When it comes to your wedding day, planning the reception is just as much work as planning the ceremony itself. You have to think about catering, music selection, and even dancing! While many brides know they want a traditional father-daughter dance, a contemporary twist is gaining more popularity: the mother-son dance.
If you’re planning to set aside a special moment for a mother-son dance during your reception, the song you pick can express the bond between mother and son and their unique relationship. But with SO many songs out there, where do you start?
Whether you’re thinking something classic or more non-traditional, here are some mother-son dance song ideas to consider!
Why Plan a Mother-Son Dance?
A wedding day is an emotional affair for everyone involved, including the parents of the couple. This memorable occasion marks the moment that a child may truly strike out on their own with their new spouse!
There are a handful of opportunities to honor parents during the ceremony, and on the dance floor is one of them. Your wedding photographer will capture some fantastic shots, and it’s an emotional and impactful scene to include in a wedding reception video shot list.
A mother-son dance can be a fun addition to the reception, highlighting a traditional, heartfelt, and memorable moment. Especially if the groom is close to his mother, it’s a sweet way to honor that relationship before heading out with his new spouse.
Most couples plan for the traditional father-daughter dance, and there are countless father-daughter dance song ideas to choose from. But mother-son dance songs for a wedding are a little harder to come by! Here are a few ideas of songs that can get you thinking about your upcoming dance.
Classic Mother-Son Dance Songs
Some mothers and sons may want to stick with a traditional song that expresses their relationship as closely as possible. Fortunately, there are plenty of classic songs to choose from that honor your bond with your mother.
Here are a handful of songs that serve as a great starting point for a once-in-a-lifetime moment with your mom.
- “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King
- “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts
- “Then They Do” by Trace Adkins
- “He Gets That from Me” by Reba McEntire
- “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack
- “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
- “93 Million Miles” by Jason Mraz
- “I’ll Be There” by The Jackson 5
- “Count on Me” by Bruno Mars
- “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban
- “Your Song” by Elton John
- “You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor
- “Mother Like Mine” by The Band Perry
- “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
- “A Song for Mama” by Boyz II Men
- “The Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler
- “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan
- “In My Life” by the Beatles
- “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel
- “My Mother’s Eyes” by Frankie Vallie & The Four Seasons
- “Hero” by Mariah Carey
- “Have I Told You Lately” by Rod Stewart
- “Mother” by Sugarland
- “A Song for My Son” by Mikki Viereck
- “Mom” by Lucero
- “The First Lady in My Life” by Paul Todd
- “There You’ll Be” by Faith Hill
- “Don’t Blink” by Kenny Chesney
- “Days Like This” by Van Morrison
- “Cheek to Cheek” by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Non-Traditional Mother-Son Dance Songs
Of course, not every mother-son duo will want to stick with traditional music, even if the song is a revered classic. There are plenty of non-traditional songs that can bring a tear to your eye amid an emotional ceremony and reception. Some songs can lighten the mood while others are almost guaranteed to reduce you and all the guests to tears!
Here are a few more mother-son dance song ideas to show how creative you can get with a mother-son dance:
- “Mama Tried” by Merle Haggard
- “Oh, Mother of Mine” by The Temptations
- “Dear Mom & Dad” by Us The Duo
- “I’ll Always Love My Mama” by The Intruders
- “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge
- “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” by Randy Newman
- “You’ll Be in My Heart” by Phil Collins
- “You Are My Sunshine” by Johnny Cash
- “Letter to My Mother” by Edwin McCain
- “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns and Roses
- “Thank You Mom” by Good Charlotte
- “Just the Way You Are” by Billy Joel
- “Beautiful Boy” by John Lennon
- “The Perfect Fan” by the Backstreet Boys
- “The Baby” by Blake Shelton
- “Never Alone” by Lady A
- “Home” by Phillip Phillips
Tips for a Perfect Mother-Son Dance
Nobody wants to hit the dance floor with all eyes trained on them without proper preparation. A few simple tips can go a long way toward helping you and your mom feel comfortable in the bright spotlight during the reception. Here are our tips to help the big day go smoothly!
Pick the Right Song
The most important part of the dance is selecting a song that means something to both of you. A good song will speak on your behalf and let everyone know about the quality of the bond between mother and son. Choose a song that is unique to you or a song that you both love.
Involve Your Mom
It isn’t necessarily up to you to do all the heavy lifting. Grooms can ask their mothers for ideas on the choreography and song choice, allowing you to make joint decisions for a moment that will be equally memorable to both of you. Your mom will likely be thrilled at being involved in the big day and will help ensure that things run smoothly.
Practice the Dance
Not everyone is a smooth operator on the dance floor. If you aren’t used to dancing and worry about being unfamiliar with the steps, we recommend setting aside plenty of time to practice before the party. Your mom will likely enjoy the extra time she gets to spend with you during a busy season!
Make Your Mother-Son Dance Last Forever
With all the prep and excitement leading up to the wedding, time will fly right by! Your mother-son dance might only last a few minutes, but it will make for an incredibly precious memory. And just one of MANY precious memories made throughout the day!
Capturing your mother-son dance on film–along with the entire wedding ceremony and reception–will turn that memory into a lasting relic that doesn’t fade with the test of time. When you work with a wedding cinematographer to document your day, you can rewatch and relive those special memories any day, any time.
As the largest wedding cinematographer in Texas, we’ve worked with thousands of couples – so we know exactly how you feel! Your wedding day is one of life’s most important experiences, and it can be overwhelming to find the perfect wedding videographer to capture the moments and craft a unique wedding film that you’ll love for the rest of your life.
Reach out to us today to check our availability or ask questions. We’re so excited to hear about your plans and see how we can help make your day unforgettable!
