As you may know from my past blogs, I am (well, was) a pandemic bride. My fiancé and I were first scheduled to wed on Lake Wallenpaupack in the Poconos on May 30. Obviously, COVID-19 roared in and, due to state mandates, we moved our wedding to Aug. 15. Up until almost the end of July, we were set for the event at the original venue on Aug. 15 — with regulations and changes, but all issues we could deal with. Then a round of new mandates came down that changed the entire event, and we decided to switch it all up — we slashed the guest list to 25, and in three weeks’ time found a new ceremony space and dinner venue, closer to our home in Bucks County, and we still got married on Aug. 15. So I am now Kimberly Krol Inlander! While it wasn’t what we originally imagined and, unfortunately, not with everyone we originally intended, it was still a perfect, meaningful and happy day. And now we’re almost two weeks wed!

We made sure we still had our first dances, our speeches, our cake cutting, as we don’t know what will happen in 2021 and we wanted to make sure to enjoy those moments. As I was in the midst of scrambling to replan the revised wedding, I got an email from jewellrybox.co.uk about the world’s favorite first dance songs. And, coincidentally, our chosen song made the list!

Photo 50264815 © Yakub88 | Dreamstime.com

I always find lists like this interesting, and for all those currently planning a wedding, believe me, I know how stressful it is, especially during these times. But picking your first dance song should be fun and lighthearted, so take a second to escape the stress and perhaps this list will inspire you. We chose No. 7, “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran well before I received this list, and after reading the press release, I can’t say I’m surprised Ed Sheeran ranked No. 1 for Top 5 First Dance Artists. Ed holds a special place in my heart and in my husband’s (!) as well, since it was the first concert we attended together and a surprise for my birthday two years ago.

Here’s the Top 10, according to the team at jewellrybox.co.uk:

1. “A Thousand Years,” by Christina Perri
2.  “Amazed,” by Lonestar
3. “All of Me,” by John Legend
4. “Marry Me,” by Train
5. “At Last,” by Etta James, “Make You Feel My Love,” by Adele and “Perfect,” by Ed Sheeran
6. “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” by Elvis Presley
7. “Thinking Out Loud,” by Ed Sheeran, “You Are the Best Thing,” by Ray LaMontagne
8. “First Day of My Life,” by Bright Eyes, “I Won’t Give Up,” by Jason Mraz
9. “Better Together,” by Jack Johnson
10. “Everything,” by Michael Bublé

Rounding out the Top First Dance Artists, following Ed, are Jason Mraz, Michael Bublé, John Legend and Adele.

For more about the research, click here.

— Kim Krol Inlander, editor in chief