Featured Photo by Athens Wedding Photographer Blane Marable

There are several moments in every wedding where there’s not  a dry eye in the room; the groom’s reaction seeing the bride walk down the aisle for the first time, the exchange of vows, or the first dance. Nothing tends to send a collective sniffle through the crowd quite like the father-daughter dance. This one dance signifies the bitter-sweet sendoff of the father of the bride, and it always pulls at the heartstrings to see a grown man cry. Picking your father-daughter dance song may seem like an intimidating task, but it doesn’t have to be. Pick a song that either has sentimental value between you and your father or find a new song that speaks to both of you.

Photo by Alex Bee Photography

Here are a few songs to help you narrow down your search for the perfect song. 

“Butterfly Kisses” by Bob Carlise 

Lyrics: “She’ll change her name today

She’ll make a promise

And I’ll give her away”

“Cinderella” by Steven Curtis Chapman

Lyrics: “Oh, I will dance with Cinderella

I don’t wanna miss even one song

‘Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight

And she’ll be gone”

“My Girl” by The Temptations 

Lyrics: “Well I guess you’d say

What can make me feel this way?

My girl (my girl, my girl)”

“I Loved Her First” by Heartland 

Lyrics: “I knew the love of a father runs deep

And I prayed that she’d find you someday

But it’s still hard to give her away”

“Have I Told You Lately” by Rod Stewart

Lyrics: “Have I told you lately that I love you?

Have I told you there’s no one else above you?

Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness”

“My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw

Lyrics: “Someday some boy will come and ask me for your hand

But I won’t say yes to him

Unless I know he’s the half that makes you whole”

“It Had to be You” by Frank Sinatra 

Lyrics: “With all your faults, I love you still

It had to be you, wonderful you 

It had to be you”

“There Goes My Life” by Kenny Chesney

Lyrics: “There goes my life 

There goes my future my everything 

I love you, daddy goodnight”

“When You Need Me” by Bruce Springsteen

Lyrics: “When you need me call my name

‘Cause without you my life just wouldn’t be the same

If you want me come sunny skies or rain

When you need me just call my name”

Photo by Olivia Leigh Photographie

“I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack 

Lyrics: “Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens

Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance”

“My Wish” by Rascal Flats

Lyrics: “My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small”

“Daughters” by John Mayer

Lyrics: “So fathers, be good to your daughters

Daughters will love like you do”

“Just Fishin’” by Trace Atkins

Lyrics: “She ain’t even thinkin’ ’bout

What’s really goin’ on right now

But I guarantee this memory’s a big’in

And she thinks we’re just fishin’”

“A Song For My Daughter” by Ray Allaire

Lyrics: “Now it seems I only turned around

And I see you by his side

Oh, I can’t believe my eyes today

My daughter is a bride”

“Always Be Your Baby” by Natalie Grant

Lyrics: “I’ll always be your baby

No matter how the years fly by

The way you loved me 

Made me who I am in this world”

“Daddy” by Beyonce

Lyrics: “I want my husband to be like my daddy

There is no one else like my daddy

And I thank you (thank you)”

“Butterfly Fly Away” by Miley Cyrus and Billy Ray Cyrus 

Lyrics: “Turned around and you were there

The two of us made quite a pair

Daddy’s little girl was here at last”

“Daddy Dance With Me” by Krystal Keith

Lyrics: “Daddy don’t let go

I want you to know I’ll always need your love.

Today I became his wife

But I’ll be your baby girl for life.”

“How Sweet It Is” by James Taylor

Lyrics: “Close my eyes at night

And wonder what would I be without you in my life”

“I’ll Be There” by Josh Turner

Lyrics: “If you need a frown turned to a grin 

Or you need a hand just to hold your hand 

Need a daddy or you just need a friend 

I’ll be there”

Photo by Jeremiah and Rachel Photography

No matter which song you choose, the first dance with your father after walking his little girl down the aisle and sending her off is sure to be one of the highlights of your wedding. It will definitely be a memory neither of you will ever forget! 

Use this QR code to access a Spotify playlist with all of the songs mentioned here. 

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