The first dance is one of the most unforgettable parts of any wedding. It’s that moment when the newlyweds step into the spotlight and share a song that reflects their love story. Whether you’re choosing a timeless ballad, a modern love song, or something playful, the right track will set the mood for the evening and be remembered for years.

But how do you know where to start? In this guide, we’ve compiled 160 of the best first dance songs, plus practical advice on how to choose a first dance song and even tips on how long a first dance song should be.

Already know what music you want for your first dance? Hire a wedding DJ or a live band near you today!

How to choose a first dance song

Your first dance should be as unique as your relationship. Here are three steps to help guide your decision.

1. Think about your story: Did you see a band together on your first date? Is there a song that played during your proposal? Those tracks hold special meaning.
2. Decide on the vibe: Romantic, fun, dramatic, or upbeat? Your personalities will guide you toward the right energy.
3. Work with your entertainment: DJs or bands can blend tracks to create mashups, while live bands can personalise arrangements to make the song truly yours.

How long should a first dance song be?

Most first dances are around 2–3 minutes long. Any longer, and guests may lose attention. But you don’t have to dance to the full track, ask your DJ or band to fade out or create a custom edit.

Pro tip: If you love a 5-minute ballad, use the first half for your couple’s dance and then invite guests to join you on the floor. It’s a seamless way to transition into the party.

Our breakdown of the best first dance songs

Classic and timeless

Perfect for couples who want an elegant, romantic feel.

1. “At last” - Etta James 
2. “Dream a little dream of me” - Ella Fitzgerald 
3. “A sunday kind of love” - Etta James 
4. “L-O-V-E” - Nat King Cole 
5. “I’ll be seeing you” - Billie Holiday
6. “The way you look tonight” - Frank Sinatra 
7. “Fly me to the moon” - Frank Sinatra 
8. “You make me feel so young” - Frank Sinatra 
9. “(What a) Wonderful world” - Sam Cooke 
10. “You send me” - Sam Cooke
11. “Your song” - Elton John 
12. “Come away with me” - Norah Jones 
13. “Can’t help falling in love” - Elvis Presley 
14. “Moon River” - Audrey Hupburn 
15. “La Vie en rose” - Edith Piaf 
16. “That’s Amore” - Dean Martin 
17. “Killing me softly with his song” - Roberta Flack 
18. “Isn’t she lovely” - Stevie Wonder 
19. “It’s not unusual” - Tom Jones 
20. “Lovely Day” - Bill Withers 

Modern love songs

Great for couples who want something contemporary and relatable.

1. “Perfect” - Ed Sheeran 
2. “Say you won’t let go” - James Arthur 
3. “Thinking out loud” - Ed Sheeran 
4. “All of me” - John Legend 
5. “Just the way you are” - Bruno Mars 
6. “Yellow” - Coldplay 
7. “Photograph” - Ed Sheeran 
8. “I wanna be yours” - Arctic Monkeys 
9. “The night we met” - Lord Huron 
10. “Die for you” The Weeknd 
11. “Make you feel my love” - Adelle 
12. “This love” - Maroon Five 
13. “Ho Hey” - The Lumineers 
14. “Accidentally in love” - Counting Crows 
15. “Ordinary” - Alex Warren 
16. “Beautiful Things” - Benson Boone
17. “Lose Control” - Teddy Swims 
18. “Until I found you” - Stephen Sanchez 
19. “A thousand years” - Christina Perri
20. “Unwritten” - Natasha Beddingfield

Upbeat and fun first dance songs

Not every couple wants to sway slowly, these are ideal for choreographed or playful dances.

1. “You make my dreams come true” - Daryl Hall & John Oates
2. “How sweet it is (to be loved by you)” - Marvin Gaye
3. “Love on top” - Beyonce 
4. “You are the best thing” - Ray LaMontagne 
5. “Happy” - Pharrell Williams 
6. “Locked out of heaven” - Bruno Mars 
7. “Fell in love with a girl” - The White Stripes 
8. “Moondance” - Van Morrison 
9. “Dancing in the moonlight” - Toploader 
10. “Ain’t no mountain high enough” - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell 
11. “Be my baby” - The Ronettes 
12. This will be (an everlasting love)” - Natalie Cole 
13. “Crazy little thing called love” - Queen 
14. “I wanna dance with somebody” - Whitney Houston 
15. “Can’t stop this feeling” - Justin Timberlake
16. “I got you babe” - Cher & Sonny 
17. “You’re the one that i want” - John Travolta & Olivia Newton John 
18. “Jailhouse Rock” - Elvis Presley 
19. “I choose you” - Sara Barellis 
20. “Lovebug” - Jonas Brothers

Country and folk

Country music is growing in popularity at weddings, check out these options below!

1. “All my love” - Noah Khan 
2. “Tennessee Whiskey” - Chris Stapelton 
3. “Eyes on you” - Chase Rice
4. “Beautiful Crazy” - Luke Combs 
5. “Love you anyway” - Luke Combs 
6. “You’re still the one” - Shania Twain 
7. “Body like a backroad” - Sam Hunt 
8. “Die a happy man” - Thomas Rhett
9. “Marry me” - Thomas Rhett
10. “Something in the orange” - Zach Bryan 
11. “7 Summers” - Morgan Wallen 
12. “When you say nothing at all” - Keith Whitley 
13. “In case you didnt know” - Brett Young 
14. “Wagon Wheel” - Darius Rucker 
15. “Whiskey Lullaby” - Brad Paisley 
16. “Next thing you know” - Jordan Davis 
17. “Thinkin about me” - Morgan Wallen 
18. “Joy of my life” - Chris Stapleton 
19. “Fall in love” -Bailey Zimmerman
20. “Play it again” - Luke Bryan

Australian favourites

Adding an Aussie touch makes the moment even more personal.

1. “Eagle Rock” - Daddy Cool
2. “Khe Sanh” - Cold Chisel 
3. “Great Southern Land” - ICEHOUSE 
4. “Waltzing Matilda” - Slim Dusty 
5. “Solid Rock” - Goanna 
6. “Down under” - Men at work 
7. “Chandelier” - Sia 
8. “Can’t get you out of my head” - Kylie Minogue 
9. “You’re the voice” - John Farnham 
10. “Miracle Love” - Matt Corby 
11. “I knew I loved you” - Savage Garden 
12. “You shook me all night long” - AC/DC 
13. “Throw your arms around me” - Hunters & Collectors 
14. “Need you tonight” - INXS
15. “I want you” - Savage Garden 
16. “Walking on a dream” - Empire of the sun 
17. “The real thing” - Russell Morris 
18. “Because i love you” - Jim Keyes 
19. “The horses” - Daryl Braithwaite 
20. “Spinning around” - Kylie Minogue

Taylor swift choices

Let's be honest, what's a wedding without a little bit of Taylor Swift?! 

1. “Love Story” - Taylor Swift 
2. “Opalite” - Taylor Swift 
3. “So high school” - Taylor Swift 
4. “You belong with me” - Taylor Swift 
5. “Lover” - Taylor Swift 
6. “Enchanted” - Taylor Swift 
7. “August” - Taylor Swift 
8. “This love” - Taylor Swift 
9. “Paper rings” - Taylor Swift 
10. “The Alchemy” - Taylor Swift 
11. “Today was a fairytale” - Taylor Swift 
12. “Invisible string” - Taylor Swift 
13. “False God” - Taylor Swift 
14. “Call it what you want” - Taylor Swift 
15. “Our song” - Taylor Swift 
16. “Paris” - Taylor Swift 
17. “Stay stay stay” - Taylor Swift 
18. “Jump then fall” - Taylor Swift 
19. “Mary’s song (oh my my my)” - Taylor Swift 
20. “Style” - Taylor Swift

Adding in a bit of rock and roll

Songs for those who want to add a bit of beat to their first dance song. 

1. “Iris” - The Goo Goo Dolls 
2. “I want to know what love is” - Foreigner 
3. “Heaven” - Bryan Adams 
4. “I don’t to miss a thing” - Aerosmith 
5. “All my love” - Led Zeppelin
6. “Crazy” - Aerosmith 
7. “Open arms” - Journey 
8. “She’s always a woman” - Billy Joel 
9. “Start me up” - The Rolling Stones 
10. “Every little thing she does” - The Police 
11. “Honestly” - Billy Joel 
12. “Never say goodbye” - Bon Jovi 
13. “Vienna” - Billy Joel 
14. “(Everything I do) I do it for you” - Bryan Adams 
15. “Total eclipse of the heart” - Bonnie Tyler 
16. “Is this love” - Whitesnake 
17. “Love of my life” - Queen 
18. “Waiting for a girl like you” - Foreigner 
19. “Here for you” - Ozzy Ozbourne 
20. “With or without you” - U2

And finally some favourites from Bark! 

We love music here at Bark so here are some of our favourite first dance songs.

1. “Stand by me” - Ben E King 
2. “Suddenly i see” - KT Tunstall 
3. “Love of my live” - Harry Styles 
4. “Fast Car” - Tracey Chapman 
5. “She will be loved” - Maroon 5
6. “Kiss me” - Sixpence None the richer 
7. “Don’t go breaking my heart” - Elton John & Kiki Dee
8. “Here comes the sun” - The Beatles
9. “Can’t take my eyes off of you” - Frankie Valli
10. “Oh, pretty woman” - Roy Orbison 
11. “I’m like a bird” - Nelly Furtado 
12. “There she goes” - The La’s 
13. “Send me on my way” - Rusted Root 
14. “Somebody to love” - Queen 
15. “Free Fallin’” - Tom Petty
16. “Fade into you” - Mazzy Star
17. “Let it be” - The Beatles 
18. “Wish you were here” - Pink Floyd 
19. “Lean on me” - Bill Withers 
20. “Love me not” - Ravyn Lenae

Check out our entire Spotify playlist to have a listen and find the right song for your big day! 

Band vs. DJ: Who should play your first dance song?

Choosing your first dance song? We’ve got you covered with 160 ideas, from timeless love songs to fresh Aussie favourites. Also, a couple of tips to make your first dance memorable!

• Live band entertainment: Adds atmosphere and emotion. Bands can slow songs down, add instrumental solos, or make a track sound truly unique.
• Wedding DJ: Offers versatility and precision. DJs can edit songs, fade out at the perfect moment, or mix in a new track to kickstart the dance floor.

Example: A Sydney couple wanted “Thinking Out Loud” performed live. Their band added a saxophone solo, making it feel like their own version. Another couple in Melbourne asked their DJ to mash up “All of Me” with “Uptown Funk” to surprise guests mid-dance.

Tips for making your first dance unforgettable

1. Keep it Short and Sweet: Edit your song to be 2-3 minutes long. This is the perfect amount of time to captivate your guests without the moment dragging or becoming repetitive.
2. Practice (Even Just a Little): You don't need complex choreography. Practice a simple sway, a confident entrance, a few basic turns, and a dip or a kiss for the finale. Knowing your "start" and "end" removes all awkwardness.
3. Tell a Story: Choose a song that’s personal, not just popular. It could be from your first date, a cover of a song you both love, or a funny inside joke. The genuine emotion will be more memorable than any dance move.
4. Create a "Surprise Switch": Start with a classic, slow song for about 45 seconds, then have your DJ "record scratch" into an upbeat, high-energy track (like "Crazy in Love" or "Uptown Funk"). This "bait-and-switch" is a huge crowd-pleaser and the perfect way to invite everyone else to join you on the dance floor.
5. Involve Your Guests: Consider inviting your wedding party or all married couples to join you on the floor halfway through the song. This takes the pressure off you and turns the dance into a shared celebration.
6. Mind the Details: Practice in your actual wedding shoes and discuss your dress with your partner (especially if it has a long train or bustle). Also, ask your DJ or band to use special lighting, like a spotlight or uplighting, to make the moment feel more cinematic and intimate.