needing ideas for songs to dance at the wedding - for the parent's dance and other stuff

dgabster

My fiancee and I both have lost one of our parents. My father has been gone for 18 hears and his mom for 10 now. My mother has alzheimer's and it has progressed greatly that she no longer engages with people and can't interact socially but I want her at the wedding. His father disappeared from his life for over 20 years and he just found him. How do you include parents that are no longer there? can't relate or just have no relationship with? I always imagined dancing with my dad at the wedding and his father is no substitute in any way shape or form. We don't even know if my mom will be able to dance or remember how? it will also depend on how her "day" is going. I know it sounds small and it just the parent dance but how do you still do it? Is it really expected? and what song even to pick. Any thoughts or ideas would be great. I am just not sure how to handle.

cfarmer2

If you decide not to do the traditional parent dances (which are not mandatory) , you can have everyone dance to a song dedicated to those who have passed. I think it is a touching way to include the memory of loved ones. 

egm900

Is anyone walking you down the aisle?  I had a friend in a similar situation, and she did a special dance with the person who walked her down the aisle, but he was a substitute father figure when her father passed away.  As PP said, these dances aren't necessary, and I personally get tired of watching too many of them, so only do them if they mean something to you.

Katelyn89

You can do a special dance with someone like an uncle who you were particularly close with, but it is by no means necessary. If I were you, I would skip the traditional parent dances.

Callmefia

I'm sorry for your losses. I would skip the parent dances for sure. If you have a program, you can put a section called "In Loving Memory" or something like that.

I would skip a dance in the parent's honor because it might make some people teary or sad. I know I would be. I'm very emotional about my grandmother's passing and it has been 11 years since....

Several years ago I attended a reception where the baby sister had passed away from leukemia, and they set up a nice table with a candle and her picture. I cried a bit because the bride was my sisters BFF and her baby sister was my age - I was probably 4 or 5 when she passed. Its one of my earliest memories when my dad told me that she was no longer with us. I had no idea she was even sick because she was just my friend I played "My little pony" with. 

It was really sad but also sweet that they set it up so that she could be with us.

verdesiempre14

another idea might be to make a powerpoint with family photos, set to a special song you might have wanted to dance to if circumstances were easier.