TOP five Slow Songs for a Wedding

I'm not great at slow songs. I admit it. Once we're hitting bangers and the energy is up, the last thing I wanna do is kill that vibe. But the truth is that at a wedding, some people will only dance to a slow song. From behind the booth, I witness this constantly. Manly men, with beautiful wives are sheepish when it comes to letting loose on the dance floor. But a slow song? He's taking his lady right to the floor and showing his vulnerability as well as his affection for her. It's important, and I'm going to try to add one more slow song per night in 2026. Usually, I hit one about forty minutes into dancing, then two more MAX the rest of the night. (not counting a private slow dance for the bride & groom) Let's not forget that there's the old adage that there are three ways to get people on an empty or dying dance floor: Top five banger, slow song, or line dance.

It's a night of love after all! But you'd be surprised about how hard it is to pick a slow song. I have a folder with three hundred songs. And I already have choice-paralysis in everyday life. The pressure to pick the right song is unbearable!!! Thankfully, after years of DJ'ing, I've learned that it doesn't really matter. Making the moment is what matters. But when it comes down to it, there are five songs that I cannot go wrong with and play as a slow song at any wedding.

5. Lover - Taylor Swift | The time of being engaged and dreaming of your upcoming wedding day and knowing that life is moving forward is one of the most unique times in a young couples lives and this song captures those little moments so intimately. I have seen girls come flying out of the bathroom or from outside at 100 mph to get on the floor and dance and sing the chorus of this song at the top of their lungs. Still brings a tear to my eye every time.

4. Tiny Dancer - Elton John | Maybe it's the scene in "Almost Famous". I don't know, but the melancholy authentic story of a love on the road and how someone who is adored by the public, so desperately craves the intimacy and closeness to just be seen and known and have a safe place. If that doesn't sound like marriage, I don't know what does. Everyone sings this chorus at the top of their lungs too!

3. Wonderful Tonight- Eric Clapton | If Taylor Swift's "Lover" is about the days leading into your wedding day, Wonderful Tonight perfectly encapsulates an evening in the regular everyday life of a married couple. Dressed up, going to a party, and having a wonderful tonight. Getting home, and tucking each other in and expressing love well beyond the end of the honeymoon. Every man hears this song and learns how to communicate his love for his wife.

2. Perfect - Ed Sheeran | Maybe this song got its inspiration from Eric Clapton at number three. The Millennial and Gen-Z crowds, which makes up a lot of weddings, has slow danced to this song their entire lives. Perfect works because it strips love down to its quiet physics. No spectacle, no metaphors that hide; just devotion observed in ordinary moments. The song understands that real love isn’t fireworks every night, but alignment—two people choosing each other repeatedly. Its melody moves gently, like trust earned over time, while the lyrics celebrate commitment without irony.

1. Tennessee Whiskey - Chris Stapleton | This song is slow, heavy, and intimate in a way that feels earned. It isn’t about fairy tales or perfect timing, it’s about finding someone who softens the edges of a hard life and makes you feel grounded. When this comes on, couples pull in close without being told. It stretches across all generations and all genres. You can feel the room settle. That’s why we chose it as the number one wedding slow dance song. Some people may think its overplayed, but I think it captures love that’s deep, soulful, and real - which makes it the perfect wedding slow dance song. Every single time it plays, the connection on the floor is undeniable. This is my last slow song choice most nights.

Did I miss one? Do you disagree? If you're reading this and getting married, leave a comment to the slow song you're looking forward to or what you've picked as your first dance with your spouse. If you're a vendor or a venue...which of these, or other slow songs are you so tired of hearing? Let us know, and pull someone close and let's share a moment. Then we kiss!