Parent dances—such as the father-daughter and mother-son dances—are a beautiful tradition that highlights the special bond between a bride or groom and the parent who has helped guide them through life. These dances are a meaningful way to express gratitude to the parent or parental figure who has played a significant role in their upbringing.
While parent dances are still a popular tradition at weddings, we’re often asked about the best place to schedule them in the evening timeline. The most common order is as follows: the couple’s first dance, followed by the father-daughter dance, and then the mother-son dance, which typically signals the start of the dance floor festivities. However, some couples prefer to kick off the dancing right after their first dance, so in those cases, we often schedule the parent dances during dinner, right after the respective parent's toast.
Regardless of where you choose to place these dances in your timeline, one thing remains constant: the song choice matters. The song you pick for your parent dance sets the tone and adds to the emotional impact of the moment. Whether it’s a classic, a heartfelt ballad, or something more personal, the right song can make the dance unforgettable for you both! We hope you find this playlist helpful!
You can also check out our playlists for First Dance Songs and Wedding Ceremony Songs here!
THE ULTIMATE LIST OF SONGS FOR PARENT DANCES
All You Need Is Love – The Beatles
Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
Best Parts of Me – Will Dempsey
Butterfly Kisses – Bob Carlisle
Can't Take My Eyes Off of You – Frankie Valli
Days Like This – Van Morrison
Forever Now – Michael Bublé
Forever Young – Rod Stewart
God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
Harvest Moon – Neil Young
Here Comes the Sun – Boyce Avenue
Her Little Man – Jami Grooms
Humble and Kind – Tim McGraw
I Don't Dance – Lee Brice
I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack
Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
My Girl – The Temptations
My Little Girl – Tim McGraw
My Wish – Rascal Flatts
Protector – Beyoncé
Sara Smile – Daryl Hall & John Oates
Shower the People – James Taylor
Stand By Me – Otis Redding
(They Long to Be) Close to You – The Carpenters
This Dance – Scott Thomas Laughridge
Three Little Birds – Kacey Musgraves
To Sir With Love – Lulu
Two Steps Behind (Acoustic Version) – Def Leppard
Unforgettable – Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole
The Way You Look Tonight – Harry Connick Jr.
What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
Wildflowers – Tom Petty
You'll Be In My Heart – Phil Collins
You'll Be In My Heart – Stillman
Yours – Post Malone
Your Song – Ellie Goulding
Your Song – Elton John
You've Got a Friend in Me – Sleeping at Last
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