Author: Tyler Ross

The Mother Son Dance is a relatively recent trend at Weddings, but because most of the attention is on the bride and her family, this is a great way for the Groom to have a nice moment to share with his mother.

Here’s a list of the most popular requests we’ve gotten for the “Mother-Son Dance Songs” also known as the “Groom and Mother Wedding Dance.” Feel free to leave us your suggestions as well, we’d love to hear from you! Click on the songs in Pink to redirect to “youtube” and hear a sample of the song, but remember to click the back button to return to our site! If these are too sappy for you and your mom, pick something more fun and upbeat. It’s your wedding, do what you want!

If you’re looking for Father-Daughter Dance Songs Click Here!!

These songs are in no particular order:

1. Unforgettable– Nat King Cole (also w/Natalie Cole)
2. In My Life – The Beatles
3. What a Wonderful World– Louis Armstrong
4. A Song For Mama– Boys II Men
5. Blessed– Elton John
6. Have I Told you Lately That I Love You– Rod Stewart or Van Morrison
7. I Hope You Dance– Leanne Womack
8. My Wish– Rascal Flatts
9. You are the Sunshine of My Life– Stevie Wonder
10. You Raised Me Up– Josh Groban
11. Because You Loved Me– Celine Dion
12. Close to You– Carpenters
13. God Bless the Child– Tony Bennett (other artists)
14. Mama’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys– Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson

I speak regularly with families who are concerned about the costs of having a Bar or Bat Mitzvah party for their child.

There seem to be two schools of thought on good Mitzvah celebrations. In the first group are parents who pull out all the stops and throw a big, flashy party. If this describes what you want – go for it. Be prepared both for significant costs and a great party. Remember that the best Mitzvah’s manage to keep the focus on your child and the spirit of the occasion, no matter what the final budget of the event.

But what if you want something less flashy, less expensive, and just as (or maybe more) meaningful? In this group are families who are not interested in trying to out-do others on spectacle. The best part of planning a party for this second group is that you’re already focused on the heart of the event: planning a special, memorable and fun family party that incorporates Jewish tradition, special ceremonies and good times.

Here’s how you can have a special, exciting and memorable mitzvah party for your child without having to take out a second mortgage on your home!

1.  CHOOSING A VENUE

Choose a venue that has great dynamics for a party vs just a room in a fancy building – look for a large main room sized to the number of guests, allow for some alcoves/smaller areas that allow people to get away to talk, that has clean restrooms, and that has easy access for setup and takedown.

2.  PARTY FAVORS

Choose inexpensive but interesting party favors to hand out to guests as a special memento

3.  GAMES

Choose game prizes like I-Tunes gift cards, $2 bills, or other small chatchkis; small gift bags

4.  CHOOSING DECOR & PHOTO BOOTH

Make good use of simple fabric backdrops and up-lighting to make the room look beautiful. Use your photos, videos, and LCD projectors to best advantage. In some rooms this may be off to the side; in others your slideshows may be part of the main event. Think about interactivity for your guests. A digital snap shot booth, a live camera fed to a projector, a fun game table off to the side, and so on. Keep the focus on your child and your guests.

7.  DELAGATING

If you are the host parent, then delegate, delegate, delegate even if you are not hiring coordinators. This leaves you free to work the room and relax. Sweat the details of the guest list. A good party starts with a good crowd.

In the “New World” of gender anonymity and marriages without conventional constraints, we try to find new ways to open our business to all that are in love and wish to celebrate. When a gay or lesbian couple gets engaged, they are met with happy greetings and best wishes from their friends and families. We hope that they find they same happiness from Wedding Vendors. When it comes to planning a Wedding Celebration,  Our Los Angeles Wedding DJs know that few things differ from heterosexual and Same-Sex and (LGBT) Weddings. LGBT couples may face some challenges in the planning and preparation of a wedding that straight couples do not but, the planning process carries on as it would for the traditional husband and wife scenario; the location, invitations, menu selections, floral arrangements, outfits, and, even the DJ.

As a wedding/event DJ company we don’t have a specific “same-sex” package because every wedding is specific and unique in it’s own way. We don’t feel a need to cater to a specialty market. We don’t want to keep with the old ways of pointing out when things are different, but rather, point out when things are special. The music you choose, the ceremony you dreamed of — it’s all part of what a couple has imagined since they first began talking with each other about the possibility of having a wedding. Gay and Lesbian couples face a lot of the same challenges and excitement that straight couples do.  Anyone who is having a wedding nowadays loves to go on Facebook or other social media sites to post all about their big day, they disagree about color patterns and budgets, and which vendors to hire, and they get nervous about walking down the aisle, and they argue over which song will be used for their First Dance as a Married Couple.  As seasoned, experienced and professional Wedding DJs in Los Angeles, we recognize some of the differences that are unavoidable, but we also know that, at the end of the day, hiring a DJ for a LGBT or “Same-sex” wedding celebration is no different than a straight wedding in this regard:  The trick to having a great DJ at your event is having someone who sees it as a special day and nothing out of the norm.  It’s a wedding and that’s that. The vows may be a little different and you may have two Father/Daughter dances or a Mother/Daughter or  Father/Son dance, or some other special highlight that doesn’t always show up in a typical Male-Female “Straight” Wedding.  The music and Mc’ing should still be executed professionally just as they would for any event.  It’s our job as the DJ to help you plan those announcements, to realize your vision for the perfect music for each portion of the event, and to execute it to perfection.

There are some unique decisions and concerns that a same-sex couples may face during their planning, for example, straight couples may worry about the look of their outfits, but it’s not because they’re worried about their gender identity being misunderstood, and we know that this may be a concern among some sex-sex couples.  Some LGBT couples might be concerned that the family members or wedding party members use the correct pronoun when mentioning them in a toast. Those factors are common, but it’s the responsibility of the DJ/MC to make sure those issues are dealt with before the wedding day arrives, and that he or she understands your wishes and executes them. Whether you’re Jewish and you bless the Challah, or you’re Chinese and you change into a ceremonial Red Dress mid-wedding, your DJ should be professional and adaptable, even if he/she has never worked for a wedding that has your particular unique concerns. You want your DJ to understand these points and to incorporate them into the event just as he/she would any event… but not go over overboard and feel manufactured or to make you feel uncomfortable by his/her overly enthusiastic approach to a Gay Wedding, as if it were something so out of the ordinary that the DJ needs to bring special attention to it.  Our DJs simply don’t feel that way. We are here to make your moment with your best friend, your partner and your fiance the most special day that it can be.  We recognize the historical significance of the recent freedoms and progress gained within the Gay Community, but we never want our clients to feel singled out, or that their DJ is uncomfortable or unfamiliar with Gay wedding celebrations.  Long before same sex marriage was “Legal” in any state, we have been called upon to provide music and entertainment for the celebration of same-sex unions.  The future is always moving. Lifestyles are changing, families are no longer the stereotypical “TV family”, and weddings will continue to evolve, even beyond what we know them as today. For our Wedding DJ services, little has changed, and we want our customers to know that we are completely open and accepting of our same-sex couples and clients. The DJ’s of Elegant Event Entertainment don’t see people as categories, rather, we see two people sharing a night of love, family, food, drinks, and of course, dancing!! We wish all the best to every happy couple pledging endless love to their soulmates!!

1.  LIGHTING THE VENUE UP

Revolutionize your venue with creative lighting. Project falling leaves or snow to add drama to a boring, beige wall; add a funky geometric pattern or your monogram to the dance floor; or get basic up-lighting for the perimeter of the room to instantly transform the space. Your guests won’t be able to stop staring (in a good way!).

2.  A DECKED-OUT ENTRYWAY

We’re not saying you should spend a gazillion dollars on a 20-foot-tall floral arrangement, but first impressions are important, so take time to think out the entrance to your reception. Add a couple flower arrangements to the escort card table or have your stationer create a stylish seating chart display. A table topped with your engagement photos, your parents’ wedding albums, and any other from-the-family artifacts would make meaningful additions.

3.  A SHOW-STOPPING CEREMONY EXIT

If you play it right, your ceremony exit will be one of the most heavily photographed moments of your wedding — so forget the rose petals and birdseed. Jazz up your exit by passing out small bags of colorful confetti, paper airplanes, mini beach balls, or even lavender buds for everyone to toss your way. Even better: Stage your own mini parade by passing out noisemakers and asking your guests to escort you to your getaway car.

4.  UNEXPECTED WEDDING MUSIC

Sure, a string quartet is nice, but you’ll blow guests away with a jazz trio or a Spanish guitar player. To get the party going during the cocktail hour, look into hiring a mariachi band, a bluegrass group, or even a barbershop quartet for some seriously memorable melodies.

5.  A WEDDING DRESS CHANGE

All eyes will be on you, so it’ll be a huge shocker when you go from a classic wedding dress for the ceremony to a shorter, flirtier dress at the reception. Whether it’s a cocktail dress you bought (but couldn’t find an excuse to wear) or a sparkly, white dress that’s just too short for the aisle, have fun with it! If you honestly can’t imagine changing out of your wedding dress, make other changes: Let down your hair, switch your shoes, or add a few new pieces of jewelry.

6.  COCKTAILS SERVED DIFFERENTLY

Grab guests’ attention as soon as they arrive at the cocktail hour by having drinks and hors d’oeuvres displayed on colorful trays or even placed along the shelves of a makeshift bookcase-turned-bar. Or, have a fleet of waiters standing at the entrance, drink trays in hand, ready to greet guests at the door. The message will be clear: It’s time to par-tay.

7.  EXTRA SIGNAGE

If it’s an outdoor wedding, create rustic, wooden signs in your wedding colors as pointers for guests (“this way to the cocktail hour” or “wedding this way!”). For a more formal wedding, make beautifully scripted table numbers, monogrammed cocktail napkins, and even bathroom-door labels that read “ladies” and “gents.”

8.  A PHOTO BOOTH

Having a photo booth is a surefire way to capture memories a photographer might miss. For an extra-special touch, outfit your booth with themed props (snorkel gear and an under-the-sea backdrop for a summer wedding, opera masks and monocles for a formal affair, etc.) to get your guests in the mood; then be sure to send them a copy of their photo in your thank-you note.

9.  WEDDING FAVORS WITH ENTERTAINMENT VALUE

Think of your wedding favors as an accessory to your reception. Want a packed dance floor? Distribute kazoos, maracas, or even rally towels for a good time that just won’t quit. Or use wedding favors as a way to up your guests’ comfort level. Set out baskets of comfy flip-flops for guests who love to shut down the dance floor, or cozy wraps to fend off the chill of a seaside wedding.

10.  A REALLY CREATIVE GROOM’S CAKE

How could your guests not take a picture of that? Find the right cake baker and go nuts with your groom’s cake for a unique photo op. We’ve seen everything from elaborate guitars to football stadiums to armadillos to library book cakes. Other non-cake ideas: a table decked out in donuts, an ice cream bar, or a giant Rice Krispies Treat cake.

11. A SURPRISE CHOREOGRAPHED DANCE

Take a few dance lessons before your wedding, but instead of the standard waltz, kick it up a notch by learning a sultry tango or a high-energy swing routine, and then surprise everyone during your first dance. For an unexpected surprise, get your dad or even your grandpa in on the act. Imagine the looks on your guests’ faces when you and your pops break into a hip-hop routine mid-father-daughter dance. (Bonus points if he can do the worm!)

12. A LUXE RECEPTION LOUNGE

Give guests a place to mingle between dance breaks by creating a lounge area at your reception. Fill the space with couches or chairs and plenty of pillows to sink into. It’s the perfect way to keep everyone in on the party even when they’re resting. Really want to wow ’em? Close off the area with curtains to create a VIP vibe.

13. KILLER MIDNIGHT SNACKS

Just when everyone thinks the fun is winding down, liven up the party with late-night nibbles that will leave everyone ready for an after-party. Think about it: crinkle French fries, fresh chocolate chip cookies and milk shooters, a fully loaded taco bar, or even a waffle truck!

14. DECKED-OUT TRANSPORTATION

Come up with a transportation plan that’ll get guests talking. Maybe your car-obsessed uncle would be willing to play driver for the night in exchange for showing off his ridiculously cool Mustang. Your oversized clunker from high school might actually look pretty cool decked out with streamers and a “just married” sign. Even your bicycles — tied off with fresh flowers — would create a memorable exit.

15. A GENIUS WEDDING WEBSITE

Start the party long before your wedding day with a brilliant wedding website (computer science degree not required). Upload vlogs (aka video blogs) of your bridal party, poll guests on the reception music, add animated elements, or even create a “wedding guest of the week” spotlight column. Start your web page on (ahem) TheKnot.com or get the souped-up version on WeddingTracker.com ($30, but so worth it!).