Chocolate fountain & candy table...should we do both?

I they would. For my baby showers I've done both and they were a hit. If you were going to choose though I'd choose chocolate fountain

Really? yea the chocolate fountain was my first pick, mainly bcuz I'm not a big candy person but I love me some chocolate.

I think it depends on what's for dinner. In my case, we are doing like a BBQ picnic style dinner so I think dessert is necessary for guests that may not be full. But if you're going all out in dinner. I think you might have waste.

I personally would just do a Chocolate fountain. Candy Buffets you see a lot, and chocolate fountain they just aren't as common!

Do you have someone manning the chocolate fountain? Or is it just people self serve themselves?

We have 3 small appetizers and our dinner consists of 3 courses, plus the wedding cake. Hmm that does sound like a lot. Maybe I'll make the candy table kinda small and as a favor even though we already have chocolate covered pretzel rods for our favors.

Heres my take on it since I'm doing a candy buffet and sweet table, (my mother wouldnt let that one go).

My candy buffet is my favor to my guests, and I love me some candy. My mother wanted a sweet table for two reasons. 1.) the younger crowd will be drinking most of the night, but the older, (grandparents generation and maybe parents generation), wont. They would instead probably prefer something to nibble on through out the night. 2.) It provides more things to soak up alcohol after dinner.

Depending on how long your reception is, it could be totally fine to have both. If its super short, then you may not get the full price of your fountain out of it. As a guest, I wouldnt complain haha.

@Kendra I was just going to let them serve themselves

@Truffle we are having 85 guests, I'm getting the fountain from my aunt so I have to buy the chocolate and goodies for it. Our reception is 5 hours long. I'm thinking if we take longer doing pics than expected at least they'll have lots to snack on lol

Chocolate fountains, while beautiful, can be very messy. Will you be having kids at the wedding? If so, I would worry about it being sanitary if they put their hands in it, especially if no one is watching over it.

Yes we will have our children there, the youngest is 6. Didn't think about kids putting their yucky hands in it. The older ones will know better, our 6 year old should too but that is a thought

My venue includes a chocolate fountain so I am preferable to that option. I think the candy buffet is more of a petri dish for germs even if you do have scoops to get items.

Ahhhhhh germs everywhere lol. I need to get my items before everyone else gets to them!

If you have a chocolate fountain, you really need an attendant. They can get clogged very easily if people drop stuff in them. I love chocolate fountains and FH really, really wanted one, but the cost to rent with an attendant was just too much to justify.

Candy fountains are a giant mess. They look good for the first four guests, and then there is chocolate everywhere. And once you start buying chocolate and dipping things, the cost really adds up.

I'd do candy; people can take it home, and if they don't you can! And some of it can be chocolate!

And just for the record, sweets do now soak up alcohol. Do them if you choose, but that's not a reason to pick them.

Gimme a canoli. Now.

Based on the other food you're having, I would do one or the other. I think cake, a candy buffet, a chocolate fountain, and chocolate covered pretzel rods will be crazy!

I really agree with Kari - Personalized Labels & Candy Wrappers! I work part time with a catering company and all we do is chocolate fountains, that's why I Love them. But if you have NO one keeping and eye on it and helping serve it, you will have kids and adults sticking fingers in it. Also you never know how well the chocolate will flow and it could get really gross if not properly watched.

So now you say that I would go with a Candy Buffet in place.

I wanted a chocolate fountain too! Then my venue manager told me they're a complete waste because by the end of the night, people are too full to enjoy it. He suggested if I did want to do it, to have it at the cocktail hour. I'm doing a candy/dessert table and we'll have wedding cake too so I decided not to to it. Plus it saves me from one less thing to research/plan/pay for. I trust his opinions because they're awesome and have done so many weddings, they've seen it all.

Oh darn! I didn't consider all of this with the chocolate fountain, I just knew I wanted it. This is definitely something to think about & discuss with FH

I think choco fountains are cool but youll definitely waste chocolate and the stuff you dip in it, plus its a lot more costly than a regular candy table. I'd probably skip it unless you really really want it

Christina I did really, really want it lol. It was the one thing I knew I wanted from the beginning. I'm thinking of someone I can get to watch it for a while then just shut it down halfway through.