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Not that I have anything against Etta James' “At Last” or Michael Buble's “Everything,” — they're both a perfect first dance song — but I've heard them both WAY too many times at weddings.
So, combining my database of musician friends (some of whom made the list) with the Offbeat Bride editorial team's tastes, we've compiled a list of totally not overused first dance songs… from the silly, to the romantic, to the extremely controversial! Because when the bride and groom (or bride and bride, or groom and groom) step onto the dance floor, we want to keep things unique!
The goal here is to share wedding songs that you might not have heard too many times. We love the likes of Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran, John Legend, Adele, Jack Johnson, and Frank Sinatra too, but if you want your guests to feel surprised at your reception, you might want to go for one of these more unusual first dance songs.
Oldies but Goodies — classics along the same lines of “At Last” or Righteous Brothers “Unchained Melody”
- The Beach Boys “God Only Knows” (hear it)
- Shuggie Otis' “Strawberry Letter 23” (hear it)
- Marvin Gaye's “Let's Get it On” (hear it)
- Otis Redding's “That's How Strong My Love Is” (hear it)
- Van Morrison's “Sweet Thing” (hear it)
- The Zombies' “This Will Be Our Year” (hear it)
- The Kinks “Waterloo Sunset” (hear it)
- Toussaint McCall's “Nothing Takes The Place Of You” (hear it)
- Al Green's “Love and Happiness” (hear it)
Sexy Romantic with great lyrics
- (Ariel's) Me'Shell Ndegéocello's “Love Song #1” (hear it)
- Ben Folds' “The Luckiest” (hear it)
- Peter Gabriel's “In Your Eyes” (hear it)
- Massive Attack's “One Love” (hear it)
- Mazzy Star's “Fade Into You” (hear it)
- Portishead's “All Mine” (hear it)
- Lou Reed's “Perfect Day” (hear it)
Wonky and Fun
- Adam Sandler's “I Wanna Grow Old With You” (hear it)
- The “Family Matters” theme song “As Days Go By” (hear it)
- Doris Day's “A Bushel And A Peck” (hear it)
- The Velvet Underground's “I'm Sticking with You” (hear it)
- The Band's “Cripple Creek” (hear it)
- Toto's “Africa” (hear it)
- Sam Hart's “Mario Kart Love Song” (hear it)
- Rick Roll those bitches!
Indie
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- (Megan's) Pavement's “We Dance” (hear it)
- Jon Brion's “Here We Go” (hear it)
- Neko Case's “This Tornado Loves You” (hear it)
- Sufan Stevens' “The Dress Looks Nice On You” (hear it)
- Wilco “I'm the Man Who Loves You” (hear it)
- The Cure's “Friday I'm in Love” (hear it)
- Bright Eyes' “First Day of my Life” (hear it)
- Nick Drake's “Northern Sky” (hear it)
- The Pixie's “La La Love You” (hear it)
SUPER Indie
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- Bird and the Bee “My Love” (hear it)
- Obi Best “Nothing Can Come Between Us” (you can get a free mp3 here)
- The Moldy Peaches' “Anyone Else but You” (hear it)
- The Mountain Goats' “No Children” (hear it) — yes, some people find this song controversial!
- Jeff Mangum's “I Love How You Love Me” (hear it)
- She & Him's “I Was Made For You” (hear it)
- Captain Beefheart's “I'm Glad” (hear it)
Jazzin' — along the same lines of Michael Buble, Nat King Cole, or Louis Armstrong
- Sara Gazarek's “Makes Me Feel This Way” (hear it) or her version of “You Are My Sunshine” (hear it)
- Harry Connick Jr.'s “Come By Me” (hear it)
- Kurt Elling's “I Feel So Smoochie” (hear it)
- Jamie Cullum's “I Think, I Love” (hear it)
- Renee Olstead's ” A Love That Will Last” (hear it)
Upbeat Swingin'
- (Shrie's) Chuck Barry's “You Never Can Tell” (hear it)
- Barry Louis Polisar's “All I Want Is You” (hear it)
- Sly & the Family Stone's “You Can Make It If You Try” (hear it)
- Huey “Piano” Smith's “Little Liza Jane” (hear it)
Laidback Easy-Peasy
- Mayer Hawthorne's “Make Her Mine” (hear it)
- Cat Power's version of “Sea of Love” (hear it)
- Peter Gabriel's “Book of Love” (hear it)
- Air's “Playground Love” (hear it)
- The Fruit Bat's “When U Love Somebody” (hear it)
Dark and Romantic
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- Judas Priest's “Angel” (hear it)
- Rammstein's “Ohne Dich” (hear it with English translation)
- Type O Negative's “Love You to Death” (hear it)
- Stone Temple Pilots' “Still Remains” (hear it)
- Incubus' “Monuments and Melodies” (hear it)
- Killswitch Engage's “My Curse” (hear it)
- HIM's “Join Me In Death” (hear it)
Oh, you want more?
About the Author: Megan Finley Horowitz
When Megan's not writing, traveling, and sleeping, she's eating like the fate of the world depends on it. (You're welcome, world!) You can snoop into her personal life over on her website The Dash and Dine!
also try: The Cliks’ “Nobody Else Will” (hear it)
We’re planning on The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned) by The Decemberists! (hear it)
This was one of the songs we had the guitarist play when we walked away after the ceremony. It’s such a beautiful melody. The Crane Wife has some great acoustic bits in it too.
Try “Swept Away” by Full Turnout. says it all.
This list is AMAZING.
I have struggled with this because I didn’t want a cheesy song that has been used forever and ever but still wanted to capture the beauty of the moment. LOVE THIS LIST!!!
William Shatner-Familiar Love
‘Everything’ by Lifehouse or ‘I Love You’ by Climax Blues Band
We didn’t dance at our wedding, but if we would have, we would have danced to “Dance With Me Now, Darling” by Hem. (hear it)
also My Morning Jacket’s “Thank You Too” (hear it)
i like the idea of Everclear’s “I Will Buy You a New Life.” (hear it)
No Magnetic Fields?! Sacrilege! Either “It’s Only Time” (hear it) or “The Book of Love.” (hear it)
I 100% cosign. Our procession started with “The Book of Love” and then I walked in to Nick Cave’s “Into My Arms.” (hear it)
Both songs still give me goosebumps.
We had our friend preform Into My Arms during our ceremony, but our first song was a deeper tribute: Leonard Cohen’s “Dance Me to the End of Love” (hear it)
That Peter Gabriel song, Book of Love is a cover of the Magnetic Fields song, btw. So…yeah.
We used The Pogues “A Rainy Night In Soho.” It begins: “i’ve been loving you a long time, down all the years, down all the days…” (hear it)
perfect. i reccomend it.
Undecided between a few songs, we went with the one we sing to each other the most, and rainy night in soho won out! Somuchlove!!!
The second I heard Blood Bank by Bon Iver I knew were I to get married, that song had to be it. It’s slow, but not too slow and absolutely beautiful. (hear it)
We wanted a more obscure first dance song, something we hadn’t heard a million times that would truly be “our” song. We settled on Little Trip to Heaven (on the Wings of Your Love) by Tom Waits. It’s blues-ey and soulful and very romantic. Also, the muted trumpet gives it kind or a thirties/forties feel to it.
That’s great! My fiance and I are playing with the idea of using Tom Waits’ “Picture in a Frame.” It’s simple but beautiful…man, that guy can write a song.
We’re having “warmness on the soul” by avenged sevenfold…… The most beautiful song we’ve heard and its almost as if they’re telling our story
We are gonna use “walking on the moon”The Police. so fun:) (hear it)
My hubby and I danced to Toto’s Africa at our wedding, so seeing it on this list made me smile like crazy. 🙂
“It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you. It’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do.”
We’re not gonna dance, but I am singing this song to Groom for sure.”
my fiance and I LOVE Toto’s Africa!! We are having it as our Recessional, and I imagine it will be requested many times at the reception…..we’ve gotten out friends hooked, too!
See also : Dean Martin’s “Ain’t That A Kick In The Head” for upbeat jazzy awesomeness. (hear it)