You’ve done the hard part – you’ve found your live wedding band! Now comes the fun part: choosing the music. There are so many important songs to select for your special day, but one song can be harder than others: The Father/Daughter dance.
Your first dance partner. The man who taught you just how high the bar should be for your forever dance partner. Fathers wait from the moment their daughters are born for this most special moment – one that famously brings tears to your guests’ eyes.
Choosing music for your wedding is important and picking the song to dance to with your dad can be tricky, so we at Around Town have assembled a few simple ways to help you find the perfect song for you and your dad, as well as included some examples to get you started!
But before we do, just a quick reminder that the Father/Daughter dance should be around 2 minutes long – not the whole song! Since you’ve made the clever choice and booked one of our fabulous bands, you’re already in great hands that will make sure you have a seamless cut of whichever song you choose. That said, keep in mind when choosing your song that it will be shortened; so if you have a favorite verse, don’t be afraid to specify!
With Love From Me to You
Often, brides will take this opportunity to pick a song that sends a message, whether that’s telling their dad just how much they love them, or sharing with their guests how important their dad is to them. Both Natalie Cole & Nat King Cole’s posthumous duet of “Unforgettable,” or John Legend & Cynthia Erivo’s cover of The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows,” immediately evoke that unique feeling of a Father-Daughter bond. Maybe you want a song from Dad’s point of view – Bruce Springsteen’s “When You Need Me” is a classic, as is James Taylor’s “You’ve Got a Friend.” (For the Disney-lovers, a fun riff on this idea is Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.”)
A Walk Down Memory Lane
While your wedding day is certainly about a walk down the aisle to your future, your Father/Daughter dance is a sweet walk into the past. Think about key memories you have with your dad, or special moments you’ve shared. We don’t have suggestions in this category because these memories are specific to you and will lead to choices all your own – but we do have some questions to get you started!
Maybe he took you to your first live concert – who was playing?
How about a meaningful sports game? Did your team have “a song”?
Was there a jam he’d play in the car on the way to school to hype you up for a test?
Do the two of you have a favorite movie with a memorable song on its soundtrack?
Did a certain song come on at the school Father/Daughter dance that revealed what kind of dancer your dad truly was?
Was there simply a song you’d dance to together in the kitchen when you were little?
Is it a Wonderful World or a Boogie Wonderland?
Tempo changes everything! When choosing a song for your Father/Daughter dance, keep in mind how much the song moves and grooves. Do you want a nice slow song that’s easy to sway to? Consider songs like Nancy Sinatra’s “It’s For My Dad,” or “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. Or are you the kind of dad and daughter duo who will choreograph a show stopping musical number? Songs that lend themselves to something more high-energy include ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” The Temptations’ “My Girl,” or Doris Day’s “Papa, Won’t You Dance With Me”.
Baby, You’re So Classic!
While we don’t actually recommend using MKTO’s “Classic” for your Father/Daughter dance (we sure hope your dad doesn’t want to kiss you like Prince or get it on like Marvin Gaye), we do know that in a day full of so many special moments that it’s sometimes comforting to have something picked out that you know will be a hit. So, we took a look at some of the Father/Daughter dances our bands have played to great success recently and compiled a list of classics for you!
Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely”
Guns n’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine”
Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight”
Stevie Wonder’s “You Are the Sunshine of My Life”
Other classics include songs we’ve already mentioned, like “My Girl” and “What a Wonderful World.”
Save the Best for Last
Best of all, because you chose to have our live bands play for your special day, if you don’t see the song you want on our list, we’ll learn it! This is our way of guaranteeing that your Father/Daughter dance is as special as your relationship. No matter what song you choose, we’re sure it will be one that shows off the heart and soul of your Father/Daughter relationship – with your signature flair!
