# Help! I need a first-dance Wedding song. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 31, 2000, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524 "2000-08-31T18:22:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DarbyV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@DarbyV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarbyV)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/21 "2000-09-01T01:04:59Z")
“At Last” by Etta James. Look it up it’s wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/22 "2000-09-01T01:44:12Z")
Meatloaf: ‘Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad’ 😃 Sorry… couldn’t resist. But I WILL second ‘Air That I Breathe.’ Great song. ---
**Author:** ![Gregatiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e95f7d/32.png) [@Gregatiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gregatiki)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/23 "2000-09-01T02:05:42Z")
Thank you all, these are great suggestions – I’ll compile them all into one list once the messages die down. In the meantime, keep them coming. (Hey missbunny, never say never…I’ve had to eat my words…and they never tasted soooo good. Oooh, sorry…weddings bring out the sap in me) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Arnold Winkelried \* > **What kind of instruments will the band be playing? Is it a typical rock ensemble (bass - guitar - drums) or does it have some brass? That might influence the choice of the song.** It’s weird, they are a modular group. We opted for a wee bit of brass and a female vocalist (didn’t want to splurge for the sax player though). > [@](#): > > \*\* > What kind of dance do you want it to be? A slow dance, swing, waltz, foxtrot, cha-cha, salsa, hustle? \*\* I’m thinking either a slow dance, waltz, or a foxtrot. We took dancing lessons in the spring, and haven’t practiced as much as we would have liked – besides it will be difficult for her to move much in a dress and heels. \*\* > [@](#): > > My wife and I, for our first dance, choose “I Love You”, performed by Frank Sinatra. We started with fox-trot and then segued into swing for the second half of the song. The rhythm of the song lended itself to both styles of dance. \*\* You’re a braver man than me, pal! I figure we’ll take the subtle route. Our dance should be understated, it’ll provide a nice contrast to the drunken revelry that my friends and family are known for. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/24 "2000-09-01T02:17:06Z")
Isn’t there a country-and-western song titled “D-I-V-O-R-C-E”? That sounds perfect for a wedding. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/25 "2000-09-01T02:17:33Z")
My vote is for the Steven Curtis Chapman song “I Will Be There”. The lyrics are beautiful and state the commitment you are making, the music is beautiful and I love the story behind the song. SCC wrote it when his long married parents decided to divorce. He wrote it to tell his wife that he is and will always be committed to her. Please find it and listen to it, I think you will see why it makes me (a single woman) cry. Scotti (I admit to being a sappy person, and a pollyanna. Is this wrong?) ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/26 "2000-09-01T02:29:53Z")
First, congrats and try to not lose your mind with the silly little details that wedding planning tends to bring out in people. Because, after all, that’s what they are, little details. Secondly, and most important: \*\*Pick a song that can be danced too, fercryingoutloud \*\* Thirdly,_pay attention,_ this is key \*\* Know HOW TO DANCE! \*\* **Welcome to Shirley’s Dante’s Inferno Of Weddings** We have all attended dozens of weddings of style and whatnot, and the whole package goes in the crapper when the newly married bride and groom go out on to the dance floor for their first song and A) it is something way to fucking slow to dance too B) the couple cannot dance to save their lives. I, for one ( and three for a dollar), just \*hate \* to see a couple just stand their like two fourteen year olds swaying back and forth like their braces are locked together. They spend a truck load of money to impress everyone with the flowers, booze, dresses and favors and then just look like shit on the dance floor and put everyone into a coma with the gd wedding song. Am I wrong about this people? (taking a deep breath) ::::repeat mantra:::It’s not Gregatiki’s fault, don’t take it out on him. Just get your message out there, Shirl…:::: AHHHHHHHHH As for wedding songs: Try to pick something that you are likely to hear again in the future. You know, something that will be made into a Musak song so it will help you and the little woman wriggle eyebrows at each other and get all hot and horny when you are stuck in an elevator and \*Your Song \* wafts through the elevator shaft. The only song that I can think of is " All of Me" By Frank Sinatra. :::putting on smartass hat:::how about " I don’t want her, you can have her, she’s too fat for me!" ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/27 "2000-09-01T03:11:01Z")
Two songs **not** to pick that I heard within the last year at weddings. _Every Breath You Take_ and _Reasons_ (Earth, Wind and Fire). Doesn’t anybody listen to the lyrics? Jeez! Hubby and I chose the old standby \*Always and Forever ---
**Author:** ![Dylan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e95f7d/32.png) [@Dylan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dylan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/28 "2000-09-01T04:09:26Z")
Time in a bottle…by Jim Croce. sample: If I could save time in a bottle The first thing that I’d like to do Is to save every day Till Eternity passes away Just to spend them with you If I could make days last forever If words could make wishes come true I’d save every day like a treasure and then, Again, I would spend them with you But there never seems to be enough time To do the things you want to do Once you find them I’ve looked around enough to know That you’re the one I want to go Through time with If I had a box just for wishes And dreams that had never come true The box would be empty Except for the memory of How they were answered by you ---
**Author:** ![Juniper200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/29 "2000-09-01T13:23:13Z")
I’d suggest “With You” from the musical Pippin, or the slow, acoustic version of “Walls” that Tom Petty did on his last tour. (It’s out there in MP3 somewhere.) I’m toying with both of these for my own wedding. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/30 "2000-09-01T14:05:06Z")
Somebody said Style Council, well I think that Paul Wellers “you do something to me” from the “Stanly Road” LP is perfect. I can send you an MP3 of the song if you want. ---
**Author:** ![hflathead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@hflathead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hflathead)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/31 "2000-09-01T14:39:06Z")
and picked “Unchained Melody” Everly Brothers, popularized again in “Ghost” with Patrick Swazey and Demi Moore. Really easy to slow dance to, and nice lyrics. Topped it off with “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin”. You have to really listen to those lyrics to get it, but it was quite appropriate for us. Congratulations! later, Tom. ---
**Author:** ![Yankee\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7ea924/32.png) [@Yankee\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankee_Blue)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/32 "2000-09-01T14:45:20Z")
I’m guessing that you want your basic high school dance fare as has been suggested above, but if you can dance and want something different [read:interesting] try swing, big band, or folk. _Haste to the Wedding_ is an outstanding Irish traditional but if you can’t quick-step or jig, give it a miss. Or you might try something like \* String of Pearls \*, \* All of Me \*, or \* Come Rain of Come Shine \*, etc. Try [http://garyw0001.simplenet.com/bigband.html](http://garyw0001.simplenet.com/bigband.html) for samples. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/33 "2000-09-01T16:50:52Z")
If (and this is a BIG if) my SO get married, it’s going to be Jeff Healy’s “Angel Eyes”. Ah, what am I talkin about? Knowing him, it will probably be “We are the Champions” by Queen or something… Oh - Congrats on the nuptials, man! ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/34 "2000-09-01T17:03:46Z")
If you actually know waltz and foxtrot, you definitely should use something that you can dance those to, instead of doing a grope-and-sway. Try this list for the favorite wedding songs of people on rec.arts.dance (who are almost exclusively ballroom and swing dancers). ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/35 "2000-09-01T17:09:27Z")
I’m getting married in about a month, and we’ll be dancing to Sarah Mac’s _Ice Cream_. It was that or Melissa Etheridge’s _I’m The Only One_. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/36 "2000-09-01T17:15:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gregatiki \* > I’m thinking either a slow dance, waltz, or a foxtrot. We took dancing lessons in the spring, and haven’t practiced as much as we would have liked – besides it will be difficult for her to move much in a dress and heels. OK, I’ll second what Shirley Ujest said. Try and make it a special dance! Here is what the wife and I did. We have been taking dancing lessons at a local dance studio for many months now. So for our wedding dance we decided to do a whole routine choreographed by one of the instructors from the studio. Now I’m not a good dancer and we worked for months on the thing, but everyone at the wedding oohed and aahed. Now, I’m not saying that you should rehearse a whole routine. It’s time-consuming. But you could ask a local dance studio how much it would cost to teach you just a simple dance with a nice impressive ending (like a fancy dip) and one or two highlights in the middle. Or else practice your basic waltz or foxtrot step until you know it well, and do one of those. A waltz looks elegant especially if you practice the “rise and fall”. A simple foxtrot step in my mind is a little more boring unless you throw in some extra moves like a grapevine, a cross-body lead, some turns etc… There are several Frank Sinatra songs that have a waltz tempo. Otherwise most Frank Sinatra songs have a foxtrot beat. Perhaps the list linked to be ENugent will help. Otherwise, you could call a dance studio (or walk in) and ask them for song suggestions. They would very probably have good suggestions even if you don’t sign up for lessons. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/37 "2000-09-01T21:03:57Z")
We had “Natural Woman” played as our first dance song. It made me feel so earthy, or something! I love to dance and twirl and dip, which I did while DH stood there and rolled his eyes. It was fun! ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/38 "2000-09-01T21:49:36Z")
P.S. I forgot something important. My wife had brought a simpler white dress and another pair of shoes to dance in, and changed into that while people were eating dessert. It made dancing a lot easier. ---
**Author:** ![Gregatiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e95f7d/32.png) [@Gregatiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gregatiki)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/39 "2000-09-02T14:25:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Arnold Winkelried \* > \*\*P.S. I forgot something important. My wife had brought a simpler white dress and another pair of shoes to dance in, and changed into that while people were eating dessert. It made dancing a lot easier. \*\* Hmmm…I was thinking that a gown would get in the way of anything too elaborate, good thinking! I think we will do something simple yet elegant. Elaborate dance moves are a little tricky for us (I’m a foot taller than she is – if I dip her too low I could lose her!), but I know we can competently do something basic with a few flourishes. We are nearing a choice, something that was mentioned here that already has a bit of history between us. Something that I had forgotten about serenading her with after a night of party hopping in college…we both lightly sprained our ankles that night. Ah memories…aaah alcohol… I don’t want to give it away right now, but we are going to talk it over once more later (she’s had a rough week at work and decreed that she wasn’t allowed to make any decisions – no matter how small – for 24 hours. On the plus side, that means I got to see Godzilla 2000 last night _ROAR_) Thank you all again for your wonderful suggestions, I’ll list them all for reviewing pleasure in a bit. Cheers and happy Labor Day! ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524/40 "2000-09-02T16:09:37Z")
I would have to go with “From This Moment” by Shania Twain and Tim McGraw (I think Tim McGraw, maybe some other country singer.) Since you have a male and female vocalist, it would be perfecgt, and it too is not “twangy” country, it’s a very sublte country. Or Lonestar’s hit, I can’t remeber the title, someone help me out here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-a-first-dance-wedding-song/31524.md?page=3)