<strong>Is it okay to have a mother-daughter dance at weddings?</strong>

Mother Daughter Songs like Cover Me In Sunshine

Some brides want to have a special dance with their Mom on their wedding day. This could be because of your special relationship or because a father figure is not able to attend the wedding.

Mother and daughter dance songs at weddings

Quick Tips

When picking out the song to dance the mother-daughter wedding dance, 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?

As an experienced wedding DJ, I’ve assembled a list of songs for the mother-daughter dance. Songs are selected by the meaning of the song and popular hits by today’s brides. Besides the relationship type between the mother and bride, additional lists are grouped by genre to match your taste in music.

Songs by Relationship

Celebrating Love for Daughter

These songs show how a Mom feels about her daughter and how much she loves her for a special dedication.

A Mother’s Prayer – Celine Dion
Sweetest Devotion – Adele
Blue – Beyoncé
My Baby You – Marc Anthony
Mother’s Love – KEM
You Are the Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder
Lady – Brett Young
You’re Gonna Be – Reba McEntire
Child of Mine – Michaela Anne
My Darling – Wilco

Celebrating Love for Mom

In a twist from above, these songs represent how a daughter loves her Mother in a sweet dedication.

Mama – Spice Girls
A Mother Like You – JJ Heller
When God Made You My Mother – Riley Roth
Mama’s Hand – Queen Naija
Like My Mother Does – Lauren Alaina
Her – Anne-Marie
Mama – Il Divo
Mother – Ashanti
Mamas – Anne Wilson, Hillary Scott
The Best Day – Taylor Swift
My Mother’s Hand – Jill Barber

Honoring Your Mother

Instead of saying that you love your mom through a song, these songs. A way of saying you appreciate her dedication, courage, and resilience qualities.

Shiny – Sara Bareilles
My Hero – Westlife
Always There – Canadian Tenors
Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
Hero – Mariah Carey
Mother – Sugarland
Mother Like Mine – Band Perry
Somebody’s Hero – Jamie O’Neal
In My Daughter’s Eyes – Martina McBride
utopia – Lykke Li

Supporting Each Other

If you want to have a song that celebrates how you are there for each other through thick and thin, here are a few suggestions.

Call My Name – Lukas Graham
One Call Away – Charlie Puth
Count on Me – Bruno Mars
Stand – Haley Smalls
I’ll Be There – Mariah Carey feat. Trey Lorenz
There You’ll Be – Faith Hill
I Turn To You – Christina Aguilera
By Your Side – Sade
I’ll Be – Reba McEntire
I Will Be Here – Steven Curtis Chapman
Promise – Tori Amos
Can You Feel The Love Tonight – Elton John
Where You Lead, I Will Follow – Carole King

Unexpected & Fun Songs

We all know the popular wedding songs. These songs are a bit unexpected and not played at every wedding for a mom and daughter.

Mom – Meghan Trainor feat. Kelli Trainor
Girl On Fire – Alicia Keys
Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
My Girl – Temptations
Baby Girl – Sugarland
Thank You Mom – Good Charlotte
Teach Your Children – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Celebrating Friendship

If your relationship is a very strong friendship (like you talk on the phone every day). then consider these tracks.

You’re My Best Friend – Queen
You’ve Got A Friend – James Taylor
You’ve Got a Friend in Me – Randy Newman
You’ve Got A Friend – Carole King

Wishing The Best for What’s To Come

As you start your life with your partner, Mom can dedicate these songs to their daughter letting her know that she wants the best for her in the future.

superhuman – Bishop
Slow Down – Nichole Nordeman
Cover Me In Sunshine – Pink, Willow Sage Hart
My Wish – Rascal Flatts
Little Things – One Direction
Promises – Jhene Aiko feat. NAMIKO & Miyagi
Wildflowers – Tom Petty

Growing Up

These songs signify that the daughter has grown up from a child to a woman. Included are tracks about moments of growing up too.

Never Grow Up – Taylor Swift
You Don’t Have To Let Go – Jessica Simpson
Slipping Through My Fingers – ABBA
You Will Always Be (My Baby Girl) – Angel Sessions
My Song – H.E.R.
Hey Ma I Made It – Ella Langley
Teenage Daughters – Martina McBride
Mama’s Song – Carrie Underwood
26 (Cents Sign) – Wilkinsons
Letting Go – Suzy Bogguss
Barbie Bandaids – Isaacs

Every Type of Relationship

Not every bride has a close relationship with their Mom. These songs are more generic in theme but still capture a beautiful moment.

What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
I’m Happy Just To Dance With You – Beatles
Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

Single Mom Appreciation

Single Moms need to be appreciated too. These songs are just for them.

You and Me Against the World – Helen Reddy
Mama Was Daddy Too – Tainted Lyric
Mother – Pink Floyd

Dedication to Stepmom

Not all weddings have traditional parents. This one is for a dance with your stepmom.

Blended Family (What You Do For Love) – Alicia Keys feat. A$AP Rocky
Step by Step – Brandon Davis
My Boy (My Girl Version) – Elvie Shane

Dance with Mother-In-Law

Sometimes brides dance with their partner’s Mom at their wedding. Here are a few suggestions to play.

The Good Ones – Gabby Barrett
I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack
Most People Are Good – Luke Bryan
Humble And Kind – Tim McGraw
Love Can Build a Bridge – The Judds

Surviving Cancer

Yeah, not the greatest topic for a wedding. These songs were written from a child’s perspective of their mom trying to survive cancer.

Little Girl – Christina Grimmie
Morning – Sarah Jarosz

New Tracks DJs Need to Know

“PROTECTOR” by Beyonce, Rumi Carter (R&B – 2024)
“Good Mother” by Stephanie Lambring (Singer-Songwriter – 2024)
“Live Forever” by Kate Hudson (Singer-Songwriter – 2024)
“On Purpose (For My Future Daughter) ” by Bellah Mae (Pop – 2023)
“Mama’s Do ” by The Dryes (Country – 2023)
“Mama’s Eyes” by Tenille Arts (Country – 2023)
“Girls” by Rachel Platten (Pop – 2023)
“Everything Was For Love” by Carla Morrison (Soundtrack – 2023)
“She’s Superman” by Taylor Austin Dye (Country – 2023)
“Light On In The Kitchen” by Ashley McBryde (Country – 2023)

Song Ideas by Genre

Pop

superhuman – Bishop Briggs
My Hero – Westlife
Cover Me In Sunshine – P!nk, Willow Sage Hart
Morning – Sarah Jarosz
Her – Anne-Marie
Shiny – Sara Bareilles
Little Girl – Christina Grimmie
Mom – Meghan Trainor feat. Kelli Trainor
Sweetest Devotion – Adele
Blue – Beyoncé
Little Things – One Direction
Count on Me – Bruno Mars
Always There – Canadian Tenors
Oh Mother – Christina Aguilera
A Mother’s Prayer – Celine Dion
Mama – Il Divo
You Don’t Have To Let Go – Jessica Simpson
My Baby You – Marc Anthony
I Turn To You – Christina Aguilera
Mama – Spice Girls
Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
Hero – Mariah Carey
You Raise Me Up – Josh Groban
Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler
Slipping Through My Fingers – ABBA
You and Me Against the World – Helen Reddy
What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong

R&B

You Will Always Be (My Baby Girl) – Angel Sessions
Stand – Haley Smalls
My Song – H.E.R.
Mama’s Hand – Queen Naija
Promises – Jhene Aiko feat. NAMIKO & Miyagi
Girl On Fire – Alicia Keys
Mother’s Love – KEM
Mother – Ashanti
By Your Side – Sade
I’ll Be There – Mariah Carey feat. Trey Lorenz
Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
You Are the Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder
I’ll Be There – Jackson 5
My Girl – Temptations

Country

Hey Ma I Made It – Ella Langley
Mamas – Anne Wilson, Hillary Scott
When God Made You My Mother – Riley Roth
Lady – Brett Young
Mother – Sugarland
Mother Like Mine – Band Perry
Like My Mother Does – Lauren Alaina
Teenage Daughters – Martina McBride
Mama’s Song – Carrie Underwood
Never Grow Up – Taylor Swift
The Best Day – Taylor Swift
My Wish – Rascal Flatts
Somebody’s Hero – Jamie O’Neal
You’re Gonna Be – Reba McEntire
Baby Girl – Sugarland
In My Daughter’s Eyes – Martina McBride
There You’ll Be – Faith Hill
I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack
I’ll Be – Reba McEntire
26 (Cents Sign) – Wilkinsons
You Can’t Lose Me – Faith Hill
Letting Go – Suzy Bogguss
Love Can Build a Bridge – The Judds
Mama He’s Crazy – The Judds
My Mother’s Hand – Jill Barber
Child of Mine – Michaela Anne
Lay of the Heartland – Rose Rock Daughters

Christian

Slow Down – Nichole Nordeman
Barbie Bandaids – Isaacs
How You Live (Turn Up the Music) – Point of Grace
I Believe in You – Steven Curtis Chapman
I Will Be Here – Steven Curtis Chapman
In My Arms – Plumb

Rock

utopia – Lykke Li
Promise – Tori Amos
Thank You Mom – Good Charlotte
My Darling – Wilco
Can You Feel The Love Tonight – Elton John
Wildflowers – Tom Petty
Have I Told You Lately – Rod Stewart
Forever Young – Rod Stewart
You’re My Best Friend – Queen
Teach Your Children – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Indie

I Get To Be The One – JJ Heller
A Mother Like You – JJ Heller
Where You Lead, I Will Follow – Carole King
You’ve Got A Friend – Carole King

Tips

If you wish to save time and highlight your parents with a single dance, plan a wedding dance with both parents.

If you want to dance with your mother-in-law, see our list of mother-in-law songs for a dance or dedication.

If you have a stepmother, see our list of stepmom songs for a dance or dedication.

Fun Facts

In the past, this was uncommon because tradition favored the typical roles. With single parents and same-sex parents, the mother-daughter dance will only become more prominent. If you’d like to dance with the parent or parent figure of your choice, by all means, do so.

If the father of the bride passes away before the wedding date or has no relations with the bride, a special dance between the bride with her mother may replace the father-daughter dance.

The most important issue is that you discuss these options with your DJ or music entertainment. Some brides opt to dedicate a song to their mother during the reception instead. That can be an upbeat song to celebrate their friendship as well as their love. And, of course, keep the party going.

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