First Dance Songs (Country Edition)

Well, I love country music. This post will probably spawn 76 more. Oh, and our first dance song was country music. I'm not talking super twangy country. I'm talking pop country, so all of you haters just put on your "listen and like it" britches. 


My favorite country group for sweet love songs is Lady Antebellum. It took awhile to narrow down our song. What did we choose?


#1: Lady Antebellum -- "When You Got a Good Thing" -- It's a duet who sings to my marriage's soul. It talks about leaning on the other person through the good and bad and how the relationship will make it forever. I know I love Jason Mraz's "I Won't Give Up," but I really couldn't trade our first song even if my husband does confuse it with "Just a Kiss" by the same group, haha.


Lyrics Excerpt (from azlyrics.com):
Oh I can't believe I finally found you baby 
Happy ever after, after all this time 
Oh there's gonna be some ups and downs 
but with you to wrap my arms around 
I'm fine 

So baby, hold on tight 
Don't let go 
Hold onto the love we're making 
Cause baby when the ground starts shaking 
You gotta know when you've got a good thing 

You know you keep on bringing out the best of me 
And I need you now even more than the air I breathe 
You can make me laugh when I wanna cry 
This will last forever I just know, I know 

And here it is (with lyrics) on YouTube: 

Three other Lady Antebellum songs to consider:

• "Just a Kiss"
• "Our Kind of Love"
• "I Run to You"

#2: Love and Theft - "She's Amazing" -- The CD is not yet out, but this song is on YouTube. If you're in love, you'll love this song. That's what's up. 

Lyrics Excerpt: 

She walks through the door

Wrapped up in a sheet

Floating on air 

An angel in her bare feet

Leaving me speechless.

She's the light at dawn

She's the cloud I'm on

She's amazing. 

Check it out on YouTube (since it's not on iTunes at the moment): 

#3: Zac Brown Band - "Got Whatever It Is"-- A guy singing about a girl who just has "whatever it is" that makes her special. It's cute. It makes me think of sitting on the dock and dipping your feet into the water.

Check it out on YouTube:

#4: Thompson Square - "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not?" -- Not super slow but not one to get jiggy to, haha. We really wanted our DJ to play this as we kissed at the altar, but that didn't work out. Oh well, we still exited to "Signed, Sealed, Delivered."

Check it out on YouTube:

#5: Restless Heart - "Feel My Way to You" -- This song is a little bit older (doesn't sound older), but I've always loved its message.

Check it out on YouTube (live version was the only one I could find): 

#6: Phil Vassar - "That's When I Love You" ("Just Another Day in Paradise" is another great one by him)--I have to tell you that I'm really glad Phil Vassar started singing his own songs. Initially, he was just a song writer for big names like Tim McGraw, but he eventually started singing his own. He has a great voice; he should've been singing all along!


Check it out on YouTube: 

#7: Blake Shelton - "God Gave Me You" -- If you're religious at all, this might be up your alley. Sometimes, it really feels like God just plucked someone from nowhere at all and sat them on your doorstep.

Check it out on YouTube:

#8: Big and Rich - "Lost in the Moment" -- Jeff and I first danced to "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy," so Big and Rich has a special place in my heart. Though they are well known for their line dance inspiring "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy," this song is a pleasant, sweet, slow surprise.

Check it out on YouTube:

#9: Lee Brice - "Woman Like You"-- Jeff texted me one day to tell me that I needed to listen to this song because it made him think of me. Need I say more?

Check it out on YouTube:

#10: Josh Turner - "Soulmate"-- If you've never listened to Josh Turner, please be warned: he has a voice deeper than the Grand Canyon. (Apparently, Natasha Bedingfield sings a "Soulmate" song. I didn't give it a listen, but I bet it's good. However, she's not country, so she does not get a video on this post. Sorry, Natasha.)

Check it out on YouTube:

#11: Gary Allan - "The One"-- A classic country love song. Who doesn't love Gary Allan?

Check it out on YouTube:

#12: Brantley Gilbert - "Fall Into Me"-- slow start but good song

Check it out on YouTube:

#13: Emerson Drive - "Fall into Me" -- Brantley Gilbert's song made me think of this one, which I've loved for a long time. It's a faster paced song, but not one you'll be booty popping to. Well, unless you like to booty pop, then you're free to booty pop all you wish.

Check it out on YouTube:

#14: Rascal Flatts - "God Bless the Broken Road"-- Another classic. I considered removing it from the list, but I just can't do it.


Check it out on YouTube: 

Many other country songs deserve a spot on the list, but I'm stopping at 14 because 14 is a lot, dagnabit. I'll write another post with more country songs, but I'll feature some other genres first. Feel free to comment with a country song that you'd like to see shine in another post. Also, please forgive me for ceasing my lyrics excerpts. Like I said, 14 songs is a lot. 

First Dance Songs (Pop/Alternative)

So, when I searched for good "first dance" songs, I had to scour the internet. I continually came up with the same 10 songs. For MONTHS, I've been compiling a pretty comprehensive list of songs that span several genres. I will split this post into multiple posts, each focusing on different genres. 


If you're planning a wedding, I hope you find my lists helpful!


Daniel Powter - "Cupid"-- If you're looking for something with sweet lyrics from guy to girl, this song is cute, upbeat, and reminiscent of Jack Johnson.
(Note: there is one part about make-up sex, so be warned.)

Lyrics excerpt:
You're a yes in a world of no's
You're the Beatles to my Stones
It's a sweet romance 
A spotlight dance
Girl you shake me to my bones

Check it out on YouTube:

Jason Mraz - "I Won't Give Up" -- Had this song existed before my wedding, it would've been our first dance song.  I love Jason Mraz and his music, and this song might be my favorite. This song is slower than "Cupid," and it makes you want to sway. The lyrics are a beautiful testament to how love can know no bounds and how love is about helping the other person grow into the best person he/she can be. Powerful.

Lyrics excerpt:
When I look into your eyes
It's like watching the night sky or
a beautiful sunrise
There's so much they hold.
And just like them old stars,
I see that you've come so far
To be right where you are.
How old is your soul?
Well, I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough.
I'm giving you all my love.

Check out the lyrics video on YouTube (which would be great to show on a screen as you dance, especially if you really don't want people staring at you):

Paramore - "The Only Exception" - This song speaks to those who come from a childhood that might not have offered the best models for love, but they still found it in someone else. It speaks to those who did not believe in love until they met that one person who proved them wrong about the impossibility of love. (P.S. I love Paramore. When I saw them in concert, the bassist did a backflip while playing his stellar instrument on the stage. Epic.) 

Lyrics Excerpt:
Maybe I know somewhere
Deep in my soul
That love never lasts
And we've got to find other ways
To make it alone
Or keep a straight face
And I've always lived like this
Keeping a comfortable distance
And up until now I've sworn to myself
That I'm content with loneliness

Because none of it was ever worth the risk

Well you are the only exception

Check it out on YouTube:

The next song comes from the band Parachute. It's called "She is Love." -- A guy sings about a girl who saves him from his darkest days. I alluded to these lyrics in my wedding vows. :)

Lyrics Excerpt (from azlyrics.com): 

I've been beaten down, I've been kicked around, 
But she takes it all for me. 
And I lost my faith, in my darkest days, 
But she makes me want to believe. 

They call her love, love, love, love, love. 

Check out "She is Love" on YouTube:

Parachute also wrote a song with my FAVORITE band, Lady Antebellum, called "Kiss Me Slowly." Since it talks about "not running away" from a relationship, it's not really appropriate for a first dance, but you should check it out. 

The next three songs come from our girl Colbie Caillat - 

1. "Falling For You" -- I'm thinking that, since you're getting married, you've already fallen (completely) for the other person, but this song is sweet. She says, "I've been waiting all my life for you."

Lyrics Excerpt (from azlyrics.com):

I've been spending all my..time
Just thinking about ya
I don't know what to do
I think I'm fallin' for you

Check it out on YouTube (lyrics video): 

2. "You Got Me"

Lyrics Excerpt:

I think I felt my heart skip a beat

I'm standing here and I can hardly breathe

You got me.

The way you take my hand is just so sweet.

And that crooked smile of yours. It knocks me off my feet.

Oh, I just can't get enough.

Check it out on YouTube (lyrics video): 

3. "The Little Things"-- not the best of the three, but it's a sentiment that strikes home for many women. It's all about the little things, right, ladies?

Lyrics Excerpt (from azlyrics.com):

The little things, you do to me are
Taking me over, I wanna show ya
Everything inside of me
Like a nervous heart that, is crazy beating

Check it out on YouTube (not a skeezy video though it looks like it based on the screen shot):

Boys Like Girls featuring Taylor Swift - "Two Is Better Than One" - pretty duet, and it's always nice when a girl and guy sing so that it's not all about one or the other. Both people get their egos stroked on the big day, haha. 

Lyrics Excerpt (from azlyrics.com): 

I remember what you wore on the first day
You came into my life and I thought hey
You know, this could be something

'Cause everything you do and words you say
You know that it all takes my breath away
And now I'm left with nothing

So maybe it's true that I can't live without you
And maybe two is better than one
But there's so much time to figure out the rest of my life
And you've already got me coming undone
And I'm thinking two is better than one

Check them out on YouTube:

Michael Buble - "Everything" - It might be on the verge of being played out, but I don't know if that's in real life or just on my iTunes playlist? I know "Home" has seen its fair share of radio playlists, but "Everything" might still be in a less well known corner of the world. Maybe. I'm not telling you about it because you need to hear it. 

Check out the greatness on YouTube: 

Some others that can join this list, but might be too overplayed to deserve video credit:

• Uncle Kracker - "Smile"
• Train - "Marry Me"
• Bruno Mars - "Just the Way You Are"
• Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat - "Lucky"
• Michael Buble - "Home" 

Want to know my favorite pick from this list? No contest: "I Won't Give Up" by Jason Mraz. 

Don't worry. I will be posting more lists (the classics, country, rock, and etc.) 

Feel free to post your POP suggestions in the comments. (Please don't post about other genres until I write posts about those!)