Top 10 Father-Daughter Dance Songs (and How to Choose One)

The father-daughter dance usually comes right after the first dance, while the room is still seated and paying full attention. It is two or three minutes that end up in every wedding film, so the song matters. After more than fifteen years of New York and Long Island weddings, these are the ten our DJs and MCs see land best, followed by how to choose between them. (Grooms: the companion list is our mother-son dance songs guide.)

The ten songs

1. “My Girl” – The Temptations. The most-requested father-daughter song we play, and the easiest to dance to. Bright, mid-tempo and familiar to every table, it turns the dance into a moment the whole room smiles through.
2. “Isn’t She Lovely” – Stevie Wonder. Written about a newborn daughter, joyful rather than tearful. It is also the best of the ten for a live version; a saxophonist or pianist playing it is a favourite of ours.
3. “I Loved Her First” – Heartland. The country ballad written explicitly for this dance, from the father’s point of view. Expect tears.
4. “Butterfly Kisses” – Bob Carlisle. The 1990s classic that follows a daughter from childhood to her wedding day. Sentimental in the best way; ask for the shorter edit.
5. “My Little Girl” – Tim McGraw. A father’s promise to his daughter, gentle and modern country. A good choice if “I Loved Her First” feels too heavy.
6. “Daughters” – John Mayer. Understated acoustic pop for fathers and daughters who would rather sway than perform.
7. “Cinderella” – Steven Curtis Chapman. A father dancing with his daughter at every age. Popular with families who want something faith-adjacent without being a hymn.
8. “The Way You Look Tonight” – Frank Sinatra. The elegant choice. It suits a ballroom like The Plaza or the Rainbow Room and a father who can actually foxtrot.
9. “Unforgettable” – Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole. A real father and daughter singing together, which makes it the most literal choice on the list, and a timeless one.
10. “Landslide” – Fleetwood Mac. Reflective and quietly emotional, for daughters who grew up on their father’s records.

A Spanish-language pick

At Latin weddings the father-daughter dance is often the most emotional moment of the night, and it is usually in Spanish. “De Niña a Mujer” by Julio Iglesias is the one requested most. Our bilingual MCs introduce the dance in both languages so every guest understands what they are watching.

How to choose

Ask him. Fathers often have a song they have been quietly planning for years. Let him choose, or choose together.

Decide on tears or smiles. “I Loved Her First”, “Butterfly Kisses” and “Cinderella” are built to make the room cry. “My Girl”, “Isn’t She Lovely” and “The Way You Look Tonight” keep it light. Both work; know which you want on film.

Keep it to about two minutes. Nearly every song here runs longer than that. Your DJ can edit it to end cleanly, or fade and invite all fathers and daughters onto the floor for the last minute, which is a lovely way to include grandfathers.

Check the tempo. A slow sway needs no practice. “My Girl” and “Isn’t She Lovely” are faster than they sound; one run-through at home is enough.

Where it fits

The standard order is first dance, father-daughter, mother-son, then open dancing, all within the first twenty minutes after the grand entrance. Some couples split the parent dances around dinner instead. Our reception timeline guide walks through the whole evening, and your Genesis MC will build it with you and cue the photographer so nothing is missed.