We have a sugary solution for the bride with a sweet tooth – a wedding candy buffet! These bars create a fun, interactive experience for your guests at the reception and add a pop of color to your venue. With endless options for candy and container choices, a candy buffet allows you to add even more personality to your wedding.
Candy Buffet Functions
- Use as a snack station or dessert supplement. You can even roll it out as a late-night treat! See this DIY Wedding Candy Bar Idea and Send Off Favor Station for inspiration.
- The buffet doubles as décor and makes a stunning photo op station. Consider adding a vase full of wedding photo props and this Sweets Balloon Garland to encourage wedding selfies. #sweetweddedbliss
- Skip the gifts and send your guests home with takeout boxes of candy! Your candy bar is the perfect make-your-own wedding favor station.
How to Pull Off a Grown-Up Candy Bar
- Start with a theme (vintage candy, international candy, chocolate candy) or a color scheme (your wedding colors). We even have Candy Buffet Assortments with coordinating colors to choose from! Don’t worry if all of the colors match exactly, as the likelihood of that happening is slim. Actually, different hues of the same color mixed with an accent color will make your bar visual interesting.
- Choose 6-8 varieties of candy in different shapes and sizes. Shoot for a mix of individually wrapped candies (taffies, chocolates, lollipops) and unwrapped varieties (gumballs, jelly beans, Jordan almonds).
- Use a variety of containers and scoops that put the candy at center stage. Mini chalkboards or decorative labels add extra pizazz to the table.
- Keep the candy buffet stocked by having the catering staff refill it as needed, so it doesn’t look picked over. Make sure you have enough! Plan for 6-8 oz. of goodies per guest.
- Personalize colorful bags or themed boxes for your guests to stuff their candy into. Let the candy double as your wedding favors!
Get More for Less
- Marshmallows, cupcakes, and crispy rice treats are some of the most popular and inexpensive picks. Cotton candy is another option that packs big punch for the pennies spent!
- Buy candy in bulk. Your calculator is your friend when placing the candy order – remember, you need 6-8 oz. per guest!
- Turn the escort table into the candy bar half-way through the reception to save money (and space!) on décor.
- Boost your buffet with cookies. Chocolate chip or iced sugar cookies are an affordable addition to candy buffets and can be homemade to save money. Elicit help from the family baker to help stretch your wedding budget. If presenting cookies to guests in individual treat boxes, be sure to line the boxes with wax paper.
- Use this free Wedding Budget Planning Printable to plan your budget across all aspects of your wedding expenses.
You’re in the final four months of wedding planning! Just a few more decisions to make: wedding day transportation options for guests and finalizing ceremony details, and choosing wedding favors. Are you as excited as we are?
See more tips for every phase of your planning process in our Month-by-Month Wedding Planning Guide.
Article written by: Melissa Collier
