Very trendy, a candy buffet,
also known as candy table or sweet table, is a great way to accentuate wedding
receptions, baptisms, graduations, bridal showers, baby showers, anniversary,
parties, corporate events, and suitable for any social gathering
celebrations. It can be set not only in a
reception hall but just as well at the office, at home on an elegant butler
pantry, or elegantly in the shadow of a flowering garden. If you think that
candy buffets are only for children parties, you would be surprised. Please
trust me on this one... adults are worst than kids when it comes to candy
buffets. At your event, you may even experience the shocking truth on how some adults
will completely forget good manners. They will help themselves generously at
your sweet table and make provisions for the rest of the week.
Just like flower
arrangement, a candy buffet is a substantial, powerful element of decoration
and needs to complement the style and feeling you wish to convey. Harmonized to
a colour scheme, the sweet table will reveal an assortment of beautiful jars
filled with mouth-watering treats for your guests to enjoy.
The cost may vary
considerably according to the amount of guests, the size and number of jars to
fill, and the type of candies you will be serving. With so many variables, the
cost can range anywhere from $3.00 to 9.00 per guests, and sometimes even more
if you have it done for you. One way to greatly reduce the cost is to do it
yourself. You can achieve setting a
gorgeous candy buffet even on a small budget. It requires some planning but the
experience is fun and will be memorable and cherished forever. By carefully
evaluating all your options, you will soon realize that a candy buffet can be
done at different price levels. There is no set cost; you simply need to decide
on a budget, and stick to it.
DIY Candy Buffet in 5 Easy
Steps
Step 1 - Deciding on the size of the table
Knowing the size of the table or surface upon which you will be displaying your candy buffet is the very first step. Keep in mind that the
larger the surface is, the more jars you will want to get, and the more candy
you will need. For an event of 100 guests or less, a selection of seven to nine
different jars of candy would be appropriate. For a larger group, you may want
to increase the number of jars to at least ten or twelve.
If you prefer offering only
a few choices of candy, use fewer but larger jars, and if you want a wide a
variety of candy, add extra jars but smaller ones. The choice is yours.
Step 2 – Selecting attractive
clear glass jars
Clear glass apothecary jars
and vases enhance the colour of the candy. For an outstanding look, diversify their
shapes and sizes. Look around your house (or your mom’s house) and you may find
treasures! Be creative, you may already
have clear glass bowls, vases, cake trays... For practicality, the opening of the jar
should be wide enough to easily access the sweets with serving utensils. The size
of your jars will of course, affect the cost of your candy buffet. The bigger
the jars, the more candy will be required to fill them to the top.
When selecting candy jars,
I personally find the mirror effect setting on the buffet quite appealing. For
a total of seven jars, I will select one round and large jar as a centrepiece,
two identical tall jars set on each side of the centrepiece, than 2 more styles
of smaller jars to set in front of each tall ones. The idea is to balance the
proportion of both side of your candy buffet. Experimenting with the setting of
your table by evaluating different combinations or ways to display your jars
will reveals unique, interesting possibilities.
In the back row position of your table, hide under the tablecloth thick
phone books or cardboard boxes to create elevation.
Step 3 – Calculating the
amount of candy you will need to fill your jars
OPTION 1
With this exercise, you’ll get
a better idea of the amount of candy you’ll need to purchase. First, you need
to measure the capacity of your jars simply by filling them with water. Pour the water from the jar into a large
measuring cup, and calculate the amount of cups of water required to fill every
one of your jars. Record the capacity for each jar into a notebook and safely
guard that information.
Before we go any further,
there is another important piece of the puzzle needed. How much candy should you
calculate to satisfy the sweet tooth of your guest?
Equipped with your jar
capacity measurements combined with the total weight of candy your jars hold, you
need at this point to compare this result with the total weight of candy needed
for the amount of guests. Are the numbers comparable? If so, great job you are
on the right track. If the total weight of your candy jars is much higher than
the candy weight for the number of guests, it means that your jars are too big,
or you are using too many. To rectify and balance the numbers, use smaller jars
or eliminate some; otherwise you’ll end up with too much candy at the end of
the event. Reversely, if the total weight of your candy jars is much lower than
the total candy weight for the number of guests, you’ll need to get bigger jars
or increase the amount of jars for your candy buffet. Be analytical, the result
of both calculations doesn’t have to match exactly. Use the result as a
baseline to get a general idea if you are on the right track.
OPTION 2
Another school of thought
is to not worry about the above calculations and set a candy buffet according
to your preference and budget. For a large event, create a substantial impact,
and prestigious visual effect of abundance, by setting a large table, selecting
a wide variety of huge candy jars, and filled them with lots of candy. Then at your event, you will carefully observe
the child-like pleasure, and delight in the eyes of your guests. The same rule
applies if on a smaller budget. Set your candy buffet on a small table, use
smaller jars and filled them up with less expensive but fresh candy, decorate
the table elegantly, and you’ll achieve great results. Set a buffet table
stress-free, according to own specific needs, style, and most importantly, by respecting
your budget range. Reveal the sweet table only later after the meal, and when
there is no more candy, there is simply no more candy.
Step 4 - Selecting the candy
Here are a few tips
on how to select candy for a truly memorable candy buffet that is as pleasing
to the taste buds as for the eyes. In harmony with the theme or colours of your
event, your selection to be interesting must vary in shapes, sizes, and textures.
Your assortment should also be pleasant for both fruity and tangy candy
lovers. Gummy, candy, taffy, gumball,
licorice, chocolate, caramel, lollipop, and even no sugar added candy if
needed. The possibilities are endless. If setting a monochromatic candy buffet,
select candy of different tints, tones, and shades. The overall visual effect
makes for a more interesting look. An important note to remember; due to the
manufacturing process, the colour of the candy may vary from one batch to another.
Reality check, don’t expect different candies produced by different
manufacturers to be the exact same pink, blue, yellow, or any other colours for
that matter. Embrace the difference.
Step 5 – Adding the final
touch
Once you finalize the
selection of candy, it is time to have fun by finding interesting elements to
decorate and add that special finishing touch to you candy buffet. Decorate
your jars with creative labels, beads, pearls strings and fancy ribbons. Use flowers,
candlesticks, figurines, dolls, nostalgic items, or any imaginative element
that will accentuate your candy table. You will need serving utensils, and
containers or bags for your guest to help themselves.
For additional
ideas and photos of candy buffet, please visit us on Pinterest.
