Things to Consider When Picking Songs for the Parent Dances at your Wedding Reception

During the wedding reception, one of the most sentimental parts of the celebration is none other than the dances with parents. This is the point when the father of the bride and the mother of the groom dance to a special song with their daughter or son. This can also be a bitter-sweet moment for both parents of the bride and groom since this is when they have to officially let their children go to begin a new life.

Rich Somers

When planning for your wedding music, selecting songs for the father-daughter and mother-son dances is an opportunity for you and your spouse-to-be to send a loving message to your parents. Hence, while you might be thinking of settling with the usual sappy suspects like “Daddy’s Little Girl,” “Butterfly Kisses,” or “Sunrise, Sunset,” it is worth your while choosing songs that reflect your appreciation for them and are meaningful for both you and your spouse-to-be as well. Here are some things worth keeping in mind when picking songs for the parent dances.

Know what the parents’ preferences are

One of the best things you can do to pick the right songs for the parent dances is to know what their preferences are as well as the songs that they are not comfortable with so that you can avoid including a song they hate. Ask them what songs they are particularly fond of or they find especially meaningful. If they cannot provide you with particular songs they truly prefer, consider going for classics.

Check the lyrics

Remember that this is an emotional and memorable moment during the reception, and you do not want to ruin the mood by picking songs with inappropriate lyrics. Hence, when you manage to come up with a list of songs, check the lyrics and make sure that they are appropriate for the occasion.

Take the tempo in consideration

If mom and dad are not really good at dancing, forgo songs that are too fast and demand elaborate dance steps or you might end up embarrassing them. Likewise, if the parents are having health or stamina problems, avoid choosing songs that will require them to dance for a long time. However, if the parents have no issues dancing to the beat or are truly energetic, might as well choose songs with fast tempo. Do some choreography and perform in front of the guests with great flair. For sure, if the parents agree to do this, all guests will be delighted and you can get the party off to a good start.

Mind the length

Whether you pick slow or fast songs, be mindful of their length so as not to bore your guests. If you happen to choose lengthy songs, you can have them cut or let the DJ fade them out so as to stick to the schedule.

If you really can’t figure out which songs to pick for the dances with parents, the musicians you hire may be able to offer guidance for you to select appropriate pieces. You can be sure that they have encountered problems just like yours and they will come up with suggestions and allow you to throw in a personal dedication that will make the dances all the more memorable for everyone.

The content above was written by one of the regular contributors of Scottish Wedding Band Northern Star. The band has been performing live music in weddings throughout Edinburgh, Glasgow and the rest of Scotland for the more than a decade.

Image provided by http://www.richsomers.com