Guide · NYC Wedding Choreography
Wedding first dance songs, grouped by style and mood
A choreographer's guide to wedding first dance songs — grouped by dance style and mood, with tempo notes so you can pick a song you can actually dance to.
Slow & romantic
Unhurried ballads with a clear, steady pulse. These suit a simple box-step foundation with a dip or turn — the easiest place to start if you've never danced together.
- At LastEtta JamesSlow foxtrot or rumba
- Make You Feel My LoveAdeleSlow dance / waltz feel
- Thinking Out LoudEd SheeranSlow dance
- The Way You Look TonightFrank SinatraFoxtrot
- UnforgettableNat King ColeFoxtrot
- Wonderful TonightEric ClaptonSlow dance
- Can't Help Falling in LoveElvis PresleyWaltz feel
- First Day of My LifeBright EyesSlow dance
- Die With a SmileLady Gaga & Bruno MarsSlow dance
- All of MeJohn LegendSlow dance
Waltz — sweeping and cinematic
Anything in 3/4 time. A waltz reads beautifully on camera because of the rise and fall, and it fills a big room without fast footwork.
- Come Away With MeNorah Jones
- Kiss From a RoseSeal
- Falling SlowlyGlen Hansard & Markéta Irglová
- Once Upon a DreamLana Del Rey
- Piano ManBilly JoelPlayful, sing-along waltz
- What a Wonderful WorldLouis Armstrong
- My Best FriendTim McGraw
- Open ArmsJourney
- IrisGoo Goo Dolls
- A Thousand YearsChristina Perri
Swing & jazz — upbeat and charming
Big-band energy for couples who want the room clapping. Swing needs a little more rehearsal, but even four moves look joyful when the rhythm carries you.
- L-O-V-ENat King Cole
- Beyond the SeaBobby Darin
- I Wan'na Be Like YouLouis Prima
- Fly Me to the MoonFrank Sinatra
- It Had to Be YouHarry Connick Jr.
- Come Fly With MeFrank Sinatra
- SwayMichael BubléCha-cha or rumba
- Ain't That a Kick in the HeadDean Martin
- ValerieMark Ronson & Amy Winehouse
- Feeling GoodMichael Bublé
Latin — rumba, cha-cha & salsa
Latin rhythms give you hip motion and partner play without needing to travel around the floor — ideal for tight venue spaces in Manhattan.
- Bésame MuchoConsuelo Velázquez (any version)Rumba
- Sway (Quién Será)Dean MartinCha-cha
- SmoothSantana ft. Rob ThomasCha-cha
- Vivir Mi VidaMarc AnthonySalsa
- HavanaCamila CabelloSalsa-flavored pop
- El PerdónNicky Jam & Enrique IglesiasBachata feel
- ObsesiónAventuraBachata
- Corazón EspinadoSantana & ManáCha-cha
- Quizás, Quizás, QuizásNat King ColeRumba
- SuavementeElvis CrespoMerengue
Modern & indie — your song, your way
Contemporary tracks rarely fit a textbook style, and that's fine. We choreograph to the phrasing of the record itself, so the moves land with the lyrics you love.
- LoverTaylor Swift
- YellowColdplay
- Better TogetherJack Johnson
- Say You Won't Let GoJames Arthur
- SunflowerRex Orange County
- HomeEdward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
- Put Your Records OnCorinne Bailey Rae
- Lovers RockTV Girl
- The LuckiestBen Folds
- Golden HourJVKE
Big finish & surprise mash-ups
Start slow, cut to something unexpected, end with the room screaming. Mash-ups need the most rehearsal time — plan on eight to twelve lessons.
- Shut Up and DanceWALK THE MOON
- SeptemberEarth, Wind & Fire
- Uptown FunkMark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- Dancing QueenABBA
- I Wanna Dance with SomebodyWhitney Houston
- Time of My LifeBill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
- Can't Stop the Feeling!Justin Timberlake
- FootlooseKenny Loggins
- LevitatingDua Lipa
- Marry YouBruno Mars
Four things to check before you commit
Cut the song to 90 seconds
Most first dances feel long past a minute and a half. Trimming a verse keeps energy high and cuts your rehearsal load roughly in half.
Pick a tempo you can walk to
If you can't stroll comfortably in time with the track, it's likely too fast or too slow. Around 80–120 beats per minute is the friendliest range for beginners.
Watch the lyrics, not just the melody
Plenty of gorgeous songs are about heartbreak. Read the words end to end before you commit.
Check the live version
If your band is playing it, ask for their arrangement early — tempo and length often differ from the recording you rehearsed to.
Have a song in mind? We'll build the dance around it.
Private wedding dance lessons in Midtown Manhattan with Sandro — for couples with two left feet and couples who want a showstopper. Start with a free 10-minute call.