How to choose a song for your First Dance

Choosing a song to play for your First Dance can be one of the most difficult decisions you make when you're planning your wedding.

If you get it wrong you might live to regret it halfway through the dance but get it right and you have created a treasured moment that will live long in the memory.

Difficulties can start if you don't have a similar taste in music to your intended. But the decision-making process doesn't have to turn into a battleground so here are our tips for making sure it doesn’t.

Find a song that’s meaningful to you as a couple – something that fits your story. Maybe there’s a song associated with your first date that means your task is easy. If not, remember the choice of song is a reflection of your relationship.

A good place to start is to choose the mood that you want to create. Do you want a romantic, more traditional First Dance? Or do you want to spice it up so your First Dance kicks-off your evening event. In that case go for a faster, upbeat song that gets the adrenaline pumping and everyone involved.

Don't forget Google, Spotify and YouTube are your friends here. Create a song list so you can keep track of your options. Once you have five or six be sure to play them and have a dance to see how they feel. It's your wedding and it's your dance, there is no right or wrong, it's all about what feels good to you – just make sure your wedding dress is able to cope with the rigors of an uptempo number without the fear of a wardrobe malfunction.

If you’re lucky enough to have a long list of possibilities decide on a process to narrow down your options.

If you can't decide you could always opt for a mix of songs. There are no rules - it doesn't have to be one song! You could take two or three songs and mix them together but it's probably best not to go over three-and-a-half minutes.

And if you do this it's best to get the songs mixed together by someone who knows what they’re doing.

This approach is ideal if you want to incorporate some unexpected choreography. It’s worth remembering that some couples even go as far as hiring a dance teacher to plan a bespoke choreography for them.

Another advantage of mixing it up is this is likely to provide you with a more varied range of First Dance photos. In our experience, with slower songs couples will hold each other closely and sway side to side.

This is absolutely fine if you only want intimate photos. But if you are looking for a more dynamic range of shots it might be better to go for a more uptempo number - since couples might well incorporate lifts, turns and spins into their repertoire.

When you’ve finally made your choice just remember if your song truly inspires you, all of your guests are going to enjoy watching you dance to it. And if you achieve this you can be more than happy with your efforts.