Top 20 Songs For Father Daughter Dances At Recent Weddings

As a recently engaged bride or groom, you probably have begun the process of getting your music ready for your wedding at one of Charleston's many beautiful venues. The quality of music that you choose for your wedding reception is vital to the success of your big day. The music for your special dances tends to have a personal preference. Let's set the stage at how things may progress at your wedding reception. First, you and your fiance may be introduced, then you would go go into your first dance, then move into your father / daughter dance, and wrap up with the mother / son dance. Some brides and grooms opts for the sepcialdances to come after dinner before the major dancing ramps up. Modern brides and grooms will begin the wedding reception with their first dance, then do the father / daughter & mother / son dance after dinner.  You'll want to read on for some wonderful father / daughter dance song choices.

 Either way,  I have always thought that the father / daughter danceis just as special as the first dance. Oftentimes I see a lot of tears between the father and the bride at this time,and honestly I get a little choked up inside as well watching all this play out. Here are some of the more popular ones I have seen chosen and seen over the years. There are many, many more and I can point you in the right direction of creating the perfect playlist for your special day. Let's grab a coffee and discuss your wedding in 2020 or beyond. 

Download The Most Requested Father - Daughter Dance Songs From Spotify NOW
Outside a bride and groom's first dance song, it's always been my opinion as one of the top wedding DJs in Charleston that the father/ daughter dance is one of the most special moments of the wedding reception.  I always encourage my clients to choose a song that is meaningful and describes your relationship as father and daughter.   Please begin to follow me at my ever-growing Spotify profile for more song ideas. Just head over to Spotify and search for DJ Mike Bills.

"The Way You Look Tonight" | Frank Sinatra
Originally written in the 1930s and recorded first by The Lettermen in 1961, Frank Sinatra would record the most popular version of the song in 1964. Michael Buble would record  a version of the song for his 2003 self titled album.

"Isn't She Lovely | Stevie Wonder
If you have not picked up a copy of Songs In The Key Of Life, you should so. Because when you do pick up a copy of this record, you will hold in your hands one of the greatest albums ever produced.  Originally the album version of the song was over 6 1 /2 minutes long and was not released as a single. In January 1977, the song would peak at #23 on the adult contemporary chart.
 
"My Girl" | The Temptations
For the foreseeable future, classic Motown songs will always have a place on wedding playlists. "My Girl" by The Temptations is one of the most popular father daughter dance songs and would become the signature song by The Temptations. Released at the end of 1964, "My Girl" would become the first Number 1 song for this classic Motown band. For more of the most popular Motown songs for your wedding playlist, be sure to click over to this archived post.

"I Loved Her First" | Heartland 
One thing I've discovered over the years as a professional wedding DJ is that country artists have produced some of the big requests for father daughter dances. "I Loved Her First" is thr first of three popular country songs for the father-daughter dance on this playlist.  "I Loved Her First" would be the first song released by Heartland in 2006 and peak at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

"Daughters" | John Mayer
While on the radio at one of my stations back in 2004, I heard "Daughters" for the first time. Immediately, I thought the song would be an instant hit at weddings for the father / daughter dance.  "Daughters" was released back in September of 2004 and can be found on the album Heavier Things. The song would peak at #2 on the adult contemporary and soar to #1 on the Adult Top 40 chart.

"When You Need Me" | Bruce Springsteen
Even the Boss got into the act when creating the perfect moments between a bride and her father on her wedding day.  In 1998, Bruce Springsteen would release Tracks, which is a box set of a lot of his previously unreleased material.  Since the song did not chart, you've got to be a die hard Springsteen fan to know this wonderful song was recorded.

"Lean On Me" | Bill Withers
Bill Withers wrote some of the most beautiful songs back in the 70s. "Lean On Me" was released back in the spring of 1972 and would make it all the way to Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"My Little Girl" | Tim McGraw
From the movie soundtrack of My Friend Flicka, Tim McGraw would write another popular country song request for the father-daughter dance. The song was released back in August of 2006 and would peak at #3 on the Hot Country chart.

"Wildflowers" | Tom Petty 
It's hard to believe that Tom Petty is no longer with us. He was one of the most talented singer and songwriters in modern music . "Wildflowers" was the title track to the 1994 album. While the song did not chart, it has grown in popularity as one of the most popular modern daddy-daughter dance songs. 

"I'll Be There" | Jackson 5
Later covered in 1992 by Mariah Caret at her MTV Unplugged taping, it's the original version of the song by the Jackson 5 that gets all the requests.  "I'll Be There" was released the day before Michael Jackson's 12th birthday in 1970 and would become a #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"Can You Feel The Love Tonight" | Elton John
Featured on the soundtrack to the original Lion King movie released in 1994, "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" would become one of the biggest songs of Elton John's career. The song was released back in the spring of 1994 and would peak at #1 on the adult contemporary chart.

"Landslide" | Fleetwood Mac
If I ever created a playlist of popular father-daughter dance songs from the 70s, this song would be at the top of the list. Later covered by the Dixie Chicks, and even the Smashing Pumpkins, the original version would peak at #10 on the adult contemporary chart. For more ideas about including some of the best soft rock songs of the 70s on your playlist, be sure to take a look at the preceding link.

"You've Got A Friend" | James Taylor
Originally written and recorded by Carole King, James Taylor would record his version of the song in 1971.  The song would peak at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

"There Goes My Life" | Kenny Chesney
And now for the third and final country song on this list of popular father-daughter dance songs.  'There Goes My Life" would be released in the fall of 2003 and become a Number 1 song on the Hot Country Songs chart by Billboard. 

"Dance With My Father" | Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross would write this song with the popular 80s singer-songwriter Richard Marx.  The song would be released in the spring of 2003 and peak at #4 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and #1 on the Adult R&B chart.   For more soft rock songs of the 80s for your wedding playlist, be sure to click over to the previous link.

"Walk With You" | Edwin McCain
The title track to Edwin McCain's 2009 album quickly became a favorite choice of modern brides for this truly special moment during their wedding reception with their father. 

"Thank You For Loving Me" | Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi are one of the most famous bands from the great state of New Jersey and would release their album Crush back in the summer of 2000. The album would spark the hit "It's My Life", as well as this song, which would become a popular father-daughter dance song. "Thank You For Loving Me" would peak at #15 on the adult contemporary chart.

"You'll Be In My Heart" | Phil Collins
Phil Collins would earn an Oscar for his work on the music for the movie Tarzan. "You'll Be In My Heart". Released back in the summer of 1999, "You'll Be In My Heart" would peak at #1 on the adult contemporary chart. The song has also been a popular choice for the mother / son dance as well. Click the previous link for some of the most popular mother / son dance songs.

"Father And Daughter" | Paul Simon
Paul Simon wrote this song for the 2002 animated film The Wild Thornberrys Movie.  Paul Simon would re-record the song for his 2006 album Surprise, and it would peak in the Top 40 in England.

"Here For You" | Neil Young
Neil Young would release his 26 th album, Prairie Wind in the fall of 2005.  If you are a fan of  his album, Harvest Moon, you'd enjoy this record. Listen to the record and you'll see brides choose this song for the father / daughter dance.

 Ready To Talk To Mike Bills About Being Your Wedding DJ?
Thank you so much for making it to the end of another one of my posts. Be sure to put some thought into your father / daughter dance song as it is a very special moment. Be sure you go back over to my Spotify and begin to follow me there as I am always posting more playlists designed to provide inspiration when trying to figure out how to craft the perfect playlist for the most enjoyable wedding. One of the things I love to do is talk to newly engaged brides and the music for their day. Click the link up above so you can fill out a contact form and we can set up a time to discuss your wedding. I look forward to meeting with you soon.