75 Alternative First Dance Songs

This is an Ed Sheeran-free zone! (Sorry, Ed...)

You know we love making a wedding music playlist around here. From backing music for your drinks reception and dinner to processional and recessional songs for your ceremony, we have a lot of fun coming up with ideas for adding meaning with music across your day. And your first dance is no different! We've already got a playlist of 99+ first dance song ideas, but for couples looking for something a little more edgy, fun or unique, we've also assembled a list of alternative first dance songs to inspire.

Photo by Elaine Barker via One Fab Day

Whether you're looking for an upbeat first dance song, or something a little more mellow and romantic, we reckon this playlist will give you lots of ideas. It's got fun old school pop, rock classics, under the radar indie tunes, cool cover versions, great Irish tunes and lots, lots more! Don't forget to talk to your wedding band or DJ about your first dance song ideas, as they might be able to give you some pointers or create something customised for your wedding.

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Alternative First Dance Songs For Your Wedding | See more on OneFabDay.com
Photo by M2 Visual Studio via One Fab Day

Alternative First Dance Songs

Our full list of great alternative first dance song ideas!

  1. Everywhere - Fleetwood Mac
  2. Dreams - The Cranberries
  3. Love You 'Till the End - The Pogues
  4. Kiss - Prince
  5. Dancing in the Moonlight - Thin Lizzy
  6. The Whole of the Moon - The Waterboys
  7. After All - Frank and Walters
  8. Romeo and Juliet - Dire Straits
  9. Something's Gotten Hold of my Heart - Marc Almond
  10. All I Want Is You - U2
  11. Sea of Love - Cat Power
  12. Tiny Dancer - Elton John
  13. Can't Help Falling in Love - Ingrid Michaelson
  14. She - Elvis Costello
  15. The Dress Looks Nice on You - Sufjan Stevens
  16. Toothpaste Kisses - The Maccabees
  17. Star Star - The Frames
  18. Everlong - Foo Fighters
  19. Madness - Muse
  20. Wild Horses - The Rolling Stones
  21. Thank You - Led Zepplin
  22. When You’re Smiling - Louis Armstrong
  23. Crazy Love - Van Morrison
  24. Mess Is Mine - Vance Joy
  25. The Wedding Song - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
  26. XO - John Mayer
  27. Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap
  28. By Your Side - Sade
  29. Always Be My Baby - Mariah Carey
  30. Grow Old With Me - Tom Odell
  31. Us - Regina Spektor
  32. Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
  33. Nothing Else Matters - Metallica
  34. Real Gone Kid - Deacon Blue
  35. Young and Beautiful - Lana Del Ray
  36. Let's Dance - David Bowie
  37. French Navy - Camera Obscura
  38. Sunny Afternoon - The Kinks
  39. Quelqu'un m'a dit - Carla Bruni
  40. Hallelujah, I Love Her So - Ray Charles
  41. Friday, I'm In Love - The Cure
  42. Superstar - Sonic Youth (the original is pretty great too!)
  43. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out - The Smiths
  44. Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet
  45. I Got You Babe - Sonny & Cher
  46. Hey Day - Mic Christopher
  47. Higher Love - James Vincent McMorrow
  48. You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates
  49. This Time I Know It's For Real - Donna Summer
  50. Kiss from a Rose - Seal
  51. Kiss Me - Sixpence None the Richer
  52. Maybe I'm Amazed - Paul McCartney
  53. Your Love Gets Sweeter - Finley Quaye
  54. A 1000 Times - Hamilton Leithauser
  55. Love is All Around - Wet Wet Wet
  56. My Love - Wings
  57. Best of My Love - The Emotions
  58. It Must be Love - Madness
  59. I Wanna Be Your Lover - Prince
  60. This Must be the Place - The Talking Heads
  61. Here Comes Your Man - Pixies
  62. Together in Electric Dreams - The Human League
  63. You Do Something To Me - Paul Weller
  64. God Only Knows - Beach Boys
  65. Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
  66. Tennessee Whiskey – Chris Stapleton
  67. Stand By Me – Florence + The Machine
  68. Cannonball – Damien Rice
  69. You & Me Song - The Wannadies
  70. Harvest Moon – Neil Young
  71. Somewhere Only We Know – Keane
  72. Hold Back the River – James Bay
  73. Only Love – Ben Howard
  74. Is This Love? – Bob Marley
  75. Riptide – Vance Joy

Get more unique wedding music inspiration and check out our recommended wedding bands and DJs - they're pretty fantastic!

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