Build-Your-Own Desserts

Treat guests to a sweet – and memorable – grand finale

By Anna Sachse
CTW Features

In the past, wedding cake was the big day’s lone sweet treat. But recently brides and grooms have started capitalizing on the popularity of the bag-your-own-candy favor station by providing creative build-your-own dessert buffets in addition to the classic tiered confection.

“Couples are always looking for ways to make their wedding unique without spending a lot of money, and an interactive dessert station is a good way to accomplish that,” says Bridget Pelster, a sales and catering manager for the St. Louis-based Butler’s Pantry. “Allowing guests to customize their own dessert ensures that everyone will find something they like.”

Not only that, these colorful displays are visually appealing and add to the décor of your soirée, says Kristina Armstrong, owner of the Atlanta-based My Bride Idea Event Planning Services.

If you want a really decadent spread, Armstrong suggests creating a sundae buffet with three different flavors of ice cream, caramel and chocolate sauces, and a whole range of toppings, such as fruit, nuts, chocolate chips, whipped cream, sprinkles and cherries. Or set up a nostalgic s’mores station with jars of graham crackers, chocolate bars, marshmallows, skewers and a burner for marshmallow toasting.

At Butler’s Pantry, Pelster has whipped up BYO stations that range from providing different flavors of ice cream that can be blended with candy, cookie and fruit mix-ins and then served in fresh waffle cones, Cold Stone-style, to laying out a variety of pies that guests can top with whipped cream or multiple flavors à la mode.

Other fun options include doughnut hole, candy apple or Rice Krispie treat carts, in which guests can customize their pastry, fruit or cereal bar with melted caramel and dark, milk and white chocolate, as well as toppings like nuts, crushed Oreos, mini M&M’s and sprinkles.

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