So, you’re getting married, congratulations! You’ve got the dress, paid for the venue, decided who’s going to sit where and sorted the vegans from the carnivores; now it’s time to plan the fun stuff. The first dance is a tradition that dates back to ancient civilisations when couples would dance together to honour the gods and have their union blessed, as well as marking the start of their life together.
Fast forward to the 21st century and the first dance marks the end (finally!) of the speeches and the start of the evening’s entertainment, i.e. watching your auntie do the Macarena after too much prosecco, and you often end up playing Ed Sheeran/John Legend bingo at every wedding you go to as the happy couple take to the dance floor. But while it’s lovely to see them swaying along to a classic romantic love song, is there a little part of you that wants to say ‘Back off, Bublé!’ and have something just a little bit different? A little bit more you?
Of course, your wedding is special, and you want it to stand out for the right reasons, and choosing a unique first dance is a great way of saying ‘This is us, this is our vibe!’
We decided to have a look at some unusual first dances that will put an unconventional twist on your special day, and trust us, we have something for everyone.
1. The Goth One
LOVESONG – THE CURE
Do you like your declarations of love to take place in a cave with a hint of moodiness and a ton of black eyeliner? Then this is the song for you. Written 35 years ago by lead singer Robert Smith as a wedding present for his partner, Mary, it’s a simple love song that’s often overlooked.
2. The Acoustic One
CRAZY IN LOVE – OH WONDER
A modern twist on Beyonce’s classic, acoustic versions are a great way of having something recognisable while still having something a bit different and stripped back.
3. The Quirky One
500 MILES – THE PROCLAIMERS
This one will have everyone joining in from the very start and get the party started nicely – we defy anyone to hear this and not at least tap their feet. After all, nothing screams romance like two Scottish men in specs shouting about walking really far to come and see you.
4. The Iconic One
AFRICA – TOTO
What better way to kickstart your married life than by blessing the rains down in Africa? It has a great chorus and everyone knows the words. Their ability to fit the words ‘Kilimanjaro’ AND ‘Serengeti’ in the same sentence could almost be seen as a metaphor for married life – if you work hard enough at something, you can create something beautiful.
5. The Sneaky One
NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP – RICK ASTLEY
Who doesn’t like a bit of Stock Aitken and Waterman at a wedding? You could be sneaky and start the dance with a few seconds of your standard romantic love song, then BOOM, everyone’s been #rickrolled before they’ve even started on the buffet. Result!
6. The Cheeky One
SEXBOMB – TOM JONES & MOUSSE T
You can have a lot of fun with this one, and we’re fairly certain you might get away with it, who knows? But even if you don’t, people will always remember your first dance and that’s the point, right?
7. The Interactive One
SUMMER NIGHTS – GREASE
This one will get everyone involved; you can have the bridesmaids and female guests on one side, groomsmen and male guests on the other. It’s perfect if you don’t want to be the centre of attention and do that awkward shuffle around the dancefloor with 100 pairs of eyes on you.
8. The 90s Rock One
TONIGHT TONIGHT – THE SMASHING PUMPKINS
A song about living in the moment and believing in love, this song has a bit of everything, a hint of ballad, sweeping orchestral sections and lots of rock. You can show your 90s grungy side without making your guests want to back away slowly.
9. The Heavy Metal One
VERMILION, Pt. 2 – SLIPKNOT
Now stay with us for this one; because while a heavy metal band might not be the obvious choice for a wedding song – after all, nobody needs to see their nan in a mosh pit – Slipknot aren’t all darkness and aggression. This is a beautiful, stripped back love song that will make you feel like you’re following all the rules while still being yourselves.
10. The Chilled One
YOU MAKE IT EASY – AIR
A magical, chilled song with a lazy beat and soft vocals about human connection and how love makes you experience the world differently.
11. The Comedy One
TRAGEDY – STEPS
This is ideal for those couples who don’t take themselves too seriously. Surely everyone knows the iconic dance moves to this cheesy classic (if they don’t, they’ll soon pick it up) so you can just picture it now; all your friends and family in sync recreating the video, what better way to celebrate the start of married life.
12. The One for the Swifties
YOU ARE IN LOVE – TAYLOR SWIFT
Taylor Swift surely has a song for every major life event, and weddings are no exception. A popular one is ‘Lover’, even ‘Paper rings’, but we prefer this one. Of course, a true Swiftie will have got ready/walked down the aisle/signed the register to TS already so this will just complete the set.
13. The One for the Oasis Fans
STOP CRYING YOUR HEART OUT – OASIS
Not the most obvious choice for a first dance, Wonderwall or She is Love are probably more popular choices, but this one has the perfect tempo for a slow dance.
14. The Best Reggae One
ANGEL – SHAGGY ft RAYVON
This classic from Mr Boombastic himself strikes the right balance between a slow dance and an upbeat one and it will set the mood for the rest of the evening as everyone sings along.
15. The 90s Indie One
SOMETHING CHANGED – PULP
While Jarvis Cocker isn’t a stranger to writing about love and relationships, this one’s probably the least edgy, most romantic one, talking about the randomness of meeting someone who turns out to be really important.
SOME OTHER CONTENDERS
Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
Grow Old with Me – Tom Odell
I Believe in a Thing Called Love – The Darkness
You Make My Dreams Come True – Hall and Oates
I Will Follow You into the Dark – Death Cab for Cutie
Always – Blink 182
The Only Exception – Paramore
Toothpaste Kisses – The Maccabees
Last Night on Earth – Green Day
The Wedding Song – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Finally – Cece Peniston
Baby I’m Yours – Arctic Monkeys
You and I – SYML
Fade Into You – Mazzy Star
You and Me – The Wannadies
Baby I Love You – The Ramones
Power Of Love – Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Sense – The Lightning Seeds
Hopefully we’ve given you some inspiration to choose the music that starts your marriage in the best way possible. This is your day and it’s perfectly possible to stick to tradition while still putting your own stamp on it, for example, with a unique wedding reception. It’s a (hopefully) once-in-a-lifetime event, so you want to do it your way and if that means walking down the aisle to Eye of the Tiger by Survivor, then having House of Pain’s Jump Around as your first dance, then you don’t have to explain yourself to anybody, least of all us.
Just remember to drop us an invite if you do decide to go with Sex Bomb, we wouldn’t want to miss that for the world!
All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. We make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. We will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. We will not be liable for any loss, injury, or damage arising from the display or use of this information. This policy is subject to change at any time.
This blog is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or affiliated with any brands or external websites mentioned in this content.
