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, decor, DJ, music selection, and even dancing! While many brides know they want a reception entrance song and 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.
What’s the Most Popular Mother-Son Wedding Dance Song?
If you look at playlists from wedding DJs across the U.S. over the last 20 years, you’ll see there isn’t just a single most popular mother-son song. Three songs regularly compete for the top spot!
The top 3 Most Popular Mother-Son songs are:
- “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts: This is arguably the most popular modern mother-son dance song. It has an upbeat yet sentimental country-pop sound and tear-jerking lyrics about hoping someone achieves all their dreams.
- “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd (or the Shinedown cover): This song is a massive favorite, especially in the South and Midwest. The lyrics read exactly like a mother’s advice to her son about finding a simple, happy life. Many couples opt for the acoustic Shinedown cover for a slightly softer vibe.
- “A Song for Mama” by Boyz II Men: The ultimate R&B tribute to mothers. It’s deeply emotional, smooth, and explicitly honors everything a mother does for her child – perfect for a mother-son dance!
What about from a more historical standpoint? The most popular mother-son songs have shifted over the decades, moving from formal traditions in the 50s’ to more personalized and unique ones today.
In the mid-20th century (1950s – 1970s), couples largely stuck to jazz standards, crooners, and classic soul. Songs like Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight,” Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World,” and Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” were the standard – soulful, heartfelt songs alive with emotion and traditional enough for a formal wedding setting.
Power ballads & R&B rose in popularity around the 1980s to 1990s. This era brought in soaring vocals and highly emotional power ballads, like Bette Midler’s “Wind Beneath My Wings” and Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me.” This is also when Boyz II Men’s “A Song for Mama” rose in popularity – and stayed there!
In the 2000s, mother-son wedding songs saw a huge shift toward country music and its narrative songwriting style, which was perfect for capturing family dynamics in a more personal way. Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance” (2000), Kenny Chesney’s “Don’t Blink” (2007), and Rascal Flatts’ “My Wish” (2006) became absolute staples.
Today’s couples are highly focused on authenticity. If a groom and his mom aren’t the slow-dancing, crying types, they won’t pick a slow, sad song! We’ve seen a huge rise in upbeat, joyful songs (like Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely”), acoustic singer-songwriter tracks, and even choreographed hip-hop routines.
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. These songs have stood the test of time, making them classic, beloved favorites that most (if not all!) of your guests will recognize. They also tend to be more serious and subdued in nature, although that’s not always the case.
There are plenty of classic songs to choose from that honor your bond with your mother. If you’re leaning toward a more traditional ceremony and reception, you’re sure to find a song among these that fits your mood while still feeling personal.
Here are some of the most popular traditional mother-son wedding songs:
- “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
- “A Song for Mama” by Boyz II Men
- “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts
- “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King
- “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
- “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 Valli & 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 Garth Brooks
- “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
- “Humble and Kind” by Tim McGraw
- “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder
- “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
- “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion
- “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys
- “Lean On Me” by Bill Withers
- “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac
- “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole
Unique, 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 modern, 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! These unique mother-son wedding songs tend to be more upbeat, energetic, and at times a little silly.
Here are a few more unique 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
- “Sweetest Devotion” by Adele
- “Mom” by Meghan Trainor ft. Kelli Trainor
- “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 N’ 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 Jim Brickman ft. Lady Antebellum (Lady A)
- “Home” by Phillip Phillips
- “River” by Leon Bridges
- “Love Something” by Blessing Offor
- “Boy” by Lee Brice
- “The Best Day” by Taylor Swift
- “Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)” by The Chicks
- “Sweet Pea” by Amos Lee
- “Loves Me Like a Rock” by Paul Simon
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 Best Mother-Son Song for YOU!
Don’t worry about picking the most popular mother-son wedding song. The most important part of the dance is selecting a song that means something to both of you!
The best mother-son song will speak on your behalf and let everyone know about the one-of-a-kind bond between mother and son. Choose a song that is unique to you or a song that you both love.
For example, maybe you and your mom had a favorite song to play during road trips. Playing the song fills you with warm, fuzzy nostalgia of all those beloved memories growing up.
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. Invite your mom out for a brunch date and spend a few hours catching up and chatting about your favorite memories (and the songs associated with them!)
Practice the Mother-Son 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!
Consider a Combined Parent Dance
Not a fan of the spotlight? You don’t have to do the mother-son dance alone! One trend right now is to combine the father-daughter dance and the mother-son dance into one single song. The groom and his mother share the dance floor with the bride and her father.
This is a fantastic way to honor your parents while cutting down on some of the pressure. Plus, it creates STUNNING wedding photos and videos of both families sharing a moment together!
Keep the Dance Short and Sweet
If there’s one thing most couples realize during their first dance, it’s that three to four minutes feels like an eternity when all eyes are on you.
So here’s a secret: You don’t have to dance to the entire song!
Speak with your DJ ahead of time and ask them to fade the music out around the 90-second or 2-minute mark. You can usually accomplish this naturally after the second chorus. This keeps the moment sweet and impactful without feeling dragged out.
Fun Tip! Surprise Your Guests with a Medley
Do you and your mom have a more playful relationship? If slow dancing doesn’t feel authentic to you OR you find that you just can’t pick one song from all your options, here’s a fun twist for you. Pick two!
Start with a classic, slow song for the first 30 seconds, and then have your DJ perform a “record scratch” transition into an upbeat hip-hop or pop track. Choreographing a fun, fast-paced routine with your mom is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and sets a high-energy tone to open up the dance floor for the rest of the night.
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!
