Hold the Cheese: Best Wedding Dance Songs

You've said "I do," the rings are on fingers and you've shared your first kiss as husband and wife. After the stress of your wedding comes the chance to party it up at your reception - but what kind of celebratory statement are you going to make? It all depends on the songs you select for the customary wedding dances.

No one sets out to pick a cheesy song for the first dance. No son wants to cringe over the song to which he dances with his mother, and no Daddy's Little Girl wants to laugh about her musical selection for that moment. Cheesy songs aren't intentional, but they happen all too often - fueled partly by sentimentality, partly by the thought that this moment is supposed to be a little melodramatic. What people forget is that there are cool songs that will allow you to celebrate a special wedding reception moment without causing any snickers from the crowd.

First Dance
If you and your sweetie have a special song, this is a logical place for it to make a wedding day appearance. Many couples, however, have never officially designated a song as the one that defines their relationship; in other cases, what might be a perfect song for the couple might not be appropriate for a formal dance. Consider some of these options if you're looking to make a cool and classy statement:

• "You Are the Best Thing" by Ray Lamontagne: A contemporary tune with a classic Motown feel, this tune will manage to earn top votes from younger and older guests alike.
• "Better Together" by Jack Johnson: You don't need a whole orchestra to get your musical message across. Jack Johnson provides the perfect wedding message accompanied only by an acoustic guitar when he sings "It's always better when we're together."
• "This Year's Love" by David Gray: The steady piano accompaniment gives this song an ideal slow dance tempo, and Gray sings of love's ability to persevere.
• "All I Want Is You" by U2: Dancing to these Irish rockers earns anyone instant cool points, and it's a slow song that has a little bit of a rock and roll edge to it.

Mother/Son Dance
A mother holds a special place in a son's heart, and a mother/son dance allows the groom a chance to celebrate the other woman in his life.

• "Song for Mama" by Boyz II Men: The perfect R&B ode to a mother, this song reminds a mother that her son has taken on life partner, but his mother remains "the queen of [his] heart."
• "In My Life" by the Beatles: The go-to song for reflecting on changes that have taken place over the years, this tune carries the added bonus of being one that both mother and son will probably know very well.
• "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong: This timeless song is guaranteed to bring smiles to the faces of the mother, son and guests. The classy vibe and gentle tempo also makes it a beautiful dancing song.

Father/Daughter Dance
A father/daughter dance gives a bride's father an opportunity to share the spotlight with his little girl and is often one of the tear-jerker moments of a reception. A bride already knows that she's Daddy's Little Girl, so skip the 1950 Mills Brothers recording in favor of one of these:

• "Father and Daughter" by Paul Simon: Simon continues to stand the test of musical time, and this song delivers its message when the songster sings that "as long as one and one is two, there could never be a  father who loved his daughter more than I love you."
• "Isn't She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder: Wonder wrote this 1976 tune to celebrate the birth of his daughter, but it also serves as a beautiful way for a father to show off a daughter on her wedding day.
• "My Girl" by the Temptations: You can't go wrong with the Temptations. It's simply not possible.