Wedding Songs: 30 Perfect Wedding Songs for Parent Dances
They're touching reception events: The bride waltzing with her dad, the groom tangoing with his mom. Here're some of our favorite tunes to use.
Photo: Paige Brown Photography
Trying to come up with the perfect wedding song to dance to with Dad or Mom? Start by deciding if you want a beautiful slow ballad or also want a song with meaningful lyrics. (Warning: If you choose a tear-jerker, plan the dance for later on in the reception, when the party is beginning to wind down and most of the pictures have already been taken!)
Below is a list of popular mother and son wedding songs as well as father and daughter wedding songs. We recommend reading through the whole list for ideas -- some songs work for a father-daughter or mother-son wedding dance. Or, you may want to choose one song and have both dances at the same time.
Mother/Son Wedding Songs
- "Blessed" (Elton John)
- "Can I Have This Dance" (Anne Murray)
- "Close to You" (The Carpenters)
- "Have I Told You Lately" (Rod Stewart or Van Morrison)
- "Loves Me Like a Rock" (Paul Simon)
- "I Can See Clearly Now" (Johnny Nash)
- "I Wish You Love" (Gloria Lynne)
- "In My Life" (The Beatles)
- "Stand by Me" (Ben E. King)
- "Through the Years" (Kenny Rogers)
- "Unforgettable" (Nat King Cole/Natalie Cole)
- "What a Wonderful World" (Louis Armstrong)
- "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (Stevie Wonder)
Father/Daughter Wedding Songs
- "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (Elton John)
- "Daddy's Little Girl" (Al Martino)
- "Daddy's Hands" (Holly Dunn)
- "If I Could" (Ray Charles)
- "Isn't She Lovely" (Stevie Wonder)
- "Lean on Me" (Bill Withers)
- "Lullaby" (Billy Joel)
- "My Funny Valentine" (Carly Simon)
- "My Girl" (The Temptations)
- "She's Leaving Home" (The Beatles)
- "Sunrise, Sunset" (from Fiddler on the Roof)
- "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" (Merle Haggard)
- "The Way You Look Tonight" (Frank Sinatra)
- "Times of Your Life" (Paul Anka)
- "Turn Around" (Harry Belafonte)
- "You Are So Beautiful to Me" (Joe Cocker)
- "Whenever I See Your Smiling Face" (James Taylor)
-- Cindy Hobson
See More: Basics for Moms , Wedding Music + Dancing