Did I ever cry!

Our song was Barry Manilow's Can't Smile Without You, a song DS and I would dance to when he was still in arms and as a toddler, and the first song I remember him singing. It truly is "our song".

The DJ had forgotten to bring it and DS and DIL made him go retrieve it, because it was so important to them. It was a complete surprise for me.

The funny thing was I had heard the song on the radio the day before the wedding, and cried like a baby for 30 minutes. It still didn't lessen the tears during the dance. It's one of my most cherished memories.

Congratulations on the new member of your family, and hope it's a wonderful wedding.

Dee

If my son ever gets married, I would like it to be Rubber Ducky-the song from Sesame Street. I used to sing him a song I made up to the tune of Rubber Ducky when he was a baby-and it's been his song forever. Goofy, I know, but that's the one.

When DD got married, she had Wasted Days and Wasted Nights played for her father/daughter dance because that was the song that DH used to sing (off key) all the time and it was their inside joke. She calls him Freddy Fender. So yeah, we're kind of weird, but that is what makes us a family!

For Max's wedding (if he had not eloped), I would have chosen Paul Simon's 'Diamonds on the soles of her shoes' with Lady Smith Black Mambassa. Max had a small electric guitar and stood on the sofa, playing his guitar and singing, watching the video over and over and over.

Derek loved a jungle CD and I can't for the life of me remember the name of it. It was Techno music. Mom is sleeping in the library so I can't run up and check.

So this is not a dance song.... but when I was creating a slide show for my son' hs graduation, I discovered Neil Young's "My Boy". But if you *need* a good cry before the big day, this one will do it! Imagine these words with that wonderful Neil Young voice and guitar....

Why you growin' up so fast, my boy?
Ahh, you better take your time
Why you growin' up so fast, my son?

Almost time to live your dreams my boy
Ahh, you better take your time
Almost time to make some plans, my son

Vacation calls, school is out, summer ends
Here in, here out

Oh you better take your time, my boy
I thought we had just begun
Why you growin' up so fast, my son?

etc......

These are fabulous stories. I'm going to look up every one of these songs & listen to them today. How fascinating, too, that most of them tie back to your sons' earliest years.

Sweet Baby James is my favorite J.T. song. It played over the intercom while I was in recovery after giving birth to my son. We were considering naming him James, and hearing this song sealed the deal. So our sweet baby was James, & now he's a sweet young man.

oh, and bestyears, I love Neil Young!

Son-in-law and mother dance was "I hope you Dance" by Lee Ann Womack.

I love these songs!

I used to sing this to my oldest, bouncing him on my knee. not really a good mother/son wedding dance, though!

with apologies to those who love Springsteen, but he butchered it

Here is a link that might be useful: Pony Boy

We are not country music fans, but at the suggestion of a friend who danced to this song at her son's wedding, my DS and I danced to Rascal Flatts' My Wish. I love the lyrics!

Here is a link that might be useful: My Wish

I had two sons in quick succession ('05 and '06) and when they each get married I'd like to use the same song for both. We've watched a LOT of Toy Story over the past seven years and "You've Got a Friend in Me" is our song.

Just hearing it makes me tear up, even though it's a "happy" song. Come to think of it, the Toy Story movies make me tear up too! When Andy's mom walks into his bedroom and he's all packed up for college...oh boy.

You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
When the road looks rough ahead
And you're miles and miles
From your nice warm bed
You just remember what your old pal said
Boy, you've got a friend in me
Yeah, you've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
If you've got troubles, I've got 'em too
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you
We stick together and can see it through
Cause you've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me

Some other folks might be
A little bit smarter than I am
Bigger and stronger too
Maybe
But none of them will ever love you
The way I do, it's me and you
Boy, and as the years go by
Our friendship will never die
You're gonna see it's our destiny
You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me

Amazing stories here. Funny that love is so hard to express in words, but add music to them, and you have a powerful, emotional expression beyond words alone. Thank you all for sharing these very personal experiences. So moving!

I don't think I could choose a really mushy song for the mother son dance because I would not want to subject myself to a tear fest. It is not my day and MIL's often get a bad rap. I love all the songs listed above but they don't seem appropriate to me for the celebration. Some even seem territorial for a wedding (to me).

Mothers of sons have a difficult balance. Generally it won't be you who she calls for advice. It will likely be her Mother.

I love my DIL but I am mindful to be the MIL I wish I had. I allow her to find her way as a wife. I dont care how she keeps her house or cooks. I love it when DIL texts me out of the blue. She thanks me for our unconditional love and supportive attitude.

Just saying... Some song choices may send the wrong message to your DIL. This is a celebration and welcoming a new family member. It may be better to chose a song with that in mind.

After seven years of dating, our DIL-to-be pretty much knows what she's getting in the way of in-laws & feels secure of our support & love. My son has requested that I choose a song for my 3 minutes, 40-some seconds in the spotlight. I didn't ask for that. How generous of them to want to honor me on their day.

Fine by me if she calls her mother first for advice. She'll be well advised by that wonderful woman. We have much to offer as well, and if DS/DIL ask, we'll respond. But they're so capable on their own. They don't need much parenting anymore from either side, frankly.

Fortunately, we all are well grounded, sensible & secure personalities in both families. No one is going to feel threatened by "Sweet Baby James." I look forward to dancing to whatever is chosen for the father/daughter dance, be it sentimental, humorous, or just a favorite that only they can share.

I think Sweet Baby James is a great choice. Not at all territorial. Lol.

I honestly don't see how one song danced to at a wedding could be thought of as territorial.

I can't tell you what song we danced to, but I can tell you that we had planned to dance to Honeysuckle Rose. We even had a choreographer design a charleston to the music. I was to dance it with DS, FIL to dance with DIL. But DIL had just had her cast removed from her broken collarbone and DS had just slammed his side in a car door, so we danced to very slow music. Then, not to waste the choreography, FIL and I did the charleston to Honeysuckle Rose.

The Carly Simon song was nice; but not sure I could dance with my son at his wedding with it; mostly because he's now supposed to be his wife's love of her life; like my hub is mine.

It would probably be Guns & Roses Sweet Child of Mine; it's my ring tone for him lol. G&R was always what we listened to. The other band would be Eddie Money.

Hmm, I never thought of that Carly SImon song as being romantic, but about mother-child love. I see your point. I guess the bride might be stewing!

I've never heard the Carly Simon until now; but my 1st thought was that yes; the bride could be fuming! It depends on the DIL & your own relationship with your son. With my son's last ex-GF; she was very jealous of our relationship because she does not have one with her parents.

Google- songs for mother son wedding dance

I'll Always be Your Mother

I'll Always Be Your Mother

This is a special day
When two are joined as one
I love my new daughter
I'll always love you son
Care for each other
Be faithful till the end
Follow what's in your heart
May you always stay best friends

Chorus:
It's the start of your new life
As husband & wife
Hope the good days outshine the bad
May laughter brighten the sad
Know I'm here for you
To help or just talk to
Believe in each other
I'll always be your mother

The day will be here soon
When you'll have Kids to love
God will watch over you
From heaven up above
Pray for patience & wisdom
To give your kids your best
You'll teach them right from wrong
They'll bring you happiness

Chorus Repeat

Bridge:
I'll always be your mother,
it completes my life
My tears are filled with love,
for you & your new wife
You are a caring son,
I'll forever be proud of
Cherish your new bride,
We can always share your love

It's the start of your new life
Believe in each other
I'll always be your mother

Copyright 2006 by
Lynn Leonti/Jim McShane

Here is a link that might be useful: Best Mother-Son Dance Songs

My son picked the song we danced to and I had no idea until the music started. It was a lovely thought but can you imagine dancing to this, especially the looooooong opening line. There are no steps,lol. It was Whitney Houston's "I will always love you" I thought it would never end, we were barely moving hahahaha. Today when I hear it I well up a bit. They were only married 8 years when she died, that was 8 years ago and he's never married. It kills me as he wanted children so bad.

Oh yes. That would have been a very hard dance that lasted forever and again. There is nothing such as trivial conversation here. Yay a, your post killed me. Tell us what happened.

On our way to hospital. Mom is sick. Nothing like an ER room at 10:00 PM. Wish us luck.

Golddust, she and he were both biologists and worked for Ciba Corning. She was assaying a test mandated to her to complete as she was the super on the job. She stayed in the room with the centrifuge the entire time as directed when, after four hours, she became ill. Long story short the machine was leaking and it leaked in to her lungs. The 3 chemicals bonded to make a new unknown chemical similar to agent orange type. She was unable to go out in public as all chemicals or perfumes or scents caused her to go in to severe reaction. She lived mostly indoors and in hospitals with no one really knowing what to do. She coded six times and the seventh she died. Ciba Corning took no responsibility. We hired the best attorneys but it was closed tight as they make all their own equipment and they had workman's comp. She and my son had to deal with all of this while she was sick. They even stopped her medical care but the comp case covered it. When the case was settled she only got a hundred grand and died six months later. We miss her every day. I loved her like a daughter and my son has left the field of biology completely. He was just fed up with the negligence and how they handled it. God love her, she's in a much better place. Thank you for caring.

Can You Feel the Love Tonight/Elton John, which is the theme song from the movie, The Lion King. *I* personally love the song, and feel that's why my son chose it.

Son had a large wedding and reception but because it was in the afternoon, no dancing.

But if we did have a song it would be Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me." His small high school graduating class sang that to the parents then they gave the mom's a rose. Talk about crying!

DIL knows what a close knit family we are and she loves how close I am to my son's. Now that she's a mother of a son she really understands the special bond between son and mother which is not like the old saying goes, "A son is a son until he takes a wife, a daugther is a daughter for the rest of her life."

Heck, I still get onto my children! I'll always remember Barbara Bush speaking about Jr., "Just because he's the President doesn't mean he can put his feet on my coffee table!" lol

yayagal, what a story.... tell us please, what does Ciba Corning make that we can refuse to purchase for the rest of our lives?!??! I am so sorry to hear about this terrible tragedy your family endured.....and to hear that they didn't even do the right thing by her after the damage was done is just sickening....

What a horrible thing to have happened to your daughter-in -law and son, yayagal. I am so sorry.

Yes it was torture. All corning ware is made by Ciba but now Bayer bought them out so nothing would really help. Plus the people that worked with her were given orders not to be in touch with her but the good ones disobeyed. Yeah all these subjects lead to others, it's like peeling an onion.

Bestyears, is your Mom okay?

yayagal -do you mean Golddust -I think it was her who was about to admit her mom to the hospital....

My boys are 10. If they ever get married..it might be "My Guy". That's what I sang to them all the time until recently.

Such a good thread.

Didn't know this side was here.

Yayagirl, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your DIL.

We did not do this type of dance at our wedding 6 years ago. We had a live band, and to be honest, we didn't even think of it. The band would have had to learn another song. My father is deceased, so there was no father-daughter dance. We just had a first dance, and the band learned that song for us.

My sister and one of my nephews used Rolling Stones Tumblin' Dice. Sister is a big Stones fan, and both she and nephew like casino gaming.

wedding was 2/22/20, right before covid. i chose ”my wish” by rascal flatts. son told me at 2p i needed to pick the song for that night. i listened to a few & knew this was perfect. i had no idea it would be so popular.