Choosing Your First Dance

Ah, the first dance! It's one of the biggest moments couples stress over when planning a wedding. So, what should you actually be thinking about while you decide?

Song Length

If you'd like to dance to the song entirely on your own, keep the length of it around 2 to 3 minutes. If you have a longer song you love, consider fading it out early or inviting guests to the floor to join you. Usually, a verse and a chorus are all you need!

Can You Dance To It?

Practice! Even if it's just the two of you swaying to it, make sure it's not too jaunty or has unpredictable tempo changes that make it hard to dance to. Most couples are already apprehensive about dancing alone in front of a crowd, so make sure you pick something that you feel comfortable with.

Read the Lyrics

Please, please read them all the way through! Are there lyrics about heartbreak, cheating, or anything else that might

be strange or take away from the moment? I've had to play some real doozies because the couple loved the melody, but clearly they didn't listen to the full song or read the lyrics. It doesn't happen often, but when it has, the lyrics were so off that guests were confused or even horrified by them!

Do Both Of You Like It?

This should be a mutual decision, not one partner picking and the other going along with it. A song that neither of you is fully excited about can lead to problems and resentments that linger well past your wedding.

Picking "Our Song"

It doesn't have to be a song from your relationship history. Maybe it captures how you both feel now or ties back to something memorable, like your first date, a band you saw live, or an amazing trip that changed things for you.

Timing

Want the song to start somewhere other than the beginning? Thinking about switching to a different song partway through? Tell your DJ so they can make that transition feel intentional and smooth instead of jarring.

Your DJ cannot make this decision for you. They can offer helpful suggestions, but the two of you need to know the song and genuinely love it. I like to send couples a song suggestion sheet early on to use as a starting point for inspiration or to pick from if they're stumped.

Final Thoughts

Don't put too much pressure on yourselves and give the decision the time it deserves. Talk about it or share playlists. Remember: this song sets the emotional tone for the evening, so it's worth getting it right, but "right" means it feels true to the two of you. Most importantly, have fun with it!

What do you think? Am I missing anything? Let me know in the comments :)

XXOO