Like the Father-Daughter dance, the mother-son dance is one of the most touching moments of the entire wedding day. In this intimate portion of the wedding reception, the groom and his mother have a chance to share a dance together as a sort of “goodbye” during a milestone occasion. Such a powerful moment deserves a great soundtrack !

To help you find the right song for your Mother-Groom wedding reception dance, we’ve listed the 11 most popular choices, based on the requests we’ve seen over the past year.

Top 11 Most Popular Mother-Son Dance Songs of 2024

Here are the popular songs for the Mother-Groom dance this year, at least among the couples we’re working with this year:

“In My Life” – The Beatles

This Beatles classic is a song about love for a friend, which makes it an ideal fit for mothers and sons to dance to.  Plus, the track concludes with these beautiful lyrics:

Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life, I love you more

“When You Wish Upon A Star” – Disney & Linda Ronstadt

This song was originally written for and popularized by Disney’s Pinocchio all the way back in 1940.  More than 80 years later, it’s still a favorite choice for moms and their sons—especially the version featuring American recording legend Linda Ronstadt. 

“The First Lady In My Life” – Paul Todd

One of the most popular songs in Christian artist Paul Todd’s catalog, “The First Lady In My Life” is especially suited for the mother-son dance because it’s a message of a son’s love and appreciation for his mother.  In fact, the song ends on these lovely lines:

You molded me so carefully and you saw me through
It’s hard to tell you how I feel, without a lot of mush
But I must tell you true
Hey mom, I’m so glad…the first lady in my life was you

“Summer Wind” – Frank Sinatra

A touching Frank Sinatra song about friendship, “Summer Wind” is a wonderful choice for this part of the wedding day because of its references to closing one chapter of life and opening another. 

“Because You Loved Me” – Celine Dion

Celine Dion’s hit from 1996 is still a common choice on wedding days in 2024, and that’s largely because of her earnest message of love within the song:

I’ll be waiting for you
Here inside my heart
I’m the one who wants to love you more
You will see I can give you
Everything you need
Let me be the one to love you more

“Mommas” – The Swon Brothers

One of the most contemporary songs on this list, “Mommas” was released in 2020 by The Swon Brothers, a duo that first grabbed national attention on the TV show The Voice.  “Mommas” is about appreciating all of the little things mothers do for their children.

“You’ll Accomp’ny Me” – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band

This beautiful Bob Seger track is an excellent pick for mothers and sons who would prefer to dance to Rock ‘n’ Roll during this moment of the wedding day.  “You’ll Accomp’ny Me” is a lovely song about being together for the long haul. 

“Stay” – Jackson Browne

On the original version of this Jackson Browne classic, Rosemary Butler breaks into these lyrics to dramatic effect:

Oh, won’t you stay just a little bit longer
Please, please, please, say you will
Say you will

That’s a lovely message between a mother and son on the wedding day !

“The Prayer” – Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli

This duet between Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli is a timeless classic, and it’s an excellent pick if you have Italian family or guests at the wedding !

“Return to Pooh Corner” – Kenny Loggins & Jim Messina

One of Kenny Loggin’s most beloved songs, “Return to Pooh Corner” is a song about the innocent joys of childhood, which makes it a great farewell track while a young man and his mother celebrate a milestone in adulthood.

“I’ll Be There” – Mac Miller & Phonte

An original track from Pittsburgh’s hometown hip hop hero, “I’ll Be There” is a song about a son’s love for his mother, and Mac Miller details the many moments where his mother went above and beyond to care for him in his childhood. 

Top 10 Mother-Son Tracks From 2021

If you like to look into the past, here are some of the most popular requests we received in 2021, in no particular order:

“My Wish” – Rascal Flatts

A beautiful song about wishing the best for someone you love, “My Wish” is an ideal selection for the groom-mother dance, especially if you like Country music. “My Wish” is a little more upbeat than most of the songs on this list, but lines like these keep the message clear:

But more than anything, yeah, more than anything
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

“A Mother Like You” – JJ Heller

“A Mother Like You” is actually sung from the perspective of a daughter singing to her mother, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of our most frequently requested songs for this section of the wedding reception. 

Taking a look at lines like these two, it’s no wonder it’s so popular: 

‘Cause I know that this world would be better
If everyone had a mother like you

“A Mother’s Prayer” – Celine Dion

In this song, the speaker prays that God will look after her daughter, but the sentiment is close enough that it has become a popular song choice for the groom-mother wedding dance in recent years.

Plus, how can you resist Celine Dion’s powerful voice ?

“You’re Gonna Be” – Reba McEntire

“You’re Gonna Be” is a popular pick from moms, especially since the song opens by talking about how scary it can be holding your baby for the first time !  Like others on the list, the speaker promises unconditional love to her child: 

You’re gonna fly with every dream you chase
We just have to believe things work out like they should
Life has no guarantees, but always loved by me
You’re gonna be always loved by me

“I Hope You Dance” – LeeAnn Womack

“I Hope You Dance” by LeeAnn Womack is all about wishing the best for someone you love, and the metaphor of dancing makes it a suitable choice for this point in the wedding reception. 

You likely already know this song, but here are some of the most poignant lines from its 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…
Dance… I hope you dance.

“Simple Man” – Lynyrd Skynrd

“Simple Man” is one of Lynyrd Skynrd’s most popular songs, and its message of being a caring, loving individual makes it an ideal selection for a tender moment during the reception. 

“A Song For My Son” – Micki Viereck 

Like many songs on this list, “A Song For My Son” is a combination of life advice and loving words from mother to son. Even better, Micki Viereck highlights the wedding day with, “Now I’ll try not to cry as you walk away”:

You filled my life
With so much joy
As I watched you grow
From that little boy
Now I’ll try not to cry
As you walk away

“The Perfect Fan” – The Backstreet Boys

Coming off the Millennium album in 1999, “The Perfect Fan” was outshined by major hits like “Larger Than Life” and “I Want It That Way.” Those popular songs may receive less airtime now in 2021, but “The Perfect Fan” remains a hit at weddings for its loving message from son to mother:

You showed me
When I was young just how to grow
You showed me
Everything that I should know
You showed me
Just how to walk without your hands
‘Cause mom you always were
The perfect fan

“A Song For Mama” – Boyz II Men 

A powerful testament of a son’s love for his mother, “A Song For Momma” can turn into a tearjerker !  If you choose this song, make sure you’re prepared for Boyz II Men’s powerful vocals. 

Mama, I just want you to know lovin’ you is like food to my soul
Yes it is, yes it is, oh, yes it is, yes it is, yes it is oh

“A Mother’s Song” – T Carter

A nice Country son-mom dance song, T Carter’s “A Mother’s Song” is a wonderful choice if you’d like a song from the perspective of the mother. Like “Simple Man,” “A Mother’s Song” mixes life advice while reminiscing about the past. 

Be warned, you and the crowd might need tissues for lines like these:

Be faithful and be true
Show love in all you do
Then you’ll know, just how
You make your mother proud

10 More Song Ideas for the Mother-Son Dance

If you’re looking for some more options, here are 10 more songs we frequently receive requests for: 

• “The Man You’ve Become” – Molly Pasutti
• “All To You” – DJ Keo
• “Hero” – Mariah Carey
• “Days Like This” – Van Morrison
• “You Raise Me Up” – Josh Groban
• “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You” – Rod Stewart
• “Unforgettable” – Nat and Natalie Cole
• “Wind Beneath My Wings” – Bette Midler 
• “Forever Young” – Joan Baez
• “I Just Called To Say I Love You” – Stevie Wonder

If you need additional guidance in picking a song or planning for your wedding, visit our wedding planning resources. You’ll find a longer list of songs for the mother-son dance, recommendations for other parts of your wedding, and helpful guides for planning your wedding ceremony and your wedding reception.