

When we were planning our own wedding there were a few things we struggled with. One of them was deciding on which song to have for our first dance. I actually didn’t want a first dance at all, but my husband to be did. Ultimately we compromised on a few things elsewhere and we ended up having a first dance. We are not a lovey dovey or romantic couple in the traditional sense, so it didn’t seem fitting for us to choose a mushy song. Neither of us really like classically romantic songs or bands and we’re both pretty big alternative music fans. In addition to this, as wedding photographers ourselves we have heard every single popular first dance song SO many times. We didn’t want something we’d heard a hundred times before. So when it came to deciding on a song for our first dance, we were looking for alternative first dance songs.
Alternative first dance songs
Below are a few of the songs we found along the way and considered for our first dance. Some may not have obviously romantic lyrics, but they’re nice songs, with good melodies we think!
We would LOVE to hear your suggestions as well.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Hysteric (acoustic version attached below)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps
Cat Power – Sea of Love (Original artist was Phil Phillips I believe.)
Death Cab for Cutie – I will follow you into the dark
The Knife – Heartbeats (Jośe Gonzalez cover)
The XX – Angels
Nirvana – Drain you
Flightless Bird – American Mouth
Wolfman ft Pete Doherty – For lovers
Foo Fighters – Everlong (Acoustic version attached)
Oasis – Slide Away
Oasis – Stand by me
Deftones – No Ordinary love (Sade Cover)
Deftones – Beauty School
(Have you guessed i’m a Deftones Fan yet?)
Deftones – Sex Tape
There are SO many amazing, alternative first dance songs. My own tastes are a tad heavier and a little more screamy than much of what’s been included above, but not everyone shares my tastes! The above are a few of the tamer (but more alternative than usual) choices. I would love to hear some of your suggestions too for alternative first dance songs.

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