Dance with a family member: The groom can dance with his sister or aunt. Dance with a friend: The groom can choose to dance with a close friend who has been a support system for him. Father-son dance: Instead of the mother-son dance, the groom can dance with his father or another important male figure in his life.
Though it's not necessary to include one at your celebration, the mother-son dance is a sweet moment for the groom to honor and recognize his mom or any mother figure in his life. Plus, Mom has probably been looking forward to this moment for a long time, so it's nice to to carve out some time for her during the party.
The bride and groom will dance first. This is the usual format. Then the parent dances with the couple - the father with the bride and the mother with the groom. The groom's father will then dance with the bride and the groom with the mother-in-law.
The song for the mother and son dance is typically picked out by the groom or the groom's mom.
The groom dances with his mother, and then the groom's parents dance together. The dance floor then opens up to the bridesmaids and groomsmen. At many weddings, each groomsman dances with the bride, and the bridesmaids take turns dancing with the groom.
On a groom's side, you can expect to find a best man, ushers, groomsmen (sometimes given the same roles as ushers - but we'll go into that later) and the mother and/or father of the groom.
From walking down the aisle first to last, the traditional order is: Mother of Bride, Mother of Groom, Grandparents of Bride, Grandparents of Groom, Groom, Officiant, the Wedding Party, Maid of Honor and Best Man, Ring Bearer, Flower Girl and lastly the Bride and her Father.
When should the dances happen? Typically, the Father-Daughter Dance occurs right after the First Dance, with the Mother-Son Dance following that. However, if you do not want it happening right after the first dance, you can also do it after the toasts.
Some couples choose to do the father-daughter & mother-son dance at the same time, using the same song at their wedding reception. By doing a combined parents dance, it allows you to share the dance floor as a group. This is a good option for couples and parents who do not like to be the center of attention.
The mother-son dance is a popular tradition for the groom during wedding reception celebrations. The groom will take his mother out on the dance floor for a special dance together for this tradition. It is a time for the groom to focus on his mother and create a special moment together one-on-one.
The father-daughter dance or mother-son dance should be around 2 minutes long. Again, the key is to keep it short and sweet. Especially since the focal point of the reception should be the newlyweds, it is recommended that the parent dances to be shorter than the first dance of the bride and groom.
Parent Dances
For heterosexual couples, bride dances with her dad, and then the groom dances with his mom. Other special relatives, like grandparents, may join in at the end.
When it comes to involvement in wedding planning, it's usually at the discretion of the couple. There's no expectation that the mother of the groom should be more involved, and they shouldn't take on any additional responsibilities unless the couple asks them to.
Traditionally, the groom's mother will take care of the rehearsal dinner arrangements and help prepare the guest list for the groom's side of the family. Both tasks should be done with both the bride and the groom's input. Any other responsibilities can be negotiated among the families.
A few songs we love for this include: “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts, “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack, “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers, “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo'ole, “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong, or “I'll Stand By You” by The Pretenders.
Traditionally, the groom's mother stays with her son on the morning of the wedding, and there's nothing wrong with maintaining the custom. She may feel more comfortable being surrounded by her own family members, and she'll certainly want to be there for photos with her son anyway.
Colors a Mother of the Groom Should NOT Wear
It's best to avoid wearing white or any color that resembles the bride's wedding outfit. You may also want to steer clear of blush, beige, or other light neutral tones that may appear lighter on camera. "Skip black or white, unless the bride and groom have requested it.
Does the mother of the groom give the bride a gift? The mother of the groom traditionally brings a small gift to the bridal shower. When it comes to the wedding itself, the mother of the groom can give the bride a more sentimental gift, like a family heirloom, to officially welcome her into the family.
Following the mother-son dance, all guests will join on the dance floor and the dance party continues for the rest of the night. The theory behind this setup is that you're able to get all of the formal dances done while you have a captive audience.
Tradition Alternatives
In this case, one might choose to dance with their mother, another family member, or someone else who played an important role in their life growing up.
Parents Dance
Immediately after the couple has had their first dance, it's time for the parents to join them. The bride will typically dance with her father and the groom typically dances with his mother.
The groom's parents walk down the aisle together in the procession, followed by the mother of the bride (often escorted by her son(s) or ushers). In the line of procession, the only people who would walk ahead of the groom's parents are grandparents, if they will be a part of it.
Groom's parents
It's optional to honor the groom's parents by having them walk down the aisle. They can be seated after all of the guests and before the mother of the bride.
The groom's parents precede the bride's mother during the processional. Here's a rundown: After the ushers have seated all of the guests, the grandparents start up the aisle, followed by the groom's parents. Then the bride's mother takes her turn.