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
