200 Best Mother-Son Wedding Dance Songs (Ideas for 2023)
Picking out the best mother-son wedding dance songs from the millions of songs on iTunes or Spotify can be a bit overwhelming.
We are here to help you find the best song for you and your mom.
I have personally photographed around 500 mother-son wedding dances, so I have heard so many great songs
Plus, we talked to over 100 couples and DJs and asked them for their favorite mother-son wedding songs for 2023.
In this article we will cover the following:
- What is a good song for the mother and son dance at a wedding?
- What is a good country song for a mother-son dance at a wedding reception?
- Unique mother-son wedding dance songs?
- Classic rock mother-son wedding dance songs?
- What is a good upbeat mother-son wedding dance song (non-sappy)?
- Funny songs to dance with your mom to.
- What are some good stepmother-son wedding dance songs?
- How to get the best photos of the mother-son dance.
- More wedding planning resources.
- Fun mother-son wedding dance videos.
What is a good song for the mother and son dance at a wedding?
When picking out your mother-son wedding dance music, it’s a good idea to choose a song that fits your personality and also reflects the relationship that you have with your mom.
There are no set rules when it comes to music for your wedding reception (or any other part of your wedding for that matter). Pick a song that you and your mom want. That will be the perfect song.
You can click on the link to any song title to open the video (with lyrics) in YouTube.
- “The Perfect Fan” – The Backstreet Boys
- “You’ll Be In My Heart” – Phil Collins
- “All To You” – Scott Keo (If you are looking for a song with lyrics that are cleary to a mother from a son, this is the perfect song for you).
- “Days Like This” – Van Morrison
- “Do I Make You Proud” – Taylor Hicks
- “A Song For Mama” – Boyz II Men
- “Because You Loved Me” – Celine Dion
- “Unforgettable” – Natalie Cole (duet with Nat King Cole)
- “What A Wonderful World” – Louis Armstrong
- “God Only Knows” – The Beach Boys
- “I Hope You Dance” – Lee Ann Womack
- “Stand By Me” – Ben E. King
- “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” – Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole (this is such a great choice)
- “93 Million Miles” – Jason Mraz
- “In My Life” – The Beatles
- “How Long Will I Love You” – Ellie Goulding
- “Forever Young” – Rod Stewart
- “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” – Stevie Wonder
- “You Raise Me Up” – Josh Groban
- “Somewhere Over The Rainbow & What A Wonderful World Medley” – Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole
- “Can’t Smile Without You” – Barry Manilow
- “Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler
- “Beautiful Boy” – Céline Dion
- “I’ll Have To Say I Love you In A Song” – Jim Croce
- “Time After Time” – Cyndi Lauper
- “Fly Me To The Moon” by Frank Sinatra
- “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Music Travel Love (The best acoustic version I have heard of this song)
If you are on mobile and the video does not open automatically, you can listen to it here on YouTube.
What is a good country song for a mother-son dance at a wedding reception?
This is the best song list if you are looking for country songs for your wedding day. Whether you are having a rustic wedding, or if you just simply love country music, these are the songs for you.
- “Just to See You Smile” – Tim McGraw
- “Home” – Phillip Phillip
- “Mother Like Mine” – The Band Perry
- “The Best Day” – Taylor Swift
- “Mother” – Sugarland
- “Then They Do” – Trace Adkins (country music always has great options for the parent dances)
- “Landslide” – The Chicks
- “Mom” – Garth Brooks
- “Like My Mother Does” – Lauren Alaina
- “Handprints On The Wall” – Kenny Rogers
- “Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)” – The Chicks
- “My Wish” – Rascal Flatts
- “That’s What Mamas Do” – Jason Matthews
- “There You’ll Be” – Faith Hill
- “Never Grow Up” – Taylor Swift
- “You’re Gonna Be (Always Loved By Me)” – Reba McEntire
- “Like Jesus Does” – Eric Church
- “Don’t Blink” – Kenny Chesney
- “Never Alone” – Lady Antebellum & Jim Brickman
- “Teach Your Children” – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- “There You’ll Be” by Faith Hill
- “I Called Mama” – Tim McGraw
- “Angels” – Randy Travis
- “Through The Years” – Kenny Rogers
- “Thanks Again” – Ricky Skaggs
- “Always And Forever” by Cory Morrow
- “Mama’s Song” – Carrie Underwood (This is a great song to use if the bride is dancing with her mom)
- “Boy” – Lee Brice
- “In My Mother’s Eyes” – Willie Nelson
- “He Gets That From Me” – Reba McEntire (This is a beautiful song that touches on the relationship between a mother and son who have lost their father/husband.)
For even more country songs, check out our ultimate list of country wedding dance songs (over 400 songs for every part of your big day!)
What are some unique songs for the mother-son dance?
If you’re looking for a song that is a little more unique for the mother-son dance, here are a few great choices that you will not hear at too many others weddings. Many of them are amazing cover versions of popular songs that you already know.
- “Sweetest Devotion” – Adele
- “My Wish/I Hope You Dance (Acoustic Mashup)” – Lauryn Evans (WOW! What a truly unique idea)
- “I’ll Let you Go” – Jessica Allossery
- “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” – Music Travel Love (A beautiful and unique version of this already amazing song)
- “Mama Said” – Lukas Graham (A fun upbeat song with a hip hop feel)
- “Time After Time” – Megan Davies (A really cool acoustic version)
- “Still Fighting It” – Ben Folds
- “Child Of Mine” – Carole King
- “Beacuase You Loved Me” – Lauryn Evans (A wonderful cover)
- “The First Lady In My Life” – Paul Todd
- “Stand By Me” – Music Travel Love (A beautiful acoustic cover that is really unique)
- “Here Comes The Sun” by Music Travel Love (An amazing cover of the hit song by The Beatles)
- “House Of Gold” – Twenty One Pilots
- “Wildflowers” – Tom Petty
- “From My First Moment” – Charlotte Church
- “Wonderful Tonight” – Boyce Avenue (A really beautiful cover version)
- “You’ve Got A Friend In Me” – Lauryn Evans (Love this fun cover version)
- “Forever Young” – Bob Dylan
- “I Wanna Be Like You” – Jungle Book by Disney (If you love Disney music you will really love our article called “100 Best Disney Wedding Songs“)
- “Stand By Me” – Boyce Avenue (Another amazing acoustic cover)
- “Hey Mama” – Kanye West (check this out if you are looking for a rap or hip hop song to use for the mother-son dance)
- “Letter To My Mother” – Edwin McCain
Classic Rock Songs For Your Mother-Son Dance (Plus Modern Rock and Alternative):
- “Sweet Child O’ Mine” – Guns N’ Roses (If you love songs like this from the eighties, we put together an article of over 300 songs from the 80s for your wedding day)
- “Simple Man” – Lynyrd Skynyrd (You will most likely want to have your DJ trim this song for you, as this songs clocks in at 5 minutes and 50 seconds. That’s a lot of time to be out on the dance floor)
- “Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)” – John Lennon
- “Just The Way you Are” – Billy Joel (If you like songs like this from the 70s, we have put together an entire article that goes over the best 70s songs to use at your wedding or dance party)
- “Landslide” – Fleetwood Mac
- “Simple Man” – Shinedown (We actually like this cover version more than the original)
- “Island In The Sun” by Weezer
- “I’ll Stand by You” – The Pretenders
- “Mama, I’m Coming Home” – Ozzy Osbourne
What is a good upbeat mother-son dance song?
If you and your mom prefer to dance to something a little faster, choosing a song from this list of upbeat music might be the perfect choice for the two of you.
- “Mom” – Meghan Trainor
- “Count on Me” – Bruno Mars
- “Sweet Child O’ Mine” – Sheryl Crow
- “Thank You For Being A Friend” – Andrew Gold
- “Here Comes The Sun” by The Beatles
- “Turn to You” – Justin Bieber
- “I’ll Always Love My Mama” – The Intruders
- “Thank You Mom” – Good Charlotte
- “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” – James Taylor
- “We Are Family” – Sister Sledge
- “Count On Me” – Bruno Mars
- “Loves Me Like A Rock” – Paul Simon
- “The Twist” by Chubby Checker
- “We Are Family” Sister Sledge
- “Oh, Mother Of Mine” – The Temptations
- “Learning To Fly” – Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
- “Kind and Generous” – Natalie Merchant
- “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher” – Jackie Wilson
- “Home” – Phillip Phillips
- “You’re My Best Friend” – Queen
- “It’s Not Unusual” – Tom Jones
- “I’ll Be There For You” – The Rembrandts (Theme Song to Friends)
- “Rock Around The Clock” – Bill Haley & His Comets
- “Dance To The Music” – Sly & The Family Stone
- “Sweet Home Alabama” Lynyrd Skynyrd
- “Shake Your Booty” KC & The Sunshine Band
- “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston
- “Happy” by Pharrell Williams
- “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins
Are there any funny mother-son wedding songs?
Maybe you and your mom have a great sense of humor and want to dance to something a little more light-hearted. Here are a few fun songs to consider for the mother-son dance.
A Biologist’s Mother’s Day Song – Cadamole
If you and your mom have a fun sense of humor, this might be the perfect song for you 🙂 You can get the MP3 for your DJ from the link in this video.
- “Your Mama Don’t Dance” – Loggins & Messina
- “Your Mama Don’t Dance” – Poison (If you love 90s songs like this, we put together an entire article of the best 90s songs for your weddig or dance party)
- “Mama Tried” – Merle Haggard
- “Take Your Mama” – Scissor Sisters
- “Thank You For Being A Friend” Golden Girls theme by Cynthia Fee
- “Rainbow Connection” – Kermit the Frog & The Muppets
- “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” – Randy Newman (From Disney’s Toy Story)
- “Stacy’s Mom” – Fountains of Wayne
What are the most popular mother-son wedding dance songs?
We talked with wedding DJ Adam Gingrich of Select DJ Group and he told us the most requested songs that his team gets for the mother-son wedding dance are:
- “Forever Young” by Rod Stewart
- “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts
- “Have I Told You Lately” by Rod Stewart
Adam said that a mother-son dance trend that he is seeing more and more of is when the mother and son do a mashup song.
This is when they start off with a sweet slow song and then go into a more upbeat song to finish the dance.
Adam says, “this always get a great response from the guests and it’s a really fun and memorable moment for a parent dance.”
Here is a great example of a mother-son mashup wedding dance:
Mother-Son Dance FAQ
If you have questions about the mother-son dance, we’ve probably got the answers.
If you have any other questions that we do not cover here, send us a message with your question and we will add it to the post.
Who picks the mother-son dance song?
The song for the mother and son dance is typically picked out by the groom or the groom’s mom.
Ask your mom if there is a special song that she would like to dance to. You can even send her the link to this article to help her with making a decision.
If you are completely overwhelmed by the process of choosing a good song, you can ask your DJ to narrow it down for you (or they can even make the decision for you).
What song should I choose if I am dancing with my stepmom?
If you have a close relationship with your stepmom, any of the songs from this list will work.
If you are doing a dance with both your mom and your stepmom, just try to pick a song that reflects your unique relationship with each of those special people in your life.
What does the mother son dance symbolize?
Dancing with your mom on the wedding day is a special moment that you don’t want to skip.
This special dance is a great way to honor the special bond between a son and his mother.
You and your mom will cherish the photos forever (I speak from experience).
What is the most popular mother-son wedding dance song?
We reached out to dozens of DJs and hundreds of couples for a new music poll. One of the questions that we asked was, “What is the first song that comes to mind for the mother-son dance at a wedding?”
It was not even a close competition.
The most popular mother-son wedding dance song is “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts.
When does the mother-son dance happen at a wedding?
The mother and son dance typically happens right after the father-daughter dance at a wedding reception. The most common time for the parent dances to take place is right after dinner. Some couples like to do both of these special dances right after their first dance. We recommend talking with your DJ to work out the perfect order of events for your reception.
What to do for mother-son dance if mom has passed away?
This is a question that we hear often.
What can I do if my mom has passed away? Does the bride still do a father-daughter dance?
If the groom’s mom has passed away, you can just leave out the mother-son dance completely, or you can do something special in your mom’s memory.
One idea that we love is a group dance to a special song that celebrates the life of your mom. You can choose any song that your mom loved.
We recommend doing this right after the father-daughter dance.
Another idea is doing a special dance with someone else who you are close with (sister, grandma, aunts, etc.)
Does the groom dance with his mother-in-law?
The groom doing a special dance with his mother-in-law is not something that happens at most weddings, but this is your day. If the groom has a great relationship with his mother-in-law, doing a special dance together would be wonderful.
The same goes for the bride and her father-in-law.
You could even do those two dances together at the same time to the same song.
A couple of tips for getting the best photos of the mother-son dance:
- Some grooms (and mothers) cringe at the thought of being the center of attention, so they tell the DJ to cut the song after 30-60 seconds. We recommend having your song play for a minimum of 90 seconds. This gives your photographer plenty of time to get some awesome candid photos of the groom and his mom. If candid photos are important to you, we recommend having your song play for 2-3 minutes (that is the ideal range).
- We recommend doing the mother-son dance separately from the father-daughter dance. Some couples think that doing them together is a way to save time, but all it does is make it hard on your photographer. Do these dances back-to-back, but keep them separate to increase the number of candid photos from your wedding photographer.
Note: The mother and son dance is definitely one of the photos you should add to your wedding photography shot list (check that article for a ton of amazing photo ideas).
Here are some additional wedding planning tips and resources:
- Make sure to follow us on Pinterest for daily wedding planning tips and loads of amazing wedding photo inspiration.
- Download our free wedding song checklist
- 109 amazing songs to use for your wedding processional.
- The best songs for your first dance.
- The most important questions to ask a wedding DJ when hiring.
- After polling over 350 wedding DJs and couples/guests, we have put together a list of the 197 best wedding reception dance songs.
- Make sure to check out our best father-daughter wedding dance songs.
- Best songs to use if you are doing a combined parents dance (mother-son & father-daughter dance at the same time)
- The best songs for a parents entrance at your wedding reception. Plus the best songs to use for the wedding party (bridal party and bride/groom) entrance.
- Best songs to use for a brother and sister dance at the wedding reception.
- Romantic love songs for the love of your life
- Love songs for him
- If you are a mother of the groom, what great song are you hoping to use when you and your son hit the dance floor?
