In the ranking of your wedding music, the first dance is a pretty key moment - but it means different things to different couples. For some, a first dance is the romantic climax to your wedding day, and for others it's a chance to bust out some well-rehearsed moves and kick off the dancing for the night ahead. But whatever way you look at it, you need the perfect first dance song to set the tone and put you at ease. Which is where our first dance playlist comes in handy.

From the fun upbeat numbers to the romantic classics, and the unexpected nostalgia to the downright cheesy - and of course some Irish bangers too - we've rounded up a list of first dance songs to suit every kind of couple, and every kind of wedding. As always with our wedding music playlists though, this is a work in progress, so if you've any first dance song ideas to add to the list, let us know! Oh and don't forget to read our tips on how to choose your first dance song while you're at it.

Our Spotify First Dance Playlist

Follow One Fab Day on Spotify, and never miss another wedding playlist! We've put all our favourite first dance song ideas in one handy playlist, so give it a listen a pick the one for you!

Nostalgic First Dance Songs

First dance song ideas from the late 80s and 90s...

• Air - You Make it Easy
• Blur - The Universal
• Extreme - More than Words
• Mazzy Star - Fade Into You
• Metallica - Nothing Else Matters
• Oasis - The Masterplan
• Pulp - Something Changed
• Smashing Pumpkins - Luna
• The Cure - Friday I'm in Love
• Weezer - Buddy Holly
• Stone Roses - 10 Storey Love Song
• The Cure - Just Like Heaven
• The Cure - Love Song
• The Eels - Beautiful Freak

Irish First Dance Songs

Iconic Irish tunes perfect for a first dance

• Ash - Girl From Mars
• Ash - Oh Yeah
• Ash - Shining Light
• Cathy Davey - Sing for Your Supper
• Christy Moore - The Voyage
• Declan O'Rourke - Galileo
• Lisa Hannigan - Lille
• Luka Bloom - You Couldn't Have Come at a Better Time
• Rory Gallagher - Just the Smile
• Sinead O'Connor - You Do Something to Me
• Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars
• The Frames - Star Star
• The Fureys - When You Were Sweet Sixteen
• U2 - The Sweetest Thing
• U2 - All I Want is You
• Van Morrison - Have I Told You Lately
• Van Morrisson - Perfect Fit
• Van Morrisson - Moondance
• Van Morrisson - Days Like This
• Villagers - The Pact
• Bell X1 Eve - The Apple of my Eye
• Damien Rice - Cannonball
• Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - Falling Slowly
• Thin Lizzy - My Sarah
• James Vincent McMorrow - Higher Love
• James Vincent McMorrow - Hear the Noise that Moves so Soft and Low
• Hozier - Cherry Wine
• Little Green Cars - The John Wayne
• Kodaline - Perfect World
• Kodaline - Brand New Day

Rock First Dance Songs

Because first dance songs can still have drum solos!

• Foo Fighters - Everlong
• Greenday - Time of Your Life
• Guns 'n' Roses - November Rain
• Meat Loaf - Would Do Anything for Love (radio edit)
• Muse - Invincible
• Muse - Starlight
• Muse - I Belong to You
• Queen - Love of my Life
• Queen - You're my Best Friend
• Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight Tonight
• Smashing Pumpkins - Today

Classic Romantic First Dance Songs

Have a movie-worthy moment with a romantic first dance

• Louis Armstrong - La Vie En Rose
• Adele - Lovesong
• Ben Folds - The Luckiest
• Elvis Can't Help - Falling in Love
• Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight
• Fun Lovin' Criminals/Louis Armstrong - We Have all the Time in the World
• Leonard Cohen - Dance Me to the End of Love
• Ray Lamontagne - You Are the Best Thing
• Ben E. King - Stand By Me
• Frank Sinatra - My Funny Valentine
• Nat King Cole - When I Fall in Love
• Jem - Maybe I'm Amazed
• The Beatles - I Will
• John Legend - All of Me
• Penny & The Quarters - You & Me
• Al Green - Let's Stay Together
• Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight
• Stevie Wonder - Isn't She Lovely
• Elvis Costello - She
• Frank Sinatra - Fly Me To The Moon

Alternative/Indie Romantic First Dance Songs

For couples who want something a little bit different, without skipping the romance

• Slow Club - When I Go
• Cat Power - See of Love
• Lana Del Ray - Young & Beautiful
• Bon Iver - Skinny Love
• Birdy - Wings
• The Lumineers - Ho Hey
• The Oh Hellos - Hello My Old Heart
• Nick Drake - Northern Sky
• Bright Eyes - First Day of my Life
• Coldplay / Johnny Cash - Til Kingdom Come
• Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Follow You into the Dark
• Fleetwood Mac - Need Your Love so Bad
• Iron and Wine - Naked as We Came
• Dire Straits - Romeo & Juliet
• Tom Waits - Little Trip To Heaven (on The Wings Of Your Love)
• Yazoo - Only You
• Paolo Nutini - Candy
• Jose Gonzalez - Heartbeats
• Fyfe Dangerfield - She's Always a Woman

Uplifting / Energetic First Dance Songs

Some couples want a happy, upbeat first dance that gets everyone hyped for the night ahead.

• Brian Wilson - God Only Knows
• Elbow - One Day Like This
• ELO - Mr. Blue Sky
• Flaming Lips - Do You Realize?
• Polyphonic Spree - Light and Day
• Sigur Rós - Hoppípolla
• Take That - Shine
• Take That - Greatest Day
• The Beatles - All You Need is Love
• The La's - There She Goes
• Wannadies - You & Me Song
• The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
• The Turtles - Happy Together
• Tom Baxter - Better
• Arcade Fire - Crown of Love
• Arcade Fire - Everything Now
• Fleetwood Mac - You Make Lovin' Fun
• The Rapture - Love is All
• The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset
• Barry Manilow - Can't Smile Without You
• Edward Sharp & The Magnetic Zeros - Home
• Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me
• Madness - It Must Be Love

And... Tongue-in-Cheek First Dance Songs

Fun songs for a couple who doesn't want to take their first dance too seriously

• Bloodhound Gang - Bad Touch
• Fine Young Cannibals - You Drive Me Crazy
• Haddaway - What is Love
• Paula Abdul - Opposites Attract
• Queen - I Want to Break Free
• Steps - Tragedy
• Marvin Gaye - Let's Get it On

This list is far from complete - we've left off some of the more cringefest or overused songs off on purpose, (Ed Sheeran, we're looking at you!) but there are so many cool songs out there we'd love to hear your suggestions for a follow up list.

If you're on the search for a wedding band or DJ have a look at our lists of the best in Ireland.

More helpful reads for planning your wedding music:

• 40 Upbeat Recessional Songs
• The Ultimate Hen Party Playlist
• Perfect Processional Songs
• Great Finale Songs
• Father/Daughter Dance Songs
• Essential Questions for your Wedding Band
• How To Choose Your First Dance Song

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