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Your first dance is one of the most special and emotional moments of your wedding day — the one where it’s just the two of you, surrounded by the people you love, yet in your own little world. The song you choose will forever be tied to that memory, making it one of the most important decisions in your wedding planning.

But here’s the truth: most couples don’t already have “a song.” And that’s perfectly okay! It’s more common than you think. Many of our couples tell us they feel unsure where to start when it comes to choosing the right song — something meaningful, romantic, and uniquely them.

That’s why when you book one of our First Dance Packages, we’re here to help every step of the way — from finding your perfect song to creating a dance that feels effortless, natural, and beautifully yours.

If you’re still searching for inspiration, here are seven hidden gem first dance songs that deserve to be on your list. These aren’t the overplayed classics — they’re heartfelt, modern, and full of meaning.

7 Hidden Gem First Dance Songs

1. If You Love Her – Forest Blakk

Gentle, sincere, and full of emotion — this beautiful ballad captures what it means to truly see and love your partner. It’s a song that builds with heartfelt lyrics and warmth, perfect for a slow, romantic dance.

2. With You – Tyler Shaw

This one feels like a soft promise — timeless, dreamy, and filled with love. Its tender rhythm makes it ideal for couples who want something intimate yet elegant for their first dance.

3. Growing Old With You – Restless Road

A touching country-inspired song that celebrates everyday love and lifelong commitment. It’s sentimental but grounded, perfect for couples who want something genuine and deeply meaningful.

4. Lifetime – Justin Bieber

A soulful, modern love song with beautiful lyrics about finding your forever person. The melody flows effortlessly, making it perfect for a romantic, slow-moving dance that feels completely natural.

5. Magic – Coldplay

For couples who want something simple yet enchanting, Magic is an incredible choice. Its ethereal tone and emotional lyrics create a moment that feels both modern and timeless.

6. Better Half of Me – Tom Walker

Warm, soulful, and heartfelt — this song captures the feeling of gratitude and partnership. It’s a favourite among couples who want to express deep connection without going overly traditional.

7. Yours – Ella Henderson

Beautifully emotional and powerful, Yours has the perfect balance of elegance and intimacy. It’s a modern ballad that allows you to really feel every step of your first dance.

Choosing the Right Song for Your First Dance

Your song doesn’t have to be the most popular one — it just needs to feel right for you. Take time to listen together, close your eyes, and imagine that moment on the dance floor. The right song will make you both smile, breathe a little deeper, and think: this is us.

When you book your first dance lessons with us, we’ll guide you through it all — from exploring song ideas to creating a dance that feels comfortable, confident, and completely personal. Whether you want something simple and romantic or showstopping and choreographed, we’ll make sure your first dance is a moment to remember.

Ready to find your perfect song — and a dance to match?

Book your First Dance Package today and let’s start creating a moment that you’ll cherish for a lifetime.

Being a trusted supplier at a wedding venue is something we take great pride in. Having the trust and approval from venues is a responsibility you only get when the venue truly believes in what you are providing as a supplier.

We are very proud to be part of the list of recommended and trusted suppliers for Gosfield Hall. Located in the Essex countryside as a former Royal residence, Gosfield Hall truly is a phenomenal wedding venue. We ourselves got married at Gosfield Hall in February 2020 which makes this partnership and relationship even more special. We danced our first dance at Gosfield Hall, and now we are helping future Gosfield Hall couples prepare their very special first dance.

All the photos on this website, blog and social media from our wedding day are naturally taken at Gosfield Hall (by the brilliant Ben from Lavenham Photographic, another trusted and recommended supplier).

Gosfield Hall is surrounded by beautiful parklands overlooking Gosfield Lake. The Georgian mansion has several options for the wedding ceremony itself – both inside and outdoors – and you will never quite see a ballroom for the wedding breakfast or a bridal suite quite like what Gosfield Hall offers. With overnight accommodation for the guests, as well and a team that works tirelessly to support the couples, it ticks all the boxes a couple could wish for!

It truly is a magical venue, and we love the fact that we get to re-live our own wedding day a little every time we help the lovely couples that book Gosfield Hall.

When helping our couples prepare for their first dance, we often get questions about shoes. What footwear should be worn for the dance lessons? What if the bride is not used to dancing in heels? Is it ok to change to more comfortable shoes?

This blog post will address some of these shoe questions, and give you a little insight to a dancer’s best friend: your shoes.

Here are 4 top shoe tips when preparing your first dance:

– Wear your wedding shoes for the last dance lesson

We always recommend our couples to wear their wedding shoes for the last dance lesson in their chosen package. For instance, if you are on the gold package with 5 in-person lessons, you will find a lot of benefits by wearing your shoes for the fifth and final lesson. If you don’t want your fiancé to see your shoes before the wedding day – which is very normal – simply wear a pair of shoes of a similar type: for ladies, a shoe of a similar heel height and for gents, another formal shoe. You will find the wedding shoes feel different to what you are used to wearing, and so dancing in these shoes and getting familiar with them is great preparation.

We therefore also suggest for couples to have the initial dance lessons in shoes they are comfortable moving in, like trainers or formal shoes you are used to wearing. In the initial lessons we want to focus on the dancing and learning the steps and choreography, and don’t particularly want to make you feel overwhelmed by also wearing your wedding shoes.

If you are on the bronze dance package of one lesson, we recommend you bring your wedding shoes (or shoes of a similar types) with you for the lesson. This way we have the option to put the shoes on for you to try dancing in them.

– If you want to change shoes on your wedding day before your first dance

Some people are more comfortable dancing in different – more comfortable – shoes, than the shoes you have worn for the wedding ceremony. This is of course possible, but we want to highlight two things. For the ladies, make sure your dress length is compatible with the dance shoes. Your wedding dress will often be made in a length suitable for your shoes and heel height. Therefore, if you change your shoes to flats, you might find your dress length is now too long and will be uncomfortable to dance in as you might step on your dress.

Also, your photographer and videographer will get a lot of shots during your first dance, so it is important you are still aware of the look even though you want to be comfortable.

– Getting proper dance shoes

It is possible for you to buy a proper pair of dance shoes, which will not only look great but are designed to make your feet feel comfortable. Dance shoes have a different sole to normal shoes and are structured to give you support without compromising the look. We have personally worn and recommend shoes from “International Dance Shoes” for all our professional dance career. This is a UK based dance shoe company, and in our opinion the best in the industry. Their range of dance shoes covers many different styles and colours, so you are sure to find a pair suitable for you.

As we have worked with International Dance Shoes for many years, they have kindly provided us a discount code which we can provide you, if this would be something you are interested in. Please simply contact us for the code. You can explore their dance shoes here: www.internationaldanceshoes.com.

This is particularly a good idea if you and your fiancé has enjoyed dancing together in the build up to the wedding and might want to continue your dance journey even after the big day.

– Dance in your shoes at the venue

If it is possible, bring your shoes with you as you visit your venue in preparation to the wedding. If you have to be at the venue anyway – maybe for wine or menu tasting, checking the accommodation for room allocation etc – simply bring your shoes with you and ask to spend just a couple of minutes on the dance floor. You will learn what the floor surface feels like in your shoes which is something we highly recommend. As your dance instructors, we can help you prepare accordingly.

We are very proud to announce, The First Wedding Dance has been selected as a finalist in this year’s Essex Wedding Awards.

As an Essex based company this is a very special recognition from the Essex Wedding Awards and the wedding industry. We teach dancing in Essex and got married ourselves in Essex, so this achievement is extra special to us personally.

The award has several categories, and we are in the “Unique & Additional Services.” This category is for all the additional services a couple can use to enhance their wedding day, making it memorable for their guests and themselves. Preparing a first wedding dance fits perfectly into this description and we are naturally very proud to have been selected into the final.

All entries have been judged by an independent panel of adjudicators consisting of industry specialists and engaged couples. The winner of the award will be revealed on Thursday 17th November at a big gala dinner held at Fennes – a venue we know well as one of their recommended and trusted suppliers.

Being selected as finalist at the Essex Wedding Awards is a very special recognition and kickstarts a very busy autumn and winter season for us.

This blog post is aimed as a little guide for couples who have booked their first wedding dance package of either the silver or gold level.

It is so exciting to start the preparation for your first wedding dance. The journey of the first dance, from rehearsal to the big day, really is something special. The dance is yours to dance, however we will be able to help you every step of the way. This preparation will be well worth it, as dancing with the love of your life on your wedding day is truly something to cherish.

Before we start dancing, we always invite our couples to an online consultation prior of the first lesson. This is to virtually meet each other

and for us at The First Wedding Dance to gather some important information about you, your vision for the dance and to answer any questions you may have. If you aren’t sure quite what to do, we are here to guide you. We strive to make the first wedding dance as tailored to you as possible. We therefore have a list of questions to ask during the consultation, and this blog post gives you a little insight to the flow of the conversation.

Here are 6 things which you can prepare before the online consultation:

1) Do you know your dance floor?

Each venue is different and have different dance floors. We will ask how big the dance floor is (if you know), and any details you are able to share with regard to the room in which your first wedding dance will take place: the size of the dance floor, surface of the dance floor (carpet, wood, tiled etc), where is the band or DJ located, how are the guests viewing the dance (are the guests standing around the entire floor or can they only stand along one side). Details like this give us an insight to the environment of the first wedding dance, and we tailor the choreography to suit the room at your venue.

2) Have you chosen the song?

One of the most important things to prepare before the lessons is to have chosen the song for your first wedding dance. This can be very straight forward for some couples, and a little more challenging for others. We will help you no matter which situation you find yourself in. On the blog you will find many posts about this subject which we encourage you to read.

3) Do you have a preference to how the choreography starts?

Bear with us, as we get a little technical for the choreography: the start of the dance is a prime moment where we can make the routine unique to you and your relationship. Some couples wish to start the dance separate – meaning they enter the dance floor from different areas and “meet” for the dance in the middle of the floor. Depending on the song, this can be a very impressive entrance and opening piece for the dance. Alternatively, some couples prefer to enter the floor together – either due to nerves or because they find it more romantic. Both entrances are beautiful, one is not more difficult than the other, but gives a very different look and feel to the beginning of the dance. In the consultation, we will clarify what your thoughts are, which you prefer and go through the various options with you.

4) Do you wish to incorporate a lift or dip?

The first wedding dance can be a golden moment for some of the best photos from your wedding day – especially if you wish to incorporate a lift or dip. Dips are incredibly cute and are very safe and easy to pull off. Lifts, of course, require a little more practice but we have several great and trusted lifts we can present for you. The lift doesn’t have to challenge the famous Dirty Dancing lift, but some couples would like to incorporate some sort of lift into the dance. Others firmly know they don’t want a lift. Either is completely fine, however, it is important that we, as your instructors, know your preferences.

5) Are there any dress or physical restrictions?

Dancing is a physical activity, therefore it is important to know during the consultation if there are any movements you are unable to do due to injury or otherwise. Likewise, if the dress has some natural restrictions, it is very helpful to know this in advance. Now, we are definitely not going to ask the bride to describe and reveal the dress in details – but a private email or message after the consultation is encouraged if there are any points for concern such as a strapless dress, a tightly fitted dress etc.

6) What happens after the first wedding dance?

It is important to consider what happens at the end of the first dance, so the transition can be as smooth as possible. For instance, is the first wedding dance followed by a father and daughter dance with the bride and her dad, or is the end of the first wedding dance the official start of the party section for the night. Are there any traditions to make note of – either cultural or family – like we ourselves had for our first dance. If you are curious what we did, here is a link to the blog post about our first wedding dance: link. Preparing this together with the venue, DJ or band is great in order to avoid some awkward moments after the first wedding dance has finished and guests are not sure what to do.

As you can hopefully see, we take the preparation of your first wedding dance very seriously and the more details we can cover during the online consultation the easier the dance lessons can flow. It is also a great opportunity to answer any concerns or question you may have – and trust us, there are no silly questions. To make you as a couple able to enjoy your first dance together as newlyweds is our aim, and we can’t wait to get started.

When we were approached to help Lindsay and Dan with their first wedding dance, we both knew from the very beginning it was going to be special – not just for them, but for us as well: we have been friends with Lindsay for many years and met through dancing.

They had chosen a very beautiful song – “Love” by Nat King Cole – which we also coincidentally picked ourselves for our own wedding dance remix.

One big factor for both Lindsay & Dan when preparing their first wedding dance, was their difference in dance experience. Lindsay is a very experienced dancer in several dance styles, who has danced from a young age and even competed for years. Dan however, would describe himself as a complete beginner. When designing their choreography, we wanted to make sure Dan felt comfortable, but at the same time incorporating steps and figures which Lindsay had previous experience with. We were truly blown away with the amazing mindset from both of them – always positive and working together. Dan’s attitude towards learning and making Lindsay proud was second to none, and Lindsay was, through her own dance experience, able to help Dan learn much faster. Their team work in our lessons was a joy to witness. And it is safe to say Lindsay absolutely loved finally being able to dance together with Dan. Afterall, there is nothing that compares to dancing with the person you love the most!

Lindsay & Dan’s wedding was postponed on several occasions due to the pandemic and its restrictions on weddings. Each time a new date was set, instead of getting disheartened, they would give us a call and say “we have more time now. Let’s make the choreography even more advanced!” What an amazing attitude to have!

After revisions and upgrades, a beautiful quickstep routine was finally made, that included some classic ballroom quickstep choreography as well as some out of hold line figures. We were incredibly impressed with how fast Dan felt comfortable with this routine.

Nearer the wedding date, Lindsay asked if it would be possible for her father to join her for a lesson to prepare a very simple slow foxtrot as the “father and daughter dance” after Lindsay’s first dance with Dan. Lindsay’s father has taken social dance classes for many years, so it was simply a question of getting a short routine together for them with steps her father was already familiar with.

Another factor, which made Lindsay & Dan’s first wedding dance so special for us, was the fact, that we were invited as guests for their wedding.

Once the big day finally arrived, we were so excited and a little nervous on their behalf. The wedding day was long awaited due to the pandemic, but it was absolutely beautiful and was everything one could have wished for.

And the first wedding dance? Safe to say they both nailed it! We were so proud of Dan and how he had stepped up for the challenge – and as they danced together, we are sure they both thought all the hard work was worth it for that special moment. The cheer at the end of the dance also proved how they had impressed their friends and family. They certainly had impressed us!

It was an absolute pleasure to work with Dan and Lindsay (and Lindsay’s father) as they prepared their first wedding dance. And it was an even greater pleasure to see their first wedding dance live!

Venue: The Daranth Photographer: Matt Rock

Whether you are preparing your fairy-tale wedding or simply keen to incorporate some magic into your wedding day, many Disney songs are perfect as your first dance song. Disney always manages to make songs which are meaningful for adults and children alike, and it can be incredibly beautiful to choose a song, you have both known since childhood.

You can choose to dance to the original song, or as your dance instructors, we can recommend various versions of the song to suit your wedding dance. There are so many covers of Disney songs and it is a great opportunity to choose a well-known song but different to the original. For instance, you can choose an acoustic version of the chosen Disney song, or a version without lyrics. Don’t be restricted to only chose the originals – unless of course that is your preference.

We have selected five songs in this blog post, which are all different but very romantic choices for your first wedding dance:

1. Can you feel the love tonight – from The Lion King

This is a Disney classic and a favourite for first dances – and we completely understand why. It is a beautiful song and, most importantly, incredibly romantic. Can you feel the love tonight not only has beautiful lyrics performed by Elton John, but a great melody with many moments perfect for dips, lift and spins. It’s a love song with capital L and guaranteed to deliver as a first wedding dance.

2. A whole new world – from Aladdin

Another very romantic Disney classic, but potentially with a little more depth as the lyrics really encapsulate the essence of marriage. As you embark on your journey as a married couple, A whole new world symbolises in many ways the beginning of your marriage starting on your wedding day. “Let me share this whole new world with you” could not be more fitting for a first dance.

3. You’ve got a friend in me – from Toy Story

Romantic songs do not have to be slow. You’ve got a friend in me is a more upbeat song and highlights the friendship and companionship a marriage must also include. “You got troubles, I’ve got ‘em too. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you. We stick together and see it through” is such a cute way to confirm “for better or for worse.” It is a song which will guarantee to make your guests smile – and maybe even shed a happy tear as you dance your first dance.

4. You’ll be in my heart – from Tarzan

Although originally not a love song between two people in a romantic relationship, this song is still a great choice for a first dance if you are a Disney fan. The tempo of the song is perfect – especially if you don’t have dance experience – and the lyrics are so beautiful and meaningful on a wedding day: “Yes, you’ll be in my heart. From this day on. Now and forever more.”

5. Tale as old as time – from Beauty and the Beast

This is probably one of the most popular Disney songs for a first dance and with very good reasons why. Not only is it a Disney classic, but it is a very beautiful song both in lyrics and in melody. This song has the power to transform the first dance into the world of fairy tales and complete romance.

Fun fact: at our wedding, Tale as old as time was played during our ceremony as we signed the register with our mothers as witnesses.

The first dance at a wedding is truly a special moment for every couple. However, what do you do when you are professional ballroom dancers, who met through dancing, and dance together practically every day. How do you make the first dance special, unique and memorable?

This was our conundrum as we prepared our wedding. Plus, the fact that we had different cultural traditions to take care of, with Ben being British and myself Danish was another element to factor in. As the wedding planning progressed, it was surprisingly easy for us to agree on which Danish and British traditions we wanted to incorporate into our big day. We happily took the best of both sets of traditions making our wedding day truly our own and very special to us. However, when it came to the matter of our first dance, we had a hard time agreeing on anything.

In Denmark, it is tradition for the bride and groom to dance their first dance to a specific piece of music (The Bridal Waltz or “Brudevalsen” as it is authentically called) whilst dancing a specific and very simple choreography. All the guests are gathered around the couple in a circle, which slowly gets smaller as the dance progresses. The dance has to be performed before midnight. Of course, I wanted this to be our first dance together. Ben wasn’t keen. He finds it boring and would much rather do a more traditional British first dance with a song of our choice.

How do you combine that?

Thankfully, we both agreed that we didn’t want to use any choreography from our ballroom show dance as the first dance. There simply wasn’t enough floor space at our venue for a full out ballroom routine. But more importantly, we didn’t want this to feel like yet another performance at an event. This was going be our first wedding dance and not a work show. We naturally wanted to be in our wedding outfits which wasn’t exactly the normal clothing when we perform our ballroom dances.

Now you are probably thinking that one of us gave in to the other, learning early, the cliché of marriage being the art of comprises.

Neither of us gave in. Instead, we did a huge remix of some of your favourite songs, with some subtle hints about our relationship in a jovial way. And the very last track was the Danish Bridal Waltz. Now, there is the compromise.

We kept it secret from our families and guests as we wanted to surprise them with this Danish-British first dance hybrid. Only the DJ knew what would unfold.

Here is what happened on the night:

We started the dance of with an absolute classic, and very romantic song: Love by Nat King Cole. Teamed with our four bridesmaids, each with a letter of the L-O-V-E that the lyrics incorporates, we were off to a good start. The slow, soft tune of “Love” was then transitioned into Bruno Mars’s song “Treasure” – which we both love and has a great energy. We had choreographed a cheeky but basic cha cha cha which already received a good response from the guests. Then, the music changed once again and this time “Candy Shop” by 50 Cent was accompanied with Ben getting rid of his jacket and tie. To many people’s surprise, Ben quite likes 50 Cent and getting rid of the tie was a crucial and purposeful element to the choreography. Once the jacket and tie were off, Alesha Dixon’s “The Boy Does Nothing” tune came on – a subtle joke at the work distribution in our household. To this, we danced a lively jive which soon transitioned into another slow and loving foxtrot to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Tony Bennett. Finally, we finished off with the Danish traditional Bridal Waltz to a big ‘aww’ from all the Danish guests.

Our first dance was truly special to us, we loved the process of brainstorming various versions of the remix, getting the choreography together, and keeping our guests on their toes as they watched it unfold – not knowing what we would do next.

Let’s just get back to the “Candy Shop” moment and Ben taking off his jacket and tie.

In Denmark, the first dance is instantly followed by another tradition where the male guests lift up the groom, removing one of his shoes and cutting off the end of his sock and cutting off a big section of his tie. Knowing this tradition and Ben having seen it live at Danish weddings in the family, there was no doubt Ben would be getting the same treatment and ‘welcome’ into the family. Ben wore a lovely suit and tie which he wanted to save. Therefore, it was important the tie was off before the end of the dance!

This without a doubt falls into the category of weird traditions you do without knowing the background story or reason behind the tradition. It turns out, many years ago this was done as the males of the bride’s family wanted to check the groom’s hygienic habits before the wedding night. And what better way to do this than checking his toes.

The cutting of the tie was a visual demonstration that the groom was no longer available to other women and thereby off the market.

And yes, Ben most certainly did get lifted by the males guests – Danish as well as British – at the end of our first wedding dance. They struggled for a moment to get his shoes off, he is after all a ballroom boy and has learnt to do a secure and very tight double bow on his shoelaces. The guests eventually succeeded and cut off the end of one sock exposing his (clean) toes. The tie was saved!

Photos: Lavenham Photographic Venue: Gosfield Hall