Divorced Parents Dancing Together

Have you talked with your parents about your desire to have them dance together at your wedding? Are they both ok with the request?

Is there a specific reason why you want to do this? It would create more awkward tension than necessary and can easily backfire. Speak to each of them to see if they are open to the idea but be prepared for them to decline.

View Quoted Comment Yes they are both okay with this request. When his girlfriend isn’t around, it’s just like before, they are absolutely best friends. It’s just when his girlfriend is around that he ignores us. But he said for my wedding day that his girlfriend will just have to suck if up

View Quoted Comment The reason being is because they are my parents. I’ve already spoke with them about it and they are fine with doing it

View Quoted Comment I don't know all the lyrics, so not sure if there could be something awkward in them, but what about U2's "Beautiful Day"?

I would just skip this all together. I know mother-son and father-daughter dances are popular, but there is no need for parents of the couple to dance together. And I think as a guest, I would find this super awkward.

Please. I have already talked to my parents and no one knows what my family dynamic is like. And honestly, if someone finds it awkward I don’t care. I didn’t come on here to get opinions on whether it was a good idea or not. I came on here to get song recommendations. If you do not have a song recommendation, then do not comment on it. I find it very rude to be putting your sense in where it was not asked or needed.

Walking you down the aisle together, as I’ve seen at some weddings seems a request more in the spirit of supporting you at your wedding as your parents than asking them to have a special dance. IMO a request like that should come from them, not you. I realize you don’t care for or about the GF but I think it’s wrong to push it since it’s your wedding day and your dad sounds like he will do whatever you ask.


I also sense a bit of wanting to rub all this, ie “their” song etc. under the GF’s nose. If you’re sure of the dynamic why not just leave the ball in your parents’ court?

How about you lead off the all dance portion with you and your partner, and your Dad ask your Mom to dance, then follows everyone else on the dancefloor? The one song is upbeat, not slow and romantic. This is how guests of honor and hosts lead everyone to the dancef dancing at a formal event. It's effortless, joyful, and inclusive without doing separate performative dances.

I've literally never heard of a parent's dance. Only parent/person getting married. I would drop the idea, as it's not really very commonly done. Seems like it would be awkward. I like Michelle's suggestion. If you must do this. I'd pick a happy song with a faster beat.

I might be wrong but I sense a second agenda here.

Also you can't tell people how to post on your question.

I support you - I have divorced parents and if my dad were still alive I would’ve loved to see them share a dance at our wedding. Don’t feel like you have to explain because it’s hard to anyways. The only thing I wouldn’t do is have them dance to “their” song because as someone else mentioned, it might feel like a slight towards your dads gf. But other than that I think it’s great since they’ve said they’re okay with it!

View Quoted Comment Thank you so much Emily! I honestly have stopped reading these responses because they are truly just hurting my feelings. I don’t want to do their song, thats I had said what it was so that it didn’t get suggested. You made me feel a lot better about having this done. After all, they loved each other at one point enough to have children

View Quoted Comment That’s a good idea because there’s definitely some stank attitudes on WW! I don’t see anything wrong with it, it’s just a dance at their daughters wedding! And I actually just thought of a song idea - what about daughters by John Mayer? That way the song isn’t necessarily lovey dovey but moreso about you!

View Quoted Comment That actual might be the PERFECT song! Thank you so much for that suggestion!

View Quoted Comment Of course! I’m so glad I could help 🥰🥰

View Quoted Comment That is so sad that your dad just ignores you when his girlfriend is around. She's not going to cause an issue day of when she comes and dad has his attention else, is she?

View Quoted Comment Honestly I’m not sure if she’s even coming to the wedding. She avoids me at all costs too. We have security with our venue so I’m very thankful for that

View Quoted Comment

Yes, another reason this idea is problematic IMO. Despite what he's saying, the dad seems to undergo a dramatic personality change whenever the GF is around. The last thing OP needs is a scene or for him to back out last minute.

OP, even if your mom and dad were still married to one another, it should be left completely up to them whether they want a special dance at your wedding. I don't object to divorced parents of the bride dancing, if that's what they want to do to mark the occasion. It's very admirable that they get along so well. But it should not be coming from you.