Once you have the perfect song selected, you can decide if you want to practice and take dance lessons for a more formal dance number, or wing it on the day of the wedding. No matter how professional your steps are, the dance will be memorable and meaningful on its own—especially with a song selected that is special to both of you. For mothers, sons, or mother figures looking for mother-son wedding songs to dance to—from country ballads and classic rock to acoustic renditions and pop songs—these are our 30 best picks.
30 Best Mother-Son Wedding Songs
1. “Beautiful Boy” — John Lennon
Standout lyrics: “Before you go to sleep/ Say a little prayer/Every day, in every way/It’s getting better and better” Though Lennon—a father—wrote “Beautiful Boy” after having his son Sean, this song is a classic mother-son dance song when it comes to weddings. As you’ve both grown, your relationship has changed but what remains is the classic nature of this song.
2. “Forever Young” — Rod Stewart
Standout lyrics: “But whatever road you choose/I’m right behind you win or lose” Just when you feel like you’re going to stay forever young, you find yourself dancing with your child at his wedding. How’s that for growing up?
3. “My Wish” — Rascal Flatts
Standout lyrics: “If it’s cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile/But more than anything, more than anything/My wish for you/Is that this life becomes all that you want it to” Mothers wish the best for their songs just as sons do the same for the person who raised them. This ideal mother-son dance song puts a subtle country twist on your slow mother-son slow dance.
4. “Days Like This” — Van Morrison
Standout lyrics: “When you ring out the changes of how everything is/Well my mama told me there’ll be days like this” Eventually, it all works out—a sentiment your mother likely told you your whole life. “Days Like This” by Van Morrison is the perfect testament to that.
5. “Supermarket Flowers” — Ed Sheeran
Standout lyrics: “You were an angel in the shape of my mum/When I fell down you’d be there holding me up” Can anyone do a ballad like Ed Sheeran nowadays? “Supermarket Flowers” is the British crooner’s ode to his mother, making it one of the most beautiful mother-son song dance choices you can make.
6. “In My Life” — The Beatles
Standout lyrics: “But of all these friends and lovers/There is no one compares with you” “In My Life” by The Beatles isn’t just a gorgeous song choice for dancing with your mother at your wedding, but it also happens to be one of the most iconic, memorable, and nostalgic songs about the ups and downs of life.
7. “You’ll Be in My Heart” — Phil Collins
Standout lyrics: “For one so small/You seem so strong/My arms will hold you/Keep you safe and warm” Phil Collins wrote “You’ll Be in My Heart” for his daughter Lily Collins, born in 1989. But it became an anthem for mothers and sons everywhere when it was featured in the Disney movie Tarzan.
8. “Loves Me Like a Rock” — Paul Simon
Standout lyrics: “Oh, my mama loves me, she loves me/She get down on her knees and hug me/Like she loves me like a rock” “Loves Me Like a Rock” tells the story of the unparalleled love between a mother and her son. It’s a bit more upbeat than some of the other swaying kinda songs, but it’s a real gem the crowd will appreciate.
9. “My Mother’s Eyes” — Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Standout lyrics: “God’s gift sent from above/A real unselfish love/I found in my mother’s eyes” Classic, cool vibes only with Franki Valli & The Four Seasons’ version of “My Mother’s Eyes.”
10. “Only One” — Kanye feat. Paul McCartney
Standout lyrics: “Hello my only one, remember who you are/You got the world ‘cause you got love in your hands” Written for his mother who passed before she had the chance to meet Kanye’s first born, “Only One” is sung from Donda West’s perspective as she sends him and her first grandchild a message from Heaven. It is heavy, it is beautiful, but mostly, it is memorable.
11. “I Hope You Dance” — Lee Ann Womack
Standout lyrics: “Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along/Tell me who wants to look back on their years/And wonder where those years have gone” Definitely a diddy you often hear at weddings, “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack has a sweet, kind-hearted message at its core. And it’s easy to sway to.
12. “A Song For Mama” — Boys II Men
Standout lyrics: “You will always be the girl/In my life for all times” If you’re looking for an R&B vibe for your mother-son dance, you can’t do much better than Boys II Men, the actual kings of runs.
13. “Songbird” — Fleetwood Mac
Standout lyrics: “And I love you, I love you, I love you/Like never before” Written while Fleetwood Mac, as a band, was in the thick of it all, “Songbird” is about the unconditional love that keeps us all glued together. Is there anything more fitting for a mother-son duo?
14. “What A Wonderful World” — Louis Armstrong
Standout lyrics: “And I think to myself/What a wonderful world” If you use “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong, you may just bring the crowd of wedding guests to tears. Just sayin’.
15. “I’ll Stand By You” — The Pretenders
Standout lyrics: “Take me in, into your darkest hour/And I’ll never desert you/I’ll stand by you” You know who will always stand by you? Your mom, of course. And she’ll dance by you, too.
16. “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” — Stevie Wonder
Standout lyrics: “I feel like this is the beginning/Though I’ve loved you for a million years” Though it may have been written for Stevie Wonder’s wife, “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” is easily applicable to a mother-son relationship, too. To this day, it’s one of the most beautiful songs about unconditional love that there is, making it an awesome choice.
17. “Wonderful Tonight” — Eric Clapton
Standout lyrics: “I feel wonderful because I see the love light in your eyes/Then the wonder of it all is that you just don’t realize/How much I love you” Another timeless love ballad, “Wonderful Tonight” will have everyone watching your mother-son dance weeping.
18. “Letter to My Mother” — Edwin McCain
Standout lyrics: “I wanted to tell her how grateful I am/For giving me life, I’ve done the best that I can” Edwin McCain wrote this song as a tribute to both his adopted mom and biological mother, so it will especially strike a chord for any groom who has two mother figures in his life.
19. “You’ve Got a Friend” — James Taylor
Standout lyrics: “You just call out my name/And, you know, wherever I am/I’ll come running, oh, yes, I will” Originally written by Carole King, “You’ve Got a Friend” describes a universal love that’s rooted in friendship and being there for one another.
20. “Sweetest Devotion” — Adele
Standout lyrics: “All of my life, I’ve been frozen/The sweetest devotion I’ve known” Adele co-wrote “Sweetest Devotion” with her son, Angelo, as the inspiration. In each lyric, she details the connection between mother and son and how becoming a parent has changed her. If you pick this as your mother-son wedding dance song, your mama will be sure to love it.
21. “Unforgettable” — Nat King Cole
Standout lyrics: “Unforgettable/In every way/And forever more/That’s how you’ll stay” For fans of classic tunes, “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole will always be a timeless choice for your mother-son dance.
22. “Have I Told You Lately” — Rod Stewart
Standout lyrics: “You fill my heart with gladness/Take away all my sadness/Ease my troubles, that’s what you do” Another mother-son song that stands the test of time, “Have I Told You Lately” by Rod Stewart is popular for its breathtaking, vulnerable lyrics we can all relate to.
23. “Like My Mother Does” — Lauren Alaina
Standout lyrics: “I’ve got her spirit/She’s always got my back/When I look at herI think/I want to be just like that” Give your mother-son dance the country treatment with “Like My Mother Does” by Lauren Alaina, a heartfelt tribute to moms everywhere.
24. “Count on Me” — Bruno Mars
Standout lyrics: “And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me/Every day I will remind you” If you’ve always felt like you can count on your mama, Bruno Mars’ pop-driven take on a mother-son song might be for you.
25. “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” — Israel IZ Kamakawiwo’ole
Standout lyrics: “Somewhere over the rainbow/Way up high/And the dreams that you dream of/Once in a lullaby” While it’s not necessarily written about a mother-child relationship, Israel Iz Kamakawiwo’ole’s version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is a chill, good time we can all get behind.
26. “Mother Like Mine” — The Band Perry
Standout lyrics: “There’s no safer place I’ve found/Than the shoulder of her white nightgown” Another country diddy, “Mother Like Mine” by The Band Perry is a slow, easy-to-dance-to song that really drives home how special moms are.
27. “Hey, Ma” — Bon Iver
Standout lyrics: “Well you wanted it your whole life/You’re back and forth with light” For a more current mother-son song, “Hey, Ma” by Bon Iver is a folky, indie jam. It was even nominated for a Grammy!
28. “Time After Time” — Iron & Wine
Standout lyrics: “If you’re lost, you can look and you will find me/Time after time” Cyndi Lauper made it a hit in ‘83 but for a more wedding-appropriate version, “Time After Time” by Iron & Wine slows it down enough for a mother-son dance.
29. “Yellow” — Coldplay
Standout lyrics: “Look at the stars/Look how they shine for you” Who doesn’t love “Yellow” by Coldplay?
30. “Close Your Eyes” — Michael Bublé
Standout lyrics: “You’re an angel dressed in armor/You’re the fair in every fight/You’re my life and my safe harbor/Where the sun sets every night” Close your eyes and waltz as you dance to this Michael Bublé song, a tribute to the strength of women everywhere. Next up, the cutest micro wedding ideas for your small ceremony.
