HOW TO DECORATE A DESSERT TABLE

I know not every occasion requires a dessert table but just dream with me for a moment - how  AWESOME would it be if you arrived at a party and were treated to one filled with your favourite desserts and sweets? I promise you, kids and adults alike would have a twinkle in their eyes or as my father in law used to say, they'd be "like a dog with two tails"!

With a little planning, a dessert table can be the centrepiece of a celebration and can fit literally any budget. Today I will give you a few tips on how to assemble one and a few ideas for big parties or home settings. I hope this inspires you for your next celebration!

1. HAVE A BUDGET

The first thing you need to do is to establish a budget, after all, you can plan for a simple yet beautiful setting that is cost-effective or if you prefer a more elaborate setting with custom work and more details you will need to invest more money.

This is a lovely example of a simple setting that is cost-effective. Don't be afraid to use elements you have at home such as vases, jugs, watering cans, etc. Add a crate (or any other box) and bunting for extra charm. Pay close attention at the colour coordination (red - white - pastel blue - pastel pink + greenery to contrast with the red) throughout the design - even the food displayed matches the colour scheme. If going for this minimalistic style in a bigger setting it should be fairly easy to find lovely items to buy/make to assemble your table.

2. CHOOSE A THEME

Sometimes we might get lost at the world of possibilities within Pinterest (I know I do!) but once you set a theme for your party many elements fall into place such as colours, atmosphere, type of decoration needed, types of food, etc. This can be applied to any party and it will save you lots of time (and money) giving you a clear direction of what you need.

Let me give you a practical example: If I say "Unicorn" - what comes to your mind? (pastel/ rainbow colours, candy, cuddly, twinkle lights, glitter). Well, guess what you need to have if you are organizing a "Unicorn theme" party/ dessert table?

Another one just for fun: If I say "80's Party" - What comes to your mind? ( Neon colours, converse shoes, cassette tape -alongside a biro to get the tape back inside those dang things- walkman, MTV, disco balls, etc. This (and an awesome playlist) would make a super fun party/dessert table theme. I mean, if you have vinyl disks hanging around your attic (or your parent's for that matter) you get to use them as cupcake towers!!!

3. KNOW HOW MANY GUESTS YOU WILL HAVE

Knowing how many guests you are hosting will help you to know what size of cake you need, how many sweets, finger food, drinks, etc. you will need to have. If you are on a small budget please bear in mind that the more guests you have the higher the cost of your party.

4. DESSERT TABLE FOR CHILDREN'S PARTY

Children's party are very fun to decorate and if you want to make it extra special you can invest in customized sweets to make your dessert table even more beautiful. Besides a centrepiece (usually the cake), you can use flowers to bring life and freshness alongside some dolls/teddies and other toys of the characters relevant to the theme you chose. Cupcakes, lollipops, cake pops and truffles can all be customized to match your chosen theme. Also, don't forget that balloons are a cheap and very effective way to make a big impact, always remembering to coordinate the colours of the balloons with that of your chosen theme. 

4.DESSERT TABLE FOR ADULT'S PARTY

More often than not an adult party doesn't have a theme which is why it's common to have the table decorated in a more neutral way.

If you have chosen a theme for an adult party, the decoration rules follow the same standards as when organizing a child's party. 

However, if you decide to organize it without a theme, a good way of doing it is to use a centrepiece alongside a flower arrangement and decorate the table with your chosen sweets, foliages and ballons.

Another tip is to choose plates and cake displays that have different heights and size to add more interest to your table (if you don't have plates of different heights you can easily create that by placing some of your items on top of a nice box, a few books, etc). Don't forget to choose a colour palette (even if you don't have a particular theme) as this will really help you to bring the dessert table together in a beautiful way.

5. THE BULLET POINT SECTION 

∙ Outdoors party: Make your table very colourful to create a fun and relaxed atmosphere. (Party tip: Have cushions and sitting arrangements that are comfortable so people can relax and enjoy being outdoors)

∙ Flowers bring life to your party. It doesn't really matter which arrangement you use once they are in harmony with your environment. If there is no space left on your table, spread some rose petals on it for extra charm.

∙ For a simple dessert table setting use elements without extravagance. A simple candle and a vase with flowers will make it charming enough.

∙ Table cloth. Keep it in line with your theme. A classic white table cloth will allow you to play up with colours on other elements like glasses, napkins, flowers, etc.

∙ Use candles. Tall candle holders will create a more intimate and elegant atmosphere. If you are looking to create a more informal feeling to your table use something like a lower glass/ hurricane lantern with some water in it than leave some petals and tea lights floating on it.

∙ Favours. Although this is more usual at weddings in some countries I don't think your girly friends would hate you for giving them a little thank you card with a rose button at the end of an afternoon tea. Favours are a beautiful way to thank your guests and remind them of the lovely time they had with you.

Thanks for reading this post and I hope it will help as you decorate your dessert tables. With a little practice, you will be creating stunning dessert tables to make your loved ones feel even more special!

If you’d like to get in touch, you can contact me via email or follow me on Instagram or  Facebook. You can also visit Happy Cake's website to find out more about what I do.

Have a happy day!!

Aline Larkin