance because in her tipsy state she couldn’t remember the moves.)
Don’t worry - with our help, you won’t need alcohol to feel relaxed and have a good time dancing!
How to Announce The First Dance
It's typical for the DJ, toastmaster, or designated wedding coordinator to announce the impending grand entrance with a microphone or PA system.
The DJ will cue up the first dance song, signaling the newlyweds to begin their grand entrance and move to the dance floor for their first dance.
Length of the First Dance
We recommend keeping your first dance between 2 to 3 minutes long. For new dancers, anything much above 3 minutes can feel like an eternity!
On the other hand, dances that are shorter than 2 minutes will make it more difficult for wedding photographers to take good shots of the first dance.
Wedding Choreography Improves the First Dance Experience
Wedding dance choreographers can make what would be a nerve-wracking experience into the most special experience of your life. You, dancing intimately with your beloved, with all your loved ones surrounding you, moving together as a comfortable, confident, and harmonious team.
At Steps to Love, we create custom dances that make your first dance absolutely unforgettable!
Wedding dance lessons stand apart from most wedding planning activities, in that they are ridiculously fun. (At least with us they are!)
We provide you with a special time where you’ll be looking into your partner’s eyes, synchronizing your bodies and movements with each other, and learning to do something together as a team.
When the big day comes, you’ll feel totally prepared and confident (and yes, even excited!) to dance, so you can enjoy yourselves and dazzle your guests!
Oh, and have some amazing dance skills to boot that will keep you dancing together for the rest of your lives!
Schedule a consult call with us here to see which package is best for your wedding.
50 Romantic Songs For an Unforgettable First Dance
Here is our list of specifically curated song options, that will create your magical and iconic moment on the dance floor!
Sam Smith - Latch (Alternative)
Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars (Alternative)
Tegan and Sara - Love They Say (Alternative)
Van Morrison - Someone Like You (Blues)
Brett Young - In Case You Didn’t Know (Country)
Dan + Shay - Speechless (Country)
Faith Hill - The Kiss (Country)
Boyce Avenue - Teenage Dream (Classical)
Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do (Electro Pop)
James Arthur - Falling Like the Stars (Electro Pop)
John Mayer - XO (Electro Pop)
Adele - Make You Feel My Love (Folk)
Allman Brown - Sweetest Thing (Folk)
Jack Johnson - I Got You (Folk)
Ray LaMontagne - You Are the Best Thing (Folk)
Sufjan Stevens - Mystery of Love (Folk)
Etta James - At Last (Jazz)
Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight (Jazz)
Harry Connick Jr. - It Had to Be You (Jazz)
Nat King Cole - L-O-V-E (Jazz)
Alicia Keys - That’s When I Knew (Neo Soul)
John Legend - Stay With You (Neo Soul)
Leon Bridges - Coming Home (Neo Soul)
Amos Lee - Sweet Pea (Pop)
Beyoncé - Halo (Pop)
Calum Scott - You Are the Reason (Pop)
Christina Perri - A Thousand Years (Pop)
Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud (Pop)
Harry Styles - Sweet Creature (Pop)
Jasmine Thompson - Like I’m Gonna Lose You (Pop)
Lenka - Don’t Let me Fall (Pop)
Sade - Your Love is King (Pop)
Sara Bareilles - I Choose You (Pop)
Savage Garden - Truly Madly Deeply (Pop)
The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody (Pop)
Al Green - Let’s Stay Together (R&B Soul)
Ben E. King - Stand By Me (R&B Soul)
Billie Holiday - It Had To Be You (R&B Soul)
Billy Withers - Just The Two of Us (R&B Soul)
John Legend - All of Me (R&B Soul)
Lauren Hill - Can’t Take my Eyes off You (R&B Soul)
Stevie Wonder - Hold Me (R&B Soul)
The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You (R&B Soul)
The Temptations - My Girl (R&B Soul)
Jason Mraz - I’m Yours (Reggae)
Aerosmith - I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing (Rock)
Elton John - Your Song (Rock)
Elvis Presley - Can’t Help Falling in Love (Rock)
James Bay - Let It Go (Rock)
Twin Forks - Back to You (Rock)
How to Calm Your First Dance Nerves In 6 Steps
We hear all the time how nervous you feel when you think about going out on the dance floor in front of all your guests.
We get it! It makes sense!
You probably have never “performed” in front of 100+ people, all watching you at the same time.
So we wanted to provide 6 simple, but vital steps to calm your nerves before stepping on the dance floor for your first dance:
Bay Area First Dance Lessons with Steps to Love
Invest in the epic first dance of your dreams!
We can help you become totally prepared and confident to dance with your partner. You’ll be ready to dazzle your guests and truly enjoy yourselves during the big moment of the most important day of your lives together! And create an iconic memory you will cherish for the rest of your lives.
