Top Ten First Dance Songs

I think you've got the wrong "Wild Horses" there. You really want "Wild Horses" by Gino Vanelli. :)

Congraulations!

What, no Lionel Richie? Has Nate not taught you anything?

"If Not for You" was our first dance. A great choice!

Nina Simone - If You Knew
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAv1FDpdnmE

My ex actually thought we should use Halleluljah, the Jeff Buckley. Apparently she wasn't really listening...

"Woman in Chains" by Tears for Fears would be an equally appropriate choice.

What about "That Teenage Feeling" by Neko Case (especially considering the backstory, which she loves to tell.)

I am getting married in October, and we are dancing to "All the Right Reasons" by The Jayhawks - it's been "our song" since we met back in 2001.

We enjoyed having The Reindeer Section's "You Are My Joy" which is a fantastic love song. But because of my nickname our recessional was T-Rex's "Jeepster."

The Wild Horses version that is amazing is the one by Throwing Muses.

Also, I think John Hiatt's "Have a Little Faith In Me" is the way to go. I wish Jewel hadn't covered it....

I've already made my boyfriend of 3 years promise that if we get married, our first dance will be to Lou Reed's cover of "This Magic Moment" from The Lost Highway soundtrack:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnStr24cx3E

Those are good and all, but I think the absolute best first dance song (or at least the one I'm DETERMINED I will have) is Ben Folds - The Luckiest.

Congrats & great list! I think I got this one from a Paste sampler... but I always though Stubborn All Stars - Not Like a Star would be good.

"Prepare to Be Surprised" by Sondre Lerche

My husband and I danced to Glory of Love by Peter Cetera, my all-time favorite song back when I was a wee tweener. he was very gracious in allowing me that one moment of 80s cheesy goodness. The guests thought it was a hoot that I was able to sing all the lyrics along to the song, serenading my husband as we began our life together. Granted, it's no At Last, but hey...Karate Kid.

What? No Southern Culture on the Skids? Camel Walk?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUP5rwVNJko

I've always thought John Hiatt's Have a Little Faith in Me would make a sweet 1st dance song "your love gives me strength enough".

Great list, indeed!

hey richat, Throwing Muses never covered Wild Horses, perhaps you are thinking of The Sundays?

A couple of intra-artist's-catalog quibbles:

1. It's less classic, but if I had to choose a Dylan song I'd go with "To Make You Feel My Love."

2. Similarly, two more recent Springsteen songs to consider: "Better Days" and "I'll Work for Your Love."

3. Even though you're not as old as I was when I got married, I think "Are You the One That I've Been Waiting For" is Nick Cave's best First Dance Song.

4. As far as Tom Waits, I'm partial to his version of "Somewhere," but it's not for everyone.

Some other possibilities:

Northern Sky - Nick Drake

I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever) - Stevie Wonder

I'll Be There - Jackson Five

I've Been Loving You Too Long to Stop Now - Otis Redding

Walk Forever By My Side - The Alarm

I've Never Been in Love Before - Chet Baker (my wife's and my First Song)

It's Only Time - Magnetic Fields (theme song for our wedding)

Receiver - Hem

I Want You to Be My Love - Over the Rhine

Love's Been Good to Me - Johnny Cash

Hands down... Fallen by Lauren Wood from the Pretty Woman soundtrack. It's classy, great sax, extremely danceable for a wedding, and with such a happy feel - Wow. Check it out. It's timeless. Congrats!

I am getting married on 8/29 and our first dance will be to a great Jump, Little Children song "By The Way They Dance". This is a great slow waltzy number that the lyrics sum everything up... "And everyone knows they're in love, by the way they dance". I'm getting misty just thinking about it... :-)

David Mead - Standing Right in Front of Me

...or whatever those cats are dancing to ("Memory," I presume).

Some of the songs I've considered:

Let It Be Me - Rosie Thomas
Can't Help Falling In Love - Ingrid Michaelson
Follow You, Follow Me - Red House Painters
Love You Til The End - The Pogues
Fistful Of Love - Antony & The Johnsons
Such Great Heights - Iron & Wine
Songbird - Rosie Thomas
Fade Into You - Mazzy Star
You Are The Best Thing - Ray LaMontagne

I'll have to second "To Make You Feel My Love" by Bob Dylan and "I Want You to Be My Love" by OtR.
Classics:
"At Last" - Etta James
"You're the Inspiration" - Chicago

"When You Wish Upon A Star" is an especially beautiful and hopeful song for a wedding ("fate is kind/it brings to those who love/the sweet fulfillment of/their secret longing").

It's been covered by a lot of people. If you don't like Jiminy Cricket, try the Louis Armstrong version.

My wife and I love Hem's version of "Valentine's Day," a Bruce Springsteen song from his "Tunnel of Love" album.

How about 'My Love for You is Real' by Ryan Adams? That's a perfect song.

I am a pretty old school kind of girl in this department. I would go with something like....

"Something in the Way She Moves" by James Taylor (probably my favorite)

"I'll Have to Say I Love You In a Song" by Jim Croce

"You Can Close Your Eyes" by James Taylor (there is an amazing version of it live with him and Carly Simon. a little harder to get a hold of, though)

then, of course, there is a whole smattering of choices from the standards such as Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, etc.

My wife and I danced to Etta James' "At Last," but like when you buy a new car, it now seems to be everywhere. But it's worked for us, 10 years later and going strong.

I can tell you what your last dance should be that night - "All I Want Is You" by U2.

Good luck to you and your future husband.

If I could do it over again, I would pick what I think is the most beautiful love song I've heard in recent memory, "When the Summer's Gone," by Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken. What a great song to signify the commitment you two make to one another.

They also do a great cover of Dylan's "If Not For You" which I notice you have on this list. That would be a great choice, as it's a his/hers duet of a song you've already got on the list.

On the lighter side, there's "Monkey" by Counting Crows. Always loved the playful side of that song.

I wish you both a lifetime of happiness together!

@musesgirl...YES. You are totally right, I was having a moment there I guess. It was, of course, The Sundays!

Our first dance was the Ryan Adams cover of "wonderwall" and 2 years later people are still talking about it:) Father / Daughter dance was Nick Drake "Northern Sky". My mom was disappointed that there was no butterflykisses - I did not get my musical taste from her!

We also played New Found Glory's version of "Glory of Love" and it was awesome

I also forgot to mention. I'm not sure how well it's suited to the waltz type dancing, BUT....I've long since thought that if I were to marry again, The Ronette's "I Can Hear Music" is one of the greatest love songs ever. The Beach Boys' version is pretty great too, but Ronnie's voice on the Ronettes' version is KILLER.

"Until You Came Along" by Golden Smog

I didn't want to have anyone staring at me anymore than they already were and I have some strange taste....so we went with Jethro Tull's "Wond'ring Aloud" all beautiful 40 seconds of it

Lonestar - Amazed
Westlife - You raise me up

All The Right Reasons...our wedding song back in 2004.