15 Classic Country Love Songs That Are Perfect for Your Wedding

I’m gonna be honest with you (as most country songs would). It took me a LONG time to make this list of country love songs that could work for a wedding (even longer than it took me to sort through hundreds of songs for this list of 20 Unique Wedding Songs). It’s not that there aren’t a TON of great country love songs out there…there are! It’s just that they’re usually about broken hearts, cheating wives or no good guys, or–lets face it–about drinking way too much whiskey and beer. Lol. Not that that’s not romantic (most of my favorite love songs are about heartbreak) but for your first dance song you want something with a little more hope! Lol.

I also tried to narrow down these country wedding songs to the classics, and in this case songs that would be considered “vintage” which–gulp–any song that was made 20 years prior to today, so that’s 1996. How crazy is that!! (If you’re in your 30’s like I am, trust me. That sounds crazy.)

So…here you go! Without further ado, this is my list of the best country wedding songs for your first dance. Let us know what you think about them in the comments section below!

P.S.: These are in no particular order.

1. When You Say Nothing At All by Keith Whatley, 1988

Alison Krauss also does an amazing cover of this song, but I’m actually a bigger fan of Keith Whatley’s earlier version.

2. I Cross My Heart by George Strait, 1992

A commenter on this YouTube video just broke my heart. He wrote:

“I went on a date tonight with a girl who I’m super into, we started kissing and this song started playing, we both started laughing because this was only our 2nd date, but if things go the way I think they are, this will be our wedding song and it’s going to be perfect.”

His latest update when someone asked him if it worked out?

“Sadly no, things didn’t work out between us, but it’s for the best!” #KeepOnKeepinOn

One day you’ll get to dance to this song, Kevin Glaudel!

3. The Sweetest Thing by Juice Newton, 1981

This is definitely an under-the-radar oldie that I guarantee you almost nobody will have as a first dance wedding song (and if it is/was your first dance wedding song let us know in the comments section, because you are awesome).

4. In Spite of Ourselves by John Prine and Iris Dement, (er, 1999)

OK. I cheated by including this one because it’s three years after my “vintage cutoff” (write a country song about it!), but John Prine is a classic country star and I wanted to include this because it’s so different from anything else on this list. It’s admittedly an extremely quirky choice for a first dance song (and you have to feel comfortable with lyrics like “he’s got more balls than a big brass monkey”) but there is something so cute and sweet about it.

5. Love is Alive by The Judds, 1984

It was a toss-up between this and “Mama He’s Crazy,” but this one just pulls at my heartstrings and feels much more cinematic.

6. Unanswered Prayers by Garth Brooks, 1990

This song is a little untraditional in the fact that it starts off talking about a past relationship…but the beauty of it is we have most likely ALL been there and can relate…and on your wedding day there is (hopefully) no other place you’d rather be (or person you’d rather be with) than the person dancing with you. I think this song perfectly encapsulates that moment!

7. You Don’t Know Me by Ray Charles, 1965

Yes, this is actually considered a country song! And it actually happens to be my favorite song on this list. Ray Charles has such an amazing voice, and the tempo of this song is perfect for a first dance.

8. If I Needed You by Don Williams and Emmylou Harris, 1981

Townes Van Zandt first released this song in 1972. While his version is also amazing, there’s just something about Emmylou Harris and Don Williams’ version that takes it to a whole new level.

9. Forever and Ever, Amen by Randy Travis, 1987

This is the “At Last” of vintage country wedding songs. I mean, is there a song MORE made for a first dance than this one? It’s a little fast for me, so I would love to see what it was like if you had a band perform it and slow the song down a bit.

10. Look At Us by Vince Gill, 1991

Look at us after all these years together/Look at us after all that we’ve been through/Look at us still leaning on each other/If you wanna see how true love should be then just look at us…Do lyrics to ANY song (country or not) get more perfect than this?!

11. Passionate Kisses by Lucinda Williams, 1988

This is definitely one of those first dance wedding songs with an attitude, and we love that. It’s going to be way faster than your typical wedding song (it kind of makes me feel like doing the Molly Ringwald Breakfast Club dance), but again, if you have a band I would have them slow it down. If not, just go with it!

Speaking of Lucinda Williams I have to say that Something About the Way We Talk might be one of my Top 10 favorite songs ever, and one that I DEFINITELY love for a first dance song.

12. There’s No Way by Alabama, 1985

This was Alabama’s 16th straight number one hit, and made them one of the most popular country bands of the 80’s. It’s kind of sappy, but really…what love song isn’t.

13. Kiss An Angel Good Morning by Charlie Pride, 1971

I’m a big fan of country songs with this tempo. I would definitely think about taking a dance lesson or two for this one…this song was made for the two-step!

14. You Were Always on My Mind by Willie Nelson, 1982

I originally suggested this song as a father dance wedding song, but I think it could also work for a first dance song, particularly if your relationship has had a breakup in the past or ups and downs. It’s such a sweet song, and could definitely have a personal meaning for the both of you.

15. I Like It, I Love It by Tim McGraw, 1995

This song just makes me smile. It’s super fun and would be a first dance song that you will definitely always remember. I would even think about inviting guests to form a circle around the two of you on the dance floor and sing along if they know it.

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