First Dance Songs: What 125 Adelaide Couples Actually Chose
By Ryley Smithson, Tennyson Events · Updated October 2026
The most popular first dance song on our run sheets is "Stand by Me" by Ben E. King, chosen by 6 of our couples. "Say You Won't Let Go" by James Arthur and "La Vie en Rose" by Édith Piaf follow, each chosen by 3 couples.
Here is what makes this list different. We pulled the songs from the run sheets of 183 weddings (2017–2026). 125 of those couples named a first dance song, and they picked 120 different songs. Only a handful appear more than once. That is the real story: first dance songs are personal.
Listen to every first dance song we've played: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3zF3V0Yp38wkRCoRwv2bxl
The most popular first dance songs
Stand by Me – Ben E. King (chosen by 6 couples). A song nearly every guest already knows.
Say You Won't Let Go – James Arthur (chosen by 3 couples)
La Vie en Rose – Édith Piaf (chosen by 3 couples)
At Last – Etta James (chosen by 2 couples)
You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne (chosen by 2 couples)
Ain't Nobody (Acoustic) – Shannon & Keast (chosen by 2 couples)
First Date (Acoustic) – Taylor Acorn (chosen by 2 couples)
Beautiful Crazy – Luke Combs (chosen by 2 couples)
Latch (Acoustic) – Sam Smith (chosen by 2 couples)
Can't Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley (chosen by 2 couples)
Wondering Why – The Red Clay Strays (chosen by 2 couples)
Valerie – The Zutons (chosen by 2 couples)
I Swear – All-4-One (chosen by 1 couple)
Real Love – Regina Spektor (chosen by 1 couple)
Lover – Taylor Swift (chosen by 1 couple)
I Am Yours – Andy Grammer (chosen by 1 couple)
Make You Feel My Love – Adele (chosen by 1 couple)
Float On – Modest Mouse (chosen by 1 couple)
Texas Sun – Leon Bridges & Khruangbin (chosen by 1 couple)
Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap (chosen by 1 couple)
Only 12 songs were chosen by more than one couple. Everything after number 12 was a single pick, so treat those as inspiration, not a ranking.
More songs our couples chose
A Million Dreams – P!nk
adore u – Fred again.., Obongjayar
All I Want Is You – U2
ALL MY LOVE – Coldplay
Baby I'm Yours – Arctic Monkeys
BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish
Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe – Barry White
Can't Take My Eyes off You – Frankie Valli
Charlie – Mallrat
Chateau – Angus & Julia Stone
Cinema (Feat. Gary Go) – Benny Benassi, Skrillex
Cool – Alesso, Roy English
Cry to Me – Solomon Burke
Days Like This – Van Morrison
Everywhere – Fleetwood Mac
Fade Into You – Mallrat
Fall Into Me – Forest Blakk
Feeling Good – Michael Bublé
Firestone – Kygo, Conrad Sewell
Forever You and Me – The Teskey Brothers
Freaks – Timmy Trumpet, Savage
From the Ground Up – Dan + Shay
From This Moment On – Shania Twain, Bryan White
Goodnight Moon – Go Radio
Gooey – Glass Animals
Higher Love – James Vincent McMorrow
Ho Hey – The Lumineers
I Don't Need Anyone Else – Crumple
The full playlist runs well past this, and not everything on it is a slow ballad. If you want different or unexpected first dance songs, scroll to the end of it.
Acoustic and cover versions
Three of the songs chosen twice are acoustic versions: "Ain't Nobody", "First Date" and "Latch". Several couples picked a stripped-back version of a song they love. An acoustic version usually slows the tempo, which makes a song easier to dance to.
Ask us to play the exact version you want. Digital vinyl means we can play exactly the songs you want.
One couple used a custom edit of "Charlie" by Mallrat.
Whether you choose a cover or the original doesn't matter. If in doubt, go classic. The classics are a winner.
I don't have a favourite version of any first dance song. What I do love is a couple who practise a little beforehand. A few twirls and a few dips go a long way. You don't need to be the best dancer in the world, but a couple of practice runs really help.
Length, edits and the moment itself
A first dance feels long after about two to three minutes. Ask for an edit if the full song runs longer.
Read the lyrics once, start to finish, before you commit. Some love songs have a line you won't want your nan hearing.
Decide how the song ends. A clean edit finishes the dance. A fade-out leaves you standing there.
We build custom edits as part of your music prep, so the song is cut and downloaded before the day.
One song is one option. I can play the first half of one song and the second half of another, or mix between two and mash them up. I can even produce a track for a choreographed dance. It's something we do all the time.
Not sure which song? Read how to choose a first dance song. It also covers couples who skip the first dance, which 12 of ours did.
Quick answers
What are the most popular first dance songs?
"Stand by Me" by Ben E. King (6 couples), then "Say You Won't Let Go" and "La Vie en Rose" (3 couples each).
What are some different or unexpected first dance songs?
Our couples chose songs like "Float On" by Modest Mouse, "Texas Sun" by Leon Bridges & Khruangbin and "Sweet Disposition" by The Temper Trap. Each was chosen by 1 couple.
What are the best first dance songs for a wedding?
The best one is a song you both know and can move to. Start with our top 20 above and check how it feels slow-dancing in your lounge room.
How many first dance songs have you played?
125 of the 183 weddings in our run sheets named one. Our playlist lists every first dance song we've played.
Can the first dance be a fast song?
Yes. Couples have chosen upbeat tracks too, such as "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire.
Planning the rest of the night
Your first dance sits inside a bigger timeline, so see our wedding reception timeline. Next up: your father-daughter dance songs and your reception entrance songs. The full set is in our wedding songs in Adelaide guide. We also play the whole night: see wedding DJ hire.