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Mother and Son Dance Wedding Songs

The mother and son dance at wedding receptions has become a tradition only in recent times and represents a last dance of the Mother with her Son (The Groom) before she “gives him away” to his new love.

Because most of the attention has been on the bride and her family all day, this is the groom’s opportunity to show his mother she hasn’t been forgotten. 

The music for the mother and son dance should be slow and melodic, something moving and beautiful. This will, like the father and daughter dance that took place before it, be a dance that the bring tears to many eyes. 

The groom should focus on his mother during this dance and let her enjoy these last few uninterrupted minutes of being his mother to the fullest. He should make sure this dance is memorable for her and keep in mind that she is feeling a sense of loss as well as a sense of joy on this special day.

This tradition usually follows the Father & Daughter dance and works best as the last slow dance before the real party music, dancing and celebration begins. 1 or 2 slow songs is a balanced number after the bridal waltz.

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More about the Mother and Son Wedding Dance

The mother and son dance is a recent addition to wedding receptions, but the tradition is a cherished one for mothers of grooms everywhere.  It is the moment that is represents their chance to truly say “good-bye” to their son as they leave for a new life with a new woman in their lives. 

A Difficult Choice

The song for the mother and son dance is often the most difficult to choose.  There aren’t nearly as many songs out there about Moms and Sons as there are about Fathers and Daughters.  Finding a song that both Mum and Groom like – and the Bride approves of – can be difficult.  Add in the “cheese” factor (no one wants to dance to a song that’s too cheesy when everyone is staring at them) and you have a real problem.

To avoid this situation, start looking months in advance.  Fortunately, the Internet makes it much easier.  You can listen to audios of dozens, if not hundreds, of songs until you find the right one.  Try to avoid the many songs that have been written in the last ten years or so specifically to try and fill the void. 

Most of these aren’t musically pleasing and sound very forced, with the aforementioned cheesy lyrics that people dread hearing.  Keep in mind that it’s the overall sentiment and feeling rather than the specific words that convey how you feel – the song doesn’t have use the words “Son” and “Mom” or even talk about a parent/child relationship to be about this kind of love.

Songs like Wind Beneath My Wings and You Raise Me Up tell a mother unmistakably what she’s meant to her son and make beautiful tribute songs for the Mother and Son Dance.  The groom and his mother should decide together on a song that they both enjoy and that is meaningful and important to them. 

The bride should try to be very flexible – remember, this moment is less about her and more about the groom and his mother!  And after all, once this dance is over, the bride and groom will have each other for the rest of their lives!

For more Mother and Son Dance wedding songs, make sure to check out the Top Wedding Songs List available in The Wedding Reception Kit.

Wishing you a brilliant wedding day soundtrack,

Secret Wedding Songs

Popular, Modern, Fun & Memorable Wedding Song Ideas