What You'll Need
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—Glass containers in a variety of shapes and sizes
—Plenty of candy in various flavors and colors
—Candy scoops
—Containers for the guests to fill with candy (small bags or mini boxes are good options)
—Decorations for the candy jars, such as ribbon or labels
—A table on which to set up the buffet
All About the Candy
rThere’s no doubt about it, it’s the candy that makes this element a visual stunner. What type of candy you choose is up to you—some brides just pick out their favorites, some go for one type of candy, such as M&Ms (complete with their initials printed on them) or jelly beans, while another option is to pick candy only in your wedding colors. If you go the latter route, select candy in multiple hues of one color for visual intrigue.
rWhile there may be in-store options for purchasing candy, a cheaper and more efficient way is buying it online. Check out websites such as CandyWarehouse.com, BulkCandyStore.com, and SweetNostalgia.com for good deals for buying in bulk.
Photo by Rob Korb Photography
As for how much candy you need, it’s much more than you would think. Don’t think about how much candy your guests need; rather, consider how much candy will make the display visually appealing. A good guideline: Buy 15 to 20 pounds of five to 10 types of candy. If you’re really worried about having too much left over, put the ultra-popular candy in the biggest jars and less-popular sweets in the small containers.
The Jars
The other important element on a candy buffet is the jars that hold the candy. You can use regular vases (such as matching the vases used in your centerpieces), apothecary jars, or whatever you can get your hands on. The jars should be clear so you can see the bounty held inside.
There are so many options as to where to purchase the jars—websites such as Save-On-Crafts.com offer inexpensive glass jars for purposes just like this. You can also scour thrift stores and garage sales. You can also find containers at stores such as Ikea. You’ll be surprised how many plain glass jars you can find in a variety of shapes and sizes. Another option is buying them from other brides. Search eBay, Craigslist, and local bridal message boards on TheKnot.com and WeddingBee.com. You can get a great deal (and pass them along to another bride afterward to recoup some of your money).
Scoops and Containers
Your guests need a way to get the candy out of the jars and something to put them in to take them home. You can purchase a wide variety of scoops—everything from metal to glass to heart-shaped—at Scoops-Scoops.com or other similar sites.
Your guests will also need a container to take the candy home in. Options include cellophane bags (don’t forget twist-ties or ribbons to close them up) or take-out boxes.
Decorations
Much of the visual appeal come from how the table is set up. Using nice linens and extra embellishments, such as wooden letters spelling out the words "I Do" or "Sweet Love," bring something extra to the buffet. Try to create a mock table in your house in the days leading up to the wedding. You'll be able to see how the candy buffet look and if it need changes.
Have a super-sweet wedding!
