I am planning on doing a candy buffet. ONLY bc I feel like it's cheaper...tyring to conserve costs~ =) Also, I think it'll match with our buffet reception dinner. And, it'll take away time to wrap all 400 to 500 favors...yes, we are having about 500 people or more...=0
For those that are doing candy buffets, did you feel that it was more cost effective to do a buffet or give out individual favors.
Also, where can i get cheap jars and candy scoopers? I already know the major websites to get the candy, but finding the jars and scoopers might be hard to find...esp since i am looking for cheap ones~ I am ok with plastic containers as long as it is presentable...
so, for all those doing candy buffets....good idea or not?
I will see if it really is cheaper...if you have a local store that carries all of your candy you won't have added shipping costs! I just bought scoops at a restaurant supply store. I have been using Michael's and Joann's coupons for weeks to get 40 or 50% off apothecary jars. My wedding is in 2 weeks and I'll be selling them here afterwards!
It depends on how you do your buffet. Mine was also a decor element, so I wanted it to have a huge wow factor, so I had a LOT of candy on it. We probably had 1/3 of the candy left over afterwards.
Ours worked out to about $4/per guest (160 guests) including all the candy, jars, candy bags and decor elements. So more expensive than regular favors, but was a big decor element, and part of our decorating budget as well.
Ours ended up being about 3 dollars a person, but I think the only way I was able to do that was to get thrifted containers and discounted candy. Like DebbieChicago, ours was a big design element, and I'm sure I'll end up with a ton of overage, what with around a pound of candy per person and small takeout containers. We'll see.
If budget is an issue and you're looking more for favors and less for something that can be used as a decoration, too, I think that you could go cheaper.
I ordered most of it from economycandy.com. I shopped around a bit and I thought they had a great selection and good prices. The only thing I bought separately were the M&Ms - I wanted colors to match the general theme so I went to the M&M store (I live in Manhattan). The M&Ms were the biggest hit and if I had to do it again I wouldn't have bothered with the special colors - it is REALLY expensive that way and not really worth it. I had jelly beans, gummi bears, sour gummy watermelons, malt balls, kisses, regular M&Ms, peanut M&Ms, blow pops, and I am probably forgetting a few things.
I ordered the glassware and scoops from restockit.com - I was able to get it all for $170 or with free shipping!! I probably spent $200 on candy - half on the stupid M&Ms - so with 150 ppl it was about $3person. I also ordered white 1/2 bags and made stickers that said thanks and the date to put on the bags- this was like $25 total. Bought a frame for a sign and some containers for the bags and I was in business! It was more work than I thought, but such a hit and it allowed people to take what they wanted/liked so wasn't really as wasteful as a typical one size fits all favor.
jeez, are we planning the same wedding here, or what, Novbride08!
i'm doing a candy buffet - slowly bought my jars at Christmas Tree Shops (do you have those out there?) and a few at Michael's. I'm going to have to order the scoops somewhere online. There's lots of photos at theknot, so I figure they must be out there somewhere, right?
Candy I am ordering from a local store.
Good luck! Are you in panic mode? I know I am, it's nearly November!
I would skip favors all together. It will save you money and nobody will miss them. IME candy bars are not a budget option when they are done right. They're cute, but it's not cheap to put a nice one together.
Audreymay- YES, I am in total panic mode! haha~ November is creeping up on us~ i only have vendors booked but have not planned anything else like what flowers to use, no invitations yet, no program designs, no rings, no nothing~ So, i am a bit behind....
For the candy buffet, I am not doing it for decoration purposes. I'm doing it just so that we have something for the guests. We are only having about 100 of our own friends/guests combined and the rest of the 400 guests are our parents friends and families...Being that most of the adults will be 60 and over, I do not think they will be going to the candy buffet much since us asains do not enjoy too much sweets.
So, I do not think I'll have to buy much candy....unless I am really underestimating...cross my fingers im not! =P
I'm hoping to spend less than a dollar per person...is that possible with all candies and jars? I plan on buying candies from bulkcandy.com and costco...
I am planning on doing a candy buffet. ONLY bc I feel like it's cheaper...tyring to conserve costs~ =) Also, I think it'll match with our buffet reception dinner. And, it'll take away time to wrap all 400 to 500 favors...yes, we are having about 500 people or more...=0
For those that are doing candy buffets, did you feel that it was more cost effective to do a buffet or give out individual favors.
Also, where can i get cheap jars and candy scoopers? I already know the major websites to get the candy, but finding the jars and scoopers might be hard to find...esp since i am looking for cheap ones~ I am ok with plastic containers as long as it is presentable...
so, for all those doing candy buffets....good idea or not?
posted by Novbride08 60 posts 3 months agoI will see if it really is cheaper...if you have a local store that carries all of your candy you won't have added shipping costs! I just bought scoops at a restaurant supply store. I have been using Michael's and Joann's coupons for weeks to get 40 or 50% off apothecary jars. My wedding is in 2 weeks and I'll be selling them here afterwards!
posted by jules 60 posts 3 months agore: cheaper than traditional favors -
It depends on how you do your buffet. Mine was also a decor element, so I wanted it to have a huge wow factor, so I had a LOT of candy on it. We probably had 1/3 of the candy left over afterwards.
Ours worked out to about $4/per guest (160 guests) including all the candy, jars, candy bags and decor elements. So more expensive than regular favors, but was a big decor element, and part of our decorating budget as well.
posted by DebbieChicago 8 posts 3 months agoOurs ended up being about 3 dollars a person, but I think the only way I was able to do that was to get thrifted containers and discounted candy. Like DebbieChicago, ours was a big design element, and I'm sure I'll end up with a ton of overage, what with around a pound of candy per person and small takeout containers. We'll see.
If budget is an issue and you're looking more for favors and less for something that can be used as a decoration, too, I think that you could go cheaper.
posted by Sharona 13 posts 3 months agoI ordered most of it from economycandy.com. I shopped around a bit and I thought they had a great selection and good prices. The only thing I bought separately were the M&Ms - I wanted colors to match the general theme so I went to the M&M store (I live in Manhattan). The M&Ms were the biggest hit and if I had to do it again I wouldn't have bothered with the special colors - it is REALLY expensive that way and not really worth it. I had jelly beans, gummi bears, sour gummy watermelons, malt balls, kisses, regular M&Ms, peanut M&Ms, blow pops, and I am probably forgetting a few things.
I ordered the glassware and scoops from restockit.com - I was able to get it all for $170 or with free shipping!! I probably spent $200 on candy - half on the stupid M&Ms - so with 150 ppl it was about $3person. I also ordered white 1/2 bags and made stickers that said thanks and the date to put on the bags- this was like $25 total. Bought a frame for a sign and some containers for the bags and I was in business! It was more work than I thought, but such a hit and it allowed people to take what they wanted/liked so wasn't really as wasteful as a typical one size fits all favor.
posted by Janna19 340 posts 3 months agojeez, are we planning the same wedding here, or what, Novbride08!
i'm doing a candy buffet - slowly bought my jars at Christmas Tree Shops (do you have those out there?) and a few at Michael's. I'm going to have to order the scoops somewhere online. There's lots of photos at theknot, so I figure they must be out there somewhere, right?
Candy I am ordering from a local store.
Good luck! Are you in panic mode? I know I am, it's nearly November!
posted by audreymay 5 posts 3 months agoI would skip favors all together. It will save you money and nobody will miss them. IME candy bars are not a budget option when they are done right. They're cute, but it's not cheap to put a nice one together.
posted by KateMW 483 posts 3 months agoAudreymay- YES, I am in total panic mode! haha~ November is creeping up on us~ i only have vendors booked but have not planned anything else like what flowers to use, no invitations yet, no program designs, no rings, no nothing~ So, i am a bit behind....
For the candy buffet, I am not doing it for decoration purposes. I'm doing it just so that we have something for the guests. We are only having about 100 of our own friends/guests combined and the rest of the 400 guests are our parents friends and families...Being that most of the adults will be 60 and over, I do not think they will be going to the candy buffet much since us asains do not enjoy too much sweets.
So, I do not think I'll have to buy much candy....unless I am really underestimating...cross my fingers im not! =P
I'm hoping to spend less than a dollar per person...is that possible with all candies and jars? I plan on buying candies from bulkcandy.com and costco...
posted by Novbride08 60 posts 3 months ago