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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Hi Ladies, if you haven’t seen the “Candy Land” shower theme at Brides.com, it might help out with some great display ideas!
What I love: the glass beads, satin ribbons, glitter (yes glitter! How often do you get to use glitter??) and rhinestones to really dress up the cards and signs.
And, the wonderful fabrics used to wrap the vases. Plus, the bare branch arrangement brings a ton of height and drama to the table — ifyou think your display lacks a focus, well this would definitely provide one! I love how they’ve tucked the giant lollis at the bottom and hung the cones from the branches. You could use rock candy sticks instead of flowers in the cones.
Plus, the simple metal stand they use to stack the penny candy jars is very attractive and sweet. And simply tying some premium ribbon onto the scoops really styles them. Just some ideas!
Deborah~
The best advice I can give you is that fortunately this day is all about you and your groom! Yes, I have seen receptions that do not do a meal and have large Candy Buffets! The unique thing about Candy Buffets is they not only offer your guests a wonderful treat but are also a nice favor for them to take home to remember your event long after it’s over! To acheive that “wow factor” allow approximately 1 pound per person of candy and sweets! A candy buffet is about “Eye Candy” too! You want your table to appeal to everyone! Grownups and children alike! Be creative. Personalize your table using labels with you and your future husbands monograms, ribbons tied to the scoops, or personalized take home containers! Make it yours! This is your day! Best, Patty
Thanks so much Patty!! great ideas….have you seen many who do the candy table instead of a wedding cake??? Especially where they are not doing a meal for the reception???
tahnks again!!!
Hi Deborah………..this is Patty. I own SimplyCandyBuffets in Illinois. We do hundreds of candy buffets and my suggestion to you would be to mix it up. Do a cupcake tower with a 9 inch round cake on top in your wedding colors. Also, add to your table snowflake cookies, gourmet white chocolate popcorn, taffy apples, lolipop towers, gourmet white chocolate dipped pretzel rods with blue sprinkles, or gourmet strawberries and color themed candy. Make it whimsical, and fun for all the guests! Try silver chocolate kisses, ribbon candy, salt water taffy, sour balls all come in colors that match your wedding. My best to you and your fiance! Patty
Marshalls is definately a great place to get containers. That’s where I got all 10 of my containers. Thanks.
Hello
I am getting married on Jan 3 and am having a winter wonderland wedding with periwinkle, silver and white and a lot of snow flakes ! I love the candy buffet idea but have some questions….this is a second wedding for me…i am divorced adn my fiance is widowed. We are doing a pretty simple wedding with a simple reception at the church after the ceremony! If you do a candy buffet are you still doing cake?? We are not serving a meal…I was originally going to do just cake, nuts and home made mints in periwinkle and white . Now I am wondering if I should do cupcakes mixed in with candy….any ideas on protocal???
thanks in advance!
Hey Megan,
I have 8 of my containers, what I am looking for now is something unique for the guests to fill up. I have heard of chinese take out boxes, but we are having those at a hibachi station. So i was looking for something a little different.
Kim-
I have found a great place for containers is a Marshall’s and TJ Maxx…I have found six out of the eight I have so far from there…and they were cheap! Large apothecary containers mostly. Just an fyi. Good luck!
Thanks! No i haven’t tried those, i will definitely look into that! Thanks so much!
Hi Megan,
Yes it is! It’s definitely similar to turqouise. Thanks! I am waiting on buying containers because i want to make sure all the different candy sizes fit into them. I have all of my big glasses i just need to get enough candy and something for the guests to fill up! Thanks so much for your help.
Here are some blue candy links
http://www.candywarehouse.com/bluecandy.html?page=all
http://www.groovycandies.com/V2product_ProdNameALL.asp?cat_id=42
I keep thinking of more ideas as I search…
Have you tried salt water taffy, or those old fashioned hard candy sticks. They come in lots of colors.
Kim is this the color blue you’re speaking of….if I know I can help you find some more.
http://www.ohnuts.com/buy.cfm/bulk-candy/rock-sugar-swizzle-sticks/light-blue-crystal-cotton
Hi ladies,
My wedding colors are Chocolate Brown and Bermuda Blue. The chocolate part is covreed but I am not having too much luck with the right color blue. Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?
Tammy,
Just curious on the cute little sign you made for your buffet: how large did you make yours (length/height, etc)? I love your idea, and want to make some sort of “raised-up” sign also, but just wanted to have an idea of how large a sign needs to be in order for it to be seen amongst all the candy. Thanks!
Kim,
If you’re talking about what the guests will take their candy away in, what I did was order 1/2 pint pink chinese take-out boxes from papermart.com. This seems to have been a popular theme among other candy buffets I’ve seen so far. The ones I bought were the cheapest I could find for about .09 each. I got 200 boxes for about $30.31 (19.36 for the boxes, $10.95 S&H). Mine were white but this website also has other options for colors. The thing I liked about them was that I can create fun labels in any way I like to stick to the front of each one, plus, they’re small enough so that each guest gets just a little bit of their favorite candies…still leaving candy for others! Good luck!
Britney, you need to put like flower pedals or extra tulle around the
table or jars or get other loose candy around the jars !
Megan go to bulkcandy.com or the candy warehouse .com
Brittnay,
if you want to add some wow to your table the cheapest/easiest way is to get a box and cover it with some eye-catching fabric (coral or pink/orange pattern). then put maybe one big bowl and 2 smaller ones and crystal or something… good luck!
hope this helps
I am looking for some unique ideas to use as the favor box or bag for the guests to fill up at the candy buffet. I am placing each one on the table and am having around 200 guests. Any ideas?
anybody know where to order personalized twist ties (we bought plastic cellophane baggies, and want to have twist ties for guests to tie on their candy bags). Found twist ties, online that say Baby Girl or Baby Boy, but none for weddings.