30 Best Mother/Son Wedding Songs To Choose For Your First Dance
Share this special moment between mother and son, with a classic song (leaving no dry eye).
getty During a wedding reception, there's nothing more special than the three iconic dances: The one shared with the couple, the father-daughter dance, and the mother-son dance.
As the entire crowd watches and most likely cries, there's something truly emotional about the connection shared between a son and his mother during their dance. One of the factors that weighs into the moment is making sure that the song playing not only represents them well, but conveys their bond and relationship with the wedding guests.
While it may seem like a lot of pressure to pick that special song, we're here to help. Below, we've listed our favorite mother son dance songs to share at your upcoming wedding.
1. "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys
"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
God only knows what I'd be without you"
There's nothing quite as special and magical as a mother's love. The groom may have found the love of his life, but his mother's love will always be with him.
2. "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler
"It might have appeared to go unnoticed
But I've got it all here in my heart
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it
I would be nothing without you"
A perfect way for the groom to say thank you to his mother. This song by Bette Midler talks about grace, patience, and love — everything a mother shows a son.
3. "All You Need Is Love" by The Beatles
"There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be
It's easy
All you need is love"
The Beatles said it all when they sang "all you need is love." And what's more special than a mother's love?
4. "(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time On You" by NSYNC
"In all of creation, all things great and small
You are the one that surpasses them all
More precious than any diamond or pearl
They broke the mold when you came in this world"
A tune NSYNC wrote to honor their mothers, it's hard to imagine how our moms are human. They love unconditionally and show us extra support, it's almost as if God just spent a little more time on them.
5. "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban
"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"
Scraped knee, heartbreak, or work trouble, it seems that no one can raise you up like mom can. Such a moving and powerful song, one perfect for a son and mother dance.
6. "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts
"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
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too
Yeah, this, is my wish"
No matter what happens, a mother only wants the best for her son. Sharing a dance to this song by Rascal Flatts describes perfectly how a parent wishes their child's road runs smoothly.
7. "All For You" by Sister Hazel
"It's hard to say what it is I see in you
Wonder if I'll always be with you
But words can't say
And I can't do
Enough to prove
It's all for you"
When you love a child, it seems as though there's very little to nothing that you wouldn't do for them. This song encapsulates just how much a mother cares and the lengths she'd go to do anything for her son.
8. "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion
"For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true"
We wouldn't be the people we are without our parents. For those strong and wondeful mother and son relationships, this song is a wonderful ode to how his life turned out thanks to his mother.
9. "Never Alone" by Lady Antebellum
"May your tears come from laughing
You find friends worth having
As every year passes
They mean more than gold
May you win and stay humble
Smile more than grumble
And know when you stumble
You're never alone"
No matter where you are, what you do, or what you say, when you have a loving mother, you're never alone. Play a song at the mother and son dance that speaks to the lengths a mother would go to make sure her son is never alone.
10. "What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong
"I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself what a wonderful world"
This truly is a wonderful world, full of miracles everyday. Some of these can be the love you have for your new spouse, or the love felt from a mother for a child (like her son).
11. "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack
"I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted"
This song is a great reminder to a song (from a mother) to take advantage of every opportunity in life. He's taken the first one by marrying the love of his life.
12. "Then They Do" by Trace Adkins
"Then they do
And that's how it is
It's just quiet in the morning
Can't believe how much you miss
All they do
And all they did
You want all the dreams they've dreamed of to come true
Then they do"
One day a mother is changing a son's diaper, and then they're sending them on their way to be with the love of their life. Time passes fast, and this song is a tribute to that.
13. "I Knew I Loved You" by Savage Garden
"I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life"
While we may fantasize about our partners after the first date on, is there such thing as a love before meeting someone? There sure is: the love some mothers feel for their child. For those women who knew they loved their sons from the moment the strip turned pink, this powerful song is for you.
14. "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" by James Taylor
"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
With sweet love and devotion
Deeply touching my emotion
I want to stop and thank you baby"
There's nothing like a mother's love. Sharing a dance to this sweet song is a sure way to not only liven up the crowd, but share caring words with your mom or son.
15. "Don't Blink" by Kenny Chesney
"Wake up and you're twenty-five
And your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did"
The ultimate coming of age country song. Kenny Chesney sings of how one day you're raising a baby and the next you know it's their wedding day. A truly reflective song to share on such a special day.
16. "Home" by Jack Johnson
"I gotta get home, there's a garden to tend
All the fruit's on the ground
And the birds have all moved back into my attic whistling static
When the young learn to fly I will patch all the holes up again"
The wonders of home, a special place for everyone. This is a great mother and son song as it reminds the groom that he's always welcome home, especially with his new family.
17. "Isn't She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder
"I can't believe what God has done
Through us he's given life to one
But isn't she lovely made from love"
A love song from son to mom. Our mothers were (presumably) a son's first love, and what better way to express that love by letting her know how lovely she looks on his wedding day?
18. "I'll Stand By You" by The Pretenders
"When you're standing at the cross roads
And don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
'Cause even if you're wrong
I'll stand by you"
A similar theme that comes across from most (if not all) songs on our list is the unconditional love a mother shares for her son. Have a mother and son dance that sings the words of standing by your son no matter what happens in life and love.
19. "You're My Best Friend" by Queen
"Oh, you're the best friend that I ever had
I've been with you such a long time
You're my sunshine and I want you to know
That my feelings are true
I really love you
Oh, you're my best friend"
And not just for the mama's boys. Whether it's a groom's mother or father, he should be best friends with his parents. They offer support, love, and occassional humor (we hope), which is everything you could ask for in a best friend.
20. "You'll Be In My Heart" by Phil Collins
"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"
If you've ever watched Tarzan, you know how special this song is and how it conveys love and support (no matter the relationship between mother and son). A true tear jerker that will have the crowd moved.
21. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
"Remember the day I set you free
I told you you could always count on me darling
From that day on, I made a vow
I'll be there when you want me
Some way, some how"
For the moms (or sons) who will be on the first flight out to see the other, this song is for you. Whether you're seperated by a singular road, or an entire country, there isn't much that can keep the two apart for long.
22. "Sweetest Devotion" by Adele
"With your loving, there ain't nothing
That I can't adore
The way I'm running, with you, honey"
A sweet ode Adele wrote , this song is a beautiful description of a mother and son's love. One that was purely written with the intention of showcasing love for a child over a relationship.
23. "Home" by Phillip Phillips
"Just know you’re not alone
'Cause I’m going to make this place your home"
What is home? The nostalgic feeling of a house becoming a home is often made by the love, care and nurture of a mother's touch. Tell mom how thankful you are for creating a home for you, whether it's physical or just present in the heart, by dancing to this number on your wedding day.
24. "Do I Make You Proud" by Taylor Hicks
"My heart is full
Of endless gratitude
You were the one
The one to guide me through"
It seems as though parents do quite a bit to make a better life for their children. For a mother and son dance, this song is a wonderful way to showcase how hard your mom worked to make you the man and groom you are today.
25. "God's Been Good To Me" by Keith Urban
"And right now where I'm right where I want to be
I've never felt so loved, so peaceful and so free
Hey there ain't no doubt that God's been good to me"
Pairing up the perfect mother-son duo, this song sings of the fortunate circumstances we've been given in this life. Share this very special dance, swaying to moving words of life, love, and fortune.
26. "Mama" by The Spice Girls
"Back then I didn't know why
Why you were misunderstood mama
So now I see through your eyes
All that you did was love"
As children, we believe our parents are out to get us and not let us have any fun. When we get older and get married, we realize that's not the case and they simply want the best for us. Let mom know you finally understand this by sharing this as your mother and son dance at your wedding.
27. "Child Of Mine" by Carole King
"Oh, yes sweet darling
So glad you are a child of mine
Child of mine
Child of mine
Oh, yes sweet darling
So glad you are a child of mine"
It seems as though we get lucky with the personality of our children, but where did they come from? Is it all their own, or was it a mixture of upbringing and genes? Either way, mothers surely are lucky to have a child like they do (and in this case, a groom).
28. "Through The Years" by Kenny Rodgers
"Through the years
You've never let me down
You turned my life around"
No matter the fights or minor set backs between a mother and son, at the end of the day they never truly let each other down. Why? Because there's always love there.
29. "He Gets That From Me" by Reba McEntire
"He looks at me with those big brown eyes
He's got me in the palm of his hands
And I swear sometimes
It's just like you're here again"
Traits, habits, or mannerisms can all be inherited by our parents. This song by Reba is a beautiful mother and child melody to touch on how our children are an extension of us.
30. "93 Million Miles" by Jason Mraz
"He told me
Son sometimes it may seem dark
But the absence of the light is a necessary part
Just know, you're never alone
You can always come back home"
The lyrics, "you can always come back home," are an extremely touching and loving sentiment to share between a mother and son. Not that there's a subconscious that the beautiful couple won't work out (they're newlyweds, after all), but to always know you're loved and can come home is powerful.
Elizabeth Blasi is a New Yorker. A lifestyle & travel writer, who is often seen with a suitcase in hand, jetsetting to her next location. But as a true Digital Nomad, her love of writing and romance novels means her laptop is always beside her.