Are music and dancing going to be part of the celebration at your Tahoe South wedding reception? If the answer is “yes,” there’s a tradition you’ll probably include: the Mother-Groom dance.
The dance floor is intimate at this Beach Retreat & Lodge at Lake Tahoe venue.
photo courtesy of Beach Retreat and Lodge
Whether the groom and his mom will be on the dance floor at the Beach Retreat & Lodge, the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel, the Hard Rock Café Lake Tahoe, Edgewood Tahoe or The Landing Resort & Spa, trying to come up with the perfect song may be the biggest challenge.
Groom and Mom could tango across the floor in this Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel ballroom.
photo courtesy of Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel
A Gift To Mom
As Jim Croce once sang (spoiler alert: possible song selection), “I’ll have to say I love you in a song.” “The groom can create a lasting memory with his song choice. It can communicate a son’s poignant thank-you or a mother’s hope for his future, bringing a tear to the eye.
photo by Dianna Hart Photography
Or the song can be a light-hearted flashback with everyone smiling and singing along. Beyond the message, there are some other variables to consider, such as Mom’s preferred tempo and musical style. Does she like classic rock, pop, R & B, country? Will she want to rehearse or be spontaneous? Would she like to surprise your guests with a dance-off?
Narrowing It Down
Even with some parameters, the number of songs out there is daunting. Five of the most popular, in no particular order, follow. Your perfect song may be among them. If not, they could inspire other ideas. (Apologies if one becomes that annoying song that’s stuck in your head for a while.)
My Wish, Rascal Flatts. Recorded and released in 2006, the lyrics to this country hit seem to express what a mother would wish for her son’s married life – “My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to.”
Stand By Me, Ben E. King. This rewrite of a Staples Singers gospel song was released in 1960 and resurfaced in 1986 with the movie of the same name. The words are a tribute to love and devotion – “No, I won’t be afraid just as long as you stand by me.”
Sweet Child O’ Mine, Guns N’ Roses. This classic rock song topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988. It’s known for Slash’s guitar riff in the intro as well as heartfelt lyrics like “Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place where as a child I’d hide.”
photo by Mint Photography
The Perfect Fan, Backstreet Boys. Released in 1999 on the album Millennium and co-written by one of the band about his mother, the song’s chorus shows his appreciation: “You showed me, when I was young, just how to grow.”
What A Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong. This Grammy Hall of Fame classic is on the shorter side at just over two minutes. The optimistic lyrics are a sing-along crowd-pleaser: “I see babies cryin’. I watch them grow. They’ll learn much more than I’ll ever know. And I think to myself what a wonderful world.”
What other songs are perfect for the groom and his mother? Share your ideas in the comments!
