There’s so much pressure to get your first-dance song JUST right. It’s your first time in the spotlight as husband and wife, with all eyes on you. So you want to pick the perfect song. Some couples choose a sentimental tune that means something to the two of them, some choose a popular wedding song (such as Etta James’s “At Last”), and some make a choice based on nothing other than liking the beat!
We spoke to Jason Jani of SCE Event Group to get his take on this all-important musical decision. He’s hosted thousands of weddings and events in New Jersey and throughout the world, and loves to work with his couples to find their perfect first-dance song. Rather than play the version you hear popularly played on the radio, he often suggests to switch it up and go with an acoustic version or something that isn’t quite as expected.
Here he shares with us his favorite slow first-dance songs for 2023. He even put them in a Spotify playlist so you can sample to see if any resonate with you. Good luck…and have fun narrowing it down!
- Beyond by Leon Bridges
- All of Me by John Legend
- Perfect by Ed Sheeran
- Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran
- Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley
- Say You Won’t Let Go by James Arthur
- At Last by Etta James
- You Are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne
- Then by Brad Paisley
- Can’t Help Falling In Love by Haley Reinhart
- Marry Me by Train
- Speechless by Dan + Shay
- Die a Happy Man by Thomas Rhett
- From the Ground Up by Dan + Shay
- The One by Kodaline
- Perfect Duet by Ed Sheeran & Beyonce
- You Are the Reason by Calum Scott
- I Won’t Give Up by Jason Mraz
- Tenerife Sea by Ed Sheeran
- Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton
- I Don’t Dance by Lee Brice
- Beautiful Crazy by Luke Combs
- Lucky by Jason Mark, Colbie Caillat
- Let’s Stay Together by Al Green
- Conversations in the Dark by John Legend
- Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts
- How Long Will I Love You by Ellie Goulding
- Yours – Wedding Edition by Russell Dickerson
- I Get to Love You by Ruelle
- Crazy Love – 2013 Remaster by Van Morrison
- Make You Feel My Love by Adele
- If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys
- You and Me by Lifehouse
- I Won’t Give Up by Jason Mraz
- 10,000 Hours (with Justin Bieber) by Dan + Shay
- I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing -From Armegeddon by Aerosmith
- I’ll Be by Edwin McCain
- In Case You Didn’t Know by Brett Young
- I Choose You by Sara Bareilles
- A Thousand Years by Christina Perri
- Tennesse Whiskey by Chris Stapleton
- Making Memories of Us by Keith Urban
- Wanted by Hunter Hayes
- Speechless by Dan + Shay
- Amazed by Lonestar
- Forever Like That by Ben Rector
- How Long Will I Love You – Bonus Track by Ellie Goulding
- Lover by Taylor Swift
- Hold You in My Arms by Ray LaMontagne
- Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers
- God Gave Me You by Blake Shelton
- From the Ground Up – Single Version by Dan + Shay
- She’s Everything by Brad Paisley
- Better Together by Luke Combs
- I Am Yours by Andy Grammer
- Lover – First Dance Remix by Taylor Swift
- Can’t Help Falling in Love by Kina Grannis
- The Luckiest by Ben Folds
- Nobody But You by Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani
- At Last – Single Version by Etta James
- Into the Mystic- 2013 Remaster by Van Morrison
- My Best Friend by Tim McGraw
- Falling Like the Stars by James Arthur
- Blessed by Thomas Rhett
- You Make it Easy by Jason Aldean
- I was Made for Loving You by Tori Kelly, Ed Sheeran
- Grow Old by Georgia Florida Line
- Joy of My Life by Chris Stapleton
- The Kind of Love We Make by Luke Combs
- Can’t Help Falling in Love by Kacey Musgraves
- The Scientist by Coldplay
- Always Remember Us This Way by Lady Gaga
- Can We Kiss Forever by Kina, Adriana Proenza
- Falling Like the Stars by James Arthur
- Georgia by Vance Joy
- Come Away With Me by Norah Jones
- XO by John Mayer
- Best Part (feat. H.E.R.) by Daniel Caesar
- Your Song – Acoustic Live Lounge by Matt Johnson
- Cinema by Jason Evigan
- Come to Me by The Goo Goo Dolls
- History in the Making by Darius Rucker
- Me and You by Kenny Chesney
- Nothing Can Change This Love by Sam Cooke
- Rather Be by Jasmine Thompson
- Feels Like Home – Acoustic Version by Matt Johnson
- Imagine by Ben Platt
- Beautiful Crazy – Acoustic by Luke Combs
- Unchained Melody by Boyce Avenue
- Conversations in the Dark by John Legend
- Firestone – Live Acoustic Version by Kygo, Conrad Sewell
- First Try by Johnnyswim
- Never Stop (Wedding Version) by SafetySuit
Top photo by Idalia Photography; taken at Park Chateau Estate and Gardens in East Brunswick.
