Foggy, Twinkly, Half Moon Bay Wedding

Hi ESB, 

You may remember the gold dead stock barrettes from this post that I snapped up approximately 30 seconds after you posted them.... We got married this August in La Honda with 100 of our closest family and friends from all over the world. While I wouldn't say that wedding planning was remotely my favorite activity, the day itself was really great, despite a nice layer of fog from the coast. My cheeks ached the next day from smiling so much.

My husband and I both agree that two of the best decisions we made were hiring Christina Richards as our photographer and Elizabeth Clayton as our planner. Both were great to work with and made the day run smoothly, and I think Christina's pictures speak for themselves. 

I found my dress on the only day I went shopping on a whim at a sample sale at a local dress shop in Sacramento before we decided on the venue but I loved the dress so much I didn't worry about how it might fit. It was also everything I didn't think I wanted in a dress but ended up being perfect, especially once I had pockets added. I accessorized with Loeffler Randall Anja gold wedges,* the barrettes and an amazing ruby bead necklace I was given for my college graduation years ago (not exactly traditional, but I was pleased with how it all came together).

The food was awesome and the music got everyone on the dance floor without being too cheesy or too archaic. Our official first dance was to Sam Cooke's That's Where It's At, which was great, but the one I remember better was to Solsbury Hill later in the night.  

I find it hard to put much more into words about our wedding, it was amazing to have our loved ones there and have a great party but also felt so personal and meaningful which I suppose is a great way to feel at the end of it all.

I love it when you guys take my advice. (I mean, what did I tell you about Loeffler Randall being the official shoe of ESB??) But even more than that, I love how much fucking fun everyone is having at this wedding.

Also, I am a sucker for twinkly lights. ALL TWINKLY ALL THE TIME.

(Check out tons more of Christina's photos over on her blog)

What should I put in my WEDDING piñata?

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.
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Speaking of salty caramels, has anyone tried Jimmy Fallon's new Ben & Jerry's flavor? OMG.