Choosing the perfect first dance song for your wedding can be a daunting task. You want a song that reflects your love story and sets the tone for the rest of the event.
There are many modern songs to choose from, but oldies songs have a timeless appeal that can make your wedding unforgettable.
Let’s explore the top 30 oldies songs to make your wedding day memorable. We will also include the best lyrics from each song to help you choose the perfect first dance song for your big day.
Now, let’s get started with this collection of perfect oldies songs for your first dance!
Oldies Songs For The First Wedding Dance
Don’t miss out on these other top wedding songs for a memorable day:
- Blake Shelton Wedding Songs
- Ed Sheeran Wedding Songs
- Heart-Warming Daddy’s Little Girl Wedding Songs
1. “At Last” by Etta James
Memorable Lyrics: “And here we are in heaven, for you are mine at last”
This song is about finally finding your true love after a long wait. The lyrics are intense and calm, which makes it the first choice for your wedding celebration.
2. “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley
Memorable Lyrics: “Take my hand, take my whole life too, for I can’t help falling in love with you”
This song is about falling in love with your partner and being unable to help it. If you want to express how deeply you are in love with your partner, this song is the perfect to add to your wedding playlist.
3. “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers
Memorable Lyrics: “I need your love, I need your love, God speed your love to me”
This song talks about the longing for love and wanting to be with someone you love. It expresses how desired you are to be with the love of your life.
4. “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King
Memorable Lyrics: “So darling, darling stand by me, oh stand by me”
The song is about the importance of having someone by your side through thick and thin.
The lyrics emphasize not giving up on someone you love, no matter the condition.
5. “My Girl” by The Temptations
Memorable Lyrics: “I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day, when it’s cold outside I’ve got the month of May”
This song speaks about the love and admiration for your special girl. You can incorporate this song into your wedding playlist to show admiration for your love.
6. “I Got You Babe” by Sonny and Cher
Memorable Lyrics: “I got you to hold my hand, I got you to understand”
This song is about the love and support between you and your love.
7. “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” by Stevie Wonder
Memorable Lyrics: “You are the sunshine of my life, that’s why I’ll always stay around”
This song is about the joy and happiness that a special person brings into your life. The lyrics speak about the joy that your love has brought to your life.
8. “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
Memorable Lyrics: “With each word your tenderness grows, tearing my fear apart”
This song talks about the beauty and elegance of a special person in your life.
9. “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison
Memorable Lyrics: “My brown-eyed girl, you my brown-eyed girl”
This song is about the love and admiration for a girl with brown eyes. On your wedding day, if you want to express your affection for your love, this song is the perfect choice.
10. “When a Man Loves a Woman” by Percy Sledge
Memorable Lyrics: “When a man loves a woman, he can’t keep his mind on nothing else”
The song talks about the intense love and devotion that you have for your woman.
11. “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green
Memorable Lyrics: “Let’s stay together, loving you whether, whether times are good or bad, happy or sad”
This song is about the commitment to staying together through good times and bad. It emphasizes that you should always express your love for your partner in all situations.
12. “Twist and Shout” by The Beatles
Memorable Lyrics: “Well, shake it up, baby, now (shake it up, baby), twist and shout (twist and shout)”
This song is about letting loose and having fun on the dance floor. The song is a perfect choice to set a dancing atmosphere at your wedding.
13. “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli
Memorable Lyrics: “I love you, baby, and if it’s quite all right, I need you, baby, to warm a lonely night”
This song is about the intense attraction and love for your special person.
14. “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles
Memorable Lyrics: “And when I touch you I feel happy inside, it’s such a feeling that my love I can’t hide”
This song is about the excitement and anticipation of holding hands with someone special in your life.
15. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Memorable Lyrics: “Ain’t no mountain high enough, ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough, to keep me from getting to you”
The song speaks about the determination to overcome any obstacle to be with the one you truly love.
16. “Build Me Up Buttercup” by The Foundations
Memorable Lyrics: “Why do you build me up (build me up) buttercup, baby, just to let me down (let me down)”
This song is about the ups and downs of your relationship and the desire to be truly loved.
17. “Do You Love Me” by The Contours
Memorable Lyrics: “Now that I can dance, watch my dance, hey, hey”
This song is about the desire to know if someone loves you back. Better still, it’s a one-way ticket to drawing out that feeling of love from your partner.
18. “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” by The Righteous Brothers
Memorable Lyrics: “You’ve lost that lovin’ feelin’, whoa, that lovin’ feelin’, you’ve lost that lovin’ feelin’, now it’s gone, gone, gone”
This song is about the loss of love and the desire to get it back. The song has intense lyrics, which can set a lovely environment for your wedding celebration.
19. “Baby Love” by The Supremes
Memorable Lyrics: “Baby love, my baby love, I need you, oh how I need you”
This is a song about a girl who is deeply in love with her boyfriend, who has left her. The lyrics express her longing for him and her desire to have him back in her life.
20. “Dancing in the Street” by Martha and the Vandellas
Memorable Lyrics: “All we need is music, sweet music, there’ll be music everywhere, there’ll be swinging, swaying, and records playing”
This song is about the joy and excitement of dancing in the street with your friends and loved ones.
21. “The Twist” by Chubby Checker
Memorable Lyrics: “Come on, baby, let’s do the twist”
The song is about a dance called the Twist, which involves twisting the hips and moving the arms in a circular motion.
The lyrics of this song encourage listeners to “twist” along with the music and to have fun while doing it.
22. “I Say a Little Prayer” by Aretha Franklin
Memorable Lyrics: “Forever, forever, you’ll stay in my heart and I will love you, forever, forever, we never will part”
This song is about the power of prayer and your love for a special person.
23. “Sugar, Sugar” by The Archies
Memorable Lyrics: “Sugar, ah honey honey, you are my candy girl, and you got me wanting you”
This song is about the sweet and irresistible love you have for a special person. You can play this song at your wedding to express your love for your partner.
24. “Chapel of Love” by The Dixie Cups
Memorable Lyrics: “Going to the chapel and we’re gonna get married, going to the chapel and we’re gonna get married, gee I really love you and we’re gonna get married”
The song is about the excitement and anticipation of getting married in a chapel. You can play this song at your wedding to express your excitement about getting married.
25. “Be My Baby” by The Ronettes
Memorable Lyrics: “Be my, be my baby, my one and only baby, be my, be my baby, my baby, my one and only baby”
This song is about the desire to be with someone and your love and affection for that person.
26. “You Really Got Me” by The Kinks
Memorable Lyrics: “Girl, you really got me going, you got me so I don’t know what I’m doing”
This song is about the intense attraction and your desire for someone. It’s a great way to bring passion to your wedding.
27. “I Got You (I Feel Good)” by James Brown
Memorable Lyrics: “I feel nice, like sugar and spice, I feel nice, like sugar and spice”
This song speaks about the happiness and joy that comes with being in love with the person of your dreams. There’s no way you can go wrong with this lovely jam.
28. “Respect” by Aretha Franklin
Memorable Lyrics: “R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me”
This song is about the importance of respect in a relationship.
29. “Shout” by The Isley Brothers
Memorable Lyrics: “You know you make me wanna (Shout!), kick my heels up and (Shout!), throw my hands up and (Shout!)”
The song is about letting loose and having fun on the dance floor. This song is perfect to set your wedding dance floor on fire.
30. “La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens
Memorable Lyrics: “Para bailar la Bamba, se necesita una poca de gracia,” which means “To dance the Bamba, you need a little bit of grace”
This song is about the joy and excitement of dancing to the traditional Mexican folk song “La Bamba.”
Conclusion
Choosing the perfect first dance song for your wedding is an important decision that can make your special day unforgettable. Oldies songs have a timeless appeal that can set the tone for your wedding reception and create lasting memories. From Etta James to Elvis Presley, there are many classic oldies songs to choose from.
Oldies songs can also make for a unique and memorable first dance. Remember to consider the lyrics and message of the song, as well as the tempo and style.
Whether you choose a classic or unexpected oldies song, your first dance will be a magical moment that you will cherish for years to come.
FAQs
What Should I Consider When Choosing an Oldies Song for My First Dance?
Here are the things to consider when choosing an oldie song: The lyrics and message of the song, the tempo and style of the song, and whether the song has special meaning to you as a couple.
Can Any Song Be the First Dance Song at a Wedding?
Yes, any song can be a first dance song at your wedding, but common first dance songs are often used and reused because they capture the love between newlyweds on their wedding day.
It is important to choose love songs that discuss marriage, the choice to stay together forever, and other lyrics about being together for a lifetime.
Can I Choose a Modern Song for My First Dance Instead of an Oldies Song?
Yes, you can choose any song for your first dance, including modern songs. However, oldies songs have a timeless appeal that can make your wedding unforgettable.
Consider your personal preferences and the overall theme of your wedding when choosing your first dance song.
Serena & Dominic are a married couple and parents to 3 wonderful children. They plan weddings, run multiple small businesses, and curate wedding events.
By giving you everything you need to make your dream wedding attainable, you can eliminate stress, get the ‘wedding glow,’ and focus on spending this rocking day with the person you adore. Discover their podcast for more information
