Father & Mother In-Law Songs
Best 35 List
Bride Father-In-Law and Groom Mother-In-Law Songs
Everyone knows about the special dances between a bride and her father and the dance between a groom and his mother. These are the popular parent dances at a wedding reception.
However, what about special dances between a bride and her future and now current father-in-law?
What about a special dance between a groom and his future and current mother-in-law?
These can be special dances between a bridal couple and their spouses’ parents. It is up to the bride and groom how much attention they wish to focus on these dances.
The bridal couple can make the In-Law dances immediately following the father daughter and mother groom dances. However, keep in mind that the more formal dances you have, the more time guests are waiting to cut loose and dance themselves. We would recommend to announce during the dancing fun portion of the wedding reception that the bridal couple has a special song with their In-Laws and to invite everyone to join in with their dance(s).
The bride father-in-law dance and groom mother-in-law dances are optional and not common at wedding receptions. Instead of making them into dances, the bridal couple could also choose to make the songs into dedications during the wedding reception. Another reason for the in-law song list is when parents have passed on and it would be an option to dance with a spouse’s parent for the father daughter and/or mother groom dance when the designated parent is not able to attend the wedding reception.
In-Law Songs
Ben E. King – Stand By Me
1961, Soul
Bobby McFerrin – Don’t Worry, Be Happy
1988, Jazz
Club Nouveau – Lean On Me
1986, R&B
David Bowie – Let’s Dance
1983, Pop
Dolly Parton – Family
1991, Country
Enya – Only Time
2000, New Age
Faith Hill – There You’ll Be
2001, Country
Fleetwood Mac – Landslide
1975, Rock
Hank Williams, Jr. – Family Tradition
1979, Country
Harry Connick Jr. – A Wink And A Smile
1993, Jazz
Jackson 5 – I’ll Be There
1980, R&B
James Taylor – How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
1975, Rock
James Taylor – You’ve Got A Friend
1971, Rock
Jason Mraz – Life Is Wonderful
2005, Rock
Johnny Nash – I Can See Clearly Now
1972, Reggae
Kenny Chesney – Don’t Blink
2007, Country
Lee Ann Womack – I Hope You Dance
2000, Country
Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World
1967, Pop
Mariah Carey – I’ll Be There
1992, R&B
Mary J Blige – Family Affair
2001, R&B
Michael Buble – The Best Is Yet To Come
2007, Jazz
Nat King Cole – Smile
1954, R&B
R. Kelly – I Believe I Can Fly
1996, R&B
Rascal Flatts – My Wish
2006, Country
Ray Charles – Ain’t That Love
1962, R&B
Rob Thomas – Little Wonders
2005, Rock
Rod Stewart – Forever Young
1988, Rock
Sister Sledge – We Are Family
1979, Disco
The Beatles – I’m Happy Just To Dance With You
1964, Rock
The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun
1969, Rock
The Judds – Love Can Build A Bridge
1990, Country
The Pretenders – I’ll Stand By You
1994, Rock
Uncle Kracker – Smile
2009, Pop
Van Morrison – These Are the Days
1989, Pop
Whitney Houston & CeCe Winans – Count On Me
1996, R&B
Bride Father-In-Law Songs
Daughter Father-In-Law Dance Songs
are played at a wedding reception while the bride dances with her new father-in-law. There are many options of the formalities for this dance. Option 1 would be for the bride to dance with her father for the father daughter dance. Then, have her new father-in-law cut in to finish the song. Option 2 is to have the bride and father-in-law have their own special song to dance. Option 3 is to play a song for both couples to dance – bride with her father-in-law and the groom with his mother-in-law.
Groom Mother-In-Law Songs
Son Mother-In-Law Dance Songs
are played at a wedding reception while the groom dances with his new mother-in-law. There are many options of the formalities for this dance. Option 1 would be for the groom to dance with his mother for the mother son dance. Then, have his new mother-in-law cut in to finish the song. Option 2 is to have the groom and mother-in-law have their own special song to dance. Option 3 is to play a song for both couples to dance – bride with her father-in-law and the groom with his mother-in-law.
My dad passed away and my fiance has a complicated relationship with his mom, so we are going to do one song where I dance with his father and he dances with my mother. Right now the only song I’m considering is “Teach Your Children” – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. I’ve been reading through some other suggestions below and some of them start off great but end up with more “romantic” lyrics than I’m looking for (i.e. falling in love, kissing, etc.) which I do not think would be appropriate. Any other suggestions for a simultaneous dance like this? Thanks!
Hi Erin. First, sorry for your loss. I love the Teach Your Children song too and would be very appropriate. A couple of other offbeat suggestions would be The Best Is Yet To Come by Michael Buble, Three Little Birds by Bob Marley, Home by Edward Sharpe, Let’s Dance by David Bowie and Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles.
Hi there. My step-daughter is getting married. Her father and I have been married for almost 16 years but she has never really liked me (she is a little less than 10 years younger than me and she was 21 when we got married) although we get along pretty good now. Her and her mother has already planned a MIL/SIL dance but I would like to dance with the new SIL too (although I am not sure I am going to say anything). In this circumstance do you have any song recommendations?
Hi Christina. Thank you for submitting your question. Situations like this happen more than you would think. I would recommend a song that doesn’t signify the love bond between a mom and her son. Rather, I would select a song that either tells a story, or wishes him well in his new life. A couple selections include My Wish – Rascal Flatts, The Beatles – I’m Happy Just To Dance With You, George Strait – I Just Want To Dance With You, The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun and Tim McGraw – Meanwhile Back At Mama’s. Hope this helps.
Both of my parents are deceased as well as my fiance’s mother.
Any suggestions for songs I could dance to with my father in law?
Also any suggestions on what song and with whom my fiance could dance with for the mother/son dance? My step mother won’t be there.
Hi Amy. First, the song with your FIL depends on your relationship. If you are close, the maybe He Didn’t Have To Be. If not, pick a more uptempo song like My Girl. As for your fiance, he doesn’t have to have a dance or you could have him cut in during the middle of the dance with your FULL to I Loved Her First. Hope this helps.
I am looking for a song for the brides father and the grooms mother r to dance to. Any suggestions?
Hi Naketa. I would suggest keeping it a bit more lively and upbeat. I would not do a lovey song as it may create an awkward moment. What about Happy Together by The Turtles?
My fiances parents aren’t together. He has a step dad and his dad has a girlfriend of ten years. We want to do a dance where I dance with his step dad and he dances with his dads girlfriend but not sure on song. Any suggestions?
Hi Shuri. Thank you for the question. Here a few suggestions in different music styles:
Love Will Always Win – Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood
I’ll Be There – Jackson 5
Little Wonders – Rob Thomas
The Best Is Yet To Come – Michael Buble
Hope this helps!
Somewhere in the World by Wayne Watson might be a song to consider in some circumstances.
Thank you Autumn. We will add it to the list.
My soon to be father in law lost his only daughter a few years back. He calls me his “Mija” and I know it would mean so much to him if I had a dance with him since he won’t get that chance to have a dad/daughter dance. Any suggestions specifically for this situation? Thank in advance!
Hi. I think it is great that you want to do such a dance. It will be a very special moment for your FIL. Here are a few suggestions. More upbeat and uplifting – Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo?ole. In remembrance – Angel – Sarah Mclachlan. Father Daughter remembrance – Dance With My Father – Luther Vandross. Hope this helps!
My fiance parents are dead can I do a mother in law dance instead
Hi Lisa. Absolutely. Just choose a song that represents your relationship.
Hi, we wanted to have both sets of parents dance to a song right after the bride/father and the son/mother dances. What songs would you recommend for those dances? Thank you! The Brides parents are “still” married, but the (us) groom’s parents are divorced. But we wanted one song together to reflect on our lives together as parents. Suggestions? Thank you!
Hi Marvae. Great question. Having both sets of parents on the dance floor could create some awkwardness. You may think about joining them on the dance floor mid-way through the song. A couple song suggestions include Blessed – Elton John, I Wish You Love – Natalie Cole, Through The Years – Kenny Rogers and Love Can Build A Bridge – Judds.
Hi I’m wanting to do a special song from both sets of parents at my son and his new brides wedding in December … It will be a surprise but want it to reflect both families our love and wishes… Please help
Hi Darlene. Many of the above songs fit the bill. I would just check these out first.
Since my mother in law is almost 100 and will not make our reception /1 year anniversary cocktail party….. My husband and I have an idea of a Groom and mother in law (my mom) dance…. Would anyone have any suggestions on a song for them to dance to?
2 of our favorites are My Wish by Rascal Flatts and What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.
Hi, so my dad is not a part of my life, and I plan on having my uncle walk me down the aisle, but have my new father-in-law do the father daughter dance with me. The dance is a surprise, so I want the song to be a really good one but I have no idea which to chose. Help please!!
Hi Sabrina. We recommend I’ll Be There by Jackson 5 or Maria Carey.
The man I am about to get married to mother is not going to be at our wedding and I wanted to do a mother son song with my mom and him because they are so close. Any recommendations?
Hi Tabby. I would not do a slow song but more upbeat that has less to do with love and more about family. A newer song for an example would be Meanwhile Back At Mama’s by Tim McGraw.
Never heard of any of those songs. I really like Carrie Underwood steven Curtis chapman. And my temptations. Which would you reccommend?
All 3 are great artists. I like I Will Be Here by Steven Curtis Chapman. Carrie Underwood’s Don’t Forget To Remember Me would be good too.
Sounds great. Thanks for answering my questions
I want to have a father in law and daughter dance. What song would you recommend?
Hi Emily. It really depends on the style of music you like and the desired tempo. I have always liked Stand By Me, Family and I’ll Be There as Father-in-law and daughter songs.