How to Create a Wedding Candy Buffet

Looking for a great idea for your wedding? Get fun & creative by building a wedding candy buffet.

Surprise your guests with a fun and colorful candy buffet at your wedding reception. Wedding candy buffets are a crowd pleaser that is almost as popular as a wedding cake. Candy buffets have quickly become a great decorative centerpiece as well as a unique DIY wedding favor. A traditional candy buffet has elegant glass jars filled with all types of candy, from M&Ms to giant lollipops.

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Candy Selections

When selecting candy for your candy bar buffet consider your wedding theme, colors and your personal favorites. Candy buffet bars that are inspired by and coordinated to the wedding colors and theme are an attractive addition to your wedding reception.

Recommendations

  • Candy bar buffets with coordinated colors appear far better than the random-colored ones.
  • When determining how much candy to buy – remember that the candy buffet is not only a wedding favor, but a decorative centerpiece.
  • Take your candy buffet bags/containers to a local grocery store and fill them with the types of candy you will have for your event and then weigh the container. Multiply by how many guests and then you will get an idea of how much candy you should purchase.
    • Chocolate – kisses, chocolate covered nuts, mints, brittle, fudge, tiny candy bars, truffles, dipped fruits
    • Hard Candy – old fashioned rock candy, mints, fruit candies, candy corn, lollipops, hearts
    • Gummies – gummy worms, bears, fruits, root beers, sours, jelly beans
    • Salty – pretzels, goldfish, nuts, fortune cookies, crackers, popcorn, chips
  • When selecting candy, consider sweet, salty, sour, hard candy, gummies, chocolate, caramels, etc. Choose a wide variety of candy so everyone finds a treat they love.

Unique Ideas

  • Consider the season and location of the wedding. This can help inspire your wedding candy selections.
  • Consider personalizing certain candy selections such as chocolates or lollipops with the bride and groom’s initials or M&Ms with the bride and groom’s name.
  • Put the bride and groom’s favorite candy with a label so guests know its significance.

Resources

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Candy Containers & Jars

Interesting candy containers and jars will make your candy buffet a unique and memorable wedding favor.

Recommendations

  • Use containers in different shapes, heights and sizes to make your display more attractive.
  • Select 9 or more containers for the buffet table. It’s best to get an odd number of containers. More containers are always better, even if it means using smaller containers and splitting the same type of candy into two or three jars.
  • Clear containers are best to show-off your candy display.
  • Find containers that are wide enough to fit a candy scoop inside.
  • Buy small bags or boxes for the guests to fill with candy. Keep in mind that the size of the candy bag or box will affect how much candy each guest takes.
  • Purchase candy scoops to use for unwrapped candy, such as Skittles & Jordan Almonds.

Unique Ideas

  • Consider included tiered trays to show-off chocolates or unique candies.
  • Look for containers at an antiques shop or even a flea market. This is a great way to introduce personality and a retro, “shabby chic” look to your display.
  • Buy dozens of small containers to display a variety of candy types. Arrange the containers in a unique pattern to provide visual appeal.

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Table Décor

How you arrange and decorate your table is an important part of making the candy buffet come together. Don’t underestimate the importance of decorating the table.

Recommendations

  • Raise some of the candy containers to give the buffet height. Take a catering rack or milk crate turned upside down and cover with a cloth.
  • Use flowers, candles, picture frames, table runners or other decorative elements that match the overall wedding décor and theme.

Unique Ideas

  • Include a sign on the candy buffet table. The sign can help draw a connection between the candy and the wedding.
    • Love is Sweet!
    • Sweet Dreams
    • How ‘Sweet’ It Is To Be Loved By You!
    • Sweet Emotion
    • Sweets for my sweet. Honey for my sugar.
    • It’s been a ‘treat’ having you here!
  • Select the bride and groom’s favorite candy and label itl so guests know its significance.

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