Awesome Alt Rock and Metal First Dance Songs

by | Last updated Mar 25, 2026 | Published on Jan 18, 2023

rock and metal first dance songs

Need some inspiration for rock first dance songs?

If you’re tired of hearing the same old songs played at EVERY wedding for a first dance and you want your moment to pack a bit more of a punch, you’ve come to the right place. Here I have compiled some awesome rock first dance songs, ranging from just a little alternative, to a bit of emo, right through to black metal – hello eclectic music taste! What better way to kick off married life than with a first dance that you can really rock out to. The best tunes make for the BEST PHOTOS!! There are so many songs that I could have chosen, but I’ve narrowed it down to a handful of kickass tunes that really get that loving message across. Enjoy!

Click here to see me chatting about the importance of having a kickass song over on Tik Tok.

Click here for some awesome metal tracks for walking down the aisle that won’t scare your granny!

Stay tuned until the end to check out the Spotify playlist… 

Looking for a wedding photographer who appreciates the rock and metal scene as much as you? Get in touch! Let’s chat 🖤

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Something light…

  • I Will Follow You into the Dark – Amanda Palmer


    If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied
    Illuminate the no’s on their vacancy signsIf there’s no one beside you when your soul embarksThen I’ll follow you into the dark

    Amanda Palmer’s cover of Death Cab For Cutie’s song. I LOVE her voice so much and love the vibe she brings to the song.

  • Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want – The Smiths


    So please, please, pleaseLet me, let me, let meLet me get what I wantThis time

    It’s just bloody beautiful isn’t it.

alternative wedding photographer
rock first dance song
  • Kiss Me – New Found Glory


    Oh, kiss me, beneath the milky twilightLead me out on the moonlit floorLift your open handStrike up the band and make the fireflies danceSilver moon’s sparklingSo kiss me

    A super fun cover of Sixpence None the Richer’s bop that is bound to be a fan favourite at any wedding, with a little more bounce!

  • Here Comes Your Man – The Pixies

    There is a wait so long

    (So long, so long)You’ll never wait so long

    Here comes your manHere comes your man

    One of my favourite songs.. love a bit of Pixies

  • First Day of My Life – Bright Eyes


    This is the first day of my lifeI’m glad I didn’t die before I met youBut now I don’t care, I could go anywhere with youAnd I’d probably be happy

    Bit more of a chilled out one but I love it

  • Beating Heart Baby – Head Automatica


    Beating hearts babybaby is this love for real?beating hearts babylet me in your arms to feelbeating hearts babythe beating of your heart, babybeating hearts babythe beating of your heart, baby

    This one takes me right back to my teens.. a super fun one to sing at your betrothed

alternative wedding photographer drag shutter
alternative wedding photographer dance floor

let’s get a Little heavier…
 

  • Stand Inside Your Love – Smashing Pumpkins


    And for the first timeI feel as though I am rebornIn my mindRecast as child and mystic sageWho wouldn’t be the one you loveWho wouldn’t stand inside your love

    Just beautiful…

     

  • I Caught Fire – The Used


    In your eyes, I lost my placeCould stay a whileAnd I’m meltingIn your eyes like my first timeThat I caught fireJust stay with me, lay with me now

    For your inner emo… we all have one, right?? This is one of my favourites again

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  • Rebel Love Song – Black Veil Brides


    So take your hand in mineIt’s ours tonightThis is a Rebel Love SongHearts will sacrificeIt’s do or dieThis is a Rebel Love Song

    LOVE this song!!

  • I Only Wanna Be With You – Volbeat


    I don’t know what it is that makes me love you soI only know I never want to let you go‘Cause you started something, oh, can’t you see?That ever since we met you’ve had a hold on meIt happens to be true, I only want to be with you

    This Dusty cover is a tune. I stumbled across this one when I was looking for the version by Twiggy Ramirez and Twiggy from the Dead Man on Campus soundtrack but alas, it’s not on Spotify. You can see that version on YouTube here.

alternative wedding photographer dance floor
alternative wedding photographer dance floor

 

  • God Only Knows – Avenged Sevenfold


    God only knows what I’d be without youIf you should ever leave meThough life would still go on believe meThe world could show nothing to meSo what good would living do me

    Cute little cover from Avenged

     

  • I’ll Follow You – Shinedown


    I’ll follow you down to the eye of the stormDon’t worry I’ll keep you warmI’ll follow you downWhile we are passing through spaceI don’t care if we fall from graceI’ll follow you down

    This is a special one for me and my husband – we love a bit of Shinedown

Scottish corby dance floor celebration

 

  • Say You’ll Haunt Me – Stone Sour


    Say you wanna stayYou want me tooSay you’ll never dieYou’ll always haunt meI want to know I belong to youSay you’ll haunt me

    This is not going to be the only entry that includes the beaut that is Corey Taylor

     

  • Nothing Else Matters – Metallica


    So close, no matter how farIt couldn’t be much more from the heartForever trusting who we areAnd nothing else matters

    Can’t have a rock first dance songs list like this and not include Metallica, right?! 

wedding photographer midlands Northamptonshire
alternative wedding photographer East Midlands Northamptonshire dance floor

Heavier still?? Oh go on then…

 

  • Eternally Yours – Motionless In White
    I’m ready to bury all of my bonesI’m ready to lie but say I won’tSo tell me your secretsAnd join me in piecesTo rot in this garden made of stones

    Eternally yours

    Another absolute tune!! 

     

  • Vermillion – Slipknot


    She is everything and moreThe solemn hypnoticMy Dahlia bathed in possessionShe is home to me

    Oh hello again, Corey Taylor. You didn’t think you were going to read a blog post by me about music and it NOT include Slipknot did you? Love this one. If you love a bit of Slipknot but want something a bit more chilled, can I recommend Vermillion pt2

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  • Here Until Forever – In Flames

    When I look at you I see meWe will always be part of historyWhen I look at you I see meForever I will always be

    Pretty chilled out for In Flames but still a great one with lovely lyrics

  • Walk With Me In Hell – Lamb of God

    Take hold of my handFor you are no longer aloneWalk with me in Hell

    Beautiful lyrics and a tuuuuune!!! Not sure what granny would think of this one but I LOVE it.

rock first dance songs
alternative wedding photographer East Midlands Northamptonshire dance floor

 

  • Nymphetamine Fix – Cradle of Filth

    Six feet deep is the incision in my heart, that barless prisonDiscolors all with tunnel vision, sunsetter, nymphetamineSick and weak from my condition, this lust is vampyric addictionTo her alone in full submission, none better, nymphetamine

    Oh, Dani Filth you BEAUTIFUL CREATURE. What a tune. To be honest I could go with any Cradle of Filth song and be happy but this one is more on the romantic side 🙂

     

  • Zeit – Rammstein


    Zeit, bitte bleib stehen, bleib stehenZeit, das soll immer so weitergehenZeit, es ist so schön, so schönEin jeder kennt den perfekten moment

    Translated:
    TimePlease stand still, stand still
    TimeThis should keep going forever
    TimeIt’s so nice, so nice
    Everybody knows
    The perfect moment

    This song gives me alll the feels. It hits deep. I also like to think my GSCE in German really comes in handy when I’m singing along to the entire Rammstein back catalogue.

rock and metal first dance songs

There you have my rock first dance songs inspiration! Planning a kickass wedding that’s going to include some of these awesome tunes? Count me in! I could talk about these rockin’ floor fillers all day.

Want some more metal wedding inspiration? Check out ten awesome metal songs that are PERFECT for walking down the aisle HERE

CHECK OUT MY SPOTIFY PLAYLIST HERE:

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