From The Straits Times    |

After going through a few dessert tables at events and weddings, I’ve decided that the best ones include:

Something thematic
Most dessert tables are based on a colour theme which is fine, but just pretty colours can be a little boring and bland. You want your guests to be excited by your dessert items and the display as well, discovering little pretty details that reveal themselves when you get up close.  

The Tiffany & Co. dessert table at their Holiday Lunch was based on a colour palette of Tiffany blue and white, as well as a snowy Christmas theme. From far all you saw were the lovely white and blue hues but up close, there were tiny sleighs filled with frosted biscuits, little setups of pretty Tiffany boxes and even miniature xmas tress all decked in blue and white. It was a visual delight!


Buttercream cupcakes (part of a dessert table package), from Get Baked. Ceramic cake pedestal and plate, from The Cottage Crafts. Photo: Her World Brides March 2014

Something sweet, something savoury
Although everyone expects sweet treats from a dessert buffet, its not wise to stock up only on sugary treats. Your guests will probably tire of all that sweetness after one too many cupcakes or macarons. To have a good mix, add some items that are sugar-free or less sweet (like flavourful cakes) or even something sweet and sour (like liquorice sticks, apricot preserves and so on). This adds variety for the tastebuds.

Something small, something big
We usually stock our dessert tables with our favourite treats, but if they all happen to be “small” or tiny items, then your table/buffet will lack any visual impact. So it’s always nice to have a balance of small and big items, as well as varying complementary shapes. You can have a bowl of M&Ms but balance it out with bigger things like slices of cakes, and even a pretty multi-tiered dummy cake for display purposes. Having items of different sizes gives you more creative display options as well.


Wedding Cake Table, from $990 for 100 guests, from DESSERT ARTISANS, dessertartisans@hotmail.com. Photo: Her World Brides June 2013

Something simple
If your desserts are very colourful or prettily decorated, make sure your table accessories are simple and plain; you want the attention and focus on your dessert, not the plats and cake stands. White, or clear glass, cutlery and tableware are best if your have too many colourful treats.

Something fuss-free
Don’t have desserts that are difficult to serve. Remember that guests will select their treats and return to their seats to enjoy them; so it’s best not to include desserts that are difficult to cut, scoop or lift (jellies are not recommended) on your menu.