Help with Mother/Son Song: she suggested praise music; he's an atheist

BTW, we hired a band, not a DJ, if that's any help ...

We had a band as well ...

Skip it? DH didn't even entertain the thought of doing a mother/son dance. We just did a first dance and I danced with my father. That might not be an option since she already knows you're planning on incorporating it into the wedding. Just sit her down and try to compromise. Maybe if he talks to his mother himself? Another option is to just give her what she wants. I let my dad pick the song, any song, even thought it was overly sappy and a little cheesy I went through with it because he liked it. Would it kill him to dance 2 mins to it? You both could have abbreviated parents/dance songs?

She is out of the country right now, so he can't talk with her in-person about this -- she won't be stateside until the wedding (late August), and the band needs to know by early August about the song.

Yeah, at this point we can't cut the song. I think he was hoping to get a "oh, that's a great song, son!" from his mom. FH might suck it up, but it's kind of a sensitive situation for him, too, so that's why we're trying to find something in the middle -- not overly religious, but with some sort of religious sentimentality.

@JuneBride, it's a good suggestion to shorten the songs, though ... my dad and I are doing "Rainbow Connection" and that's not a really long song.

Also, context: we are also having a religious ceremony with a reverend and a dinner blessing in part because the MOG would appreciate that gesture.

"My Wish" by Rascal Flatts or "I Hope You Dance." Both are relatively non-religious, and Mom's usually like both if they are Country music fans.

DH did Simple Man with his mom - the Shinedown version.

I'm honesty really surprised you guys are doing a religious ceremony just to "please" her. This isn't about her. DH's parents are religious but we kept any and all religion out of our ceremony.

This is the song my MIL chose for their song: A Song For My Son by Miki Viereck. He didn't even know what it was until the song started to play b/c I think he left it up to her. I thought it was kinda cheesy but the moms in the crowd loved it lol.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WKCj2s8pmI

@MizizAngi -- I get what you're saying. The ceremony/reverend kind of worked out because we have a close friend who is a reverend and we know he'll do a great job with the ceremony and not make it too "pushy" for us.

I guess the big issue with the MOG's suggested song is not necessarily that it's religious, but that in this context it is outwardly evangelical.

Anyone have ideas for a song that's semi-religious and also not sappy? FH isn't an audiophile, but he is picky, too ... but maybe it's time to "pick your battles" ...

Http://youtu.be/33vTxuHo-vc - That's What Mama's Do - Jason Matthew; Praise Score: 4.5/10?

http://youtu.be/JYw4_l4xWZQ - Thank You Mom - Good Charolotte; Praise Score: 7/10?

http://youtu.be/JErVP6xLZwg - L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole; Praise Score: 0/10

Love the Simple Man song though - I think it's great

Simple : Never live your life catering to other people's whims. Don't be a people pleaser. I find it utterly ridiculous that an atheist would agree to a church wedding. Your FH is clearly not an atheist and therefore, shouldn't be bothered about a "praise score" of 10 for a dance. His mother doesn't respect his wishes anyways.

@PrivateUser, neither of us are doormats -- but we also know the "this is our day"mentality is kind of an exaggeration when two families are coming together. We are okay with compromising on some things to keep our families happy, just like we will have to do in marriage.

For example, my parents got married in my mom's Catholic church when my dad is Presbyterian -- that was a big deal for Nana (my mom's mom), and it was not a huge deal for my parents so long as there wasn't Communion where my dad couldn't participate. My parents didn't have some huge falling out later in the years about it -- the ceremony was nice and meaningful for them, and their priest kept my father's affiliation in mind when working on his parts of the ceremony.

Our ceremony is outdoors at a conference grounds on Lake Michigan, not inside a church, and we will work closely with our friend to make sure the tone is right for us.

There needs to be some give-and-take, and we both talked about our ceremony options extensively and are happy with our ceremony choice -- promise. Right now we're just worried about this song.

Thanks, @Milwaukee_Bride, @csquid, and @rusticbride for your suggestions! I'll bring them to FH and see what he thinks.

You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban. I love how the person being spoken of can be interpreted to a physical being or a higher power.

I've honestly never seen a mother/son dance that is religious.

My father always told me that the song "Have I Told You Lately" is actually a praise song, written about god...Van Morisson went all christian after a while...Since FH suggested Van Morrisson maybe it is a good compromise?

Ah, sorry, just saw your not-sappy comment! HITYL is definitly sappy...

I told my dad the song I wanted to dance to and his wife came back to me and suggested like 36 other songs to me (all religious) because she didn't like that song... You just have to compromise I guess.. We're doing a joint father/daughter, mother/son dance to Landslide by Fleetwood Mac. Dixie Chicks do a nice version too and Stacey Kent has a jazzy version.

Can't the band just play the song as an instrumental with no lyrics? MOG will recognize the music, but FH won't hear the words.