The Best First Dance Songs - A Playlist for You

Choosing a first dance song for a wedding is a deeply personal decision, as it often reflects any couple's relationship, memories, and individual tastes. It is important to remember to choose a song that resonates for you as a couple and will be a cherished memory for years to come. Think about times driving in the car, being at a coffee shop or out for dinner and that song comes on - it will forever be a symbol of your love for each other!

There are so many reasons why a first dance song is so important, and some of them include:

  1. Symbolizes you as a couple and your relationship:

    • A first dance song is often some representation of a couple’s love or commitment to each other and reflects the emotion and journey they have shared. Lyrics could have an important meaning, or event the artist themselves!

    • It also shows off your personality! It shows your style, your uniqueness and is an opportunity for the couple to express themselves!

  2. Sets the tone for the reception:

    • The first dance typically kicks off the dancing portion of the reception! Though, some couples also choose to do their first dance after they are announced into the reception to really kick off the dinner in a romantic way.

  3. Creates a memorable moment:

    • A first dance speaks for itself - it is always something to remember! Whether you do a choreographed dance, or the song hits on the heart strings, a first dance brings out emotion and can be a lasting memory for all of your guests.

    • It is also a focal point of a wedding reception, and brings all of the guest together to celebrate and share their joy. It is one of the few moments that unites everyone at a reception, creating community and connection!

And, don’t forget, your first dance song can be played by both a wedding band or a DJ depending on the vibe of your wedding, and how you want the music to be portrayed!

Whether it's a classic ballad, a romantic contemporary hit, or something unique to you, the most important thing is that it holds special meaning for both of you. See below for some songs our past clients have used for their first dance for some inspiration!

SPOTIFY

APPLE MUSIC

THE ULTIMATE FIRST DANCE SONG LIST

"Without You" by Boyce Avenue (David Guetta cover)

"From the Ground Up" by Dan and Shay

“Steady Heart (Wedding Version)" by Kameron Marlowe

“The Wonder of You" by Villagers

“Tian Mi Mi” by Teresa Teng

“Until I Found You" by Steven Sanchez and Em Behold

"You Are The Best Thing" by Ray LaMontagne

“Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers

"I'll Quit Lovin You" by Hardy

"In My Life" by The Beatles

"Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney

“Young And Beautiful" by Lana Del Rey

"Biblical" by Calum Scott (there’s an acoustic version, too!)

“Always Remember Us This Way" by Lady Gaga

"Don't Go Home Without Me” (Acoustic) by Lights

"Lover" by Taylor Swift

"Your Song" by Elton John (or Ellie Goulding)

"Stand By Me" by Ben E King

"Baby I Love You" by The Ramones

"Every Side of You" by Vance Joy

“A Sunday Kind Of Love” by Etta James

"Nobody Gets Me Like You" by Arkells

"Worship You" by Kane Brown

"Then" by Brad Paisley (piano version)

“Best Part (feat. H.E.R.) by Daniel Caesar

“I Remember” by Forest Blakk

“Nervous (Piano Version) by John Legend

“What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong

"Lover Come Back" by City and Colour

“Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison

“When I’m With You” by Sheriff

“Beyond” by Leon Bridges

"Fall on Me" by Andrea Bocelli and Matteo Bocelli

"You're The One That I Want" by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John

“You’re Still the One” by Teddy Swims (Shania Twain Cover)

“Love Love Love" by Say Hi

"Lifetime" by Justin Bieber

“At Last” by Etta James

“All Your'n” by Tyler Childers

"How Long Will I Love You" by Canyon City

"Sweetest Love" by Robin Thicke

"Can’t Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley (or Kina Grannis)

“The Way You Look Tonight" by Frank Sinatra

"Wonderful" by Chris Malinchak

“Latch" by Sam Smith (Acoustic)

“Lovely Day" by Bill Withers

“Good Woman” by Maren Morris

"Forever Like That" by Ben Rector

“Amazing Day" by Cold Play

"Truly Madly Deeply" by Savage Garden

“Just You and I” (Acoustic) by Tom Walker

“Wild Love” (Acoustic) by James Bay

“Proof” by Luca Fogale

How to Plan the Bar at a Wedding

When you think about a wedding, often the first thing that comes to mind is food, closely followed by alcohol: the open bar! This has become super common at weddings, but it can be incredibly confusing when looking at all of the information from your venue, or if you’re doing your own private property event!

Below is some information on how to plan the bar at a wedding depending on the type of event you’re having, and how to navigate what type of bar to have.

Overview

First things first, across any type of wedding, is knowing your friends and family best and also knowing what type of event you want to have. Weddings are a celebratory event so accounting for a slightly higher consumption than usual can often avoid extra charges in the end.

It’s important to keep in mind as well that your guest count impacts the amount spent on drinks for the night. The more people you have, the more you’ll spend. Consider that this is a “night out” and so an average cost for a night out on the town is a good ballpark for the amount per person at a wedding.

In the end, it all comes down to budget and your guests. Whatever makes the most sense for the wedding you are looking for as a couple.

Types of Bars

Open Bar

There are also a few versions of open bars to consider, based on your guests and party vibe:

Bar Package:

  • Bar packages will charge a fixed price per adult guest. This is a good option if your group likes to drink. Importantly, the hosts also know the cost upfront. There aren’t any surprises at the end.

Consumption Bar:

  • Pricing by consumption means that the hosts are paying for the number of drinks ordered; the more the guests drink, the higher the tab will be. This is a good option if most of your crowd aren’t big drinkers, and whatever is consumed will be counted up at the end of the night. Note that venues will clear abandoned glassware as to stay on top of clutter and the washing so often, a guest will put their drink down to go dance and come back to their drink having disappeared so will order another, which can drive up the cost.

Open bars generally include tiered types of packaging such as standard vs premium.

Cash Bar

At a cash bar, guests pay for their own drinks just as they would if they were out for dinner or at a bar. Having a cash bar saves the couple, or hosts, money but does set a different tone for guests as they will be the ones required to pay for their drinks all evening. You’ll have to consider that guests will pay for each drink, tip the bartenders and close out tabs which can add to service times throughout the night. However, this is a great option if the majority of guests are not drinking and does not need to be the focal point of the celebration. We highly suggest notifying guests in advance so there are no surprises on the day.

Some venues offer a mix of open bars and cash bars. For example, open bar from 5pm-9pm and cash bar after dinner at 9pm.

Dry Bar

Of course, there is the option to forgo alcohol altogether and host a dry wedding. This could be for religious or cultural reasons or just because of the atmosphere the couple wishes to create. Serving only non-alcoholic drinks will result in significant savings - a whole budget line is eliminated!

Are you getting married at a venue?

Here are some general tips to consider if you are getting married at a bricks and mortar venue.If you are planning a private property event, keep scrolling!

Here are the main questions to ask when you are first starting to plan:

  • How long is the bar open for and what is included?

  • Will the bar be open during dinner or will there only be wine service to the tables? If the bar is closed during dinner, will guests be able to order a mixed drink from their server? Will the wine be left on the tables for top ups?

  • What upgrades to alcohol brands are included and what additions to the menu can be accommodated? For example, if you prepare one type of vodka over another, make sure to ask if this can be incorporated!

  • Does the venue have a liquor license, or will you be required to purchase an SOP and the alcohol associated? While this option isn’t as common as it used to be, there still are some venues that function this way! If so, are there corkage fees?

  • Will signature cocktails be accommodated and what are the limitations surrounding this?

By going through these questions, in relation to what packages and types of bar your venue offers, you can narrow down what you are looking for and how much it will cost.

Are you getting married on private property?

Here are some general tips to consider if you are planning a private property wedding, and are not getting married in a traditional venue.

  • Catering or Bar Team

    • You will need to discuss with your catering team the limitations of their bar services, and if they are included or not. From there, you will need to consider hiring a bar service with smart serve trained bartenders to ensure alcohol consumption is monitored and safe!

  • Storing the alcohol

    • Ice and coolers, or enough refrigerated space, will need to be considered before purchasing any alcohol. Where will this be stored? How will staff get access to this for ease of service? Refrigerated trucks to sit in driveways are an excellent solution for this!

  • Legal paperwork requirements

    • You may be required to obtain permits in order to purchase alcohol and host your evening legally and successfully. In Ontario, this is called an SOP (Special Occassion Permit) and you can view all the details on the AGCO website.

    • It is also a good idea to get the right event insurance with alcohol liability coverage, to ensure you are fully covered for the night.

  • Purchasing Alcohol

    • When looking to consider how much to purchase, our rule of thumb tends to be to calculate 1.5 drinks per person, per hour that the bar is open. This is a bit on the high end but accounts for toasts or celebratory moments.

    • Then you’ll need to consider the type of alcohol you’d like to offer. Are you doing a full range open bar? Just beer and wine? Champagne toast? Here are our suggestions:

      • Just beer and wine: 40% beer, 60% wine

      • Beer, wine, and spirits: 30% beer, 40% wine, 30% spirits (usually 1-2 bottles of 4-5 types of liquor works)

      • Champagne toast? Account for one glass per person, with one bottle serving 5 guests.

      • You can always add a 10% buffer on each thing purchased as well, just in case!

    • Don’t forget to buy soft drinks and water! You’ll want mixes for cocktails, soft drinks for those who want something different, or for those who don’t drink. And always lots of water, especially on hot summer days! We suggest buying 5-gallon water bottles and electric or hand pumps for water service for dinner if there is no water access available.

BONUS TIPS

When purchasing through the LCBO on your SOP, you can return anything that is UNopened and labels intact! So you can purchase a little extra, and return if needed.

Check that your bartenders will be providing garnishes (ie. lemons, limes, cherries, etc.) or add them to your shopping list if required.

On warm days, guests will likely drink more white wine vice versa, on colder days, guests will likely drink more red wine.

We recommend planning between 1.5 and 2.5 pounds of ice per person with the higher end being for both in drinks and for cooling them.

Keep in mind that leaving bottles on the table during dinner invites guests to consume more quickly as its always within reach or to be heavy with their pours. It also means more bottles will be opened, leaving unfinished bottles once the dance floor starts when guests typically switch to mixed drinks, leaving lots of waste at the end.

A planner and caterer are also able to help calculate all of these things for you, and use a simple alcohol calculator to ensure you’re buying the correct quantities for your wedding!

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How to Design a Wedding Tablescape

Rectangular tables are a popular choice, especially those beautiful harvest tables that have been a wedding trend for the last few years. Designing centerpieces for these tables can be challenging. It can be hard to visualize exactly how much space is on the table to bring your vision to life. There are lots of elements you want to incorporate into your tablescape both necessary for dinner service and also to define your aesthetic, but how do we know if it will all fit?

THE EXAMPLES

We’ve come up with some versions of tablescapes on the three standard and common sizes of tables to give a sense of what space is available at each width. The biggest mistake we see couples making is thinking that the tablescape will feel too empty, but the reality is, there are things added. Think bread baskets, butter or oils, salt and pepper shakers, etc.; all necessary for dinner service. Having to move things around to find space for these is not ideal and also wastes precious time.

For example, many tables at restaurants are 24” or 30” across if you’re lucky, so when you go for lunch or dinner, you end up shifting things around to make room for shared apps, bread baskets, etc. Not fun, right? These don’t even include much more than a single votive candle, so imagine this with even more design and decor elements your wedding will have!

In this example, we used a standard set for flatware, a charger plate and dinner plate, both red and white wine glasses, and a water goblet. This shows the full range of each table size.

Read on to learn some pro tips we have and more about the design!

30” table

36” table

42” table

THINGS TO NOTICE

When looking at the examples above, there are some key things to keep an eye out for and notice a difference on:

  1. You’ll notice that as the distance across the tables gets bigger, so does the available space. Each element has more of an opportunity to stand out and not cramped by the next. Breathing room between elements is important - you’ve picked these pieces for a reason!

  2. Charger plates take up precious space, so on the 30” table, you’ll notice some things have shifted around to make room. If you choose to not use a charger plate, you can use other design elements like coloured napkins, coloured candles, branded menus, etc. to make just as big of an impact on the overall design!

  3. Look at the side plates. Notice how they change position as the table gets bigger? On the smaller tables, there is no room to put them in the top left corner, so they must be placed to the side. Something to note if you prefer one look over the other!

  4. The beautiful florals have been scaled appropriately for the table, to ensure they don’t overtake any of the other details - a key design element we considered when working with our wonderful florist, Amy from Mae Floral Studio. Keep in mind the size of your florals versus what Pinterest is showing you, or what your brain thinks you want!

Pro tip #1: Incorporating coloured candles brings colour and interest to the table. These become an extension of the floral arrangements so you can actually go for slightly smaller scale arrangements.

Pro tip #2: If you are passionate about the charger plate look, you could also do a dinner-sized plate as a charger plate, providing that the appetizer/first course plate is small enough for it to look right once it goes down. The dinner plate would then be removed after first course, same as a charger plate. Same look and feel, smaller size!

TABLE SIZes

As you begin to think about your tablescape design, be sure to double-check what the table size is at your venue and communicate that to your design vendors. This will help aid them in curating a design plan that fits the space they have to work with. Most venues have rectangular tables that are 8’ long and 30” wide, but you may find yourself lucky with your venue having 36” wide tables on-hand. Wherever possible, we like to upgrade and bring in 40” or 42” wide tables to ensure both guest comfort and breathing room for all the pieces on the table.

Click here to check out our helpful guide to table seating and linen sizes which will help you in your planning!

Planning and design by Laura Olsen Events, photography by Christine Lim Photography, florals by Mae Floral Studio, stationery by Statue Rue, and table decor courtesy of Simply Beautiful Decor.

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The Benefits of Restaurant Weddings | An Intimate wedding at Ricarda's Toronto

Hosting a wedding at a restaurant can offer a variety of benefits. Firstly, restaurants often have beautiful and unique decor, making it easy to create an intimate and cozy atmosphere. Think unique flatware and glassware, soft romantic lighting, and comfortable but beautiful dining chairs, or even wall decor to set the warm and welcoming vibe. Additionally, staff members are experienced in providing exceptional service, ensuring that guests are well taken care of throughout the entire event. Furthermore, many restaurants have in-house catering and bar services, which can simplify the planning process and potentially save the couple money. While the setup windows can be a bit tighter than with a traditional wedding venue, the task is typically a bit easier due to all those aforementioned design details that reduce the amount of decor needing to be brought in. Overall, hosting a wedding at a restaurant can be a convenient, cost-effective, and memorable way to celebrate such a special occasion.

Amanda and John chose Ricarda’s Restaurant in downtown Toronto. They broke their evening into two different groups; an intimate ceremony and dinner for their immediate families, followed by cocktails, food stations, and dancing for another 75 guests. The evening had a wonderful flow and gave them an opportunity to maximize their time with all of their guests. It also meant with their smaller dinner guest they could splurge on some of the items they important to them without breaking the bank. For example, they only needed 25 menus and place setting upgrades instead of 100. Huge cost savings. Plus, they didn’t need a seating chart for such a small group of guests. Not only was this a big cost savings but it was also much easier on the environment as a whole to remove the waste.

Photography by Robin Sassi, florals by Rikki Marcone, tabletop details from Simply Beautiful Decor, music from St. Royals, and stationery by Statue Rue.