Lighthouse Disc Jockey Service can help you plan the details of your Wedding Reception.
Here’s what we can do for you:
- Arrive and set up all the equipment needed a couple of hours before the function start time.
- Go over the timings of your entire evening. Help keep everyone on schedule.
- Announce the Bride/Groom & Wedding Party (Grand Entrance) to music.
- Help select the music and announce your First/Last & Father/Daughter-Mother/Son dances.
- Co-ordinate and announce the throwing of your Garter/Bouquet and the Cake Cutting.
- Song List Planning. Choose your favorite artists and song titles and play guest requests!
- Set the atmosphere, keep the right Vibe going! Create a playlist on the fly and keep guests dancing.
Top 30 Most Popular First Dance Songs for 2022
If you’re struggling for first dance inspiration, there’s no shame in choosing a tried-and-tested song that’s guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s faces.
When choosing a first dance, some couples will already have a song in mind that unlocks magical memories together – perhaps the song which was playing when they first met, went on their first date, or first said “I love you”.
But if you’re not one of those, fear not – sometimes, just a damn good song will set the right tone, and after your wedding day will forever be “your song”.
There are lots of first dances to choose from, so think about tempo, style, genre, and most importantly how a tune makes you feel when you hear it. Jump to our first dance FAQs for more guidance.
To get you inspired, we reveal the most popular first dance songs with our brides and grooms. In our updated list for 2022, Ed Sheeran and Adele are nudged out of the top spots, as old-school classics by Elvis, Etta James and Al Green re-take the lead.
Listen to our complete list on Spotify here. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3SBHmtlzoqfU9Xe6O3QXIe?go=1&utm_source=embed_player_m&utm_medium=desktop&nd=1
Once you’ve chosen your song, be sure to dance to the whole song! This is your moment to shine!
- At Last – Etta James
Uplifting and elegant, At Last is an extraordinary paean to love that will be on this list for years to come. Etta James’s gospel-tinged vocals are the perfect vehicle for the song’s message: a final deliverance from loneliness. Expect more than a few tears. - Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
Elvis’ favourite encore in his live shows has been the subject of a number of cover versions, but nothing can beat having The King himself serenade you into married life. - Baby I’m Yours – Arctic Monkeys
Sway sweetly to this lilting Arctic Monkeys cover of Barbara Lewis’ classic 1965 hit. It’s only two and a half minutes long, so if you find the thought of a first dance awkward, this one’s for you! - Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
Released in 1971, and ranked the 60th greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine, Let’s Stay Together is a winner. Timeless and loved by all, it won’t let you down. For a more energetic take on the song, check out Tina Turner’s 1992 version. - Just You and I – Tom Walker
Written for his fiancée, this ambient, reggae-infused hit is as full of sentimentality as it is feel-good melodies. If you’re looking for meaningful lyrics but want to avoid the slower tempos of other first dance favourites, this could be the one for you. - Stand by Me – Ben E King
Iconic right from its first few notes, this 1961 classic will be both familiar and fun for both you and your guests. This cross-generational, sing-a-long, crowd-pleaser will set your evening off on the perfect footing. - A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
Featured in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1, A Thousand Years was American singer-songwriter Christina Perri’s second big UK hit. This modern and romantic song brings a bit of ethereal fantasy to your first dance. And younger guests will love it too. - Your Song – Elton John
Originally released in 1970, Your Song was given new leases of life by Moulin Rouge (2001) and Rocketman (2019). An enduringly popular first dance wedding song and a true song of the ages, it’s a beautiful way to start your married life together. - All of Me – John Legend
Despite only making it to number 2 in the UK charts, this track was a massive hit, and hugely popular amongst the newlyweds of Britain. The romantic lyrics and passionate vocal from John Legend make this the ultimate slow dance song. - Better Half of Me – Tom Walker
Down-to-earth lyrics, soaring melodies and heartfelt emotion – it’s what Tom Walker does best. Drawn from his own experience of a long distance relationship, it’s also the perfect soundtrack for any couple that has overcome geography for love. - Can’t Take My Eyes off You – Andy Williams
All generations will know this one, and you can sing along even if you don’t know the words. With its slow, romantic start and its rousing, crowd-pleasing finish, this is surely one of the most popular first dance wedding songs of all time. - Grow Old With Me – Tom Odell
A mainstay of our top 30 first dance list, Grow Old With Me is a fantastic sentiment to start your married lives with. Don’t worry, our wedding bands will perform the clean version if preferred. - Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe – Barry White
There is such a thing in the world as “baby-making music” – and this is it. Barry White’s inimitable growl, the climactic chorus and that gentle, funky 70s groove adds up to the sexiest of first dances. - Say You Won’t Let Go – James Arthur
Arthur’s huge 2016 hit is a truly modern take on first dates and a commitment to a future together. The ending is sudden, so you’ll need an attentive band or DJ ready to go straight into the next song. - Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
This slow-building anthem from 2016 is sure to intensify the emotions in the room. From its intimate beginnings to its euphoric final choruses, goosebumps are inevitable. - I Won’t Give Up – Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz’s biggest hit, the breezy I’m Yours, was once a mainstay of our first dance charts. Not anymore. Released in 2012, I Won’t Give Up is an altogether more introspective track about persisting with love in the face of adversity: “I won’t give up on us, even if the skies get rough”. - This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
Kick off your evening celebrations on an upbeat, soulful note. This toe-tapping, 1975 Grammy-winning banger drips with joy and sass in equal measure and is guaranteed to leave you and your guests beaming from ear to ear. - Is This Love? – Bob Marley
Is This Love oozes uncomplicated happiness, coupled with the best of romantic lyrics. It’s a joyful number and a cross-generational crowd-pleaser; everyone from your great aunt to your nephews will be singing along. - Greatest Day – Take That
What more appropriate way to mark you and your newly wed’s own Greatest Day? This mood-raising favourite from Take That’s 2008 comeback album is guaranteed to create a first dance memory to last a lifetime. - Make You Feel My Love – Adele
Originally released by Bob Dylan on his 1997 album Time Out of Mind, Make You Feel My Love has been covered by numerous famous faces including Billy Joel and Kelly Clarkson. But it’s Adele’s powerful version which may outlast them all. Easy to dance to, heartfelt and timeless, it’s a perfect first dance choice. - Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
Winner of Song Of The Year at The Grammys in 2016, this number 1 single from Ed Sheeran still delivers. The lyrics from this instant classic don’t promise human perfection, but loving acceptance of each other’s faults, and a beautiful sentiment for a strong marriage. - Better Together – Jack Johnson
From Jack Johnson’s first album, In Between Dreams (2005), this sweet love song was huge at the time and is still one of the most common first dance song requests. Johnson recently performed this live on One World: Together At Home and reminded us how much we love it. - L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole
A timeless classic, L.O.V.E. is requested year after year. Short and sweet, this beautiful, jazzy love song is widely know by all as it’s still used frequently in film and TV. If your dancing skills are limited, it’s rhythmic but gentle pace makes for an easy two-step. - How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
Originally written by folk-rock band The Waterboys, Ellie Goulding covered the song for the 2013 movie About Time. The lyrics speak for themselves, with a message of loving someone forever: “How long will I love you, as long as stars are above you, and longer if I can”. - The One – Kodaline
Kodaline are an alternative rock quartet from Dublin, and this hit comes from their second studio album, Coming Up for Air, released in 2015. This has been a hugely popular first dance with newlyweds in the years since, and we expect it to feature on our first dance lists for many years yet. - Symphony – Clean Bandit ft. Zara Larson
This light-hearted, modern and danceable choice from 2017 has been a surprise favourite at weddings ever since. But take note – if you’re booking a live wedding band, you’ll need a talented vocalist to pull it off. - Perfect – Ed Sheeran
Written for his wife-to-be Cherry and released in 2017, this song is still riding high in the first dance charts today. It was number 1 in the UK, the USA and 16 other countries around the world, and was followed up by duets with Beyoncé and Andrea Bocelli. - Everything – Michael Bublé
Written for Bublé’s then girlfriend, Emily Blunt, Everything is an ideal first dance which everyone will know. It’s upbeat, but slow enough to make for an easy two-step with your new husband or wife. - Love On Top – Beyoncé
This breezy pop song from Queen Beyoncé is a sure-fire crowd-pleaser. It’s also one of the most upbeat and danceable songs on our list. So if you’re a shy dancer, it’s going to be easy to get guests involved for the second half of the song. The endless key changes at the end are uplifting and fun. - Come Away With Me – Norah Jones
This ethereal number from Norah Jones’s eponymous 2002 debut is about escaping with your lover, and has “wedding song” written all over it. With its slow pace and gentle waltz-like feel, Come Away With Me is also a great choice if you’ve got two left feet.
Listen to our top 30 first dances on Spotify
