If there’s one thing that Around Town can guarantee above all else, it’s that our award-winning bands will have your guests on the dance floor all night long. And we know that what immediately comes to mind are your favorite upbeat hits – the ones that have people jumping and jiving, heart rates as elevated as the mood. Those songs are important and absolutely the predominant ones as we bring the party vibes; but what you may not realize is this: the secret to a perfect reception dance party is knowing when to sprinkle in some “sweet and slow.” Slow dances are a crucial part of the evening as they allow your guests to pair up and take a little breather, bringing their heart rates back down so they’re refreshed and ready to go when the next upbeat hit starts. Think of your reception as a HIIT workout – it’s important to have breaks between the high intensity numbers, otherwise everyone is exhausted and back on the sidelines far too early in the night!
Now, you didn’t think we’d tell you it’s important to have slow dances in the mix without telling you some of our favorites, did you? You know we’ve got a comprehensive list of songs ready to go for any musical taste or vision! You might notice that they’re all love songs – that’s another little secret: by using love songs as your slower dances, people are more likely to partner up and stay out on the floor, rather than running off to the restroom or the refreshment table! It’s also a phenomenal opportunity to get some of your older loved ones out on the floor, since these songs are a lot kinder on their knees than those upbeat hits we all love!
So, without further ado, let’s get into some of our top suggestions for slow love songs that will help keep your guests dancing the night away!
“Until I Found You,” by Stephen Sanchez
“I would never fall in love again until I found her/I said, “I would never fall unless it’s you I fall into”/I was lost within the darkness, but then I found her/I found you” This one’s a newer hit, which we’re sure you’ve heard all over Instagram and TikTok – sweet and gentle, it evokes road trip and beach vibes and feels somewhat cinematic.
“At last my love has come along/My lonely days are over and life is like a song” An absolute classic, this one is known as a jazz “standard” for a reason – it simply will not fail the test of time.
“All of me loves all of you/Give your all to me I’ll give my all to you” This one debuted and instantly became a modern classic, and now ranks as one of the best love songs around; this one is also a common pick for a first dance!
“Keep on Loving You,” by REO Speedwagon
“When I said that I love you/I meant that I love you forever” A song guaranteed to bring your parents onto the floor, this 1980s love song will send them straight back to senior prom.
“Can I go where you go/Can we always be this close/ Forever and ever” Taylor Swift, as we know, is one of the absolute queens of the music scene lately and this particular song will have all your girlies on the dance floor (and you can’t tell us that the boys haven’t all been learning their TSwift songs for moments like this).
“Unforgettable,” by Nat King Cole
“Never before has someone been more/Unforgettable in every way” ‘King’ is in his name for a reason – not only is he the King of Christmas music, but his love songs are just perfection. This song also works well for a parent dance if you’re using the duet version between Natalie Cole and her father.
“Joy of My Life,” by Chris Stapleton
“She’s sweet to me/Must be the luckiest man alive/Did I tell you, baby/You are the joy of my life?” If your wedding has some homegrown country flavor to it, this song is a fantastic choice to bring the tempo down, and is a beautiful meditation on how lucky you feel to spend each day with your partner.
“I don’t have much money but boy if I did/I’d buy a big house where we both could live” The song that launched Elton John’s career, and it’s easy to see why. A simple love song that never fails to bring a tear to our eyes.
“Better Together,” by Jack Johnson
“Sometimes life can be deceiving/I’ll tell you one thing, it’s always better when we’re together” This one still has a little pep to it if you don’t want to slow the mood all the way down, but has the advantage of still being a nice gentle tempo that lets your heart rate settle a bit before you head back to rocking out!
