A mother-son or father-daughter wedding dance is one of the sweetest moments of any wedding reception. It can also be an awkward moment for your reception guests. Or the end of a dance floor for the rest of the wedding reception. Your mother-son or father-daughter wedding dance can be whatever you want it to be—and it doesn’t have to fit the traditional mold. Your special moment can be as unique as you want it (especially if you take these tips!).
Choose a song that fits your (unique) relationship.
Don’t just take a one-song-fits-all approach to choosing the right song. After all, your relationship with your mother or father is unique. Why shouldn’t your song be? If you’re completely lost on what song is the right one, don’t hesitate to ask your DJ for a list of good songs he or she would recommend for the occasion (find a list of mother-son dance songs or father-daughter wedding song ideas here). Go through the list and choose the perfect song that fits your unique relationship.
Avoid any song that offends.
In your endeavor to choose a unique song for your mother-son or father-daughter wedding dance, don’t go overboard and choose a song that’s awkward or offensive. Avoid songs that revolves around passion, is filled with curse words (especially at a wedding reception with kids) or anything else that can make your guests shuffle away in an embarrassed silence. If you feel that you can’t make a statement with the song, look for other ways to make your dance with your parent unique.
Be memorable.
If you want to make your father-daughter or mother-son wedding dance different, give your guests the unexpected. Coordinate a special surprise during your special dance with your parent, such as a surprise celebrity or guest appearance. Have a flash mob join you on the dance floor. Do something special with a confetti drop or cool lighting; whatever surprise you have planned, make sure you let your mom or dad know (or don’t to get a genuinely shocked moment on film!).
Choreograph your dance for a fun memory.
Sometimes a father or mother wants a flashy dance routine; others want to experience the dance together sweetly and quietly. Depending on you and your parent’s relationship, a choreographed dance can be a fun way to make your first dance something your guests talk about for years after the big day. If you decide to go this route, avoid awkward pieces (see above advice) and practice, practice, practice.
Lean on the pros.
You hired your DJ for a reason. They’re (hopefully) experienced and have seen a lot of father-daughter and mother-son wedding dances, yet still have ideas that can help you make your reception uniquely you. (If your DJ doesn’t hold meetings and ask for your input, contact a quality DJ that does.) Ask for their advice and listen to it. Your wedding reception’ll be a better occasion because of it.