Is the first dance still a thing, or not anymore?
The short answer: Yes, the first dance is still a thing. In a YouGov survey of 1,784 UK adults carried out on 7 to 9 August 2026, 74% of people who are married or open to marriage said they would have a first dance with their spouse alone.
However, polls and opinion surveys often convey a limited view of a subject. Over the many years that Decadents have curated wedding entertainment, there have been countless examples of the wedding couple changing their mind on their wedding day. This could be deciding not to have a first dance, despite a previous request, or the opposite scenario, where, at the very last minute, they decide they would like one after all. The reasons are many and varied, and often unique to each couple. And this is okay. A good DJ or entertainer should be more than willing to accommodate any such request and effortlessly modify their setlist accordingly.
How many people still want a first dance?
Three in four. That puts it level with hiring a wedding photographer in the same survey, and ahead of writing your own vows (47%) and throwing confetti (60% say yes to confetti). Only 24% would walk down the aisle to the traditional wedding march, so couples are dropping some traditions while keeping this one.
What are UK couples dancing to?
Some recent figures come from Hitched’s National Wedding Survey of more than 3,000 couples married in 2024. Taylor Swift’s “Lover” was the most popular first dance song, and more than 8% of couples chose a track by Ed Sheeran, with “Perfect”, “Thinking Out Loud” and “Tenerife Sea” the usual picks.
FixTheMusic, which analysed 10,000 conversations with couples, reports that first dance requests are nearly always specific: couples name the artist and version, and often ask for a shortened or edited cut.
Practical tips (our advice, not survey data)
- Choose a song you love, not the most popular one. The charts show what is common, not what is right for you.
- Ask your DJ for an edit. Since shortened versions are a common request, it is a normal thing to ask for.
- Decide who joins in. Your DJ can bring guests onto the floor after the first verse or chorus if you do not want to dance alone.
- Tell your DJ the exact version (artist, album or live recording) so the right file is ready.
How Decadents helps: every package includes a DJ and host, so there is one person looking after your music and announcements. Our All Day package (example price £1,295) covers ceremony music, wedding breakfast music, wireless microphones for speeches and your evening entertainment, so your first dance sits inside one planned flow. You can add mood lighting in colours that suit your décor, or a mirrorball, through our Light Fantastic upgrade (example price £325). Prices are based on the Lounge soundstage and depend on travel distance and venue access.
What about a bespoke song. Can you provide one?
Absolutely! In addition to his decades of DJing experience David is also a recording artist. In his 30-plus years as a music producer he has released many songs with some commercial success. He can write a bespoke piece of music, or remix/mashup existing songs of your choosing. You might wish to choreograph a polished dance, or merely demonstrate your uniqueness and flair to deliver the unexpected. Whatever your motives, we can help!
Real wedding example:
When Tash and Cory were planning their winter wedding Tash was really keen on having a father and bride dance before the first dance and wanted a bespoke remix. David fired up his studio and set about producing a very unique mashup. Tash’s request was certainly interesting! She wanted to start with a classic – Louis Armstrong ‘What a Wonderful World’. We ran the song from the start and until the end of the second verse (around 1 min 25 seconds) where ol’ Satchmo sings the words ‘I love you’. This was treated with a gentle fade into the SFX sound and the words ‘Drop it’ which appear at the start of Bobby Brown’s ‘2 Can Play That Game’. This required some studio trickery to remove the piano sound that overlaps with the spoken part. Then – and I kid you not – The Tweets (1981 classic…) ‘The Birdie Song’ played for 1 minute until its gentle fade and extreme timestretch editing (think old skool speed garage or drum and bass) blended back into the ending of ‘What a Wonderful World’. When Louis sings his final ‘ooh yes’ a total of 2 min 55 seconds had passed.
And huge respect to Tash and her dad: Their choreography was excellent. They clearly spent countless hours perfecting their dance routine and it was wonderful to watch. Their loving waltz effortlessly transformed into the ‘Birdie Song’ and back into the waltz to rapturous applause. This was a magical moment. Following the father and daughter dance, there is a symbolic moment when a father, having loved, protected and guided his daughter throughout her life, entrusts her future happiness and wellbeing to the man she has chosen to share her life with. Of course, a father never truly gives his daughter away. He simply welcomed another man – Cory – into the responsibility of loving her, protecting her and standing beside her. His role did not end today; it simply changed, as two generations of love came together to support Tash’s future.
FAQs
Do most couples still have a first dance? Most people say they would: 74% in the YouGov survey above.
What is the most popular first dance song in the UK? In Hitched’s survey of couples married in 2024, it was Taylor Swift’s “Lover”.
Can we shorten our song? Yes. Edited versions are a common request, according to FixTheMusic.
Can the DJ help us plan it? Yes. Get in touch with Decadents and we will plan the timing, edit, remix (if applicable) and announcement with you.
