Ask Tim
Father daughter dance songs and more song lists
Looking for father daughter dance songs, a mother–son dance or the perfect first dance? These are Tim’s song lists, built from 50 years of weddings, from the 1950s to today. Add your picks to your playlist form and he’ll have them ready.
Tim’s tip: Play your first dance song a few times before the day and decide whether you want the full version or a shorter edit. I can fade it out at just the right moment.
Every answer here is written by Tim Daymond (Tinsel Tim), Norfolk’s only Trading Standards Approved DJ, with 50 years behind the decks. Updated October 2026. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 250+ reviews · 23 business awards · Check your date
First dance songs couples choose
Timeless choices from the 1950s to today. Tell Tim your pick in your playlist form and he'll make sure he has the best-quality version ready.
- Unforgettable – Nat King Cole
- At Last – Etta James
- Stand By Me – Ben E. King
- Can't Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
- Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers
- What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
- The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
- My Girl – The Temptations
- Let's Stay Together – Al Green
- Your Song – Elton John
- We've Only Just Begun – The Carpenters
- You Are So Beautiful – Joe Cocker
- How Deep Is Your Love – Bee Gees
- Three Times a Lady – Commodores
- Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
- Endless Love – Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
- Truly – Lionel Richie
- Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper
- Saving All My Love for You – Whitney Houston
- A Groovy Kind of Love – Phil Collins
- (Everything I Do) I Do It for You – Bryan Adams
- The Power of Love – Celine Dion
- Kiss from a Rose – Seal
- Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
- You're Still the One – Shania Twain
- From This Moment On – Shania Twain
- I Don't Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
- Amazed – Lonestar
- Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
- You're Beautiful – James Blunt
- I'm Yours – Jason Mraz
- Marry Me – Train
- All of Me – John Legend
- Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
- Perfect – Ed Sheeran
- Make You Feel My Love – Adele
- Shallow – Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
- Beautiful Crazy – Luke Combs
- 10,000 Hours – Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber
- Lover – Taylor Swift
- Die With A Smile – Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
Wedding dance floor fillers
Songs that get every generation dancing after the first dance. Add your favourites to your Must Play list.
- Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
- Sugar, Sugar – The Archies
- Lean on Me – Bill Withers
- You're My Best Friend – Queen
- Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
- Tonight's the Night – Rod Stewart
- What's Love Got to Do with It – Tina Turner
- The Way You Make Me Feel – Michael Jackson
- Sweet Child O' Mine – Guns N' Roses
- How Sweet It Is – James Taylor
- Crazy in Love – Beyoncé
- Marry You – Bruno Mars
- Sugar – Maroon 5
- Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars
- Beautiful Things – Benson Boone
Father–daughter dance songs
Songs for one of the most emotional moments of the day.
- Unforgettable – Nat King Cole
- Moon River – Andy Williams
- What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
- God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
- Sunrise, Sunset – Perry Como
- Father and Daughter – Paul Simon
- Isn't She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
- My Girl – The Temptations
- Through the Years – Kenny Rogers
- Always and Forever – Heatwave
- Forever Young – Rod Stewart
- Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler
- I Loved Her First – Heartland
- Butterfly Kisses – Bob Carlisle
- Have I Told You Lately – Rod Stewart
- Hero – Mariah Carey
- I'll Be There – The Escape Club
- You'll Be in My Heart – Phil Collins
- My Little Girl – Tim McGraw
- I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack
- Stealing Cinderella – Chuck Wicks
- Blessed – Elton John
- In My Daughter's Eyes – Martina McBride
- Gracie – Ben Folds
- Cinderella – Steven Curtis Chapman
- Daughters – John Mayer
- Dance With My Father – Luther Vandross
- My Wish – Rascal Flatts
- There Goes My Life – Kenny Chesney
- The Best Day – Taylor Swift
- You're Gonna Miss This – Trace Adkins
- Wildflowers – Tom Petty
- Never Grow Up – Taylor Swift
- Humble and Kind – Tim McGraw
- Dancing in the Sky – Dani and Lizzy
- Forever After All – Luke Combs
Mother–son dance songs
Warm, uplifting songs for the mother–son dance.
- What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
- In My Life – The Beatles
- You've Got a Friend – James Taylor
- You Are the Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder
- You're My Best Friend – Queen
- Forever Young – Rod Stewart
- Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler
- Unforgettable – Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole
- The Dance – Garth Brooks
- Hero – Mariah Carey
- A Song for Mama – Boyz II Men
- Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
- Mama – Spice Girls
- Mama's Song – Carrie Underwood
- I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack
- Simple Man – Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Beautiful Boy – John Lennon
- Stand By Me – Ben E. King
- You Raise Me Up – Josh Groban
- A Mother's Love – Jim Brickman
- Humble and Kind – Tim McGraw
- Rainbow – Kacey Musgraves
- Lean on Me – Bill Withers
- The Living Years – Mike + The Mechanics
- Angels – Robbie Williams
- God Gave Me You – Blake Shelton
- Mother Like Mine – The Band Perry
- Speechless – Dan + Shay
- I Hope – Gabby Barrett
Line and group dance songs
The songs that get the whole room moving together, from the 1960s to today.
- The Twist – Chubby Checker
- Let's Twist Again – Chubby Checker
- The Loco-Motion – Little Eva
- Mashed Potato Time – Dee Dee Sharp
- Monster Mash – Bobby "Boris" Pickett
- Do You Love Me – The Contours
- Twist and Shout – The Beatles
- Land of a Thousand Dances – Cannibal and the Headhunters
- The Hustle – Van McCoy
- Electric Boogie (Electric Slide) – Marcia Griffiths
- Y.M.C.A. – Village People
- Macho Man – Village People
- Apache (Jump On It) – The Sugarhill Gang
- Conga – Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
- Footloose – Kenny Loggins
- Candy – Cameo
- Achy Breaky Heart – Billy Ray Cyrus
- Boot Scootin' Boogie – Brooks & Dunn
- Copperhead Road – Steve Earle
- Cotton Eye Joe – Rednex
- Macarena – Los Del Rio
- Swamp Thing – The Grid
- Everybody (Backstreet's Back) – Backstreet Boys
- Bye Bye Bye – *NSYNC
- Jump Around – House of Pain
- Cha Cha Slide – DJ Casper
- Cupid Shuffle – Cupid
- Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy) – Big & Rich
- Gangnam Style – PSY
- Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars
- Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) – Silentó
- Old Town Road – Lil Nas X
- The Git Up – Blanco Brown
- Fancy Like – Walker Hayes
Song questions answered
How do we choose our first dance song?
Pick a song that means something to you both, then listen to it all the way through.
Check the lyrics suit the moment, and decide whether you want something slow and romantic or a song that builds into a party. Tell Tim the exact version in your playlist form.
How long should a first dance last?
Most couples dance for about two to three minutes.
Tim can fade your song out at a natural point, or invite your guests to join you halfway through, so nobody feels on show for too long.
When do the father–daughter and mother–son dances happen?
Usually straight after the first dance, or sometimes in place of it.
Tim announces each one, and he can blend them so everyone joins the dance floor afterwards.
Can Tim play a special version or a medley?
Yes.
Tell him in your playlist form and he'll source a good-quality copy of the exact version you want. He can also blend two songs into a short medley for the first dance.
Didn’t find your answer?
Ask Tim directly. He reads every message himself.