Sweet On You - All About Candy Buffets

Candy Buffets are hugely popular for weddings right now and they're so much fun and so versatile, why not include one at yours? There are a few necessities as well as a few things to determine before you begin.
First, are you going to be a candy purist? In other words, are you only offering candy items? Some couples like to have a sweet & salty offering, others include fruit & vegetables. We spoke with a bride a few days ago who prefers an offering of
Twinkies, Ding Dongs, and other similar childhood favorites. Maybe your buffet will be strictly chocolate!

Second, are you going to be a color purist? Will the items you offer follow the color(s) of your wedding?

Third, do you have a budget in mind for this buffet? The images shown showcase the very basic and the very extravagant. Where will yours fall on the spectrum?

Once you have made those determinations, you can begin to gather the necessities. Here's what it will take:

• Containers. The popular glass apothecary jars are quite pricey to purchase, but look stunning. Details offers several for rent if you are utilizing our planning services. In general, the glass containers work well as they create a lovely aesthetic while allowing your candy selections to shine. If you are purchasing, take into consideration the types of food you'll be offering and the size of container that will be needed. Also, make sure the opening is large enough to access the goodies!

• Scoops. The Container Store has the best price and variety of scoops. Unless you live near one of their stores, expect to pay hefty shipping fees for your inexpensive little dippers!

• Candy Bags. You can get creative depending on your budget, but the best option if you're on a budget is to stick with either cellophane or bakery bags.

• Labels. You may wish to label each candy jar so there is no question what your guests are about to pop into their mouths. There's a multitude of ways to do this from little table tents to tags attached to ribbons to stickers. Speaking of stickers, consider a fun option for securing your guests' candy bags. This might be with ribbon or with a custom sticker with your monogram or theme.

• Décor. Offering a candy buffet with the supplies above creates an eye catching presentation, but why not make just a bit more effort and make it spectacular? Incorporate fun linens, flowers, or, if you rent a candy buffet from Details, you have the option to rent our large lollipops!

• Goodies. As mentioned above, this can be anything you wish it to be. Often, brides ask us how much candy? You'll need to take three things into consideration to answer this question. First, the size of your guest list. If it is large (250+), you can figure ¼ lb to ½ lb per person. The second plays into the first question: Is this for fun or is it your dessert option? Is this presented as your guest favor? If you answer yes to one of the latter two, error on the high side for quantity. The third item to take into consideration is the impact you want your buffet to make. Brides with smaller guest lists may wish to purchase a large quantity of candy (particularly the cheaper varieties) in order to make it a focal point and destination.

• Fillers. The larger vessels create the most visual impact but to fill them completely with your candies of choice can get pricey quickly. A beautiful, inexpensive option is to use “fillers”. Fillers are placed in the jar first, with candy filling the remaining space. There are so many filler options! Sugar, rice, gumballs, coffee beans, fruit (lemons, limes), rocks, and on and on.

While you can't please all of your guests, if you are aware of allergies you may wish to play it safe and leave those peanuts off the buffet. Also, consider your weather. Hot and humid weather can be disastrous for certain candies – especially chocolate!

I have seen brides “skimp out” for their candy buffet and that's exactly what it looks like. By spending just a bit more money you'll be able to kill several birds with one stone – a special gift for your guests, a dynamic focal point, munchies to keep energy high while dancing, and additional fun.

A snapshot of the Details candy buffet at a recent bridal show.  Since ours was bar height, we were careful not to place items so high that guests could not reach into the vessels.  What you can't see here, unfortunately, is that the twin bases of the candy buffet were lit by pedestals
rented from Dream Lighting Company.

If any photographers have a better image of our buffet, please share it!

“Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate." Sandra Boynton

~Jami