When in the beginning stages of planning your wedding your number one priority is probably not choosing what song you’ll have your first dance to but something more realistic like selecting a date and securing a venue like our MA wedding venue. Regardless, your first dance song is still an integral part of your wedding picture because it’s the first dance you share as a married couple. This is one of the main events of the day so there’s added pressure to get it just right. Since there is no shortage of modern first dance songs to choose from, it may seem like an overwhelming and daunting task to listen to hundreds until you’ve found the perfect one. That’s where Saphire Event Group comes in. Let us take some stress off your plate and help you decide by showcasing our favorite love songs to share a first dance that will have everyone’s eyes glued to the dance floor.
“Lover” by Taylor Swift
Standout lyric: “Can I go where you go? / Can we always be this close forever and ever?”
Why we love it: From TSwift’s recent album Lover, this song reflects on what it’s like to fall hopelessly and blissfully in love with someone. Your love is so strong that the thought of one lifetime together isn’t enough because you want them all. What a perfect modern first dance song!
“The Bones” by Maren Morris
Standout lyric: “When there ain’t a crack in the foundation / Baby, I know any storm we’re facing / Will blow right over while we stay put / The house don’t fall when the bones are good.”
Why we love it: These lyrics describe a couple with a strong and stable relationship, so much so that any challenge thrown their way won’t split them apart but help them grow stronger.
“Best Part” by Daniel Caesar featuring H.E.R
Standout lyric: “I just want to see how beautiful you are / You know that I see it / You know you’re a star… If life is a movie / Oh you’re the best part.”
Why we love it: The two artists in this duet compare their life to a movie, communicating that no matter the plot, the love they share is the sweetest part of them all.
“I Don’t Wanna Go to Heaven” by Nate Smith
Standout lyric: “I don’t wanna go to heaven / When heaven’s right here lying next to me / I count every kiss and every blessing / As the only proof I’ll ever need.”
Why we love it: For a song with subtle religious references, this modern first dance song is a great pick because it compares finding your loved one to reaching heaven here on Earth where you don’t want to close your eyes in fear of missing precious moments.
“A Million Dreams” by The Greatest Showman Cast
Standout lyric: “I don’t care, I don’t / Care if they call us / Crazy / Run away to a world that we design.”
Why we love it: The second duet on this list celebrates all the dreams you and your partner share that you’re committed to striving for together.
“Collide” by Tiana Major9
Standout lyric: “Without you, I’m just a fraction / Closing in on my demise / And I love you religiously / With everything inside of me / As long as I’m alive.”
Why we love it: This ballad showcases two individuals blending their lives together in a complex beautiful mess because one cannot exist without the other.
“ILYSB (Stripped)” by Lany
Standout lyric: “Oh, my heart hurts so good / I love you, babe, so bad, so bad, yeah.”
Why we love it: The love expressed in this song goes beyond the simple ‘I love you’ and into ‘I love you so bad,” which signifies how much you can deeply adore and cherish someone, so much that sometimes it hurts.
“Movement” by Hozier
Standout lyric: “You are a call to motion / There, all of you a verb in perfect view / Like Jonah on the ocean / When you move, I’m moved.”
Why we love it: In this slow ballad, Hozier sings about how mesmerized he is by his partner. Even when they do simple tacks, Hozier is able to find beauty and grace in their presence.
“If I Could Fly” by One Direction
Standout lyric: “For your eyes only / I’ll show my heart / For when your lonely / And forget who you are / I’m missing half of me / When we’re apart / Now you know me / For your eyes only.”
Why we love it: The message in this beautiful modern first dance song includes vulnerability and commitment. It illustrates that it’s okay to open up and show your whole self to your partner and then when you do so, your bond will only grow stronger.
“Adore You” by Miley Cyrus
Standout lyric: “When you say you love me / Know I love you more / When you say you need me / Know I need you more.”
Why we love it: It shows that love doesn’t have to be boastful or over the top and it gets to the root of why people come together to get married, simply from feelings of pure affection.
Each of these modern first dance songs has a different mood and different meaning so make sure you choose one that feels the most authentic for your relationship. You can choose one with heartfelt lyrics or even seek out an instrumental version if lyrics aren’t your thing. It’s important to remember that this is your day to celebrate love however you see fit and the song you choose to play as you dance together for the first time is a small detail that can make a big impact. After all, isn’t the goal to make everyone sob happy tears?
