Monica and Chandler danced to swing music in „Friends.“ NBC Once wedding season comes around, love songs like „At Last“ and „God Only Knows“ become…
Monica and Chandler danced to swing music in „Friends.“
NBC
Once wedding season comes around, love songs like „At Last“ and „God Only Knows“ become less classic and more predictable. Many couples want their first dances to be memorable — but struggle to find original, unexpected songs that set them apart from the masses. We’re here to help.
Keep reading to see INSIDER’s favorite unique songs to pick for your first dance as newlyweds.
Few sentiments are as heartwarmingly realistic as this: that in spite of regrets and sadness in the past, the person you’ve ended up with has been worth it all. The profoundly personal lyrics in „All My Mistakes“ are emblematic of the folksy band’s beloved sincerity.
Listen to „All My Mistakes“ here.
Although it’s possible to read this song as a lament about loss, its warmth and dreamy production gives it an irresistibly romantic vibe. Frank Ocean has a rare ability to vocalize emotion in both surreal and immediate ways — in this case, penning a moving tribute to someone who showed him how to love.
Listen to „Pink + White“ here.
Barbara Lewis‘ 1965 hit breathes new life in this cover — thanks in large part to the magic of Alex Turner’s impossibly smooth vocals. While the Arctic Monkeys are more widely known for gritty, swaggering rock ’n‘ roll, this stripped-down B-side radiates an infectious starry-eyed energy.
Listen to „Baby I’m Yours“ here.
„Girl“ is an atmospheric, mercurial meditation on how it feels to fall in love. As Syd — the band’s lead singer and songwriter — revealed on the lyrics website Genius, she wanted the song to “ feel like a love trance.“ Mission accomplished.
Listen to „Girl“ here.
This song’s swirling, soothing production makes it perfect for an intimate slow dance. The muted, simplistic lyrics („You rid me of the blues / Ever since you came into my life… I wanna marry you“) are incredibly sweet in a subtle and tasteful way.
Listen to „Medicine“ here.
You may have heard Beyoncé’s „Crazy in Love“ at one or two weddings if the newlyweds preferred an energetic dance floor. In a similar vein, „All Night“ is more uptempo than most ballads — but its groovy illustration of true love makes for a more sentimental and more contemporary choice.
Listen to „All Night“ here.
„Toothpaste Kisses“ is youthful, raw, and heartfelt in all the best ways. Its gentle instrumentals would fit right in at a backyard wedding that features mason jars instead of wine glasses.
Listen to „Toothpaste Kisses“ here.
If you’re looking for a trendy take on a classic wedding tradition, Anderson. Paak is your man. In „Luh You,“ he blends soft-spoken rap verses with jazzy, lively production to create an unconventional love song that feels both nostalgic and modern.
Listen to „Luh You“ here.
„Be Mine“ captures the sentimental, moonstruck flavor of rock ’n‘ roll that this band does best — and its romantic supplication, laced with an edgier sound, is perfect for newlyweds that have a taste for the classics.
Listen to „Be Mine“ here.
The breezy, summer-friendly, acoustic vibe of this track makes its humble premise all the sweeter. It describes the desire and determination to be the person who makes someone happy: „What I lack is nothing but your love / Don’t try so hard, my love is easy.“
Listen to „Nothing But Our Love“ here.
While INSIDER already dubbed „Love Story“ one of the best love songs of all time, Taylor Swift’s most recent single is already a serious contender. The storied songwriter is at her best in this whispery, profoundly pure tribute to love’s powers of rejuvenation.
Listen to „Delicate“ here.
„Islands“ is a funky, peaceful duet that makes commitment feel impossibly enticing. The gentle croon of „I am yours now“ sounds like the most artfully minimal wedding vow.
Listen to „Islands“ here.
Mac Miller’s ethereal album „The Divine Feminine“ — which many assumed to be largely inspired by his longtime love Ariana Grande — saw the rapper soar to great romantic heights. Jazz-infused ballad „We“ is Miller at his best, as he waxes poetically about finding the perfect partner-in-crime.
Listen to „We“ here.
Cryptic and poetic — yet strangely relatable — lyrics like, „Love is a dress that you made long to hide your knees,“ and, „May I be weaved in your hair?“ elevate this song beyond your run-of-the-mill acoustic ballad.
Listen to „Love and Some Verses“ here.
Matt Berninger’s deep, overcast voice typically does not lend itself well to uplifting songs. But in „Slow Show,“ it excellently intensifies the song’s personal, pensive, tear-jerking tone. It’s also the perfect choice for a couple who wants to savor their first dance for as long as possible, as the song’s biggest lyrical triumph actually comes in the outro: „You know I dreamed about you / For twenty-nine years before I saw you.“
Listen to „Slow Show“ here.
Tom Fletcher, lead vocalist and lyricist, went viral in 2013 for rewriting various McFly songs to use in his wedding speech. But fans have been applauding those stirringly sweet songwriting talents since the band’s conception — namely with „All About You,“ one of their earlier romantic hits, which was allegedly written about Fletcher’s eventual wife.
Listen to „All About You“ here.
This relaxing and deceptively simple song rejects doubt with a simple, grounded reassurance: „keep time on me.“ For the band, this is likely a metaphor for continued support and synchronization onstage; for a married couple, it can be a promise of trust and dependability.
Listen to „If You Need To, Keep Time On Me“ here.
This pleasantly sardonic song is essentially a manifesto for relationship realism. Father John Misty sees love as difficult, confusing, and radical. He realizes that he may never truly know his partner — but he, like the rest of the fools in love all over the world, is „just dumb enough“ to try to make her happy and make it last.
Listen to „Just Dumb Enough to Try“ here.
Elton John’s masterpiece is admittedly a wedding staple, but Ellie Goulding’s cover gives this choice an unexpected edge. Her version stays true to the original while also dousing it with saccharine vocals and revamped orchestral arrangements.
Listen to „Your Song“ here.
As is the case with many great love songs, the lyrics in „Nobody“ are a flawless combination of cliché and earnest. But the song’s otherworldly harmonies, sparkly sound effects, and echoing synths create an atmosphere that envelops its listeners and feels incredibly refreshing.
Listen to „Nobody“ here.
„Happiness“ meditates on the future of a relationship, wondering how love will change when you „turn 81 and forget things.“ But at its core, it radiates that loving confidence you feel when, in the artist’s own simple words, you’ve gotten „really lucky and found someone amazing.
