The Best Father Daughter Dance Songs
The father daughter dance is often the moment that gets the most tears at a wedding. Below are the songs our DJs play most for it, grouped by mood, with a few tips from the dance floor on timing and length.
Updated October 2026 by the DJ team at Angels Music Productions, Los Angeles.
Classic and Timeless
- “My Girl” by The Temptations. Upbeat and sweet. Great if you would rather smile than cry.
- “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder. Written for his daughter. Joyful and easy to dance to.
- “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. Slow, warm and loved by every generation in the room.
- “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra. A classic swing slow dance.
- “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole. A real father and daughter duet, recorded years after his death.
- “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King. Simple, familiar and steady.
- “In My Life” by The Beatles. Short, gentle and full of memories.
Country and Heartfelt
- “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts. One of the most requested of all. A father’s wishes for his daughter’s life.
- “I Loved Her First” by Heartland. Written for exactly this moment.
- “Butterfly Kisses” by Bob Carlisle. Walks through a daughter growing up. Have tissues ready.
- “My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw. Tender and modern country.
- “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack. A message of hope for the road ahead.
- “Cinderella” by Steven Curtis Chapman. A father learning to treasure every dance.
Modern and Pop
- “You’ll Be in My Heart” by Phil Collins. A Disney favorite that works for any age.
- “Daughters” by John Mayer. Soft acoustic, good for a relaxed dance.
- “Forever Young” by Rod Stewart. A father’s blessing, with a bit more tempo.
- “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac. About change and growing up.
- “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion. A big thank you song.
- “Father and Daughter” by Paul Simon. Light, warm and less expected.
- “Dance with My Father” by Luther Vandross. Often chosen to honor a father who has passed, during a memorial moment.
Tips for the Father Daughter Dance
- Keep it to 2 or 3 minutes. Most songs run longer than the dance needs. Ask your DJ to fade out at a natural point.
- Try a surprise mashup. Start slow, then switch to something fun like “Twist and Shout” or “Uptown Funk”. Guests love it, and it takes the pressure off a nervous dad.
- Plan where it goes. It usually comes right after the first dance. Some couples combine it with the mother son dance and invite everyone onto the floor halfway through.
- Add a live player. A violin or sax player playing along with the track makes the moment feel bigger.
- Tell your DJ the exact version. Many songs have live, acoustic and remix versions.
- Practice once together. One short wedding dance lesson with your dad makes a simple sway with a spin feel easy.
More wedding music: see our mother son dance songs, first dance songs, and the full list of most requested wedding songs for every moment of the day.
Our wedding DJs plan every special dance with you before the wedding, and service starts from $1,499.
