Great First Dance Songs for Indie & Alternative Couples

No, You Don’t Have to Sway Awkwardly to Ed Sheeran! LOL. Let’s talk first dances.

For some people, it’s the moment they’ve been dreaming about since forever. For others, it’s a nightmare, involving WAY too many eyes, not enough rhythm, and the fear of being forced into a song that feels… deeply un-you. So I'm going to give you a list of Great First Dance Songs for Indie and Alternative couples! (Spotify link below)

Photo Credit : Analog Modern

The good news is there are so many incredible first dance options out there for alternative, queer, Millennial and Zoomer couples who want something meaningful without being cheesy, cringe, or aggressively patriarchal.

As a wedding DJ who lives for couples doing things their own way, I’m here to say this loudly:

Your first dance should sound like you!!!

What Makes a “Great” First Dance Song (There Are No Rules, But Still…)

A great first dance song doesn’t have to be:

• A slow song

• A love ballad

• From the 70s

• Sung by a straight man begging a woman not to leave him

Instead, it can be:

• Indie, alt, electronic, pop, punk-adjacent, or genre-fluid chaos

• Written by queer artists or allies

• Gender-neutral (or at least not wildly uncomfortable)

• Emotional, joyful, playful, horny, soft, dramatic, or all of the above

Some couples want a slow sway and a cry. Some want a build, a drop, and a moment. Some want to start slow and then surprise everyone with a beat shift halfway through.

All valid. All brilliant!

For the Alternative Lovers

If your relationship soundtrack leans indie, moody, or “we met at a gig / online / emotionally”, your first dance can absolutely live there too.

Think songs that feel intimate rather than overproduced. Lyrics that sound like private thoughts. Music that feels like late nights, long drives, and choosing each other quietly, over and over again.

These tracks tend to work beautifully for:

• Swaying rather than formal dancing

• Dim lighting and moody vibes

• Couples who hate attention but secretly love romance

For Queer Couples (Yes, You Deserve Better Lyrics)

One of the most common things queer couples say to me is: “Why are so many love songs… not for us?”

The good news? That’s changing — and fast.

There are now so many stunning first dance options by queer artists, with gender-neutral lyrics, or songs that simply feel expansive enough to hold all kinds of love. Eg. Cash Savage, or go old school and have KD Lang, or Elton John!

Your first dance can be:

• Soft and tender

• Political by existing

• Loud, proud, subtle, or low-key

• A love letter to chosen family, survival, and joy

And no — it doesn’t have to be a “gay wedding song™️” to count. If it feels right, it is right.

For Millennials & Zoomers Who Refuse to Be Cringe

If the phrase “traditional wedding music” makes you want to fake your own disappearance, you’re in good company.

More and more couples are choosing:

• Songs they’ve loved for years

• Tracks from playlists they already share

• Music that means something specific to their relationship

Not songs they think they’re “supposed” to choose.

Your first dance doesn’t need to impress anyone. It just needs to feel honest.

A DJ Tip (From Someone Who’s Seen It All)

If you’re nervous about the first dance, here are a few gentle truths:

• You don’t have to dance for the whole song

• You don’t have to choreograph anything

• You don’t have to do it alone (group dances are cute as hell)

• You can fade it out, invite people in, or move straight into party mode

A good DJ will read the room, read you, and make sure the moment feels supportive — not stressful.

Final Thoughts...

Your first dance isn’t a performance. It’s a pause.

A moment to look at each other and go, “Oh wow. We’re doing this.”

Whether that happens to a soft indie track, a queer pop anthem, or something beautifully unexpected — it all counts.

And if you want help choosing a song, figuring out the timing, or creating a moment that actually feels good in your body?

That’s literally my thing, let's chat! 💿✨

Here's a link for Spotify Users (The Above playlist link is for Tidal)