One of the most beautiful and special moments on your wedding day is your first dance as a married woman to your mother. While the father and daughter dance is most common (we asked our brides what their father daughter dance songs are), a mother daughter dance is becoming more popular amongst brides who want to show equal love to both their parents or if the father is no longer in the picture.
Mother and daughter share an undeniable bond. A mother is the first role model for her daughter, showing her that she can be a strong and independent woman. A mother can also be your ride-or-die best friend, as we see in so many TV shows and movies like Lorelai and Rory’s mother daughter relationship in Gilmore Girls. Sure, most of us went through the rebellious period during our teenage years and wanted to have nothing to do with our mothers. But the bond and love only get stronger as time goes.
The best kind of mother daughter dance song has lyrics that reflect your close relationship, or reminds you of a special memory that you share with your mother. A mother daughter dance is a beautiful way to thank your mother for all the sacrifices she has made to help you be the woman that you are today.
If you are struggling to find the perfect mother daughter wedding dance song, you’ve come to the right place. We asked past and future Bella Belle brides who wore their Bella Belle comfortable wedding shoes to share the song that holds special meaning to them, and describes their mother and daughter relationship.
From heartfelt and sentimental ballads to groovy tunes, these are the popular mother daughter wedding dance songs according to our real brides.
Mother-Daughter Dance Songs
My Girl - The Temptations
A classic and sweet tune that has an up-tempo beat. ‘My Girl’ is a favorite for a mother and daughter wedding dance song as it instantly lifts anyone’s spirits up. It is the perfect song to have fun on the dance floor with your mom. The best part? This tune is so beloved that all your wedding guests will instantly recognize and sing along to it. ‘My Girl’ is so popular, it was submitted by two of our real brides!
From #bellabellebrides Natalie, “She always used to sing it to me. One of my earliest memories is her dancing round singing that song to me. She always says I’m her girl, her first born. I’m 28 now and she still sings it to me” - Natalie
From #bellabellebrides Bianca, “Growing up, my mom loved to listen to classic R&B and soul music like The Temptations. Music always seemed to bring us together and create special moments. My Girl was always go-to in the good and not so good times that always lifted our spirits'' - Bianca
Where You Lead - Carole King
If you watched the TV Show ‘Gilmore Girls’ with your mother, you’ll instantly recognize this tune. This was the opening theme song to the beloved show and was sung by Carole King and her daughter Louise Goffin. The lyrics perfectly describe a mother and daughter that grew up together “If you need, you need me to be with you, I will follow where you lead”. If you and your mother loved this cult classic, then this is the perfect song for your mother daughter dance.
Slipping Through My Fingers - ABBA & Mamma Mia
You might recognize this song from the hit Movie Mamma Mia as Donna helps her daughter Sophie get ready for her wedding day. But this song was written and first sung by Swedish pop group, ABBA - the one that wrote the popular dance song, ‘Dancing Queen’. This song captures the feeling of a mother as she watches her daughter grow up too fast, almost like she slipped through her fingers and is now a grown woman. As much as a mother wants to hold on to her little girl, the day has come for her to let her go.
From #bellabellebrides Jacky, “My mother and I are big fans of Mamma Mia and ABBA. Every time we watch the movie I will cuddle up on her lap and we sing it at the top of our lungs. I always said I wasn’t going to do any special dances if I get married so she doesn’t know that I’m surprising her with a mother daughter dance to this song. I am the youngest of 4 and have never acted like ‘the baby’ unless Mamma Mia is on and especially to the getting ready scene when this song plays. I have always been independent and she always said I slipped through her fingers at such a young age because I grew up really fast. At the beginning of the year I moved to Indiana and with Covid going on, I wasn’t able to see her right before we left. So I sent her the song and told her I was always going to be her little one even if we were miles away. We still text each other whenever Mamma Mia is on” - Jacky
From #bellabellebrides Katelyn, “It was the song my mom and Papa danced to at their wedding. I always wanted to do the same as my Papa was the only male role model I had in my life. Unfortunately he passed away 5 years ago. My mom and I are going to dance to this song and sing our hearts out (as we always do because I’ve also been obsessed with ABBA and the movie Mamma Mia since I was a little girl)” - Katelyn
Never Grow Up - Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift writes this song from the perspective of her mother - and when her mother heard it for the first time, she had tears. The lyrics “Your little hands wrapped around my finger” and “I'd give all I have honey, If you could stay like that” talks about a mother who is reminiscing about her daughter when she was younger and wishes she could always stay this little. It’s a beautiful song that every mother will appreciate and relate to.
You’ll Be In My Heart - Phil Collins
This is for all the Disney lovers. Phil Collins ‘You’ll Be in My Heart’ is the perfect mother-daughter dance song as the lyrics “My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm, this bond between us, can’t be broken” signifies that no matter the circumstances, your mother will always be there for you in a heartbeat.
From #bellabellebrides Thiashini, “As a family we would love watching Disney movies together and still do to this day. Tarzan is my favorite Disney classic and my mom absolutely loves that song. It always reminds her of her two girls. So whenever the song comes on or if we play it over Sunday breakfast, she’ll always want to get up and dance with us” - Thiashini
Like My Mother Does - Lauren Alaina
Sung by American Idol alum Lauren Alaina, the song describes a daughter becoming the woman she is today because of her mother. From all the life lessons that a mother teaches her daughter to the strength that she provides when her daughter needs it the most, this song is made for a daughter to thank her mother for everything, and to reflect on all her life lessons.
From #bellabellebrides Jasmine, “My mom and I have belted to this song together for as long as I can remember. I couldn’t have imagined any other song to honor her on my wedding day. She showed me how to love with all that I’ve got and that was such a special idea to express on the day I married my husband. She also made sure every day of my life that I knew that I was beautiful and strong. I surprised my mom with a mother-daughter dance at our reception. She cried and we sang as loud as we could” - Jasmine
In My Daughter’s Eyes - Martina McBride
Martina McBride sings about a mother who completely changes how she sees herself and the world because of her daughter - she wants to be the mother that her daughter sees in her eyes. The lyrics “This miracle God gave to me, Gives me strength when I am weak” describes a mother who found her strength and is able to persevere through life because of her daughter. ‘In My Daughter’s Eyes’ is guaranteed to be a tear jerker.
Mama’s song - Carrie Underwood
If your mother is a country music lover, she’ll love this beautiful song by Carrie Underwood. Carrie sings to her mother that the man she is going to marry is a good one, the kind that a mother hopes her daughter will one day marry. The lyrics “Mama you taught me to do the right things, now you have to let your baby fly” also reassures your mother that you will be okay because she has taught you everything that you need to know to make it through in life.
From #bellabellebrides Emily, “My mom and I both love that song and it means a lot to us because my mom has prayed for a good man for me all my life. She said that my now fiancé is the answer to her prayers! I think this song is so sweet” - Emily
I Hope You Dance - Lee Ann Womack
The message of this song is: Take chances. Don’t be afraid to try something new. All a mother ever wants is for her daughter to be happy and this song perfectly describes that. The lyrics “I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance” and “Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance” is a mother’s wish for her daughter that no matter what life throws, she hopes that you’ll never stop believing that something good will come from it.
From #bellabellebrides Anna, “I remember the first time my mom played it for me was when I was getting ready for my first day of middle school. I was nervous and I think she was also a tad nervous for me. She told me life is full of twists and turns, exciting moments and moments that will test you but I should never stop taking chances. I find myself playing this song at pivotal moments now - college graduation, my move from the east to west coast, promotions at work and even starting my own business. I can’t wait to one day play it at my own wedding (even though I’m sure I’ll be a ball of tears)” - Anna
Blue - Beyonce
Beyonce wrote this song when she had her first child, Blue Ivy Carter. In an interview, Beyonce said she was “reborn” and that her “quest for self became stronger” after she had Blue. She wrote this song in commemoration of her daughter. Beyonce sings about how she wishes Blue will always stay this young and if you listen closely, Blue sings a part of this song and makes a cameo in the video. If you and your mother love Beyone, this is the perfect mother daughter dance song for you.
Photo: Lost Coast
As you plan your playlist for your wedding, don’t forget to get yourself a pair of the most comfortable wedding shoes you can dance comfortably in with your mother. You deserve well-made and stunning wedding shoes that are made for dancing all-night in. Bella Belle wedding shoes will give you just that.
Bella Belle wedding shoes in high heels, flat wedding shoes and low heel wedding shoes are handmade with extra soft cushion padding that will support your feet from morning to night, and the late hours of dancing.
Shop our stunning collection of comfortable 12-hour wedding shoes that will keep you feeling pain-free on the dance floor!
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