How to Select Songs for Your In-Law Wedding Dance
As an experienced wedding DJ, I’ve assembled a list of songs for an in-law dance. Songs are selected by the meaning of the song and popular hits by today’s couples. Additional lists are grouped by genre to match your taste in music.
After years of DJing weddings, I assembled a list of the best songs to play for dancing with your in-laws at your wedding. Why not include your father and mother-in-law in a special spotlight dance?

Quick Tips
When picking out the song to dance with your in-laws, you must consider the following 3 factors:
1. Does the song have a special meaning to both of you?
2. Does the song’s meaning describe your relationship?
3. What is the tempo of the song (fast or slow) to determine the style of dance that fits best?
New In-Law Dance Songs to Know
- He’s My Man – Priscilla Block
In-Law Wedding Songs by Theme
Fun & Unexpected
If you want to have a fun upbeat song to dance or dedicate to your new in-laws, check out these hits!
- A Wink And A Smile – Harry Connick Jr.
- Ain’t That Love – Ray Charles
- Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
- Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
- Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – The Police
- Happy – Pharrell Williams
- Home – Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
- Home – Phillip Phillips
- How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) – James Taylor
- I Can See Clearly Now – Johnny Nash
- Lean On Me – Club Nouveau
- Let’s Dance – David Bowie
- Seasons Of Love – Cast Of Rent
- Smile – Nat King Cole
- Smile – Uncle Kracker
- Somebody To Love – Queen
- The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
Family Theme
When getting married, not only do the couple become one but so do families join together. These songs celebrate your new family members.
- Blended Family – Alicia Keys, A$AP Rocky
- Chosen Family – Rina Sawayama
- Family – Dolly Parton
- Family – Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors
- Family Affair – Mary J Blige
- Family Is Family – Kacey Musgraves
- Family Man – Fleetwood Mac
- Family Portrait – P!nk
- Family Tradition – Hank Williams, Jr.
- Keep The Family Close – Drake
- Kooks – David Bowie
- Love Can Build A Bridge – The Judds
- Rich Man – Little Big Town
- We Are Family – Sister Sledge
Every Type of Relationship
Not every couple is close with their new in-laws at the wedding. These songs still have a nice moment without the lovey-dovey lyrics.
- I Just Want To Dance With You – George Strait
- Only Time – Enya
- Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
- Teach Your Children – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- These Are the Days – Van Morrison
- Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
- What A Wonderful – Louis Armstrong
- Wildfire – Michael Martin Murphey
- Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
Parent-Child Relationship
Just the opposite of the list above this one. These songs celebrate the closeness between the couple and their new in-laws.
- Blessed – Elton John
- Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
- Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
- Like Jesus Does – Eric Church
- Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses
- Take Good Care Of My Baby – Bobby Vee
- Tell Me Twice – Chayce Beckham
- The Good Ones – Gabby Barrett
- Treat Her Right – Sawyer Brown
- You Are My Sunshine – Morgane & Chris Stapleton
Being There For Each Other
Here is a list of songs that celebrate being there for each other through thick and thin as the couple starts their new life as a married couple.
- Call My Name – Lukas Graham
- Count On Me – Whitney Houston, CeCe Winans
- Hold My Hand – Hootie & The Blowfish
- I’ll Be There – Jackson 5
- I’ll Be There – Mariah Carey
- I’ll Stand by You – Josh Groban, Helene Fischer
- I’ll Stand By You – The Pretenders
- I’m Happy Just To Dance With You – The Beatles
- Lean on Me – Bill Withers
- On Me – Thomas Rhett, Kane Brown, Ava Max
- Stand By Me – Ben E. King
- There You’ll Be – Faith Hill
- You’ve Got A Friend – James Taylor
- You’ve Got a Friend in Me – Randy Newman
Loving Each Other
Are your in-laws seen as parent figures in your life? These songs celebrate your special bond.
- Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
- Can You Feel The Love Tonight – Elton John
- Have I Told You Lately – Rod Stewart
- Heroes – Haley Reinhart
- In My Life – The Beatles
- Life Is Wonderful – Jason Mraz
- Ordinary Miracle – Sarah McLachlan
- Remedy – Adele
- Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper
- You’ll Be In My Heart – Phil Collins
Good Will for the Future
These songs share a feeling of wishing the couple well from the eyes of the parents to the newlyweds.
- Days Like This – Van Morrison
- Forever Young – Andrea von Kampen
- Forever Young – Rod Stewart
- Humble and Kind – Tim McGraw
- I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack
- I Wish You Love – Natalie Cole
- Let Your Love Flow – Bellamy Brothers
- Little Wonders – Rob Thomas
- My Wish – Rascal Flatts
- The Best Is Yet To Come – Michael Buble
- Wildflowers – Tom Petty
DJs! Plan an In-Law Dance Song by BPM and Key
(Click on the Song, Artist, Key and BPM table columns for sorting)
Song | Artist | Key | BPM |
---|---|---|---|
Don't Worry Be Happy | Bobby McFerrin | 1B | 69 |
Heroes | Haley Reinhart | 4B | 72 |
Chosen Family | Rina Sawayama | 12B | 73 |
Three Little Birds | Bob Marley & The Wailers | 11B | 74 |
Lean on Me | Bill Withers | 8B | 75 |
Rich Man | Little Big Town | 9B | 76 |
What A Wonderful World | Louis Armstrong | 7B | 77 |
These Are the Days | Van Morrison | 9B | 77 |
Smile | Nat King Cole | 4A | 79 |
Wildfire | Michael Martin Murphey | 12B | 80 |
Little Wonders | Rob Thomas | 11B | 82 |
I'll Be There (feat. Trey Lorenz) - Live at MTV Unplugged, Kaufman Astoria StuLive at MTV Unplugged, Kaufman Astoria Studios, New York - March 1992dios, New York - March 1992 | Mariah Carey, Trey Lorenz | 7B | 82 |
Take Good Care Of My Baby | Bobby Vee | 3B | 83 |
Only Time | Enya | 5B | 83 |
Over the Rainbow | Israel Kamakawiwo'ole | 8B | 86 |
Wildflowers | Tom Petty | 7B | 87 |
Keep The Family Close | Drake | 8A | 88 |
The Good Ones | Gabby Barrett | 10B | 90 |
You've Got a Friend | James Taylor | 11B | 92 |
Family Portrait | P!nk | 5A | 92 |
Family Affair | Mary J. Blige | 1A | 93 |
I'll Be There | The Jackson 5 | 7B | 93 |
Days Like This | Van Morrison | 5A | 94 |
Family | Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors | 9B | 95 |
Wonderful Tonight | Eric Clapton | 9B | 96 |
Blended Family (What You Do For Love) | Alicia Keys, A$AP Rocky | 11B | 97 |
I Wish You Love | Natalie Cole | 3B | 97 |
You'll Be In My Heart | Phil Collins | 4B | 97 |
Life Is Wonderful | Jason Mraz | 1A | 98 |
Humble And Kind | Tim McGraw | 1B | 101 |
Forever Young | Rod Stewart | 12B | 102 |
Blessed | Elton John | 7B | 102 |
In My Life - Remastered 2009 | The Beatles | 11B | 103 |
Let Your Love Flow | The Bellamy Brothers | 5B | 109 |
I Can See Clearly Now | Johnny Nash | 6B | 109 |
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) | James Taylor | 8B | 109 |
Home | Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros | 10B | 112 |
You Are My Sunshine (with Chris Stapleton) | Morgane Stapleton, Chris Stapleton, Southern Family | 10B | 112 |
Somebody To Love - Remastered 2011 | Queen | 4B | 112 |
Family Is Family | Kacey Musgraves | 7B | 112 |
A Wink and a Smile | Harry Connick, Jr. | 9B | 112 |
I Just Want To Dance With You | George Strait | 8B | 114 |
Count On Me - from "Waiting to Exhale" - Original Soundtrack | Whitney Houston, CeCe Winans | 9A | 114 |
We Are Family | Sister Sledge | 10B | 115 |
Let's Dance | David Bowie | 4B | 115 |
You've Got a Friend in Me | Randy Newman | 5A | 116 |
Stand By Me | Ben E. King | 11B | 118 |
Ain't That Love | Ray Charles | 6B | 118 |
Because You Loved Me - Live | Céline Dion | 9B | 118 |
Isn't She Lovely | Stevie Wonder | 12A | 119 |
Don't Stop Believin' | Journey | 12B | 119 |
Time After Time | Cyndi Lauper | 2B | 120 |
The Best Is yet to Come | Michael Bublé | 7B | 121 |
Home | Phillip Phillips | 8B | 121 |
Can You Feel The Love Tonight | Elton John | 6B | 123 |
Family Man - 2017 Remaster | Fleetwood Mac | 9B | 124 |
Sweet Child O' Mine | Guns N' Roses | 2B | 125 |
Family Tradition | Hank Williams, Jr. | 12B | 126 |
Kooks - 2015 Remaster | David Bowie | 11B | 127 |
There You'll Be | Faith Hill | 4B | 129 |
Treat Her Right | Sawyer Brown | 5B | 131 |
Forever Young | Andrea von Kampen | 8B | 131 |
Ordinary Miracle | Sarah McLachlan | 10B | 132 |
I'm Happy Just To Dance With You - Remastered 2009 | The Beatles | 11A | 132 |
The Way You Look Tonight | Frank Sinatra | 4A | 132 |
Love Can Build A Bridge | The Judds | 1B | 133 |
Family | Dolly Parton | 3B | 134 |
I'll Stand by You | Pretenders | 9B | 134 |
My Wish | Rascal Flatts | 12B | 136 |
Like Jesus Does | Eric Church | 3B | 137 |
Smile | Uncle Kracker | 12B | 141 |
Have I Told You Lately | Rod Stewart | 6B | 143 |
I'll Stand by You (Duet with Helene Fischer) | Josh Groban, Helene Fischer | 4B | 146 |
Teach Your Children | Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young | 10A | 147 |
I Hope You Dance | Lee Ann Womack | 6A | 151 |
Tell Me Twice | Chayce Beckham | 11B | 154 |
Landslide | Fleetwood Mac | 6A | 159 |
Happy - From "Despicable Me 2" | Pharrell Williams | 4A | 160 |
Remedy | Adele | 10B | 162 |
Call My Name | Lukas Graham | 6B | 166 |
Hold My Hand | Hootie & The Blowfish | 3B | 172 |
Lean on Me | Club Nouveau | 8B | 177 |
On Me (feat. Ava Max) - From 'SCOOB!' The Album | Thomas Rhett, Kane Brown, Ava Max | 4B | 178 |
Seasons of Love - From the Motion Picture RENT | Cast Of Rent | 6B | 178 |
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic | The Police | 9B | 206 |
*BPM and key pulled from SongData.io