Amy Maranda, owner of St. Paul’s Lasting Impressions by Amy, says such sweet displays can work for any bride, regardless of budget. Maranda’s packages range from $525 to $875 depending on guest count and selection, and include vessels, scoops, candy, bags, transportation and clean-up. “I think a lot of brides try to take on their own candy buffets and have no idea how much time is involved,” she says. “How is it going to get there? Who will fill it and tend to it? Who will clean it up?”
Selecting sweets for a candy table
Brides can fill their candy tables with a range of treats, from classics like jellybeans, M&Ms and saltwater taffy to hand-crafted chocolate truffles, twisted lollipops and Jordan almonds. David Mess of Buttercream bakery in St. Paul likes to steer away from standard, commercial candies in favor of a gourmet confection table. All of Buttercream’s candies are made in-house or ordered from a confectioner in San Francisco. “We’re having tremendous success with our candy tables,” says Mess, adding that treat displays are a welcome diversion for guests who may not want to dance, and also help tone down after-dinner drinking. He recommends a selection of five confections, costing roughly $4 per guest, such as champagne truffles, double-dipped macadamia nuts, mint chip malt balls, lemon blueberry shortbread and tiramisu caramels.
Robin Martin of Gateaux, a bakery in Plymouth, has put a lot of time into sourcing her candies, with saltwater taffy from Salt Lake City and handmade lollipops from Phoenix. All-inclusive tables from Gateaux run from $800 to $1,200 depending on guest count.
For couples on a tight budget, fewer hand-made treats can make it a more affordable option, she notes.
Arranging your candy table
Displaying your treats in a beautiful array of color and texture is nearly as important as making sure they taste good. For an elegant look, brides can use glass vases in soft colors, sterling silver dishes, French apothecary jars or trifle bowls. To identify the types of sweets—particularly helpful for guests with food allergies—labels can be draped down from containers on ribbons or printed on cards next to the vessels.
Besides offering fun treats for your guests during your reception, candy can also serve as a memorable take-home favor. Consider setting out classy bags and scoops so guests can keep snacking long after the wedding. Simple packages, like hour-glass cellophane bags with silver twist ties from Lasting Impressions by Amy, are a good way to use more of your budget for the candy. Couples can go all-out, however, with faux Chinese takeout boxes or gift bags personalized with a wedding logo or printed message.
Be sure your containers have large enough openings so guests can scoop the candy from them, Maranda advises. She also suggests varying the heights of your vessels for an artful effect, keeping the display practical. “Remember, what works for your 6-foot-tall cousin may not be the right height for your 5-foot grandma!” Brides can also add color to the table through floral displays or dyed organza, but don’t include candles if children will be present.
Many couples coordinate their candy tables with the colors of the weddings. Martin creates cream puffs with colored fillings, like pistachio green or raspberry pink mousse, to further customize the look. “We’ve been waiting for the right couple to break out an exclusively Jelly Belly candy table, complete with recipes for mixing the flavors to create unique combinations,” she says. “Other couples might consider all chocolate, or candies from a particular country to reflect the bride and groom’s heritage.”
For couples who want to create their own treat displays, Candy Lane in Woodbury offers a wide selection of colorful sweets such as jellybeans, saltwater taffy, rock candy and fortune cookies. The shop also sells handmade truffles, says owner Kathy Tomasko, and chocolate-covered sunflower seeds have been a big hit. Most couples spend $200 to $300 going this route.
