Who doesn’t enjoy a sweet treat every now and then? To be honest, I probably enjoy them way more than ‘every now and then’, and when I’m faced with a stunningly put together Lolly Buffet (or Candy Buffet – depending on where you are from) the likelihood of me resisting is even smaller. But I love Lolly Buffets for more than just the sweet treats – when put together well they add to the décor of the occasion; if you’re only serving a light dessert option they help add to this part of the menu; they make for a fun and interactive party favour option; and lastly, they create an awe and wonder that brings out the inner child from even the oldest of guests.

But what does it mean to put a Lolly Buffet together well? What is it that makes the difference between throwing some bowls full of lollies on a table, and creating that space which inspires awe and wonder in your guests? Really it comes down to following certain steps. Steps which I’m sharing with you here today.

Before you do anything else you need to ask yourself a few questions. How many guests are you catering for? This will determine the quantity of sweets you will need. What is your colour scheme? This will help guide your sweet selection and overall design. What style are you going for? Rustic, Boho Chic, Classic, Elegant, Modern etc. And do you wish to add any design elements? These are things like glitter, crystals, and specific patterns etc. This will also help guide your overall design.

Once you have this sorted, it’s time to go sweet shopping. I suggest breaking your sweet search down into 3 categories.

Bulk Lollies:

These are the kinds that are usually sold by the packet e.g. M&Ms, Jellybeans, Milk Bottles, Liquorice Allsorts, Marshmallows, Chocolate Éclairs, Fruit Bursts etc. Quantity wise, I would recommend buying around 100g – 150g per person of this type of lollies.

Designer Sweets:

These are more likely to be sold individually or in smaller amounts. They tend to cost a little more and look rather fancy. Examples of these are Ferrero Rocher, truffles, handmade fudges etc. Of course, if you are keen, you can always have a go at making some of these yourself. Quantity wise, aim for one piece per person – give or take a few.

Display Sweets:

These can be anything you like really – it is all in the way they are packaged to match the theme. Some examples are cake-pops, Hershey’s chocolate bars, and mini bags of candyfloss. I would also be inclined to include those swirly lollipops and rock candy-pops in this category. Quantity wise, whatever you like. These are mostly used to fill in spaces on the buffet table and make it look more decorative.

More Shopping Hints:

Whatever sweets you choose make sure they fit in with your colour scheme – this contributes to your overall design. Also if you have favourite lollies that don’t work in with the scheme, don’t despair, consider packaging them so they do match.

Lastly, shopping at your local supermarket or at the nearest Warehouse can be a little frustrating when you are looking for specific colours – so I recommend shopping with online lolly shops such as Crazy Candies, LollyShop and Hey Hey Candy. These companies are all based in New Zealand and they organise most of their lollies by colour.

Now that you have purchased all the sweets it is time to design the layout of the buffet table. Let’s break this down into 3 parts also.

The Vessels:

While the fancy apothecary jars with their curvy lids look lovely, you certainly can still achieve great results without them. Hunt around to find a selection of jars, vases, glasses, trays etc. that will work with your selection of sweets and overall design. Mason jars and jam jars would work perfectly for an occasion with rustic design elements. Crystal bowls, cake stands and cut glass vases from Nana’s china cabinet or the second-hand store would work beautifully for a more elegant, classic themed. These day most hire companies stock a variety of lolly vessels too. You will also need to find scoops, spoons or tongs for the handling of the lollies. And last but not least the little lolly bags or favour boxes for your guests to fill.

Here’s a few extra tips for filling your vessels:

• Put your larger bulk lollies, like marshmallows, into your bigger containers.
• Show off your designer sweets by using trays or cake stands. We used photo frames with paper in them that matched our theme.
• If the containers look too empty once you’ve put the lollies in, you can place an upside-down cup in it first to take up some of the space in the container.

The Placement:

The two words to remember here are levels and symmetry. When you look at the layout of your buffet table you should see 3 obvious height levels – flat (at the front of the table), medium (around the middle of the table), and tall (towards the back of the table). This can be achieved with the size of the vessels but tends to look even better when you use risers (boxes covered in paper or painted to match the theme). Symmetry is basically trying to have the right-hand side of the table mirror the left-hand side of the table.  Just keep in mind that this isn’t an exact science – if you have a play with these aspects before hand you will generally find a balance that works.

The Printables:

You can do everything mentioned thus far and have a nice Lolly Buffet, but I believe it is this step that will make it truly stunning. Whether you design the printables yourself or buy them it doesn’t really matter. The main thing is that they pull together your overall design, which includes your colour scheme, design elements and style.

Oh and don’t forget the signage informing your guests of how to use this enchanting space. This will further enhance your guests’ experience.

I hope this guide sets you well on your way to creating your own stunning Lolly Buffet. Of course if you wish to have the pleasure of enjoying one of these without all the hard work you can always get in touch with us. As always, feel free to like and share this post with your friends.

© 2015 As You Wish Events Ltd.  Want to use this article in your E-newsletter, blog, or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement: Auckland, New Zealand – Event Planner & Designer Nadine Crozier publishes the ‘As You Wish Events’ blog filled with secrets, tips and how-tos for planning your fabulous event. Get your exclusive inspiration, tips and tricks at http://www.asyouwish.co.nz.  As You Wish Events is an event planning and design company based in Auckland, serving the Auckland region and certain areas of Northland.