The Mother-Son Dance: A Heartfelt Wedding Tradition

The mother-son dance stands as one of the most emotionally resonant moments during a wedding reception. No matter the melody chosen for this special interlude, observing the groom and his mother share a dance to a song brimming with personal significance is an undeniably touching experience. Rooted in tradition, this dance is a cherished custom for many couples on their wedding day. While not obligatory, including a mother-son dance in your celebration offers a beautiful opportunity for the groom to acknowledge his mother, or any significant maternal figure, on this pivotal day. It’s also a moment many mothers eagerly anticipate, making it a wonderful gesture to create a lasting memory and give her a special moment in the spotlight during the festivities. Given its profound emotional weight, selecting the ideal mother-son dance song is crucial—it should not only honor the occasion but also deeply reflect the unique bond between mother and son.

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Finding the perfect mother-son dance song can initially feel like a challenge. A great starting point is to consider artists, musical genres, or shared memories that hold special meaning for both mother and son when exploring music options. Perhaps she introduced him to iconic bands like The Beatles, or maybe they both share a love for country music. Shared experiences can also be a rich source of inspiration—did she take him to his first concert as a child? Even the lullabies she sang to him in his early years can be transformed into a deeply personal and unique mother-son dance song. Bands can often recreate these sweet melodies live, adding an extra layer of intimacy to the moment—all you need to do is ask.

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Regarding the timing of the mother-son dance, it traditionally follows the father-daughter dance, which in turn usually occurs after the newlywed couple’s first dance. This sequence of dances often serves as a delightful opening to the reception, following the couple’s grand entrance. However, wedding timelines are flexible, and you can adjust the order to suit your celebration’s flow. Some couples even utilize these family dances as transitions between different segments of the event, such as moving from cocktail hour to the main reception or from dinner service to opening the dance floor for all guests.

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While the mother-son dance is often associated with slow, tender tunes, it’s certainly not limited to waltzes. Upbeat mother-son dances can be incredibly fun and engaging for everyone present, and there are several lively options to consider.

To assist you in making this important musical decision, we’ve compiled a list of 100 mother-son dance songs perfect for your wedding. Ranging from timeless classics and heartfelt country tracks to contemporary hits, these songs bridge generations, connecting mothers and sons through the universal language of music.

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100 Mother-Son Dance Songs for Your Wedding

Classic & Timeless Mother-Son Dance Songs

1. “O-o-h Child,” by Five Stairsteps
   Lyrics of Love: “Ooh child/Things are gonna get easier/Ooh child/Things’ll get brighter”

2. “Through the Years,” by Kenny Rogers
   Lyrics of Love: “I can’t remember when you weren’t there/When I didn’t care for anyone but you/I swear, we’ve been through everything there is/Can’t imagine anything we’ve missed/Can’t imagine anything the two of us can’t do”

3. “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You),” by James Taylor
   Lyrics of Love: “I needed the shelter of someone’s arms/And there you were/I needed someone to understand my ups and downs/And there you were”

4. “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” by Simon & Garfunkel
   Lyrics of Love: “When you’re weary, feeling small/When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all, all/I’m on your side, oh, when times get rough”

5. “God Only Knows,” by The Beach Boys
   Lyrics of Love: “I may not always love you/But long as there are stars above you/You never need to doubt it/I’ll make you so sure about it”

6. “I Say A Little Prayer,” by Aretha Franklin
   Lyrics of Love: “I run for the bus, dear/While riding I think of us, dear/I say a little prayer for you”

7. “Because You Loved Me,” by Celine Dion
   Lyrics of Love: “You were my strength when I was weak/You were my voice when I couldn’t speak/You were my eyes when I couldn’t see”

8. “Lean On Me,” by Bill Withers
   Lyrics of Love: “Lean on me/When you’re not strong/And I’ll be your friend/I’ll help you carry on”

9. “Days Like This,” by Van Morrison
   Lyrics of Love: “When everything falls into place like the flick of a switch/Well my mama told me there’ll be days like this”

10. “You’ll Be In My Heart,” by Phil Collins
    Lyrics of Love: “For one so small/You seem so strong/My arms will hold you/Keep you safe and warm/This bond between us/Can’t be broken/I will be here/Don’t you cry”

11. “Beautiful Boy,” by John Lennon
    Lyrics of Love: “Out on the ocean sailing away/I can hardly wait/To see you to come of age/But I guess we’ll both/Just have to be patient/‘Cause it’s a long way to go”

12. “I’ll Stand By You,” by The Pretenders
    Lyrics of Love: “I’ll stand by you/I’ll stand by you, won’t let nobody hurt you/I’ll stand by you/Baby, even to your darkest hour, and I’ll never desert you”

13. “(They Long To Be) Close To You,” by The Carpenters
    Lyrics of Love: “On the day that you were born the angels got together/And decided to create a dream come true/So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold and starlight in your eyes of blue”

14. “Your Song,” by Elton John
    Lyrics of Love: “And you, you’ll be blessed/You’ll have the best/I promise you that/I’ll pick a star from the sky”

15. “In My Life,” by The Beatles
    Lyrics of Love: “All these places had their moments/With lovers and friends, I still can recall/Some are dead, and some are living/In my life, I’ve loved them all”

16. “Unforgettable,” by Nat King Cole
    Lyrics of Love: “Unforgettable/That’s what you are/Unforgettable/Tho’ near or far”

17. “Wind Beneath My Wings,” by Bette Middler
    Lyrics of Love: “Did you ever know that you’re my hero/And everything I would like to be/I can fly higher than an eagle/For you are the wind beneath my wings”

18. “My Love, My Life,” by ABBA
    Lyrics of Love: “You are still my love and my life/Still my one and only”

19. “Mama Said,” by The Shirelles
    Lyrics of Love: “Mama said there’ll be days like this/There’ll be days like this, my mama said”

20. “Stand By Me,” by Ben E. King
    Lyrics of Love: “When the night has come/And the land is dark/And the moon is the only light we’ll see/No I won’t be afraid/Oh, I won’t be afraid/Just as long as you stand, stand by me”

Modern & Contemporary Mother-Son Dance Songs

21. “The House That Built Me,” by Miranda Lambert
    Lyrics of Love: From sleepless nights and rocking chairs/Your smiling face was always there/From little trucks and building blocks/You held my hand while I learned to walk/You were my best friend, my inspiration/The one I looked up to/Hey Mom…the first lady in my life was you”

22. “No Matter What,” by Callum Scott
    Lyrics of Love: “She said, ‘I love you no matter what/I just want you to be happy and always be who you are’/She wrapped her arms around me/Said, ‘Don’t try to be what you’re not/’Cause I love you no matter what'”

23. “I Hope You Dance,” by Lee Ann Womack
    Lyrics of Love: “I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean/Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens/Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance/And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance/Dance… I hope you dance”

24. “You Are the Best Thing,” by Ray LaMontagne
    Lyrics of Love: Oh, because/You are the best thing/(You’re the best thing)/You are the best thing/(You’re the best thing, baby)/You are the best thing/(You’re the best thing, ooh)/Ever happened to me”

25. “Home” by Phillip Phillips
    Lyrics of Love: “Hold on to me as we go/As we roll down this unfamiliar road/And although this wave (wave) is stringing us along/Just know you’re not alone/’Cause I’m gonna make this place your home”

26. “Thought You Should Know,” by Morgan Wallen
    Lyrics of Love: “I thought you should know/That all those prayers you thought you wasted on me/Must’ve finally made their way on through/I thought you should know/I got me a new girl down in Jefferson City, and/She lets me fish whenever I want to”

27. “Mother Like Mine,” by The Band Perry
    Lyrics of Love: “She’s our father’s one great love/She’s the one he wanted most/She’s the light in the window of the house I grew up in”

28. “Mama Hold My Hand,” by Aloe Blacc
    Lyrics of Love: “Momma, hold my hand/I don’t think I can cross this road by myself”

29. “Home,” by Jack Johnson
    Lyrics of Love: “So I, try, to understand, what I can’t hold in my hand, and where ever we are/Home is there too”

30. “Letter to My Mother,” by Edwin McCain
    Lyrics of Love: “Mama, how do I write the words to you/You were the only one who loved me true”

31. “The Wish,” by Bruce Springsteen
    Lyrics of Love: “And if it’s a funny old world, mama, where a little boy’s wishes come true/Well I got a few in my pocket and a special one just for you”

32. “93 Million Miles,” by Jason Mraz
    Lyrics of Love: “Son in life you’re gonna go far/If you do it right/You’ll love where you are/Just know that wherever you go/You can always come home”

33. “Forever Young,” by Rod Stewart
    Lyrics of Love: “May good fortune be with you, may your guiding light be strong/Build a stairway to heaven with a prince or a vagabond”

34. “Small Bump,” by Ed Sheeran
    Lyrics of Love: “You are my one, and only/You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight”

35. “Thank You Mom,” by Good Charlotte
    Lyrics of Love: “I’m sitting here, I’m thinking back/To a time when I was young, my memory is clear as day/I’m listening to the dishes clink/You were downstairs, you would sing songs of praise”

36. “Landslide,” by Fleetwood Mac
    Lyrics of Love: “Oh, mirror in the sky/What is love?/Can the child within my heart rise above?”

37. “Sweet Pea,” by Amos Lee
    Lyrics of Love: “Hey, sweet pea/Apple of my eye/Don’t know when, and I don’t know why/But you’re the only reason I keep on coming home”

38. “Wildflowers,” by Tom Petty
    Lyrics of Love: “You belong among the wildflowers/You belong in a boat out at sea/You belong with your love on your arm/You belong somewhere you feel free”

39. “Sweetest Devotion,” by Adele
    Lyrics of Love: “The sweetest devotion/Hitting me like an explosion/All of my life, I’ve been frozen/The sweetest devotion I’ve ever known”

40. “Mother,” by Sugarland
    Lyrics of Love: “She’s your mother, you love her/There won’t be another/Place like her again that you call home/She stands here to help you/there’s nothing she won’t do”

41. “The Best Day,” by Taylor Swift
    Lyrics of Love: “I’m five years old/It’s getting cold/I’ve got my big coat on/I hear your laugh/And look up smiling at you/I run and run”

42. “Teach Your Children,” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
    Lyrics of Love: “The one they picks, the one you’ll know by/Don’t you ever ask them why, if they told you, you will cry/So just look at them and sigh/And know they love you”

43. “My Mother’s Eyes,” by Frankie Valli
    Lyrics of Love: “I’ll walk the straight and narrow/To reach my goal/God’s gift sent from above/A real unselfish love/I found in my mother’s eyes”

44. “The Baby,” by Blake Shelton
    Lyrics of Love: “I guess she was tired by the time I came along/She’d laugh until she cried, I could do no wrong/She would always save me because I was her baby”

45. “I Look To You,” by Whitney Houston
    Lyrics of Love: “I look to you/I look to you/After all my strength is gone/In you I can be strong”

46. “The Man I Want to Be,” by Chris Young
    Lyrics of Love: “I wanna be a good man/A ‘do like I should’ man/I wanna be the kind of man the mirror likes to see/I wanna be a strong man”

47. “A Song for Mama,” by Boyz II Men
    Lyrics of Love: “Mama, Mama you know I love you/You know I love you/Mama, Mama you’re the queen of my heart”

48. “Hero,” by Mariah Carey
    Lyrics of Love: “And then a hero comes along/With the strength to carry on/And you cast your fears aside/And you know you can survive”

49. “Mother,” by Overcoats
    Lyrics of Love: “Mama, don’t you love him so?/Just wanna light the way wherever he goes/And kiss his forehead when he needs to know/He’ll have a home with you/You won’t be alone”

50. “Sweet Love of Mine,” by Joy Williams
    Lyrics of Love: “Oh, my darling, sweet love of mine/I’ll hold you all through the night/I gave you your name; you gave me back my life/You’re the heart of me, oh, sweet love of mine”

Country Mother-Son Dance Songs

51. “Humble and Kind,” by Tim McGraw
    Lyrics of Love: “Go to church ’cause your mamma says to/Visit grandpa every chance that you can/It won’t be wasted time/Always stay humble and kind”

52. “My Wish,” by Rascal Flatts
    Lyrics of Love: “My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to/Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small/You never need to carry more than you can hold”

53. “The Best Day,” by Taylor Swift (Also listed above but fits genre)
    Lyrics of Love: “I’m five years old/It’s getting cold/I’ve got my big coat on/I hear your laugh/And look up smiling at you/I run and run”

54. “There You’ll Be,” by Faith Hill
    Lyrics of Love: “In my dreams, I’ll always see you soar above the sky/In my heart, there will always be a place for you, for all my life/I’ll keep a part of you with me”

55. “Like My Mother Does,” by Lauren Alaina
    Lyrics of Love: “When I love I give it all I’ve got/Like my mother does/When I’m scared, I bow my head and pray/Like my mother does”

56. “God’s Been Good to Me,” by Keith Urban
    Lyrics of Love: “And everything I have, and everything I see/Is just another reminder that God’s been good to me”

57. “If I Didn’t Have You,” by Thompson Square
    Lyrics of Love: “You are my heart/Every breath I breathe/I’m safe in your arms/You rescue me”

58. “Mom,” by Meghan Trainor
    Lyrics of Love: “But ain’t nobody got a mom like mine/Her love’s ’til the end, she’s my best friend/Ain’t nobody got a mom like mine”

59. “Then They Do,” by Trace Adkins
    Lyrics of Love: “I look over at their pictures/Sittin’ in their frames/I see them as babies/I guess that’ll never change/You pray all their lives/That someday they will find happiness”

60. “Handprints On The Wall,” by Kenny Rogers (Also listed above but fits genre)
    Lyrics of Love: “Days go by so quickly/Summer turns to fall/Seems like only yesterday/That you began to crawl/So don’t be afraid to take that step/I’ll catch you when you fall”

61. “That’s What Mamas Do,” by Jason Matthews
    Lyrics of Love: “And when she bows her head to pray/You can bet she’s saying one for you/That’s what mamas do/They raise you/Ground you build their whole world around you”

62. “He Gets That From Me,” by Reba McEntire
    Lyrics of Love: “His curly hair and his knobby knees/The way the sun brings those freckles out/Talkin’ talk never miss a beat/Yeah he gets that from me/He gets that from me”

Unique & Upbeat Mother-Son Dance Songs

63. “Hey, Ma,” by Bon Iver
    Lyrics of Love: “Tall time to call your Ma/Hey Ma, hey Ma/Tall vote, you know you mope it up/Well, you wanted it your whole life/You’re back and forth with light”

64. “Old Pine,” by Ben Howard
    Lyrics of Love: “We stood/Steady as the stars in the woods/So happy-hearted/And the warmth rang true inside these bones”

65. “Step,” by Vampire Weekend
    Lyrics of Love: “Wisdom’s a gift, but you’d trade it for youth/Age is an honor, it’s still not the truth/We saw the stars when they hid from the world”

66. “Home,” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes
    Lyrics of Love: “Oh, home, let me come home/Home is wherever I’m with you/Oh, home, let me come home/Home is wherever I’m with you”

67. “Only One,” by Kanye West feat. Paul McCartney
    Lyrics of Love: “And when you cry, I will cry/ And when you smile, I will smile/And next time when I look in your eyes/We’ll have wings and we’ll fly”

68. “Montezuma,” by Fleet Foxes
    Lyrics of Love: “Oh, how could I dream of/Such a selfless and true love/Could I wash my hands of/Just looking out for me”

69. “Do I Make You Proud,” by Taylor Hicks
    Lyrics of Love: “My heart is full/Of endless gratitude/You were the one/The one to guide me through”

70. “My Mother’s Eye,” by Etta Jones
    Lyrics of Love: “One bright and guiding light/That taught me wrong from right/I found in my mother’s eyes”

71. “What a Wonderful World,” by Louis Armstrong
    Lyrics of Love: “I hear babies cry/I watch them grow/They’ll learn much more/Than I’ll never know/And I think to myself/What a wonderful world”

72. “Time After Time,” by Cyndi Lauper
    Lyrics of Love: “If you’re lost, you can look and you will find me/Time after time/If you fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting/Time after time”

73. “I’ll Be There,” by the Jackson Five
    Lyrics of Love: “I’ll reach out my hand to you/I’ll have faith in all you do/Just call my name and I’ll be there (I’ll be there)”

74. “Loves Me Like A Rock,” by Paul Simon
    Lyrics of Love: “Oh, my mama loves me, she loves me/She get down on her knees and hug me/Oh, she loves me like a rock/She rock me like the rock of ages”

75. “Child of Mine,” by Carole King
    Lyrics of Love: “Although you see the world different than me/Sometimes I can touch upon the wonders that you see/And all the new colors and pictures you’ve designed/Oh yes, sweet darling, so glad you are a child of mine”

76. “You Raise Me Up,” by Josh Groban
    Lyrics of Love: “You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains/You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas/I am strong, when I am on your shoulders/You raise me up to more than I can be”

77. “Blessed,” by Elton John
    Lyrics of Love: “And you, you’ll be blessed/You’ll have the best, I promise you that/I’ll pick a star from the sky/Pull your name from a hat/I promise you that, I promise you that”

78. “Have I Told You Lately,” by Rod Stewart
    Lyrics of Love: “Have I told you lately that I love you/Have I told you there’s no one else above you/You fill my heart with gladness/Take away all my sadness/Ease my troubles, that’s what you do”

79. “Mother,” by Pink Floyd
    Lyrics of Love: “Mama’s gonna keep baby healthy and clean/Ooh baby, ooh baby, ooh baby/You’ll always be baby to me”

80. “Simple Man,” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
    Lyrics of Love: “You’ll find a woman and you’ll find love/And don’t forget, son, there is someone up above”

81. “I’ll Always Love My Mama,” by The Intruders
    Lyrics of Love: “I’ll always love my mama/She’s my favorite girl/I’ll always love my mama/She brought me in this world”

82. “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” by Guns N’ Roses
    Lyrics of Love: “She’s got a smile that it seems to me/Reminds me of childhood memories/Where everything was as fresh as the bright blue sky”

83. “Never Alone,” by Lady A
    Lyrics of Love: “Wherever you fly/This isn’t goodbye/My love will follow you, stay with you/Baby, you’re never alone”

84. “Mama Said,” by Lukas Graham
    Lyrics of Love: “When mama said that it was okay/Mama said that it was quite alright/Our kind of people had a bed for the night/And it was okay”

85. “River,” by Leon Bridges
    Lyrics of Love: “In my darkness I remember/Momma’s words reoccur to me/Surrender to the good Lord/And he’ll wipe your slate clean”

86. “Hey Mama,” by Kanye West
    Lyrics of Love: “You know I love you so, I’ll never let you go/I wrote this song just so you know no matter where you go Imma love you”

87. “A Mother’s Prayer,” by K. Michelle
    Lyrics of Love: “Last night I prayed on a fallen star/That you never have a broken heart/Though the world is cold, just remember who you are/And I pray that you never have a rainy day”

88. “Protector,” by Beyoncé and Rumi Carter
    Lyrics of Love: “And I will lead you down that road if you lose your way/Born to be your protector, mm/Even though I know someday you’re gonna shine on your own/I will be your projector, mm, mhm”

89. “Close Your Eyes” by Michael Bublé
    Lyrics of Love: “Close your eyes/Let me tell you all the reasons why/Think you’re one of a kind/Here’s to you/The one that always pulls us through”

90. “Nobody’s Love,” by Maroon 5
    Lyrics of Love: “You can make a grown man cry/If you ever said, ‘Goodbye’/Never let you go, oh, why?”

91. “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” by Stevie Wonder
    Lyrics of Love: “You are the sunshine of my life/That’s why I’ll always stay around/You are the apple of my eye/Forever you’ll stay in my heart”

92. “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” by Randy Newman
    Lyrics of Love: “You got troubles, I’ve got ’em too/There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you/We stick together and see it through/’Cause you’ve got a friend in me”

93. “The Rainbow Connection,” by The Muppets
    Lyrics of Love: “What’s so amazing that keeps us stargazing/And what do we think we might see?/Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection/The lovers, the dreamers, and me”

94. “The Wonder of You,” by Elvis Presley
    Lyrics of Love: “Oh oh oh/When no one else can understand me/When everything I do is wrong/You give me hope and consolation”

95. “The One Thing,” by Shakira
    Lyrics of Love: “Every time I see your smile/Every time I hear your laugh/Baby, you bring a new sunshine over my way”

96. “Remedy,” by Adele
    Lyrics of Love: “No river is too wide or too deep for me to swim to you/Come whatever/I’ll be the shelter that won’t let the rain come through”

97. “Dear Mom & Dad,” by Us the Duo
    Lyrics of Love: “Gonna get you back one day and show you what you did for me/No, you won’t ever see it comin’/I never got what you were doing for me at the time/But now I see it, now I get it”

98. “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” by Stevie Wonder (Also listed above but fits genre)
    Lyrics of Love: “I just called to say I love you/I just called to say how much I care, I do/I just called to say I love you/And I mean it from the bottom of my heart”

99. “I’ll Be There,” by Mac Miller (feat. Phonte)
    Lyrics of Love: “Hey, see, I was six years old with a dream/When my moms told me I can do anything/Said she’d be there forever, no matter what’s the weather”

100. “Return to Pooh Corner,” Kenny Loggins
     Lyrics of Love: “After all’s said and done I was watching my son/Sleeping there with my bear by his side/So I tucked him in, I kissed him and as I was going/I swear that the old bear whispered “Boy welcome home”‘

Mother-Son Dance FAQs

• Do I have to include a mother-son dance in my wedding?
  Absolutely not! Your comfort and preferences on your wedding day are paramount. If a mother-son dance doesn’t resonate with you, there are numerous alternative ways to honor your mother. Consider writing her a heartfelt letter, including a special mention in your thank-you speech, or inviting her to participate in your wedding party entrance. The most important aspect is that you choose a way to show your appreciation that feels genuine and meaningful to both of you.

• When is the ideal time for the mother-son dance during the wedding day timeline?
  Traditionally, the mother-son dance is placed after the couple’s first dance and the father-daughter dance. This sequence of dances often serves as a formal commencement of the wedding reception, typically following the bridal party’s grand entrance. However, wedding schedules are increasingly personalized, and there’s no strict rulebook. You can schedule the mother-son dance at various points throughout your wedding day. Some couples strategically use it to smoothly transition between different phases of the celebration, such as moving guests from cocktail hour into the reception hall or signaling the start of open dancing after dinner.

• What are the key elements of a great mother-son dance song?
  The essence of a memorable mother-son dance song lies in its personal significance to your relationship. Choosing a song that carries deep meaning and reflects your unique bond is what makes it truly special. If you and your mother share a fun-loving and outgoing nature, an upbeat song that showcases your personalities can be perfect. Alternatively, selecting a song that evokes nostalgia and cherished childhood memories can add an incredibly sentimental layer to the moment. The best choice is always one that resonates personally and authentically with both of you.

• Who typically chooses the mother-son dance song for the wedding?
  Traditionally, the groom takes the lead in selecting the mother-son dance song. This song is meant to reflect the special relationship between mother and son or be a piece that holds particular significance for them as a pair. Of course, if the mother has a song in mind that is meaningful to her, her input is equally valuable and welcomed. Ultimately, the decision should be a collaborative one, with both the groom and mother agreeing on a song that feels right for this heartfelt moment.

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