80 Unexpected First Dance Songs You Haven’t Thought Of Yet

photo by By Amy Lynn Photography; see more and read about their first dance song here

Wedding planning can feel like you’re being hit with never-ending questions and making decision after decision. One of those selections is typically more fun than the rest: choosing your first dance song! Whether you’ve had a favorite song since you first got together or you’re determining a theme song for your relationship, your first dance song will hold a special place in your heart—and ears—for the rest of your life. There are plenty of lists of first dance songs to consider for kicking off your reception, but we’ve narrowed down a few from each genre that we bet you haven’t thought of yet.

These unexpected first dance songs will be sure to keep your wedding unique, fresh, and is sure to set the mood. Will you dance beneath the stars to a contemporary folk song or spin under a spotlight to an old-school tune? Only you can decide.

Our Top 10 First Dance Songs

1. You’re All I Need to Get By – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
2. The Wedding Song – Angus & Julia Stone
3. I Believe in a Thing Called Love – Branches
4. Latch (Acoustic) – Sam Smith
5. Something About Your Love – Mason Jennings
6. Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap
7. When You Say Nothing At All – Alison Krauss
8. Tennessee Whiskey – Chris Stapleton
9. Like a Star – Corinne Bailey Rae
10. I Got You – Jack Johnson
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    photo by Stefanie Vinsel; see more from this real wedding here

Old School Love and Romance Wedding Music

You’re All I Need to Get By – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

When You’re Smiling – Louis Armstrong

The Very Thought Of You – Nat King Cole

Someone to Watch Over Me – Frank Sinatra

Sailing – Christopher Cross

You Send Me – Sam Cooke

You and Me – Penny & The Quarters

Crazy Love – Van Morrison

They Can’t Take That Away From Me – Ella Fitzgerald

My Baby Just Cares For Me – Nina Simone

You Belong To Me – Patsy Cline

Photo by Meredith Washburn; see more from this wedding here

Folk First Dance Songs

Mess Is Mine – Vance Joy

The Wedding Song – Angus & Julia Stone

No One’s Gonna Love You – Band of Horses

Ends of the Earth – Lord Huron

I’m So In Love With You – Jill Andrews (feat. Seth Avett)

Whole Wide World – Bahamas

All The Pretty Girls – Kaleo

Dancing Shoes – Green River Ordinance

I Love You, Honeybear – Father John Misty

Like Real People Do – Hozier

First Day of My Life – Bright Eyes

Romantic Wedding Music Covers

XO – John Mayer

Can’t Help Falling In Love – Ingrid Michaelson

Higher Love – James Vincent McMorrow

I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – Sleeping At Last

You Are My Sunshine – Morgane and Chris Stapleton

At Last – Beyoncé

Your Song – Ellie Goulding

I Believe in a Thing Called Love – Branches

Stand By Me – Florence + The Machine

Crazy In Love – Oh Wonder

Photo by Joe + Kathrina; see more from this wedding here

Pop Wedding Music

Teenage Dream – Katy Perry

Adore You – Miley Cyrus

Make You Feel My Love – Adele

Tenerife Sea – Ed Sheeran

Stickwitu – The Pussycat Dolls

Halo – Beyoncé

Latch (Acoustic) – Sam Smith

Young and Beautiful – Lana Del Rey

This I Promise You – *NSYNC

I Turn To You – Christina Aguilera

Alternative First Dance Songs

Fade Into You – Mazzy Star

You & Me – Dave Matthews Band

Something About Your Love – Mason Jennings

Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap

Brighter Than Sunshine – Aqualung

Somewhere Only We Know – Keane

The Only Exception – Paramore

I Will Follow You Into The Dark – Death Cab for Cutie

Stolen – Dashboard Confessional

Maps – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Photo by Lindsey Boluyt; see more from this wedding here

Country Wedding Music

Your Man – Josh Turner

Late To The Party – Kacey Musgraves

When You Say Nothing At All – Alison Krauss

Tennessee Whiskey – Chris Stapleton

Yours –  Russell Dickerson

Feet Don’t Touch the Ground – Stoney LaRue

Who I Am – Wade Bowen

One Woman – Randy Rogers Band

Constantly – Cross Canadian Ragweed

Here Tonight – Sam Burchfield

R&B First Dance Songs

A Couple of Forevers – Chrisette Michele

If I Ain’t Got You – Alicia Keys

Like a Star – Corinne Bailey Rae

Coming Home – Leon Bridges

Love On Top – Beyoncé

Back At One – Brian McKnight

Always Be My Baby – Mariah Carey

Really Love – D’Angelo

Love Like This – Faith Evans

By Your Side – Sade

photo by Soul Season Photography; see more from this wedding here

Solo Singer/Songwriter First Dance Songs

I Got You – Jack Johnson

Hold You In My Arms – Ray Lamontagne

Grow Old With Me – Tom Odell

Us – Regina Spektor

It’s Good To Have You – Josh Rouse

You and I – Ingrid Michaelson

Be Be Your Love – Rachel Yamagata

We Found Each Other In The Dark – City and Colour

The Luckiest – Ben Folds

Build a Home – Jeffrey Martin

Which first dance song will you lace up your dancing shoes to? Save the Spotify playlist to keep all of these songs in one place! Once you’ve chosen your first dance song, you’ll want to get started on the playlist guaranteed to get your guests on the dance floor. Of course, the best wedding DJs can help you determine all of these song choices which is why we’ve rounded up a collection of the world’s best wedding DJs.

Photo by Jenny Smith & Co.; see more from this wedding here