The Mother Son dance, similar to the Father Daughter dance, is a moment that almost always means more to the parent than it does the groom. Where as many couples would be happy to skip many of the wedding traditions, this is one of those must haves to keep Mom happy. And if your mom is anything like mine, she’s been looking forward to this dance “since you were born”.
The Serious Side of Mother Son
Some Mom’s are really into the tender-moment-type approach to this dance. They want something special, something that will bring a tear. Usually the groom doesn’t care, but whatever makes mom happy, right? Right.
First thing to keep in mind though is that you don’t want this dance to go too long. Like any of the first dances, we always recommend them lasting less than 3 minutes. Though “Simple Man” is a popular request, the 6 minute recording isn’t a great idea. Have your band or DJ fade out after a chorus or two, otherwise you’ll lose a lot of guests to the bar and bathroom. Trust me, 2-3 minutes of slow dancing will feel like a life time, even to your mom!
Second, there are plenty of touching songs that are appropriate for a Mother Son Dance. There are plenty more that aren’t. Make sure you check out the lyrics to the song choice before the wedding. A song like “I wish you love” is a beautiful tune, but it’s about a break up. Or if you don’t care about the lyrics, people generally only know the chorus anyway.
Super Cheesy Wedding Songs
Dance Floor at Blue Chip Casino, Michigan City IN
Ok, this is just me, but the songs written for no other reason than to be used for a mother/son dance drive me nuts. If your mom knows how to use Google and found the wrong site for first dances, she’ll no doubt come back with some song you never knew existed…and for good reason. There’s a whole market set aside for wedding dances where people sell unbelievably bad tunes that connect with Moms everywhere. Granted, the dance is about your Mom, it’s for her, but feel free to avoid these songs. They just suck, and if just one wedding is spared such a song, I’ll feel like I made a difference in my life.
And just to be clear – here’s a good slow song that people like: What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
And here’s a song you’ve never heard before but your mom unwittingly already loves: A Mother’s Song
Mother Son Dance, Arboretum Club, Buffalo Grove IL
Or there’s an alternative – do something fun and upbeat. No choreography needed (unless you’re into that sort of thing), but something up tempo will definitely help to keep attention away from the free drinks for one more minute.
My mother, in her infinite wisdom, never really made it out of the 80’s and ended up deciding on “Don’t You (Forget About Me“. I never actually read the lyrics, so I’m admittedly breaking my own rule, but the chorus was good for a laugh. This worked for my Mom and helped set a light tone for the rest of the night. It may not work for you, but it’s a direction that’s a bit more interesting and less predictable for your guests.
Song List
Below is a spotify playlist with some solid Mother Son options to get you started. By no means is this an extensive list, and at the end of the day you want to do what will be memorable for your Mom. Bring her in on the conversation, do some brainstorming. I bet she wants to hear from you anyway 🙂
Contact Us
If you would like to hire Felix and Fingers for your next special event, please send an email to events@felixandfingers.com or click here for more information on our website. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
For more of our Recommended Wedding Music Series, be sure to check out the rest of the blog HERE.
Be the first to leave a review.
