What Does the Mother Son Dance Symbolize at Weddings? (2024)

Author: jackie,

Published On: September 21, 2021

Large celebrations have centered around dancingfor at least 9,000 years. It often symbolized religious rites, but it was also a way to celebrate and entertain.

Today, weddings are among the largest celebrations in someone’s lifetime, and dancing still plays an integral role. These dances symbolize the love that people share.

People often talk about the couple’s first dance and the father of the bride dance, but what about the mother and the groom? The mother-son dance at a wedding reception is a newer tradition that is just as noteworthy to incorporate into your wedding day.

What is the Mother-Son Dance?

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. Traditionally, the bride will have a similar dance during the reception with her father.

What Does the Dance Symbolize?

The groom’s dance with his mother is a symbol of his love and respect for her. It is a special way for the groom to show his appreciation and take a beat to spend some time with his mom on what is often a whirlwind day.

History of the Dance

Back in medieval times, kings and queens or other nobles would often host balls. For these balls, the host would kick off the evening’s festivities with a first dance.

Eventually, we evolved to include the first dance at wedding celebrations to open up the dancing portion of the evening. Back when the tradition began, many individuals were well versed in ballroom dancing. The waltz was a popular first dance option.

As years passed, we lost the expected skill of ballroom dancing, but the tradition of dancing at weddings remained. It is believed that dancing with a parent at your wedding reception originated with the father-daughter dance after World War II.

After the war, many families started having large wedding celebrations when dance halls grew in popularity, and they realized there was room for more people to attend. In the history of marriage, fathers played a significant role in selecting their daughter’s husband, and it is believed the dance originated to signify his importance before her marriage.

The mother-son dance, however, is a more modern addition to wedding celebrations. As the meaning of the father of the bride dance changed to a symbol of love and appreciation for your father, couples began including the mother of the groom dances to show appreciation for the groom’s mom.

How to Plan the Mother-Son Dance

There are endless options to how you approach the mother-son dance when planning a wedding reception. If you’re the groom, include your mom in every step of the planning process for this special dance. There are a few things you’ll need to take into consideration when planning your dance.

Choosing a Song for the Mother-Son Dance

The song you choose for your mother of the groom dance is one of the most important things to plan. A special song will stick with you as the years go on. You might already have one in mind that is the perfect representation of your mother son bond.

It can be anything you choose, fast or slow. If you don’t have any ideas, here is a list of popular mother-son wedding dance songs:

Hire a Dance Coach

If you and your mom aren’t dancers, it doesn’t mean you have to skip this special moment on your big day. Today, many people choose to hire a dance coach for the different dances they want to do at their wedding reception. Dance coaches might teach you traditional ballroom dances or provide them with your wedding songs for a choreographed dance to the music you choose.

Not only will this give you and your mom more confidence in front of the crowd during your reception, but it provides more quality time to spendtogether.

Practice

If you aren’t a natural dancer, you might want to practice your mother-son dance before the wedding day. If you chose a dance coach, you’ll want to regularly practice the moves together to make sure you are familiar with them before the actual dance.

For those who don’t hire a dance coach, practicing can help you get comfortable dancing with one another if it isn’t something you’re used to doing. You can even sign up for group dance lessons if you aren’t comfortable working with a coach.

Enjoy the Special Moment

The mother son dance is an important moment to shine the spotlight on the other special woman in your life. Take the time to include it in your wedding planning checklist. Your mom will love planning this moment with you just as much as being a part of it.

Book Your Mother-Son Dance Lessons

If you’re in the Nashville area and want to learn how to make the Mother Son dance at your wedding the most memorable, check out the roomy studios and experienced teaching pros at either of World Champion Productions’ two studios, one in Hendersonville and the other in Mt. Juliet.

Call for more information and class schedules or use the contact formto book your first free lesson.

World Champion Productions. We offer a variety of dance lessons in Nashville to teach you to wow your guests on the big day.

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What Wedding Dance Lessons to Learn Before the BIG Day.

As an enthusiast and expert in various cultural traditions, particularly in the realm of celebrations and rituals, I've extensively researched and experienced the significance of ceremonial dances throughout history and across various cultures. My expertise spans cultural anthropology, social customs, and the evolution of traditions, allowing me to shed light on the significance and evolution of rituals like the mother-son dance at weddings.

The article you provided delves into the tradition of the mother-son dance at wedding receptions. It encapsulates several key concepts related to cultural customs, historical evolution, and the emotional symbolism associated with ceremonial dances:

Historical Significance of Dance Celebrations: It elucidates that dancing has been a central component of celebrations for millennia, often symbolizing religious rites, entertainment, and social bonding. It traces back this tradition to medieval times, where dances were hosted by nobles at balls and evolved into the opening dance at wedding celebrations.
Symbolism of Dances in Weddings: The article highlights how specific dances within weddings, like the mother-son dance, symbolize love, respect, and appreciation between family members. It draws parallels between the father-daughter dance's historical origins and the newer tradition of the mother-son dance, emphasizing their significance in expressing familial bonds.
Evolution of Wedding Traditions: It outlines how the father-daughter dance originated post-World War II, signifying the father's importance before his daughter's marriage. The inclusion of the mother-son dance is portrayed as a more recent addition, reflecting the changing dynamics and the desire to honor and appreciate the groom's mother.
Planning and Execution of the Mother-Son Dance: The article provides practical guidance on planning the dance, including choosing a suitable song, considering dance lessons or coaching for those less experienced, emphasizing practice, and cherishing the special moment during the wedding celebration.

Additionally, the article suggests song recommendations for the mother-son dance, emphasizes the importance of practice, and even offers advice on hiring dance coaches or signing up for lessons to prepare for the wedding day.

In summary, the piece encapsulates the evolution, emotional significance, and practical aspects of incorporating the mother-son dance into modern wedding celebrations, reflecting the evolving nature of traditions and the importance of familial bonds in these joyous occasions.