Our Favorite Special Dances from 2023

Grand Entrance - 8/19/23

Are you still undecided on what songs to select for your special dances? Picking the perfect First Dance, Grand Entrance, or Parent Dance can be stressful. At the end of the day, there are really only two rules you should follow: First, pick songs that are meaningful to you. These can be selections from you and your partner’s favorite band, a melody that one of your parents used to sing to you, or song lyrics that perfectly capture the way you feel. Secondly, be yourself! Don’t leave your sassy, goofy, or sentimental persona at the door. Everyone is there to celebrate you so enjoy these moments to the fullest.

But if you are stuck and need inspiration, below is a list of special dance songs we performed last year.

FIRST DANCES

First Dance - 9/30/23

• A Face to Call Home by John Mayer

• A Good Night by John Legend

• All Your’n by Tyler Childers

• As by Stevie Wonder

• At Last by Etta James

• Can’t Help Falling in Love by Haley Reinhart

• Come Away With Me by Norah Jones

• Coming Home by Leon Bridges

• Conversations in the Dark by John Legend

• Feathered Indians by Tyler Childers

• If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys

• Joy of My Life by Chris Stapleton

• Kiss by Prince

• Last Call by Will Linley

• May I Have This Dance by Francis and the Lights

• Moondance by Van Morrison

• Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship

• Shallow by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper

• Still by Luke Combs

• Swallowed in the Sea by Coldplay

• The Best by Tina Turner

• Thinking ‘Bout Love by Wild Rivers

• ‘Til the Right One Comes by John Mayer

• You Are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne

• Your Song by Elton John

FATHER/DAUGHTER DANCES

Father/Daughter Dance - 7/29/23

• 100 Years by Five for Fighting

• For Baby (for Bobbie) by John Denver

• Forever Young by Rod Stewart

• Hey Jude by The Beatles

• How Sweet It Is by James Taylor

• Isn’t She Lovely by Stevie Wonder

• Just the Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra

• Landslide by Fleetwood Mac

• My Girl by The Temptations

• Sweet Baby James by James Taylor

• Tupelo Honey by Van Morrison

• Waiting for You (acoustic) by Russell Dickerson

• What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong

• When God Made You My Father by Riley Roth

• Wildflowers by Tom Petty

• You Are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne

• You Are the Sunshine of My Life by Stevie Wonder

MOTHER/SON DANCES

Photo by Clever Disarray

• Be Every Wonderful by Earth, Wind, and Fire

• Days Like This by Van Morrison

• Forever Young by Rod Stewart

• Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles

• Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw

• Landslide by Fleetwood Mac

• Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra

• My Wish by Rascal Flatts

• Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd

• Skinny Love by Bon Iver

• What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong

GRAND ENTRANCES

• Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

• Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet

• Build Me Up Buttercup by The Foundations

• Crazy in Love by Beyoncé

• Dance the Night by Dua Lipa

• Everytime We Touch by Cascada

• Hey Ya! by Outkast

• Let’s Get It Started by Black Eyed Peas

• Levitating by Dua Lipa

• This Will Be by Natalie Cole

• You Make My Dreams by Hall & Oates

END OF NIGHT DANCES

Dance Reception - 3/31/23

• Closing Time by Semisonic

• Crazy in Love by Beyoncé

• Don’t Stop Believing by Journey

• I Believe in a Thing Called Love by The Darkness

• I Want it That Way by Backstreet Boys

• Kids in Love by Kygo

• Love Story by Taylor Swift

• Mamma Mia by ABBA

• Mr. Brightside by The Killers

• Piano Man by Billy Joel

• Precious Love by James Morrison

• Shout by The Isley Brothers

• Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond

• Timber by Pitbull feat. Ke$ha

• Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars

• We Run This by Missy Elliott

7 Tips for a High-Energy Dance Reception

Your wedding day has arrived! The months of planning are finally over. And now you are ready to dance the night away with your guests.

Here are seven tips that will help ensure the dance floor stays full all night.

1. Hire great entertainment.

   As obvious as this may seem, not all bands and DJs are created equal. Make sure to do your homework and find performers that are well reviewed, fit your taste, and demonstrate genuine excitement for your big day. You don’t need to break your budget to hire amazing talent. But don’t cut corners and get stuck with a disappointing product.

2. Open the dinner ballroom with a mini dance set.

   A lot of weddings transition from a cocktail location into the dinner ballroom. This is a great time to have your music vendor throw a mini dance set - 10 to 15 minutes max! It gets the guests into the ballroom before your grand entrance, lets them briefly cut loose after standing during the social hour, and assuming you hired great entertainment, it’s an exciting teaser for what’s to come.

3. Don’t keep your guests sitting too long.

   There are so many elements to a reception between the grand entrance, welcomes, dinner, speeches, photos, and special dances. These are all important and special moments. But often, something during the seated portion of the reception takes way too long and guests get antsy. Make sure your planner keeps things moving and has communicated clearly with the venue, caterer, photographer, and speakers about timing, execution, and expectations.

   With that said, sometimes things simply take longer than expected. When that happens, give your guests a 10-minute breather after dinner to get a drink, use the restroom, and socialize before starting the dance reception.

4. Ask your bridal party to start the night on the dance floor with you.

   Most of the time, wedding guests are ready to party when the reception starts. But occasionally, they need some encouragement. Asking your good friends and members of your bridal party join you on the dance floor to start the night helps set the tone. The energy is contagious and even shy uncle Gary won’t be able to resist showing off his moves!

5. Don’t forget about the stage.

   While a band or DJ can often set up on the venue floor, having a stage is crucial for three reasons. First, so that all of your guests can clearly watch and enjoy the entertainment, not just those in the front. Secondly, it prevents anyone on the dance floor from accidentally (or drunkenly) stumbling into a performer or their equipment. And lastly, people truly enjoy the interaction, energy, and dynamics of entertainers on a stage. We’re wired for it and I’ll just come out and say it… a live performance without a stage is weird.

6. Keep the beverages near the stage.

   When I arrive for a wedding, nothing gets me screaming “oh no!” in my head more than when the venue’s bar is in a separate room or far away from the dance floor. A thirsty guest shouldn’t have to walk away from the vibe to get a drink. Make water, alcohol, and late night snacks closely accessible.

7. End the night with a last dance.

   Ask your band or DJ to end the night with a fun or meaningful last dance. Whether you pick a ballad that is romantic and sweet, or a high-energy sing-along, a last dance is a great way to cap the night with those closest to you.