Father Daughter Dance Song

John Mayer- Daughters

I also struggled with the father-daughter song choice - and I found very little to no help with suggestions. (both online searches, and asking around) Not every bride-to-be has the privilege of a wonderful relationship (or even an okay relationship) with their father, or a father-figure. With that said, all the bittersweet "Daddy's Little Girl" songs that tug at everyone's heart strings just do NOT fit or make sense.

My biological father has not been a part of my life in any sense for 15 years, which was my choice - he was awful to me, so I eventually severed any ties with him. He will not be at my wedding, and I'm not even sure he knows that I'm even engaged, much less does he know anything else about me.

My "step-father" will be giving me away - I use quotation marks for the term step-father because that man IS my dad. He raised me, and he loves me the way a daddy should love his daughter. But he wasn't even in my life until I was 10 years old, not to mention that I didn't even see him AT LEAST as a father figure until my late teens. And it wasn't until I was in college that I recognized him as my dad, or realized he had been my dad all along.

So when it comes to choosing a song for us to dance to......UGGGGHHHHH..nothing makes sense. Because I wasn't daddy's little girl from the start - I DON'T have sweet childhood memories with him, and we certainly don't have a beautiful song we've shared over the years.

SOOOO, one day, a song that I hear frequently and have ALWAYS loved since I was a child..even before he was a part of my life, and vice versa for him, hit me and brought me to tears:

Bob Marley - "Three Little Birds"

He loves reggae and Marley, as do I...this song is positive, upbeat, very sweet, and straight to the point without any tearful fluff. It actually has a lot to do with my mom and I - when things were bad as a child, (specifically with my real father) she used to tell me that things would get better and "be alright" just as the song suggests. But the ties the song has to my mother and I make it even sweeter for us to dance to.

You're going to have to think outside the box for your father-daughter dance song choice - if you hear a song that sounds pretty or that you can picture dancing with him to, look up the lyrics. SOOOO many songs appear to be about a romantic love, but sometimes, the song was MEANT to be about some other form of love or bond, or at the very least, the lyrics can also make sense for father-daughter situations.

You can take my approach with a happy, upbeat, sweet but lively song - or you could use my Marley song suggestion! "Baby, don't worry 'bout a thing. Cuz every little thing, is gonna be alright!"

@Ruthie Thank you I will listen to that song... And something upbeat may work best anyway.??

Ruthie- another song you could look into is the dad he didn't have to be by brad paisley. It's for "step dads"

I think the John Mayer "Daughters" is possibly the worst song for someone who had an absentee dad. It literally says that daughters will follow their father's example- which in this case is bad. But maybe that's just me.

I'm in the same boat, I can't think of an appropriate song so we aren't doing a father-daughter dance.

Also the no bashing thing is super unnecessary and kind of offensive (no one here is mean- just blunt).

Remember you don't have to have one!

@Lindsey I put no bashing because although we're all adults we all have different personalities and you never know what may come out of someone's mouth... And clearly your the only one who took offense to it as your the only person that addressed it.

I may just dance with my Son to Stevie Wonder 'Isn't She Lovely'

"Offensive" was the wrong word choice. I'm not offended, I was just trying to say that it's not necessary to say "no bashing." You can't control how people respond on a public forum.

ETA: A dance with your son would be very sweet!

You could use something more generic like "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts. There's nothing about having a good childhood, just well wishes for the future.

My father daughter dance is "I loved her first" I've had that planned for years! Check it out- I think it's precious! But I get that you aren't the closest with your dad so not sure how you'd feel about it!

My father and I have also had a strange relationship over the years and I am trying to figure out the same thing. I originally didn't want a father daughter dance but my dad has been so supportive of my engagement even though he has never met my fiancé, and has understood my reasoning for not wanting to invite the majority of his family, that I feel like I owe it to him. My dad has been sick all my life and it's a miracle that he will even be present for my wedding, but it is still strange to think about given the relationship we've had. I wish I had some suggestions for you at this time, but I don't. I just wanted you to know that you're not the only one! If I find anything, I'll let you know! Good luck!

Another could be I Hope You Dance by LeeAnn Womack (I hope I spelled that right)

@Lindsey Ok I understand... Yea I think that'll be sweet too he's been my only man for the past 4 years but my 3 year old will probably be included and all 3 of us dance together because they were my little men before my Husband came along????

@RATR I want to skip it but since he's walking me down the aisle I feel like we should do the dance you know?? But like I told PP I'll probably dance to Stevie Wonder 'Isn't She Lovely' with my 2 Sons I think it'll be sweet for us??

@Lauren I loooooove that song totally forgot about it

@Kaitlyn Thank You I appreciate that

I think I'm using What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.

My father is older so no "new" music that he doesn't know. He was around and a good dad, although not super close, I do love him, but I moved away when I was 17 and we're both quite independent so a nothing super sentimental or "mushy" fits.

And good for you of being understanding and having him be a part of your wedding. Life is short to hold grudges. Weddings often bring out the worst in people, esp families; happy to see that's not always true!

@Colleen Thanks and yes your so right about Weddings bringing out the worst in people... I'm going to listen to the song but I just may not do the Father Daughter dance with him I'll possibly do it with my 2 Sons to Stevie Wonder 'Isn't She Lovely'

I'm in a similar situation and I am using My Wish by Rascal Flatts.