One of the things I am planning to have at our reception is a Candy Buffet – but the cost of all that candy and containers can definitely add up quickly! A candy buffet can be beautiful – but when bride’s try to make a buffet work on a budget, sometimes it just ends up looking a little sad. Here are some ideas to help you create a budget-friendly candy buffet that is as beautiful as these.

1. Find Affordable Containers – Renting containers is one option, though they can be costly as well. For our recpetion, I am collecting glass containers from the thrift shops as I find them. For example, this week I found these two which cost me a total of $2.25 TOGETHER!!! Not bad at all. At an average of $1.50 per container, my total cost for 20 will end up being somewhere around $30.

2. Use other fillers – The biggest mistake I see is wedding buffets that keep the cost low by offering a smaller selection but then the tables look so BLAND:( You can create that same gorgeous, elegant look without having to have a ton of candy if you are creative. Some ideas for things that can add interest to the table:

- Table runners – a white table cloth is great, but adding a table runner or two adds a lot more interest, looks lovely and does not have to cost a fortune. You can rent table runners, or make your own using fabric from the fabric store. (See picture #2)

- Flowers and Flower Petals – Another great way to add interest! You can get great deals on silk rose petals on Ebay and sprinkle them in between the containers. (see picture #1). You can also use silk flowers placed randomly among the jars (see picture #2) or use bouquets of flowers in jars and vases (see picture #1). If your budget does not allow for more flower bouquets – have the jars ready and then place the bridal and bridesmaid bouquets in them just before the reception.

- Pictures – One great idea I came across was to place framed pictures of other weddings (your parents, grandparents, etc) or your engagement pictures among the containers. Not only does this help spread out the buffet for a more full, elegant look – but it also adds a personal touch as well. For frames, head back to the thrift shop for a collection of coordinating frames in silver, brass, white, whatever matches your colors best. Frames could also be added with a menu of the items available, a title (Jake & Jill’s Sweet Shop, etc), a thank you note, a special poem or song, etc.

- Candles – of course, placed in such a way that people can reach the candy without burning themselves or knocking them over.

3. Add extras – Instead of just candy, have other things on the buffet as well. Some common choices include

- The wedding cake

- a chocolate fountain

- a punch bowl or fountain

- cookies, squares, and other dessert items

- fortune cookies

- favor boxes (Generally, the candy buffet replaces the wedding favors, so one idea is to offer small favor boxes to hold the candy rather then bags. These take up a little more space then bags, look really pretty and will encourage guests to be reasonable about the amount of sweets they take. We want them happy – not sick.)

- fruit – if your color scheme allows, add a few bowls of fruit in among the candy for a healthy option as well (green: apples, pears, grapes / red: apples, strawberries, raspberries etc)

- guest book (I have seen this done a few ways. One great idea is to have a pin board behind the table and then offer small notecards and pens on the table so guests can write their wishes to you, and pin them on the board with color coordinating pins.)

4. Affordable Candy – the candy is of course, the most expensive aspect of the candy buffet but there are ways to control that cost as well. Here are a few tips:

- Don’t go overboard. If you are using my ideas in section 2 and 3 – your candy buffet does not have to include TONS of candy to look full and elegant. You reasonably need to have enough candy for a small bag full per guest.

- Size Matters – you can put the same amount of candy in a dozen smaller containers rather then into 2 or 3 large containers – but 12 smaller containers LOOKS like more then 2 or 3 large ones do. So, stick to small and medium size containers. Then, place the containers on different levels by places different boxes or books under the table cloth to create risers for some of the containers to sit on. This makes containers easier to reach, and makes the table look fuller.

- Plan ahead – once you have your containers ready, plan which candy will go in each container. Fill larger containers with the less expensive candies, smaller containers for the more expensive containers.

- Buy in bulk – Once you know what types of candy you want, check out different bulk candy suppliers and compare prices.

- COLOR makes a difference – in generally, a candy buffet in coordinated colors looks much more elegant then one that features a hodge podge of random selections. Many bulk suppliers will let you purchase bulk orders of things like jelly beans – all in one color.

PLACES TO FIND BULK CANDY:

www.candywarehouse.com
www.blaircandy.com
www.groovycandies.com
www.sweetnostalgia.com
www.hometownfavorites.com
www.oldtimecandy.com

www.bulkfoods.com