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Candy buffet INSTEAD of cake?

Saundra92Saundra92 member
Second Anniversary First Comment
in Wedding Cakes & Food Forum
We are trying to decide what to do for wedding cake, my fiance wants to skip cake all together and have a candy buffet, I like the idea but am afraid of disappointing guests that are expecting cake. 

Neither of us are big cake fans, and we aren't concerned about cutting a cake or the photo. But as a guest would you be disappointed by this? We are on a budget so doing a cake AND candy buffet isn't an option we are considering. 

We live in an area that isn't very familiar with candy buffets, and when I have mentioned it to friends I have gotten a few "but you have to have some sort of cake!" responses.. but they still like the idea of the candy. I am contemplating making (purchasing would push cost too high in addition to candy) mini cupcakes to go along with a candy buffet (about 300 for Approx 160-200 guests) for those guests that really want cake at our wedding...So.... what would you do:

A) Skip the candy and have a traditional cake (no disappointed guests, but nothing unique)

B) Skip the cake and have a candy buffet (unique for our area, but possibly disappoint a few people)

C) Candy buffet, and make mini cupcakes (most work, but probably the most satisfaction?) 

Thanks for any thoughts :)


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Re: Candy buffet INSTEAD of cake?

  • NYCMercedesNYCMercedes member
    Sixth Anniversary 2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    I always look forward to the cake (or cupcakes) and really would miss it.
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  • allispainallispain member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Third Anniversary First Answer
    I don't usually like cake, but for some reason I always look forward to wedding cake. I like to see the cake itself, see if they have a cool cake topper, see what flavor(s) the bride and groom picked, etc.

    Personally, I always feel weird with a candy buffet. If I take a lot, I know I'll eat it all in the car on the way home so I never really take more than a couple pieces.

    If you do cupcakes, most catering posts suggest you do 1.5 per guest. If you're doing minis, you should probably up it to 3 (which would mean a lot more work than you were planning). This is because a lot of guests will want to try more than one flavor or just plain eat more than one little bite of cupcake.
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  • JoanE2012JoanE2012 member
    5000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary 5 Answers
    I would prefer cake over candy.  If I saw a candy bar, I would think it's akin to a favor or just an additional part of the reception.....and I'd still be wondering where the cake was and when it was going to be cut!
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  • JaneAustensGhostJaneAustensGhost member
    100 Love Its 100 Comments Name Dropper First Answer
    I'd be disappointed if there was no cake, only candy.   
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  • jessicabessicajessicabessica member
    2500 Comments Third Anniversary 100 Love Its Name Dropper
    I would have some kind of dessert.  It doesn't have to be cake--it can be cookies, pies, cheesecake, etc.--but I don't think candy is really an adult dessert.
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  • doeydodoeydo member
    Seventh Anniversary 5000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    I think you should either do a cake alone or cupcakes and a candy bar.  
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  • tammym1001tammym1001 member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments Second Anniversary 5 Answers
    I agree that a candy bar is more of a favor than a dessert and I would be disappointed if there wasn't some kind of dessert.
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  • chibiyuichibiyui member
    5000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary 5 Answers
    I agree with PP's, I like cake. If you want to go the candy bar route, it should be super decadent. 
    Are you guys more team pie? You don't have to do cake but something more substantial then candy is going to make more guests happy.
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  • cruffinocruffino member
    Ninth Anniversary 1000 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer
    count me in for cake.
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  • southernbelle0915southernbelle0915 mod
    Moderator 10000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary
    We did a chocolate truffle bar instead of cake. Guests loved it. I don't know about candy though - I'm kind of with @jessicabessica here that it's not really an adult dessert. 

    If you want something unique but don't want to disappoint guests with no cake, why don't you pick an offbeat flavor, some really unique decorations, and go with a hexagon or offset square shape? 
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  • Xstatic3333Xstatic3333 member
    250 Love Its 500 Comments Third Anniversary First Answer
    jessicabessica said:

    I would have some kind of dessert.  It doesn't have to be cake--it can be cookies, pies, cheesecake, etc.--but I don't think candy is really an adult dessert.

    This. Candy is fun but it hurts my teeth !
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  • sfuse76sfuse76 member
    10 Comments
    I think the candy buffet is more of a favor.  We are doing the candy buffet in addition to the cake.
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  • daria24daria24 member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its Third Anniversary First Answer
    I don't think you have to have cake/cupcakes, but I would be disappointed if there wasn't some sort of dessert-ice cream, brownies, cookies, etc. Brownies would be very easy to make ahead of time for your guest list. 

    I'm also biased because every candy buffet I've seen tends to favor the sugary ribbon candy/fruit slices/hard candy type that I can't stand. If you go with candy, please for the love of all that is holy provide some chocolate. 
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  • atlastmrsgatlastmrsg member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    Cake (and free wine) are my favorite edible/drinkable parts of weddings.  I'd do the candy and mini-cupcakes.  I adore cupcakes!  I think mini-cupcakes are great, too, because I don't need a huge slice of wedding cake to get my cake fix.  I'd be delighted with a mini-cupcake.  Then later in the evening, I could graze on some candy if I still craved sweets.

    Also, then if your Mom or someone is desperate to capture that "feeding each other" photo, you can take a fork to a cupcake and get the pic.
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  • Maggie0829Maggie0829 member
    Eighth Anniversary 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 25 Answers
    Candy is not dessert.  Candy is a snack.  I would be pretty disappointed if I went to a wedding and all they had for dessert was candy.  I like something a bit more substantial for dessert even if it is just a brownie with a scoop of ice cream.

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  • itzMSitzMS member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers First Anniversary

    We didn't do a wedding cake. It's a tradition I wasn't passionate about. Especially to spend hundreds of dollars on.

    We had chocolate chip cookies and brownies instead (catered).

    Baking, storing, and transporting 300+ mini cupcakes would be pretty impossible, IMHO. They'd dry out in no time.

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  • AprilH81AprilH81 member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its Third Anniversary 5 Answers
    jessicabessica said:
    I would have some kind of dessert.  It doesn't have to be cake--it can be cookies, pies, cheesecake, etc.--but I don't think candy is really an adult dessert.
    This.  As a guest I would want cake, but if cake was not available I would want an actual dessert instead of (usually) cheap candy selected based on their color and not how it tastes.  

    Candy buffets are also not as cheap as you may think once you get the candy, the jars (which can be really expensive) the ribbon and bags.
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  • SKPMSKPM member
    250 Love Its 100 Comments Second Anniversary First Answer
    Maggie0829 said:
    Candy is not dessert.  Candy is a snack.  I would be pretty disappointed if I went to a wedding and all they had for dessert was candy.  I like something a bit more substantial for dessert even if it is just a brownie with a scoop of ice cream.
    Ditto this. I enjoy some candy, but I would not substitute it for an actual dessert. Cake, cupcakes, pie, cheesecake, brownies, etc. would all satisfy my dessert niche. Candy on the side would be fine, but I could take it or leave it.

    photo fancy-as-fuck.jpg
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  • MDbride1012MDbride1012 member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    I would be disappointed if there wasn't any type of dessert. I agree with PPs in that candy is not really a dessert. Could you do full sized cupcakes instead of mini ones?
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  • Majelin86Majelin86 member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    At the weddings I've been to I find that the cake never gets eaten - it's never announced that it's cut & ready so nobody ever knows...then the bride & groom are left with a ton of leftovers (not that that's a bad thing! ;)). I personally find that as long as you have some sort of dessert (cake, candy, pie, whatever!) then people are happy.
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  • JoanE2012JoanE2012 member
    5000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary 5 Answers
    edited September 2013
    Majelin86 said:
    At the weddings I've been to I find that the cake never gets eaten - it's never announced that it's cut & ready so nobody ever knows...then the bride & groom are left with a ton of leftovers (not that that's a bad thing! ;)). I personally find that as long as you have some sort of dessert (cake, candy, pie, whatever!) then people are happy.


    Our DJ announced the cake cutting.  It didn't take long, maybe a few minutes.  Our photographer (as well as some guests)  took pictures and then the servers went around and put out a slice at everyone's spot at the table.  That's how I've seen it done at pretty much every wedding I've been to. 

    FWIW, I think candy is a nice treat, but I certainly don't consider it dessert.

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  • hyechica81hyechica81 member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments 100 Love Its First Answer
    i am a traditionalist and i say cake all the time the cake makes the ending of the wedding. 
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  • grumbledoregrumbledore member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its First Anniversary First Answer
    NYCMercedes said:
    I always look forward to the cake (or cupcakes) and really would miss it.
    Agreed.  I would miss the cake.  I love cake.

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