7 Steps to the Perfect Candy Buffet
Published May 26, 2017
Creating the perfect candy buffet for your wedding can be tricky, but if you follow these simple steps, you’ll have it down in no time. Join me as I create this Easter themed candy buffet, complete with a wide assortment of holiday favorites in pastel colors.
Step 1 – Vessels
Assemble your vessels and make sure they’re all washed and allowed to dry fully.
I’ve chosen to use glassware, but if it fits your theme, use whatever container you like. Just make sure that you can fit a hand down inside to pull out the candy.
Step 2 – Organize and Fill
Separate your items by type and lay next to the vessel that best suits the item. Once that’s organized, go ahead and fill the jars.
Things to keep in mind:
- It’s better to have a full container with extra candy for refills than to have a container that does not look full.
- It’s also okay to have multiple jars with the same items, especially if they’re popular flavors.
- If there’s no theme, that’s okay. If there is a theme, keep in mind that the goal is for people to actually want to eat the candy. Don’t buy things that no one likes just because the color is right or you’ll be left taking it home and trying to feed it to Fido.
- Don’t be afraid to mix items. A candy buffet can easily become a treat buffet and I don’t think anyone will mind. Doing a movie theme? Mix in some popcorn. Want a black, white and gold vintage theme? Mix in Oreos, chocolate covered pretzels and marshmallows. It’s your buffet. Do what you like!
- Plan for approximately 1/2 pound of candy per guest.
Step 3 – Height
Use random items as platforms to create height.
Use whatever items you have lying around… crates, a stack of plates, boxes (just make sure they’re stable), etc. Cake stands also work, but would go on top of the fluff. Depending on how decorative the cake stand it, try to balance it was a less ornate bowl or plain candy.
Step 4 – Fluff
Don’t go crazy with the fluff. It’s just supposed to add some color and cover the platforms. Be sure the fluff is a few feet longer than the size of the table top. I suggest about 3 yards for a standard 6′ table to be sure you can cover the platforms with enough to spare.
If the table you’re using has skirting clipped to it, position it so the fluff covers the clips so they don’t detract from the pristine final look.
Step 5 – Position
This is probably the trickiest part and will take some patience. Just keep moving things around until you find your desired look. Here’s how I do it…
- Keep like items apart. If you have two containers of Reese’s cups, put them on opposite sides of the table.
- Vary your heights. Ideally, your containers will be differing in shape and size. Put tall items on the platforms to make the buffet look even taller and put short squat, containers on the table itself or on low elevations. This gives the table extremes in both directions and makes it look grand.
- Use as few tables as possible to fit all of the vessels. It’s better to have one very full table than two that have too much negative space.
Step 6 – Goody Bags
Add your scoops and tongs (metal are best if possible) and goody bags. The goody bags need to be appropriately sized. If they’re too big, you’ll find yourself with an empty buffet very early on.
If you’re labeling the candy, go ahead and add those along with any ribbons or further accents. The attention to detail is what will make your buffet stand out!
Step 7 – Edit!
In our case, I tried some ribbons, but it made the table too overwhelming so I took them off. Don’t feel like you have to use everything you bought. I ended up adding just a few plastic Easter eggs, the perfect finishing touch.
Store the extra candy in a bin under the buffet so it can be filled as necessary (assuming your table is skirted). Please share photos of your candy buffet creations!
