How to make sure candy buffet isn’t eaten?

I don't really think you can make sure of this. Assuming though that there will be plenty of apps during cocktail hour, I don’t think too many sweets will go missing.

Your wedding is 16 months away. I really wouldn't worry about this. It wouldn't be the end of the world if someone ate some early?

Why does it matter? Also, I've never seen a wedding with a candy buffet that didn't end up with a ton of leftover candy.

If its already set up then you cant track this. You may could put a sign that says "Opens at ___ time". Then people will see they shouldn't eat it yet. However, i dont see why they can't eat it. Unless it has cupcakes or cakes on it then i understand or if its the only dessert. The candy bar items are usually largely left over at the end of the night. Make sure to bring little take home bags so they can take some to go. That's how i cleared my candy bar for my baby shower

We're having candy buffet as well, however it isn't 'opened' until after dinner and just about the halfway point of the reception. That way people can grab it on their way out if they're not staying for the whole thing.

I've been to a wedding where they had covered the dessert table with the linen napkins until it was time to eat it, then the staff uncovered all of the desserts. This could help deter some guests from eating it but I also wouldn't be surprised if a guest went over there and found the candy early. Maybe buy extra candy to have on hand so a staff member can refill the candy if it goes out too early. That way, the candy bar is always full and I'm assuming most adults won't go for it until after dinner anyhow. It's a little early on in planning for you to be worried about it but I wouldn't be buying the candy just yet.

Speaking from experience, you can't. we didn't really think about this and had our candy set up in advance, so people were eating it during the cocktail hour. it wasn't a huge deal though--there was more than enough to go around. i don't think this is something worth the energy of worrying about!

I think most adults will understand sweets come after dinner. If you have kids at your wedding might be a different story- making kids sit hours waiting for candy they can see is a true form of torture and will probably cause a lot of tantrums

I would say a sign would do. I would make it a bigger sign maybe on an easel so people see it.

You could drape a clean white bed sheet over it if you are really worried about it.

Really can't stop them from getting to it from what I've witnessed.

Don’t have it out if it can’t be eaten. I wouldn’t put a sign saying not open.

I think you should just make sure your photographer gets pictures of it before so in the case it does get eaten “early” then you have the pictures.
I don’t think it’ll be a problem though.

I work with little kids and i would be way more concerned with little kids (12 and under) going to town and eating it all. Candy tables are like crack cocaine to little kids!!!

I would assume anything edible that was out during cocktail hour is fair game.

Could you maybe cover it with something? Or could you pay a little extra for the candy buffet to be set up after cocktail hour?

I would cover the table until after or during dinner.

Could you have the staff cover the table during cocktail hour? Even with just a light sheet? Or move the table during the cocktail hour, then move it back during the reception?

Let me tell you a story about my experience at someone’s wedding I went to. This was a friend of my FW so I didn’t really know many people there. We were in a room standing in line for the photo booth and that’s where the candy table was. Earlier I saw a sign on the table that said closed. However, when we were standing in the line, the sign wasn’t there. I was like ok cool, candy bar is open, I’ll grab some. (I do love me some candy bars lol). I make a bag and this woman comes over and literally yells at me saying it was closed. I was confused, apologized and I said I thought it was open since the sign wasn’t there anymore. Apparently some dude took the sign off the table cause he was going to use it as a prop in the photo booth. The woman proceeded to yell at the guy for doing that while I casually walked away being completely embarrassed. It was such an awkward situation and this woman made me feel horrible over this miscommunication of the candy bar. My advice, let it go, let people grab candy when they want, it really isn’t a big deal. Cause even if you put a “closed” sign on it, someone could remove it, etc.

Assign someone to be there until everyone has their choice from the table.

Don't worry about it. This is a small concern. What difference does it make when people eat it?