Today’s advice come from the team at Wedding Jam, the DJs who will be performing this Sunday at our Manchester fair.
What is a wedding without a first dance? It is one of the most special moments of any wedding. As your first spin as husband and wife (or husband and husband, wife and wife), it is iconic, it is romantic, it is fun. It’s also a culmination of all your hard work, your last ‘duty’ as a couple before you can let you hair down, grab a glass of bubbly and party!
Image by Cassandra Photography
Choosing your first dance song can be tricky. As if dancing in front of all your family and friends didn’t pack enough pressure, deciding which song will soundtrack your married life is a tough decision. You want it to be meaningful without being cheesy, romantic without being too intense, not too fast and not too slow…and something that fits with the feel of your wedding day. And of course a song that is really special, personal and quintessentially ‘you’, that of course you will remember forever.
For your DJ, it will also be the most important thing on his or her agenda. Making the track sound amazing is key, but they should also help you think about how to make the whole experience even more memorable. This may include suggesting lighting for the dance, using subtle colours, fairy lights or disco balls to create a magical vibe.
Image by Cassandra Lane Photography
Wedding Jam DJs have played hundreds of first dance songs over the years. In our experience, it pays to keep it fairly short, as anything over 5 minutes can risk getting a bit ‘samey’ for your guests. As for dance routines, if you are confident with something you have planned, or are the next Fred and Ginger, go for it! But beware a rehearsed set of moves not going to plan, which can (and has) resulted in an unseemly public exchange of words. Your first dance might even be one that you want your guests to join in, storming the dance floor in one huge group embrace! Slow or fast, it’s whatever works for you that matters.
So here is a selection of our favourite first dance tracks from the last year. And there’s not even a sniff of Michael Bublé…
The Classics
Timeless first dances are often swung and sung to sweet Soul gems. Here are some belters:
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell ‘Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing’
Aretha Franklin ‘You’re All I Need To Get By’
Etta James ‘At Last’
Otis Redding ‘These Arms Of Mine’
Ray Charles ‘Hallelujah, I Love Her So’
The Ronettes ‘Be My Baby’
Our latest favourite classic is one that we dug out for a client recently, and is utterly sublime!
Darlene Love & The Blossoms ‘Good, Good Lovin‘.
Contemporary Tracks
Ed Sheeran ‘Thinking Out Loud’ – THE big tune of the moment for many a bride and groom, with 1 billion views on YouTube and counting!
Bruno Mars ‘Marry You’ – a fun choice, upbeat, sentimental and one for all the family.
Florence + The Machine ‘You’ve Got The Love’ – a classic vocal that will get everyone singing along.
James Vincent McMorrow ‘Higher Love’ – another modern cover that has been a very popular choice lately.
Charlene Soraia ‘Wherever You Will Go’
Calvin Harris ‘Feel So Close’ – Occasionally a bride and groom might want to skip the slushy stuff and shock the entire wedding party by going straight in with a non-conformist, powerful anthem, that means more to the couple and their raving mates than any slow number ever could. This Calvin Harris track came to be a first dance off the back of the happy couple’s recent festival season. And why not.
John Legend ‘All of Me’ – Another massive tune! One that Granny will know the words to as well.
John Legend ‘All of Me’ (Tiësto’s Birthday Treatment Remix) – Sometimes the second dance is as important as the first. You’ll have everyone on or around the dance floor, overcome with emotion and full of love, happiness and Prosecco, so why not tempt them to stay there and get the party started with an up-tempo number? Lots of our couples have requested a remix of their first dance song straight afterwards to transition into the party vibe to make it a night to remember!
Check out more about them here www.weddingjam.co.uk
Thanks for the tips and suggestions. I think the first dance song is hold always be personal to the couple, something timeless !