Dear esb,
I've been a long time reader and when I got engaged and things started to roll around I've been tempted to write to you several times about the frustrating things involved with wedding planning: starting from my opinionated FMIL who is not chipping in on any of the wedding but insists on suggesting things that cost (my parents are paying for everything except the church, which the groom is paying for), the guest list, 2 year old in the bridal party (insisted by, you guessed it, FMIL), and even one of the groom's aunts asking me if the beige ("But it's beige, not white") dress she was showing me in the picture was okay for my wedding. (I am a strong believer that only the bride should wear white/ivory/cream/beige unless she herself decides the bridal party should be in that color or ask all the guests to come in that color. And MY dress is beige.) Lots of frustrating stuff. But I've managed to get through, mainly by reading this blog and laughing (sometimes drinking) it off.
So now, I come to you with something fun. My wedding will be at 3pm, on a Yacht Club at the beach. Weddings at the beach here last about 12 hours. We will have lots of time to mingle, dance, drink, eat, etc. My fiance and I were joking around the other day and the idea of a piñata came along. I. LOVED. IT. So we were thinking... instead of doing a garter toss, to put the garters INSIDE the piñata. The piñata would just be for the boys (I don't think the ladies would warm up to the piñata if they're in short dresses) so the ones that get a garter from the piñata will get to put them on the girls.
But... what else should we put in the piñata? I'm also accepting ideas for what the piñata should look like, I'm thinking it should be something like Confetti System's Piñatas.
Should we go traditional and have people go at it with a broomstick while blindfolded? Or have the groom pry it open from above? What song should be playing when the piñata thing is going on? Do you think this is the tackiest idea??
Thanks for your and the readers' help!
La Piñata Lady
*****
GO ALL THE WAY.
Garters, confetti, quality condoms + those little packets of lube (I'm assuming this is going to happen somewhere around 1 or 2am), and of course candy.
Salty caramels have the perfect beachy/kinky vibe.
______________________________
Speaking of salty caramels, has anyone tried Jimmy Fallon's new Ben & Jerry's flavor? OMG.
I'd leave out the condoms (sigh) in the face of the children and the older relatives, but glitter, candy, garters, pins that have hearts around you and your husband's name, feathers, bow hair clips (or something that matches the general vibe or your wedding that girls can put in their hairs), mardi gras bead necklaces, a couple small toys for the kids who will inevitably come over and get all agog at the sight of their drunk uncles smashing this pinata to hell, and maybe those airline bottles of booze.
ReplyDeleteJust a data point here, but I would hate this and find it incredibly tacky and annoying if it happened at a wedding I was attending. But I think the whole garter thing at weddings is stupid and awkward at best. Maybe that's just me.
ReplyDelete(Also, as a guest, I avoid all white/ivory/beige/cream/champagne colors, but when I got married I honestly couldn't tell you if any guests were wearing those colors because I just didn't notice. Try not to let it bother you if older ladies come wearing beige. No one will mistake them for being the bride, and it's not worth your time/attention/stress.)
lottery tickets! like the one dollar scratch off ones.
ReplyDeleteit's different, but it also sounds fun!! I don't think the ladies should be left out though, let everyone have a swing who wants one!
ReplyDeleteand ditch the garters (you don't need to reinvent the garter toss, you've got something cooler). just fill it with candy, maybe some noise makers, or little favours of some kind.
and send a picture of the finished product on the night! :)
"The piñata would just be for the boys (...) so the ones that get a garter from the piñata will get to put them on the girls."
ReplyDeleteWhaaaat?! Like they get to pick a random female wedding guest and put a garter up her dress? um, yikes.
Guys only? No! I'd say everyone might want a swing at the pinata, I know I would. I mean, won't YOU want to?
ReplyDeleteI think the contents do depend on when you are planning to have the pinata fun - no condoms if the kids are still around, unless everyone wants to answer the inevitable questions. Also, I can tell you from experience that you will wind up with lots of pictures of girl friends who have condoms tucked in to the fronts of their dresses (saving them for later, obviously), which can be awesome or annoying, depending.
In any case, go with things that people will wind up actually using/eating, not stuff you'll just have to throw away later.
Mini plastic bottles of booze, like the ones you get on planes. Went to a Cinco de Mayo themed birthday party and they had a piñata with mini bottles of tequila and Mexican candy. Best damn party I've been to in awhile.
ReplyDeleteJust to amend what I said earlier (I'm anon 7:20):
ReplyDeletePinata filled w/ garters->NO
Pinata filled w/ candy, booze, lottery tix->YES
Pinata for boys only->NO
Pinata for all->YES
Gosh, My fiance's uncle has a pinanta a t his 60th bday part and it was filled with mini bottoles of booze (the 2ozers in plastic) and I loved it! We did it late in the night so I was already drunk and don't rememeber what else was included but def rememeber the mini bottles. If there are kids or even strict (religious) family memebers there I would highly suggest to skip the condoms and lube.
ReplyDeleteI also like the lotetery ticket/scarct ticket idea.
I would love to take a whack at a pinata at a party, are you kidding?! I'd even do it in a dress with heels. And avoid condoms, but fun things like nips, mini glow sticks, candy, scratch tickets, noise makers, beaded necklaces, etc. It could liven up the party for the late night on the beach part of it.
ReplyDeleteSo just the other day, I saw in a wine store in SF's South of Market, these shots of liquor that come in squeezy plastic packets. Imagine an IV fluid bag, but maybe 3"x 2". Cheesy, but perfect in this context. Also, I think they are brandless, and just say WHISKEY, or VODKA, on them.
ReplyDeleteUm, include the chicks. You might be surprised. Why should the boys have all the fun?
ReplyDeleteAlso, throw in some single-serving booze bottles. Or maybe the candies that have booze in them.
PRUDES
ReplyDeletei'd put in LOADS of little bottles of alcohol, yummy candy (think fancy caramels), shitty candy (think fireballs), a couple packs of cigs, and scratcher tickets. i wouldn't personally do condoms because i am allergic to most of them, and i prefer consumables anyways.
ReplyDeleteDO NOT LEAVE OUT THE WOMEN!
ReplyDeleteI would be seriously bummed if there were a fun activity "for guys only." Ick ick ick.
@17 beats no condoms, but CIGARETTES ARE OKAY?
ReplyDeleteI say put on garter in there, but allow everyone to take whacks at the thing. Or just have the groom do it and everyone allowed to grab the prizes.
ReplyDeleteBOOZE, LOTTO TICKETS, CANDY CONDOMS AND LUBE, YES. Salt water taffy for candy too (it's a beach party, right?)! Just do it late enough where all the kids will be asleep. Who cares if you piss anyone off, omgz! A handful of condoms!!
I went to a shower party where the bride's sister gave her a jar full of condoms as a gift, mainly because the FMIL was complaining that it's only a good/strong family if you have boys first, and it's bad luck to want girls first, some sexist crap like that. We lol'd about it for a couple of weeks, then forgot about the drama it didn't really cause. GO FOR THE CONDOMS. /anecdote
@Miss Georgia ♥
ReplyDeleteYes to ALL the suggestions on what goes in the thing.
ReplyDeleteYes to ALL guests taking a whack at it.
We get to pick ladies and put garters on them??? I'll be at my mailbox awaiting my invitation if you need me.
I hate the garter idea, I mean HATE. But candy, condoms, booze, etc. all sounds totally fun. Oh, and let the ladies have a whack at it. Boys only? Lame.
ReplyDeleteI would quickly show of my lady bits for a chance at a pinata with booze, condoms and candy inside.
ReplyDeleteJesus - that sentence just described my ideal evening, I think.
why is everyone so afraid of condoms and lube? what's wrong with good, safe sex?
ReplyDelete(@ESB I'm picturing your readers all clutching their pearls today)
No to sexist pinatas!
ReplyDeleteI also love the pinata idea, but hate the garters. I would not want to be at a wedding where the guys were encouraged to put garters on the female guests. Whoa, creepy. And why would you exclude the girls? Some might not want to hit the pinata, but some definitely will. Fill the thing with booze and candy, and let everybody participate.
We need to figure out what the male equivalent of a garter is. A dog collar? What if we stuck some dog collars in there for the ladies to put on the men??
ReplyDeleteHAHAHAHHA YES TO ESB'S LAST COMMENT. I would get in line for a wedding where that happened.
ReplyDeleteIf collars are involved I'll still be waiting at my mailbox for my invitation. If people don't want to participate they can sit along the wall and sip water.
ReplyDeleteI just went to a wedding where the bouquet toss was for everyone- single, married, men, grandparents, whatever- and the bouquet was made out of lotto scratchers. such a cute idea and everyone was fighting for the bouquet.
ReplyDeleteI say do that and then do the pinata and just have one garter in it. and make both events for everyone, because its more fun seeing your entire guest list crawling on the ground grabbing for candy & toys.
I went to a wedding with a pinata, and it was super fun. Everyone enjoyed doing it, young old, guys, and ladies.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of mini bottle of booze, candy, necklaces.
I am meh on condoms and lube.
Anti- garters.
I wouldn't include cigars at all... but benneton has fun colored condoms in nice packages I'd go for those and maybe little oil sachets.. kinky + sophisticated ;)Nikki
ReplyDeleteTemporary tattoos. kazoos. Ringpops.
ReplyDeleteI think pinatas are great fun for boys AND girls. DO IT. But the whole garter part of weddings always makes me cringe and just feels tacky to (I guess I am judgmental that way?). No need to reinvent wack traditions like the garter business, just axe it from the program entirely.
ReplyDeleteis there a reason to do an "adult" pinata? I think it is awesome in it's wholesomeness. and drunk people love candy.
tacky *TOO. oops.
ReplyDeleteCondoms are perfectly fine. My family used to play bingo at family reunions and the adults gave out condoms and adult diapers as silly prizes, no embarrassment at all- the teens just rolled their eyes and younger kids didn't know what was going on.
ReplyDelete@anna YES - temporary tattoos and ring pops! genius.
ReplyDeletePinata = YES YES YES. Fun times.
ReplyDeleteGarters + Men only = Gross and a too little batchelor/bucks party for my liking.
I just need to add that if I were at a wedding where the pinata were for boys only, I would probably leave and head to the nearest party store to get my own damn pinata.
ReplyDeleteBut I agree that ringpops and temp tattoos would be fun and appropriate for all!
hell yes to the temporary tattoos kazoos and ringpops.
ReplyDeleteomg. kazoos. brilliant.
ReplyDeletehaha, yeah, if it were my wedding, i wouldn't be worried about young children seeing the condoms -- but i would be nervous about my elderly relatives seeing them. i'm weird about old people and sex. i'm also insanely allergic to latex, so even if there were no old timers around, i wouldn't want condoms as prizes on account of that.
ReplyDeleteBUT at my next party with a pinata (which will probably happen NEVER because i am not that organized), there will be dime bags as prizes. and smokes, and candy, and booze, and scratchers ! YAY VICES !
@17 beats JONESING MUCH?
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Garters are lame/sexist/not classy. Just wait until the 80 year old creepy uncle puts the garter seductively and oh so slowly all the way up the thigh of his 12 foot tall bird woman girlfriend half his age, and everyone else stands there aghast. You don't want to see it. What if your dad puts one up your mums leg? Urgh...
ReplyDeleteEverything else vice-based to be included, I am all about. Condoms are basically a courtesy to all the singles who are going to drunkenly hook up under the stars at this delightful wedding.
How about tiaras/elastic bowties/eyepatches/feelyboppers/ironic mustaches/fake hair flowers? Basically all the twee junk that goes in all hipster wedding photobooths.
@17 beats - I want to come to your party
ReplyDeleteI don't know what a feelybopper is, but I'm pretty sure I want one. As for the kazoos, while they're totally adorable in general, maybe 50ish (just my totally random guess at how many of your unknown total number of guests would still be around doing the pinata) drunk people playing them at the same time isn't such a great idea?
ReplyDeleteThose classy Confetti System pinatas are so fun, as are all of these ideas for what to put in them! I need to come up with a way to do this at a party. Maybe not in my tiny NYC apartment, though.
jesus christ no condoms. tacky!
ReplyDeletePinatas are fun. In heels, in dresses, for girls and boys alike.
ReplyDeleteI would be seriously pissed if there was a pinata that I was not allowed to whack, especially if it potentially gave some dude rights to shimmy a garter up under my skirt!
I'm all for vice related fillings. Condoms, quality lube, booze, candy, glitter, confetti, and scratchies, all get a yes from me. Another idea is to conceal some of the goodies inside balloons so that your guests have to pop the balloons to get the treats. Of course, you would include blanks as well to add a russian roulette element to the game.
If you're gonna have condoms and booze, you might as well include aspirin.
ReplyDeleteI will also vote HELLS YES on the co-ed pinata.
No on boys only.
Boo on garters being put on anyone. If some fall out with a bunch of other crap it could be ironically funny.
The children and old people will leave after the cake is served. You can put whatever you want in it if you do it after the cake. That is assuming that you don't let any of the children know there is a pinata, in which case they will never leave.
Hey everyone! Thank you ESB and all of the commenters SO much for all the ideas. I have to admit most hadn't crossed my mind (My mom said the condom idea to which my dad gasped in horror hahaha) I love love the ideas.
ReplyDeletePlastic bottles of booze, confetti, ringpops, party poppers, temporary tatoos (I saw somewhere you could make custom ones!), kazoos, scratch lottery, fake mustaches, mini glow sticks, feather/flower things for the hair, those mardi gras beads with shot glasses, after the aspirin idea I think I'll throw in some alka seltzers as well. I think I'll still drop in some garters as well... but really big garters so you can put them on your head like headbands LOL.
The garter thing is done here like this: The groom takes the garters off the bride, then they call the girl and a guy to put it on her. They usually pick real couples and everyone chants "to the neck, to the neck." It's especially fun when they pick ex-couples or very new couples.
I am definitely going to include the girls now, seeing so much of you said you would participate. Actually I would too, but people here tend to shy away from fun activities like this. Hopefully they'll be so drunk they ALL want to participate.
Will have people going at it till it breaks, I just need to find where to hang it from. It's going to be so much fun. I'll obviously share pics!
best idea ever. period.
ReplyDeletelove the idea! but you'd be surprised at how smashed the contents can get when adults whack at a pinata. saw a pinata with those little booze-filled chocolates once, and the result was neither pretty nor edible.
ReplyDeletemoral of the story: avoid caramels and chocolate, and think about whether you'd want to hit your glow sticks or party poppers with a baseball bat.
we had one at our wedding and we filled it with mexican wrestling masks and fireballs.
ReplyDeleteit was very excellent. also, the pictures of girls in party dresses afterwards shakin' it looking like lucheros from the neck up - very very excellent
@decafmom my fiance made me rethink the whacking thing too... so I think we'll just put a bunch of strings on the bottom of the pinata for people to pull from.
ReplyDeleteOh... there aren't many children invited, so they won't be a problem... besides, I would recommend their parents to keep them away from the drunken friends trying to get whatever's inside the piñata!!
@La Piñata Lady it's not a piñata if people aren't whacking it.
ReplyDeletehere's a wedding that does the piñata: the pinata pictures are at the end
ReplyDeletelooks like so much fun, and they went at it with a bat!
I love the controversy this post stirred up! I know it's over a year later, but I'm doing research on what to include in a wedding pinata and it's so fun to read all the opinions here.
ReplyDeleteI am also thinking of pinata filling options. All these ideas made me realize .....
ReplyDeleteAWESOME IDEA TO HAVE A PINATA AT OUR WEDDING!!
fun fun fun