Some wedding traditions go out of style, but one that’s remained popular over time is the first dance between the bride and groom. According to WeddingWire's 2019 Newlywed Report, which surveyed more than 18,000 newlyweds married in 2018, 92% of them shared a first dance at their reception. What has changed over the years is the types of songs couples choose.
These days the most popular genre for first dance music is country. Specifically, Dan + Shay’s "Speechless," Kane Brown’s “Good as You,” and Lukas Graham’s “Love Someone” were some of the most popular songs. Other top picks for first dance tracks at weddings include Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” and John Legend and Cynthia Erivo’s version of “God Only Knows,” by the Beach Boys.
The survey shows that some tunes are on the decline this year, including Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud,” and John Legend’s “All of Me,” which were more popular in previous years. As for how couples choose their special song for their first dance, 46% say they went with ballads that reflect how they met their partner or the relationship itself, and 41% say they just picked a personal favorite.