Happy Saturday! Hope the weekend thus far is treating you super! Still looking for that perfect tune for your first dance? Well, this is a fabulous selection of songs to get you in the dancin’ mood. Krista, of Love Song Photo sent me this mix for your listening pleasure…along with some tips to choosing your first dance song! Best part? You can download the zip file of the mix below!

If there are two things I love, it’s mix tapes and weddings. That’s why I’m super excited to submit my ideas for first dance songs here at Hi-Fi Weddings! As a wedding photographer, music enthusiast, and bride-to-be, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about wedding music in general. Like, a lot. It’s a tiny obsession that started in college and has become so much a part of me. (I even included my love of mixes into my business name.)

So, how does a person even start to choose a first dance song? It’s kind of a big deal. The task can be overwhelming. Here are some tips:

Use your first dance to further personalize your celebration. As much as I love the classics like “At Last” (the ultimate!) sometimes it’s really fun to see couples dig a little bit deeper and choose something that isn’t your typical first dance song. If you feel stuck on which direction to go, try this: Choose a word that describes you and your partner (Sweet? Fun? Quirky? Cool?) and select a song that matches that word. This will challenge you to stay true to yourselves in the process.

Set aside what you think a first song should be and choose a song you can’t get enough of. This is going to be your song forever. So do yourself a favor and select a song that you won’t get tired of, or hear everywhere else. This is my own crazy idea talking here, but I think that choosing a lesser-known song may encourage guests to actually pay more attention. For example, if a guest has to really listen to the lyrics of the song they’ve never heard, they’ll be more present in the moment, which is pretty nice, no?

Use your first dance to set the tone for the rest of the evening. Is it important to you to have everyone shakin’ it at your reception? Then consider using your first dance to start the party! It’s really fun when I see a couple surprise their guests with a not-so-expected, higher energy song. Don’t rule out up-tempo songs…they might just be perfect for you.

The mix below includes songs of varying genres, artists, moods, and eras. Some are not for everybody, but that’s the beauty of it; it’s a personal choice. Have fun with it. Best wishes, and don’t stop-a-rockin’.

The Magnetic Fields – The Book of Love
Talking Heads – This Must be the Place (Naive Melody)
Otis Redding – Come to Me
Lucinda Williams – Steal Your Love
Hot Chocolate – You Sexy Thing
Built to Spill – The Weather
Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris – Love and Happiness
Neko Case – That Teenage Feeling
Wanda Jackson – Funnel of Love
Ritche Valens – We Belong Together
The Secret Sisters – Something Stupid
Garrett Hedlund and Leighton Meester – Give in to Me
Paolo Nutini – Candy
Neil Young – Unknown Legend
The Innocence Mission – Moon River
Solomon Burke – Cry to Me
Feist – Mushaboom
Johnny Cash – As Long as the Grass Shall Grow
Nickel Creek – Out of the Woods
Sam & Dave – You Don’t Know What You Mean to Me
The Innocence Mission – Moon River
Jose Gonzalez – Heartbeats
Beirut – Goshen

Lovin’ what your reading? Download the mix now!