25 Mother-Son Dance Songs to Play at Your Wedding

Most people can’t imagine their dream weddings without having parent dances. These sweetly sentimental formalities are one of the best ways for newly-weds to express their love and appreciation for parental figures. A mother-son dance song is a sweet moment shared between the groom and his mom. 

Much of the beauty in these moments comes down to the right music choice. Artists of many different genres have reflected on these important relationships in their own unique ways. With plenty of choices, you won’t have to settle on the wrong parent dance songs.

Find the perfect mother-son wedding songs for your big day!

If you’re a groom looking for the perfect mother of the groom and son wedding dance songs, be sure to check out our list ranging from the oldies to their modern counterparts. Many of these songs will also work great for a father daughter dance!

“My Mother’s Eyes” by Frankie Valli

Lyrics: “One bright and guiding light / That taught me wrong from right / I found in my mother’s eyes / Those baby tales she told / That road all paved in goldI found in my mother’s eyes.” 

If the mother of the groom is a fan of the oldies, be sure to check out Frankie Valli’s “My Mother’s Eyes” and consider adding the tune to your playlist of mother and son songs. Despite being recorded over fifty years ago, the lyrics in “My Mother’s Eyes” have remained timeless in expressing love and appreciation for a parent.

“Have I Told You Lately” by Van Morrison

Lyrics: “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”

This classic from Van Morrison makes a great mother son dance song at any wedding. The lyrics are a great reminder to tell your mom that you love her on your wedding day! If you prefer a different rendition, there are plenty of covers of “Have I Told You Lately”, the most famous being Rod Stewart’s. Whatever version you choose, this song is perfect for a mother son dance.

“You Are the Sunshine of My Life” by Stevie Wonder

Lyrics: “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”

Whether you read the lyrics as a mother to her son, or as a son to his mother, “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” is one of the most popular mother son dance songs out there. The sweet, simple lyrics are fitting of a mother-son relationship. Everyone will want to join on the dance floor with a loved one for this special moment!

“Child of Mine” by Carole King

Lyrics: “And I don’t want to hold you back / I just want to watch you grow / You’re the one who taught me / You don’t have to look behind”

No list about mother son songs would be complete without mentioning Carole King’s “Child of Mine.” Her piano ballad beautifully captures the gratitude and wonders of being a parent, which will feel particularly special on your wedding day.

“How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)” by James Taylor

Lyrics: “How sweet it is to be loved by you / 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”

James Taylor has plenty of heartfelt songs that will work for a mother son dance, but “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) is a favorite! Everyone loves this classic, and it makes for a fun, upbeat mother son dance song. Celebrate the best day with one of the best songs. You’re sure to end up with some great pictures from your dance!

“The Perfect Fan” by the Backstreet Boys

Lyrics: “Everything that I should know / You showed me / Just how to walk without your hands / ‘Cause mom you always were / The perfect fan” 

The Backstreet Boys might seem like the last musical group that would be making mother son wedding dance songs, but take a listen to “The Perfect Fan” and step back in time. This tenderhearted track is sung from the perspective of a son who realizes how much his mother has influenced him in becoming his current self and those feelings will definitely be echoed on your wedding day.

“Thank You Mom” by Good Charlotte

Lyrics: “I said I thank you / I’ll always thank you / More than you would know / Than I could ever show / And I love you / I’ll always love you”

Although Good Charlotte is known for their rock hits, their style mellows out on “Thank You Mom” and won’t feel out of place among other mother-son songs. The lyrics from this song might appear simple from a first listen, but the deep message behind them isn’t undermined. “Thank You Mom” has endured among mother son dance songs for its loud statements about respect and admiration. 

“Letter to My Mother” by Edwin McCain

Lyrics: “Mama, how do I write the words to you / You were the only one who loved me true / But there’s a woman that we don’t even know / She gave me life, then you gave me a home” / A sweet song that expresses how the love for a mother remains even as a son gets older”

Edwin McCain’s “Letter to My Mother” enters more into indie rock territory, but doesn’t lack in any energy or emotional depth from other mom and son songs. Incorporating “Letter to My Mother” on your special day will create sentimental vibes that you and your mother won’t ever be able to forget. 

“Mama Hold My Hand” by Aloe Blacc

Lyrics: “And I would wonder so far from home / That I would lose my way / Then I call my Mama to help me / And she came right away.”

If you want mother son dance songs with a layer of soul, consider playing “Mama Hold My Hand” during your wedding reception. Aloe Blaac sings this evocative song about venturing into the unknown and those themes will feel especially relatable on your special day. 

“Mother Like Mine” by The Band Perry

Lyrics: “She’s the sky that holds the clouds / She’s the lady of the house / A blind believer in all I dare to be / There’s no safer place I’ve found / Than the shoulder of her white night gown”

The Band Perry’s “Mother Like Mine” has earned its place among mother son dance songs due to its mellow instrumental and lovely lyrics. “Mother Like Mine” is a heartwarming reminder about the strength and beauty of your mother, which will be guaranteed to bring her to tears. 

 “Like My Mother Does” by Lauren Alaina

Lyrics: “I’ve got her spirit / She’s always got my back / When I look at her / I think, I want to be just like that”

Lauren Alaina’s “Like My Mother Does” is the perfect choice from any groom who wants dance songs from the country genre. This touching song highlights how a child ends up imitating their mother for the better and will definitely pull your heartstrings.

“93 Million Miles” by Jason Mraz

Lyrics: “Oh my beautiful mother / She told me / Son in life you’re gonna go far / If you do it right / You’ll love where you are”

Jason Mraz’s heartfelt lyrics on “93 Million Miles” about maintaining a strong relationship between a man and his mother as he ventures into the unknown makes the song an essential for mom and son dance songs. Playing this modern mother son dance song during your wedding will definitely inspire sentimental feelings from your guests.

“God Made You Beautiful” by Beyonce

Lyrics: “And your love, it shines so bright / You bring me back to life, back to life / You make everything right”

If you’re looking for mother son wedding dance songs that carry a spiritual tone but still have a modern twist, Beyonce has got you covered with “God Made You Beautiful.” The pop legend doesn’t shy away from using her powerhouse vocals to express her love towards her children in this affectionate track. 

“The One Thing” by Shakira

Lyrics: “You are the one thing that I got right / It’s a big ol’ world, yeah, it’s a big ol’ world / You turn the darkness into sun light”

If you want mother and son dance wedding songs that are more contemporary but are still deeply meaningful for your special day, look no further than Shakira’s “The One Thing.” Her tender song starts off slowly against an acoustic guitar, but picks up energy by the chorus to express her compassionate feelings.

“Sweetest Devotion” by Adele

Lyrics: “I wasn’t ready then, I’m ready now / I’m heading straight for you / You will only be eternally / The one that I belong to” 

Adele doesn’t hold back even for a second on “Sweet Devotion” with expressing her adoration as a parent to her child. “Sweet Devotion” was originally written about her son and Adele’s powerful vocals match the strong relationship as depicted in the lyrics, making the song an easy pick for a playlist of mom and son dance songs.

“Everything” by Matthew John

Lyrics: “You taught me everything / How to tell what’s wrong from right / You gave me everything / Made me who I am inside / And even tough I’m different / I’m still the man you thought I’d be”

Matthew John penned “Everything” as a Mother’s Day gift in 2018 and the song has appeared in mother son wedding dance playlists ever since. “Everything” begins slow but picks up in speed during the chorus, matching the build-up of supportive emotions that a groom might feel towards his mother throughout his life.

“A Song for Mama” by Boyz II Men

Lyrics: “Mama, Mama you know I love you / (You know I love you) / Mama, Mama you’re the queen of my heart / Your love is like tears from the stars, yes it is / Mama I just want you to know lovin’ you is like food to my soul”

If you’re looking for the perfect R&B mother son dance, you can never go wrong with Boyz II Men! “A Song for Mama” is the perfect way to share a first dance. A love song to mothers everywhere, the lyrics are sure to make your mom happy. If you have a band at your wedding, you could even ask them to perform this live for some amazing harmonies!

“Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses

Lyrics: “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 / Now and then when I see her face / She takes me away to that special place / And if I stare too long, I’d probably break down and cry”

If your mom loves rock and roll, consider this Guns N’ Roses hit! While “Sweet Child O’ Mine” has great guitar solos and riffs and a different sound than traditional wedding dance songs, the lyrics are actually incredibly sweet. The first verse, seen above, perfectly shows the relationship between a mom and her child. If you want to slow it down, there are great instrumental or acoustic versions of this song!

“God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys

Lyrics: “If you should ever leave me / Though life would still go on, believe me / The world could show nothing to me / So what good would living do me / God only knows what I’d be without you”

“God Only Knows” is a classic, feel-good song by the Beach Boys. This is one of the great mother song dance songs, because who knows where they’d be without their mom? The familiar tune and devoted lyrics will make for a pleasant dance at your wedding reception.

“I Say a Little Prayer” by Aretha Franklin 

Lyrics: “Forever, and ever, / (You’ll stay in my heart and I will love you) / (Forever) / Forever, and ever, / (We never will part Oh, how I love you) /(Together) Together, forever, / (That’s how it must be to live without you) / Would only mean heartbreak for me, ooh”

For an upbeat mother son song, put on Aretha Franklin’s “I Say a Little Prayer”. Most mothers can probably relate to saying little prayers for their children. The chorus promises life-long love that’s fitting for a mother and her son, and this crowd favorite will get everyone on the dance floor.

“Humble and Kind” by Tim McGraw

Lyrics: “Hold the door, say “please”, say “thank you” / Don’t steal, don’t cheat, and don’t lie / I know you got mountains to climb / But always stay humble and kind”

Every mom wants her son to grow up to be humble and kind, so this is a fitting choice for a list of mother son dance songs. The lyrics read exactly like a mother teaching her son, so if you’re looking for a country mother son dance song, this is a solid choice.

“He Gets That From Me” by Reba McEntire 

Lyrics: “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”

This country song from Reba McEntire is perfect for a mom-son dance at a wedding. Written as a love letter from mother to son, “He Gets That From Me” describes a close relationship and seeing your own attributes shine through in your children. Momma’s boys and their moms will love this song for a first dance!

“I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack

Lyrics: “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. / I hope you dance, I hope you dance”

Every mother wants their son to live life to the fullest, and “I Hope You Dance” sends that message perfectly. This song by Lee Ann Womack offers lovely wedding wishes for both mothers and songs and fathers and daughters. Add this song to your wedding playlist!

Mama Said – The Shirelles

Lyrics: “Mama said there’ll be days like this / There’ll be days like this my Mama said / And then she said someone will look at me / like I’m looking at you one day, / then I might find / I don’t want it any old way, / so I don’t worry cause / Mama said there’ll be days like this”

“Mama Said” is a classic song about motherhood and the comfort a mother can offer her son. This fun bop from 1961 is an upbeat song for your dance, especially if you have a close relationship with your mom! There’s also a similar Van Morrison song, “Days Like This” that would work as well!

Stand By Me – Ben E. King 

Lyrics: 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” 

This Ben E King classic is the perfect song to describe a close mother-son relationship. Protective mothers will love sharing a dance with the groom to this song!