Choose the Best Wedding Dance Songs for Your:

First Dance
Father-Daughter Dance
Mother-Son Dance

One of the details you will need to attend to are the special dances you do at your wedding reception. These include the First Dance, the Father-Daughter Dance and the Mother-Son Dance. These are dances you will remember and cherish the rest of your life. So, choosing the music and how you want to dance to it is critical to the overall ambiance of the day. This is where Wedding Dance Songs can help you out!

Hi! We’re Susan Todd and Deb Arends, the owners of Wedding Dance Songs. We’re going to help you choose the perfect music for your wedding day. We’re also going to help you determine if you want to learn a special dance to go along with the music. If you decide to go this route, we’ll tell you what dances go with what songs. For example, did you know “The Way You Look Tonight” sung by Frank Sinatra is a Foxtrot? However, “The Way You Look Tonight” sung by Michael Buble is a Rumba?

Wedding Dance Songs is designed to help engaged couples:

• Find appropriate wedding music for their reception
• Give tips to choosing the best music for the First Dance as husband and wife
• Help Fathers, Daughters, Mothers and Sons find music for those two special dance
• Discover what dances are best for each song
• Steer couples away from music that seems appropriate on the surface, but really isn’t
• Offer advice on how to handle unique situations, like Mother-Daughter dances

We want you to have a beautiful wedding day and remember it for the rest of your life. We want you to hear your music in the coming years and reminisce about your most special day. We want your guests to have a blast at your wedding reception.

If you want all of this too, browse the Wedding Dance Songs website and sign up for our free newsletter today!

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Technorati Tags: Father Daughter Songs, Mother Son Wedding Songs, Songs for Weddings, Wedding First Dance Songs

Traditionally, there are three main dances at a reception, the first dance with the bride and groom, a father daughter dance with the bride and her father, and a mother son dance with the groom and his mother. However, there are many family situations where these may not work, or there are other special people in the wedding couple’s life.

The question comes up, what do you do if there are step-parents involved? What do you do if there is no father in the picture (for whatever reason)? The answer is actually very simple… you do what is right for you. No one should tell you that you can’t dance with your stepfather or stepmother. And an ever increasing trend is to have a Mother Daughter dance (along with mothers walking their daughters down the aisle). So, if there are special people in your lives that you want to honor with a special dance, then do it!

The only word of advice I would give is if you have two parents you want to dance with, dance with your biological parent first and then with your step parent. But, that choice is ultimately up to you too. Always remember that this is YOUR wedding.

So, on to the next question… how do you choose songs for these dances? The same lists as the father daughter songs and mother son songs can be used. It’s all about love and your relationship with the person. Choose one that is right for you.

Technorati Tags: Songs for Weddings

When thinking about your wedding dance songs, you will probably have some that have meaning to you, but aren’t appropriate for the actual dance. Keep a list of these songs and their meaning to you. For a wedding favor, you can create CD’s that have songs with special meaning to you. Include your First Dance Song, your Father Daughter Song, your Mother Son Song, and any other special dances. Put together a pamphlet that explains the special dance songs and why you chose them. Also include the other songs that have special meaning and a description of why they are special. This is a great way to personalize your gifts to the wedding guests and give them a great way to remember your wedding and learn a little bit more about you.

At the end of the reception, one final song is played to close out the dancing. This song should be chosen with care, just as the other special songs in your reception. You want to think about the close of your evening; should it be fun and upbeat or slow and romantic? What kind of message sums up the wedding day and starts you on your married life? How you choose to close the reception is up to you and you should not leave it to the band or DJ’s discretion.

If you decide you want to end the night on a high and have an upbeat last dance song, here are a number of suggestions from different genres to consider:

Standards

• “Buona Sera” (Louis Prima)
• “Bye Bye Baby” (Marilyn Monroe)
• “Come Fly With Me” (Frank Sinatra)
• “Fly Me To The Moon” (Frank Sinatra)
• “For Once In My Life” (Frank Sinatra)
• “Goodnight My Love” (Jesse Belvin)
• “Let’s Get Lost” (Frank Sinatra)
• “Sentimental Reasons” (Charlie Spivak)
• “The Best Is Yet To Come” (Tony Bennett)
• “The Lullaby of Broadway” (Frank Sinatra)
• “The Tender Trap” (Frank Sinatra)
• “There Is No Greater Love” (Ben Webster)

Classic Pop/Rock

• “After Midnight” (Eric Clapton)
• “Blinded By Love” (The Rolling Stones)
• “Build Me Up Buttercup” (The Foundations)
• “Don’t Stop” (Fleetwood Mac)
• “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” (James Taylor)
• “Kiss” (Prince)
• “Kokomo” (The Beach Boys)
• “Late in the Evening” (Paul Simon)
• “Let’s Go Crazy” (Prince)
• “One Love” (Bob Marley)
• “Pride And Joy” (Stevie Ray Vaughan)
• “Surfin’ USA” (The Beach Boys)
• “Sweet Caroline” (Neil Diamond)
• “What I Like About You” (The Romantics)

Classic R&B/Soul

• “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (Diana Ross and The Supremes)
• “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” (McFadden & Whitehead)
• “All Night Long” (Lionel Richie)
• “Come And Get Your Love” (Redbone)
• “I Second That Emotion” (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles)
• “Twist And Shout” (The Isley Brothers)
• “You Gotta Be” (Des’ree)
• “You Sexy Thing” (Hot Chocolate)

Pop/Rock/Contemporary

• “Believe” (Cher)
• ““I’ll Be There For You” (The Rembrandts)
• “Thank You” (Alanis Morissette)
• “Waiting For Tonight” (Jennifer Lopez)

Shows/Movies

• “We Go Together” (John Travolta/Olivia Newton John, from the Grease Soundtrack)

Technorati Tags: Last Dance Songs, Songs for Weddings

A growing trend for first dances is to have it choreographed.  This makes a dramatic statement when the couple enters the dance floor for the first time as husband and wife and really show off.  It is especially potent when no one knows in advance that the couple can really dance.

You may be thinking that you could never do this, you don’t know how to dance formally.  It’s just not taught now-a-days.  However, you and your partner can learn to dance.  It takes practice, but it can be done, even by people who are not naturally gifted with a sense of rhythm.  There are several ways you can learn to dance.

The easiest and most expensive way is to take private dance lessons.  You can either take these at a dance studio or some instructors will come to your house.  The advantage of having a private instructor is that they can teach you a particular dance that fits your style.  They can assess each partners strengths and really work with you to get it right.  They can also put together a choreographed dance for you, so you can be as dramatic as you want.  They can also teach you the basics of the dance and you can dance freeform.  There are many possibilities.

Another way to learn to dance is to look for group classes.  Dance studios often offer these and community centers also often offer these.  The advantage is that you learn several different dances, and you can determine which one you like.  You will not get the individual attention that a private lesson gives and you will be required to switch partners while learning to dance.  The advantage to switching partners is that you don’t rely on someone’s “quirks” as cues.  For example, if someone always squeezes your hand before they turn their partner, the partner can come to rely on that cue.  Group classes are a lot of fun and they are cheaper than private lessons.

If you don’t like the idea of going somewhere to take dance lessons, you can always buy a DVD to teach you the basics of how to dance.  This is the most economical route and you can learn in the privacy of your own home.

It’s a lot of fun to learn to dance with your fiancee. Just make sure to keep it fun while you are learning and don’t get frustrated with each other. Take a break if that starts to happen.

Technorati Tags: Wedding First Dance Songs

There are three main wedding dances that need a lot of care in deciding what song to choose. These include Wedding First Dance Songs, Father Daughter Songs and Mother Son Wedding Songs. There are several things that should be taken into consideration when choosing these songs.

For all three dances, the first thing to consider is your personality and the relationship of the people dancing. Many weddings have very romantic songs for the first dance; however, that may not be your style. You may want to have something unique and cutting edge as your first dance song. You may want to have a little bit of country for your first dance song. Or maybe you’re a bit cheeky or funny and want to reflect that in your first wedding dance. This should be the first thing you decide when you start thinking about the first dance.

Another consideration for the first dance and the father daughter dance is the bride’s gown. Some gown’s are rather restrictive and don’t allow for a lot of flash and movement by the bride. It may not allow for large steps that might be required by a particular dance. Other dresses may be easy to dance in and won’t cause a restriction on the type of dance done by the bride. Knowing this in advance will help you pick the dance and song you want to use.

Next, you’ll want to think about the genre of the music. You may want to consider genres outside of your normal musical tastes, or you may be adamant about staying within a particular scope of music. Communication about your preferences with your partner is essential in this step. Also, keep in mind that you may need to be flexible in this department. If you want to do a particular dance, the genre you like best may not have the appropriate tempo and beat for that dance.

Many songs have been remade by many different artists. It may matter to you if the song you use is sung by the original artist or someone else. There are also a number of cover bands for wedding music. You may find that the original song is not quite right in terms of tempo and arrangement, so you may want to look at remakes by other artists or the cover bands. If these options are unacceptable, then you will want to find another song.

What dance do you want to do?  Some couples may pick the dance first, and some may pick the song first.  If the dance is chosen, for example a waltz, then the potential songs will be limited.  Different dances need different tempos and beats to look and feel right when dancing.  For example, a waltz needs three beats to a measure.  A song that is too fast for a waltz can make it hard to dance to and not as graceful and beautiful as a slower waltz.  If choosing the song first, then you are limited to the type of dance that can be done.  You can always just circle around, but if you do want to learn a new dance for the song, you may have to learn a different dance than you had in mind.  For example, a two-step cannot be danced to a song that is meant for a waltz.  If you do have a song first and you take dance lessons, make sure your instructor knows what song you want to use so they can teach you an appropriate dance.

For the Father Daughter dance and Mother Son dance, make sure you ask your parents if they had a song in mind for that dance.  You may be surprised to find out that they picked a song long ago and would be disappointed if it was not used.  They may not bring it up if you don’t, but believe me, you will hear about it later!  So, just ask.  If they don’t have a song in mind, find out if they have a particular dance in mind.  I knew my father wanted to do a waltz, so I had to find a song that was appropriate for a waltz and the Father Daughter dance.

Finally, be careful of the “why did we ever pick that song?” regret.  The more traditional and romantic songs are less likely to have later regret.  However, a unique, funky song may always bring a smile to your face when you hear it in the future.  Just be careful of crazy trends if you think you might not appreciate it later.

Checklist:

• Personality of the couple
• Bride’s gown
• Genre
• Original artist vs. remake
• Lyrics vs. instrumental
• Dance
• Parent’s preference
• No regrets

Technorati Tags: Father Daughter Songs, Mother Son Wedding Songs, Songs for Weddings, Wedding First Dance Songs

When you’re choosing wedding songs, you want to make sure that you check the lyrics. At first glance, the title may be catchy and the tune is nice, but the lyrics might not be exactly what you want to dance to. The other thing you want to look into is the premiss of the song. While everything up to this point may seem great, knowing why the song was written may change your mind about it.

Three songs that are seemingly appropriate, but when digging a little deeper may not, are “Perfect Day”, “Every Breath You Take” and “On Bended Knee”.

Perfect Day by Lou Reeds

Pefect Day has a great tune and tempo and seemingly appropriate lyrics at first glance. However, when you dig into the premiss of this song, many people think that it is about Lou Reed’s drug addiction. The final line of the song also just kind of ruins the whole thing: “you’re going to reap just what you sow”.

Every Breath You Take by the Police

Every Breath You Take by the Police also seems like a great song for a wedding.  However, if you search around, you will find that most people think this song is about Sting’s breakup with his first wife.  Breaking up is not the sentiment you’ll want on your wedding day.

On Bended Knee by Boys II Men

While this song may seem like a good one at first, it’s actually about a guy begging his girlfriend to come back to him.  Again, this is not a message that should be played at a wedding.

If you know of more seemingly good wedding songs that just aren’t for some reason, leave a comment and we’ll add to the list!

Technorati Tags: Songs for Weddings

Music has changed its way of delivery once it got popular on the internet. This is a great thing if you’re looking for one particular song. You can often get just the one song for a low price and not have to buy the entire album which you may never listen to. However, if you buy an album, it is cheaper than buying all the songs individually.

When looking for wedding songs, is it best to buy individual songs or wedding albums? The advantage to an album is that you get multiple songs that are usually appropriate for weddings. Take the “Time Life Wedding Songs” album for example. You get two discs with 24 songs total. All but one of these songs are great for weddings. (More on the one that doesn’t belong in another post.) This is a great album with the songs being sung by the original artists.  If you want a nice array of great wedding music this is a good album to have.

The advantage to individual songs is that you can buy exactly the songs you want.  There won’t be any extras.  However, this can get expensive if you end up buying a lot of songs to really mull over the choice of the songs you will use in the end.  Another advantage to individual songs is that you can find them performed by different artists.  The wedding albums don’t give you the choice of artists.

One thing to be on the look out for is the artist singing the song.  Many wedding albums are sung by a wedding cover band rather than the original artists.  You may like this, or you may not.  Make sure you check this before you make a purchase.  In addition, many wedding songs have been recorded as instrumentals.  This is great if you want to find an instrumental version, but again, you need to check the album to make sure you are not surprised by your purchase.

Start the process by listening to clips on the internet of the songs you are considering.  Narrow down your choice and then either buy an album that has many of the songs you like, or the individual songs.  MP3′s can be burned to a CD, so it should not be a problem to play them at your wedding using traditional equipment.

Technorati Tags: Songs for Weddings

On your wedding day, you want to pick the perfect wedding dance songs. There are many Wedding First Dance Songs, Father Daughter Songs, Mother Son Wedding Songs, and general songs for weddings. Choosing the perfect songs can be difficult because you want each one to be memorable and meaningful. We’ve put together the top wedding songs to help you in your quest to find the perfect music for the perfect day!

Top Wedding Songs

The Way You Look Tonight	Frank Sinatra	Listen
From This Moment On	Shania Twain	Listen
True Companion	Marc Cohn	Listen
Now And Forever	Richard Marx	Listen
Butterfly Kisses (The Country Remix)	Bob Carlisle	Listen
Grow Old With Me	Mary Chapin Carpenter	Listen
This I Promise You	N Sync	Listen
The Look Of Love	Diana Krall	Listen
I Swear	All-4-One	Listen
The Prayer	Celine Dion; Andrea Bocelli	Listen
Unchained Melody	The Righteous Brothers	Listen
Valentine	Martina McBride; Jim Brickman	Listen
Unforgettable [Duet with Nat King Cole]	Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole	Listen
A Groovy Kind Of Love	Phil Collins	Listen
More	Harry Connick, Jr.	Listen
Always And Forever	Heatwave	Listen
Truly Madly Deeply	Savage Garden	Listen
You’re Still The One	Shania Twain	Listen
All My Life	Linda Ronstadt featuring Aaron Neville	Listen
Longer	Dan Fogelberg	Listen
Here And Now	Luther Vandross	Listen
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life	Stevie Wonder	Listen
Have I Told You Lately	Rod Stewart	Listen
Tonight, I Celebrate My Love	Peabo Bryson with Roberta Flack	Listen
Wedding Song [There Is Love]	Noel Paul Stookey	Listen
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You	Bryan Adams	Listen
Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me	Gladys Knight & The Pips	Listen
I Knew I Loved You	Savage Garden	Listen
Making Memories Of Us	Keith Urban	Listen
Love Of My Life	Jim Brickman	Listen
Colour My World	Chicago	Listen
Give Me Forever (I Do)	John Tesh	Listen
Dreaming Of You	Selena	Listen
Forever And For Always	Shania Twain	Listen
For Once In My Life	Harry Connick, Jr.	Listen
A Song For Mama	Boys II Men	Listen
My Little Girl (from My Friend Flicka)	Tim McGraw	Listen
For You I Will	Monica	Listen
Love Never Fails	Jim Brickman	Listen
You Are So Beautiful	Joe Cocker	Listen
When I Fall In Love	Céline Dion; Clive Griffin	Listen
On The Wings Of Love	Jeffrey Osborne	Listen
Beautiful In My Eyes	Joshua Kadison	Listen
All My Life	K-Ci & JoJo	Listen
Amazed	Lonestar	Listen

Technorati Tags: Father Daughter Songs, Mother Son Wedding Songs, Songs for Weddings, Top Wedding Songs, Wedding First Dance Songs