How to Choose the Perfect First Dance Song
Your first dance is one of the most anticipated moments of your wedding day — the song you’ll always associate with “your” moment together. As the foremost supplier of wedding music entertainment in Ireland, we’ve helped thousands of couples pick the perfect first dance song.
If you’re unsure where to start, here’s our expert advice to help you choose a first dance that’s meaningful, memorable, and uniquely ‘you’.
1. Choose a Song That Means Something to You
Forget tradition — the best first dance songs are personal. Instead of Googling “top 10 first dance songs,” think about:
The first gig you went to together
A song that played on your first trip away
A track you both love belting out in the car
Something nostalgic or offbeat that makes you laugh
2. Look Beyond the Melody — Read the Lyrics
Some songs sound romantic… but actually aren’t. Before locking anything in, read the full lyrics.
For instance:
DO: ‘The One’ – Kodaline (a hugely popular Irish choice, heartfelt and uplifting)
BE CAREFUL WITH: ‘I Will Always Love You’ – Whitney Houston (actually a breakup song!)
AVOID: ‘Every Breath You Take’ – The Police (it’s about obsession, not romance)
3. Consider the Mood and Tempo
Ask yourselves: do you want your first dance to be…
Slow and romantic? ‘At Last’ (Etta James), ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ (Elvis), ‘Make You Feel My Love’ (Adele).
Light and joyful? ‘L-O-V-E’ (Nat King Cole), ‘You’ve Got the Love’ (Florence + The Machine)
Modern with a twist?
‘All I Want Is You’ (U2 acoustic), ‘Yellow’ (Coldplay), ‘Shivers’ (Ed Sheeran)
Couples in 2025–2026 are increasingly choosing upbeat mashups or dance-style arrangements — and our DJs and live bands are fully on board.
4. Decide Between DJ or Live Performance
A live band brings a magical energy that’s hard to match and when you have such talented musicians on hand it’s a shame not to use them. On the other hand, using the DJ gives you the exact track you’ve fallen in love with. Some couples even opt for a live acoustic version of a pop song — for example, an instrumental performance of ‘A Thousand Years’ for a ceremony, then a full band version at the reception.
5. Practise (Just Enough!)
You don’t necessarily need to hire a choreographer. Just:
Listen to the track a few times together
Decide when to start walking to the floor
Choose whether you’ll dance the full track or fade out early
Rehearse a few simple moves (a twirl, a dip, a smile — that’s enough!)
Also — if you're wearing a large dress or heels, practise in them. Trust us.
Your First Dance, Your Way
Whether your style is elegant and slow, upbeat and cheeky, or somewhere in between — your first dance should reflect you as a couple. Don’t stress about impressing anyone. It’s a moment for you to connect, laugh, hold each other close, and kick off your celebration.
Need some inspiration for your perfect first dance song?
The Bentley Boys publish a chart of first dances as chosen by our clients each month.
Some of the trends we’ve noticed:
A classic is always a classic!
‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You’, by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons was by far the most popular first dance of 2024 and it hasn’t been out of the Top 3 for 2025.
It’s hard to beat the Irish!
First dances from Irish artists are incredibly popular. ‘Take My Hand’ by Picture This was the first dance favourite of 2025 with songs from Westlife, Van Morrison, The Cranberries, Kodaline, The Frank & Walters featuring strongly.
Keep it Country!
The Country resurgence is real and is set to continue with first dances from artists such as Chris Stapleton, Brooks & Dunn, Jordan Davis, Morgan Wallen, Abby Anderson, Luke Combs and others making regular appearances in our first dance chart.
Follow us on Instagram at @bentleyboysband for our monthly first dance chart.
