How Sweet It Is: Building the Candy Buffet of Your Dreams
You're not alone. More and more brides want to see a tower of sweets at their reception.
Motives differ: some like how buffets allow guests to hunt and pick according to their personal sweet tooth.
Others like the fairytale flavor. Candyland, Babes in Toyland, Willy Wonka: some of our earliest dreams of abbondanza involve forests where gumdrops hang from trees, chocolate runs in rivers and pillars are peppermint sticks.
And if that makes you nervous, rest assured you have company. Because a candy buffet isn't free. Like any other "wow" aspect of a wedding, it's part of your overall investment. And while the waitstaff might pass the hors d'oeuvres and the venue lay out the linens, you could be on your own when it's time to design the candy buffet.
But not to worry: here are some tips from the pros for translating that bountiful delight in your head into a mouth-watering reality at your wedding.
The Secret to Sweetness
Scan all those photos of candy buffets throughout the web, and you'll quickly spot two things.
One, buffets are monstrously popular. And two, while some are a feast for the eyes, others seem to fall short of the heights their planners must have hoped for.
So what's the secret?
Here's number one: buying enough candy. Sounds simplistic, but it's key.
"The first thing I tell brides — you really can't do candy as a hard commodity. It's more a decoration," says Jon Prince, president of online candy giant CandyFavorites.com.
"I talk to hundreds of brides. They'll say, 'I'm having 200 guests, and I want to give each guest 3 ounces, so I guess I need about 37 pounds of candy.' Sounds reasonable, and 3 ounces might be enough to actually satisfy your guests, but visually? It won't be enough to make a presence."
Prince suggests that instead of seeing candy by the numbers, brides take an aesthetic approach. "You choose the flowers because they're beautiful," he says. "The candy buffet should be too."
And unlike flowers, Prince adds, candy serves double duty as an edible item. "Still, you have to budget the candy buffet into your wedding expenses. It doesn't work well as an afterthought."
But what about the wedding planners who suggest buying a pound of candy per person?
Prince says buffets work best when you plan by the eye, not the numbers.
"To make it look gorgeous, I'd start with the table, not the guest count. I'd take five to 10 types of candy, and buy 15 to 20 pounds each, whether you actually need that much or not."
He adds, "When it comes to candy, the more the merrier. If you have a large table overflowing with candy, you have presence. The biggest disappointment I hear is that the candy buffet didn't look substantial."
Like a Kid in a Candy Store? Here's What to Buy
Okay, so now you have a handle on those numbers. But between the heaping bins at upscale food markets and the galaxies of candy choices online, which temptations do you choose?There aren't any hard-and-fast rules, says Prince.
Not really, he says. Instead, it's the season's colors and themes that are driving brides' choices.
To illustrate, Prince describes an all-white Miami wedding where the couple set up 20 to 30 pounds each of white candies, placing the unwrapped varieties in jars, martini glasses and other interesting containers, and piling custom-wrapped mint rolls in front. "It looked fantastic," he says.
Mark Kingsdorf of The Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants concurs: it's the themes that shape candy buffets. "And like everything else in weddings, candy buffets are getting more and more personalized, with more and more variations.
"Of course, 'Everything old is new again,'" he adds. "So you see things like retro candy buffets. At one wedding we did the candy bracelets and necklaces on the elastic cords; the little waxed bottles filled by sugar water.
"There are very few themes you can't do with candy. Beach weddings are fun, with all those boardwalk choices: saltwater taffy, caramel apples, fudge, peanut brittle."
"I like to focus," explains Prince, "but the focus can be anything. Candies you personally like, or a theme, or a texture. If you're having an all-white wedding, you'll want an all-white candy buffet. If you're having a destination wedding in an exotic location, you could choose dramatic, Caribbean types: Island Punch Jelly Belly beans.
"In the end, you want 'presence.' Mies van de Rohe once said 'Less is more,' but he definitely wasn't talking about candy buffets."
Fashion a Feast for the Eye
You're set. You've narrowed down your choices... and you've got the goods. Now how do you add those visual touches that turn your buffet from "aww" to "jaw-dropping"?
"Basically — and this is a good idea — the couple matched their candy containers to their floral vases."
Don't have quite that much fine crystal waiting in the wings? Here's a budget-friendly alternative from Kingsdorf. "Find some interesting containers: different shapes, different heights. Personally, I've used a dozen different containers from Ikea, and the most expensive one was about $10."
He adds that clear containers are best, to show off the contents, and that container mouths should be wide enough for the scoops.
"A nice bunching fabric gives you spill and texture. Put some of your containers on top of that."
The final touch? A floral arrangement. Or more cheaply, some complementary pillar candles in your wedding colors.
Kingsdorf adds that your most personal touch could be the candy bags. "At one of the weddings I did recently, the couple went to a dollar store and got a bunch of takeout containers in red, one of their colors.
"They personalized each container with a little sticker, which was inexpensive and very cute. Anyone could do the same thing: use a tag or little rubber stamp, or stickers.
"Just find a way to add that custom touch."
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (for Candy)
So why are candy buffets so sizzling hot these days, anyway?
Simple: they're a huge hit with guests. "Favors can be a tough choice," points out Kingsdorf. "Depending on your guests, you might find yourself picking up a ton of personalized CDs or bottle stoppers at the end of the night. But when it's edible, people eat it ... or take it home. I think a lot of brides are cueing into that."
Prince adds, "It's just a trend people are enjoying right now.
"But when you really dig down," he muses, "it's not about the product at all. It's about nostalgia.
"In a lot of weddings, two people are taking a major step toward adulthood. The candy buffet lets them connect back to any fond memories they have of childhood.
"Candy is powerfully reminiscent," he concludes.
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The cheapest candy I have found so far is on http://www.bulkfoods.com. They have free shipping for over $75, but they do have temperature restrictions for chocolate candy and other meltable items.
Brittany,
Try going to your local Joann fabrics and see if they have an overlay fabric in your color or colors that you cna put on top of your white fabric. Something with some sparkles or something. They have a ton of fabric, and you can find one on sale and get a few yards just to have it overlay. They have alot of see thru glittery, sparkle types that would look gorgeous!
Patty,
Do you know of a cheep place to get candy. I need enough for aprox 250 people, so I am looking for coupon codes, free shipping , something. Thanks
Hi Brittany!
This is Patty from SimplyCandyBuffets in Illinois! Let me try to help you here. You need that table to POP!!!!!!!! Try lolipop towers. Some gourmet popcorn. White chocolte pretzel rods with your colored sprinkled on them. Gourmet large sugar cookies. Tie different colored ribbons to your scoops. Hot gue ribbons to your glass jars. They will come off very easiely after your event. Put hat boxes, books, bowls, anything to have your table on different levels for eye appeal! The rule of thumb is at least 1 pound of candy per person! It’s not about having left over. It’s about that “whoa! factor” when people first come in the room and see your table. Try some sour balls, salt water taffy. They both come in assorted colors and are nice filler you can layer. Spice it up girl! It’ll look amazing!!!!!!!!!! If you click on my website under portfolio you’ll get some ideas hopefully!
I would maybe do a table runner that’s orange, pink, or green, or do a criss cross of two table runners in your colors. Or one of those overlays in one of your colors to spice up the table. I love the way your candy looks I think that all looks super. That’s all my creative mind can think of because that’s all I have for the one I’m doing for my brother in law’s wedding.
Ok ladies! I am down to 1 week until my wedding and i am having HUGE problems with my candy buffet. I have posted some pictures of what i have right now so maybe someone will have some good ideas to jazz it up a little. Remember i am not done, there is still some more rock candy that i am waiting on so…. I just need some ideas! I’M DESPERATE!
You need to place some of the jars under like wood pieces and things to make the jars be at all different levels it really adds to the buffet.. Also go and buy some fabric in your colors and add that to the table around the jars.. you could also tie ribbons around the jars.. Would you be willing to sell your jars after your wedding?? Please let me know thanks
Thanks Dawn…loves those pics….and ideas.
Megan, my first thought was "gerbers!" And a pastry tray, tiered, kind of girly. And then blammo, I ran across almost the perfect pics on flickr, which basically never happens. The first couple used a pastry tier, wooden letters and pink gerbers to great effect (albeit for a baby shower) (From KarinaPetoe). You wouldn’t have to put cupcakes on the pastry tray, you could put any of your candy treats.
And then right after, there was a pic of lovely paper lanterns overhead, that definitely adds a lot of drama to the display if you can hang things from the ceiling. (from Danny Lakeboy). Click on the links and you can see a bit more of these buffets.
I am planning a brown, pink, and a little white candy buffet for my brother in law and future sister in law.
I have the containers. I have the candy too. I have a white table cloth to work with and a satin brown table runner that’s plain. What else can I do to dress up the table without going overboard and being tacky?
Yogurt is just fine. Thanks so much I appreciate it.
Hi Elizabeth,
Do they have to be white chocolate? Or can they be yogart?
http://www.bulkfoods.com/….txtsearchParamTxt=2042
Does anyone know where I can find some cheap white chocolate pretzels. I found some at the Candywarehouse but they are $60. I need something half that price. Help! Thanks.
Lizette,
You could use Black Licorice, and they have gumballs that “lemonade” flavor that are actually pink and white. Dont forget about Good and Plenties! Those should be easy to find. I saw pink tic tacs packaged at walmart yesterday while looking at candy, they are for breast cancer. Those could be something extra to just put on the table or something. I’ll look around when I go out and see what candy is pink and black that could be found anywhere.
Lizette~
Hi, This is Patty. I own http://Simplycandybuffets.com in Illinois and we just did a candy buffet in Black/white and pink. I’ve enclosed a photo for you. Perhaps it will give you come ideas! They’re theme was polka dots! If you need any additional help, please let me know.
Lizette
email me at isaiah73098@yahoo.com
Corinna
Corinna,
Thank You sooooo much. There is not a rite aid in Neb or Iowa. Could you please tell me how much the candy is-kisses, patties and m&ms. Please just whenever you have time I dont want to trouble you.
Lizette
I had a red, black & white theme buffet
I had black & white gum drops
Black & white taffy
white & red gum balls but they had pink (these were individulay wrapped so I just picked out the colors I needed.
Here at my local rite aid they have the pink wrapped hersheys kisses, york patties & pink m&ms
If you have a rite aid perhaps they will have them there
We also had black foil wrapped hershey kisses
If you have trouble finding them let me know I would be willing to purchase these and ship them to you at what ever the actual cost is.
Hi ladies,
I am also having a candy buffet. My colors are pink, black and white. I have been looking for candy and take out boxes for three months and I am going crazy. My wedding is 8-16-08. I am having a very hard time finding pink and white gumballs and just cheap pink white and black candies in general. I live in a small town ini Neb so shippping is going to kill me. I want a big wow factor, but I dont want to spend my budget on shipping. I am also looking for some ideas on what to use other then jelly beans. Thanks!!
Elizabeth,
The letters I got from Michaels were probably the smaller ones you saw, they are 3 inches tall each. But when having “love is Sweet” it takes up alot of space, so there was no way I could use the larger letters. They were buy the other wood items and letters at Michaels. Hope tht helps!
Thanks Sharon and Corrina I appreciate your help. Then I will start to buy candy. I was afraid if I bought it too far in advance that it might not taste the same or spoil. You can tell I don’t know much about candy….I will take your advice and run with to the store to find as much as I can. I am excited. Thanks girls. Oh and I finally found the famous candy scoops at Michaels. They sure know how to hide them well. I found them in the wedding aisle but they were high up and no wonder I never saw them. I am just happy I found them.