By a Pro: Retro Candy | Unusual Dessert Table Food Ideas

the idea

Treat the guest of honor to a nostalgic trip down memory lane with a selection of retro candy from the decade they grew up in

the how

Choose retro candy by decade or milestone birthday age
Comes packaged in a gift box
Includes 47 different candy types (65 pieces total)

the why

This Idea

Original; guests are often impressed by, and grateful for, something new or different
Entertaining; quirky and unexpected treats are fun for guests
Surprising; unexpected treats ensure your dessert table feels fresh and exciting
Experiential; tasting strange, unconventional, or adventurous treats creates a memorable experience for party guests
Creative; adds a creative twist to familiar or everyday treats and ‘filler’ items like candy
Discovery; allows guests to keep discovering new and notable elements as party unfolds
Talking point; guests will discuss and share, which creates buzz and atmosphere
Memorable; guests remember creative, unusual, or unexpected elements
Different; a less common dessert table treat to impress guests
Bestseller; an idea that’s proved popular with many of my site’s visitors

the why

variety of dessert table treats

Feeding v Entertaining; special event party food should have two objectives:
Feeding; 70% should be crowd-pleasing, familiar, and palatable ‘safe’ options intended to leave guests feeling well-fed
Entertaining; 30% should be to treat your guests, surprise them, indulge them, impress them, share experiences with them, and even help them discover new things
Unusual; 10% of that 30% should be quirky, unfamiliar, adventurous, fun treats that get people talking
Visual; 10% of that 30% should be visually arresting treats that contribute to presentation and add wow factor
Favorite things; 10% of that 30% should be treats that reflect your own personality and taste

ADVICE FROM A PRO

Matt’s tip

“I’d recommend keeping all the retro candy together when you present it on your dessert table, perhaps in one large bowl for guests to help themselves to.

Much of the wow-factor comes from seeing all the retro candy brands, so splitting them up or portioning them out would just dilute the overall impression.”