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10 Father-Daughter Wedding Dance Songs For 2024 (That You And Your Dad Will Love)

Wedding Music

The father-daughter dance is always a touching moment during the wedding reception. As a beautiful moment for both the Dad and the Bride, this is an intimate opportunity to celebrate the wedding together in front of your family and friends.

Picking the right song for this moment is important for both the bride and her Dad. While some pick the song based on its significance in their life, many choose their father-daughter dance song based on its lyrics alone. 

The selection also matters because it could influence the pace of your wedding reception. Traditionally, the Bride & Dad dance comes right before the Groom & Mom dance. However, if you choose a high-energy song for the father-daughter dance, we recommend placing it after the Groom & Mom song so you can go right into the guest dancing. 

These two worked up a routine to “My Girl” by The Temptations, one of the most popular father-daughter dance songs. Don’t stress … most are not choreographed like this.

Top 10 Songs To Play For Your Father-Daughter Wedding Dance

We’ve put together a list of ideas for the Bride/Dad wedding dance, starting with the 10 most popular going into 2024—according to what our brides have asked for in recent months. 

Here they are, in no specific order:

“I Loved Her First” – Heartland

“I Loved Her First” is a heartfelt song from the perspective of a father giving his daughter away, telling her new spouse what it meant to be her father as she grew up. 

Lines like these make it a wonderful pick for this part of the reception: 

I was enough for her not long ago
I was her number one, she told me so
And she still means the world to me, just so you know
So be careful when you hold my girl

And later on:

But I loved her first, I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers

“My Little Girl” – Tim McGraw

Like “I Loved Her First,” “My Little Girl” is a Country classic about a father’s love for his daughter. 

Here’s just a small sample of some of its touching lyrics: 

I remember I thought you looked like an angel
Wrapped in pink, so soft and warm
You’ve had me wrapped around your finger
Since the day you were born

“My Girl” – The Temptations

“My Girl” is a popular choice from The Temptations, and it’s the lightest and happiest song on our top 10 father-daughter song list. 

You likely know the lyrics already, but here’s a great snippet to think about from the father’s perspective: 

I don’t need no money, fortune, or fame
I’ve got all the riches baby one man can claim
Well I guess you’d say
What can make me feel this way

Father and Bride dancing with wedding guests watching
Photo Credit: Araujo Photography

“Over The Rainbow” (Hawaiian Version) – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s rendition of “Over the Rainbow” has been popular in TV shows and movies, and some brides and their fathers use it during their wedding ceremony dance as well. Light and pleasant, “Over the Rainbow” features soft, dreamlike vocals that offer a new take on the popular song from The Wizard of Oz

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Once in a lullaby
Oh, somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Dreams really do come true

“Daddy’s Little Girl” – Al Martino

“Daddy’s Little Girl” is a popular choice for the father-daughter dance, but its lyrics are actually about how much both parents love their daughter, as these lines demonstrate:

You’re the end of the rainbow, my pot of gold,
You’re daddy’s little girl to have and hold.
A precious gem is what you are,
You’re mommy’s bright and shining star.

Seen from the perspective of both parents, this song may become as emotional for the mom as it does for the dad ! 

“In My Daughter’s Eyes” – Martina McBride

Although the song was originally performed by a woman, the message behind the lyrics is still relevant at this point in the ceremony. “In My Daughter’s Eyes” is about wanting to become a better person for your daughter. 

In my daughter’s eyes
I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
And though she’ll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I’m gone I hope you’ll see
How happy she made me
For I’ll be there
In my daughter’s eyes

Father and bride dancing in a spotlight
Photo Credit: Araujo Photography

“Butterfly Kisses” – Bob Carlisle

“Butterfly Kisses” is an emotional song about watching your daughter grow up and then watching the biggest moments on her wedding day. In fact, Bob Carlisle captures one of those moments from the father’s perspective: 

All the precious time
Like the wind, the years go by.
Precious butterfly.
Spread your wings and fly.
She’ll change her name today.
She’ll make a promise and I’ll give her away.
Standing in the bride-room just staring at her.

“Because You Loved Me” – Celine Dion

Unlike many of the songs on this list, “Because You Loved Me” is from the daughter’s point of view. Here, the song lyrics are about growing up thanks to the love someone else gave you. 

Celine Dion sums up the sentiment with these two lines at the end of the song: 

I’m everything I am
Because you loved me

“The Way You Look Tonight” – Frank Sinatra

This Frank Sinatra classic is another popular father-daughter dance choice, and it’s a wonderful crowd-pleaser since most people are already familiar with the song and its lyrics: 

Lovely, never, never change
Keep that breathless charm
Won’t you please arrange it?
‘Cause I love you
Just the way you look tonight

“Daughters” – John Mayer

Like “Because You Loved Me,” “Daughters” stands apart from the rest of the songs because of the speaker—the song isn’t from the perspective of a father or daughter or even a mother. Instead, it’s from an outsider giving advice to fathers and mothers:

Fathers be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers be good to your daughters too

10 More Popular Father-Daughter Dance Choices For 2024

A few more favorites that our Brides and Dad’s have requested:

  • In My Life – The Beatles
  • Daddy’s Angel – Tony Carter
  • Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
  • Cinderella – Steven Curtis Chapman 
  • Daddy’s Little Girl – Michael Bolton
  • The Rainbow Connection – Willie Nelson
  • A Song For My Daughter – Ray Allaire
  • Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
  • You Are My Sunshine – Johnny Cash
  • What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong

If you need help picking a song or planning for your wedding, visit our wedding planning resources. You’ll find a longer list of songs for the Bride/Dad dance, recommendations for other parts of your wedding, and helpful guides for planning your wedding ceremony and your wedding reception.

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