Choose the song wisely. Choose something that is very personal to both of you and also pay attention to the father daughter dance song. Long after the wedding, whenever there’s some trouble or difficulty in your marriage, if you just take some time and think about the moment that she and you were on the dance floor for the very first time, hand in hand, looked deeply into other eyes, shared each other’s feeling, you’d realize that nothing could be more important to you than she is. It’s the same woman whom years ago you promised to be her “buddy” for the rest of your life.
For this first dance wedding song, only two of you should be on the dance floor. The spotlight is on you. Others have to wait until you have finished before they can join in. My personal choice is to have the dance floor completely for ourselves, and have the spotlight on us. However, others prefer to have the bride, groom, and the whole bridal party all dance together. In such a case, remember to gently remind the bridal members to wait until the bride and groom have their photos taken during their first dance by themselves.
When is the best time for the first dance song?
Remember today is your day. You have total control and freedom to decide when to have your first dance song played. Usually, it should be played right after you’re introduced at the beginning of the reception if you choose to encourage other couples to dance even during dinner. The drawback is some guests might prefer a more quiet dinner. If that’s the case then you can delay until after the dinner. There’s no set rule, and it’s your call.
My preferences
I’ve always had a soft spot for “We’ve Only Just Begun” by Carpenters. “Evergreen” from Barbra Streisand is a very close second. How about “Annie’s Song” by the John Denver or “And I Love You So”. The list is endless. Basically, any ballad with a sense of celebration is a fine choice for a slow dance.
The last thing I’d like to stress is dancing in front of hundreds of guests is not a really easy thing to do. You have to take your time to learn/practice the dance together. It’s pretty embarrassing if you keep stepping on the bride, or worse yet if you accidentally “tear off” her wedding gown. For those who is “dancing challenged” like me, please learn it fast.