Chocolate fountains, once a rarity at weddings, are becoming more common -- but no less beloved. Still, they pose a budget crunch for many brides, coming in at only slightly under the cost of the wedding cake -- and that's for a one-day rental!
If you're like us, there's something that just burns our little Yankee hearts about spending over $400 to rent a machine that granted, costs a little over ten times that, but gets rented out many times. And yet if you're like us, you really want a way to fit that chocolate fountain in.
We're both in luck, because higher-end chocolate fountains are coming to the home market and becoming more accessible ... even to skinflints!
What We Didn't Buy -- And Why
You've seen the early entrants, maybe on eBay -- inexpensive chocolate fountains made by lesser-known brands selling for about eighty bucks. You've probably thought of trying one out, just because the price difference between that and a rental machine was so astronomical.
We did too, but as we read about the small, cheap versions, we ran into a lot of complaints. One of the most worrisome was that the cheap fountains made such a loud grinding noise, you couldn't have a conversation standing next to one -- which was not the ambiance we wanted for our party.
Further, we weren't sure if we wanted to keep the fountain over the long term. We wanted to buy something with good resale value so we could recapture our money if needed.
Fortunately, as our deadline approached, Sephra -- the standard in high-end rental fountains -- began offering pre-orders on their first home market fountains. We snapped one up for about $250, an attractive fountain that holds five pounds of chocolate. The fountains were so new, we had to switch our order from the lovely cherry red we'd wanted to a stainless steel in order to get it in time. But we got it.
Showtime ... And a Few Tips
Once acquired, it was time to test it out in live conditions! The first party we unveiled it at was on the small side, with about 25 people. Set-up was simple. The experience did, however, teach us some tips:
Try out and get comfortable with your chocolate fountain before a really big affair. You won't really understand the logic behind the instruction book until you try it. For example:
1) The chocolate fountain really does need to be balanced to work properly. Sephra models offer adjustable feet to accomplish this. When we first set up our fountain, we were so busy we didn't level it, and it didn't flow well until a left brained type in shining armor fixed it for us. Then things worked 100% better.
2) When melting large quantities of chocolate, don't even bother with a double burner. You need a glass bowl and a large microwave, which your venue hopefully provides. Heat gently, as advised -- no higher than 50% power.
3) Also, Sephra provides you with a little tool for telling whether your chocolate's melted enough to flow well. Err on the side of "too melted" rather than "not enough." Especially given the minute or so it takes to transport it, the chocolate can easily get too thick for easy flowing.
With 25 very interested people, we nearly (but not quite) ran through our first five pounds of chocolate. So you can guesstimate needing a pound of chocolate per five invitees. Just be sure to have extra on hand.
We worried whether it would be difficult to refill the fountain -- for example, whether we would have to lug the whole thing back into the kitchen, disassemble, refill -- but it turned out to be dead simple. You just pour melted chocolate into the bottommost bowl.
Our Chocolatey Conclusions
Sephra is bringing larger versions of their fountain to the home market. For a large wedding or a party of several hundred, we would probably go with a larger version.
Yet you can also do very well with the five pound model. After all, it's hard to melt, carry and otherwise handle more than five pounds of chocolate at once (you wouldn't believe how many "chocolate chips" that is). All you need is someone willing to watch and refill periodically, which isn't hard. Pick someone who can get slightly messy without a problem -- not a bridesmaid in shiny taffeta.
If we'd had more time and a larger party, we'd probably get the largest fountain we could buy, care for it well, and resell it when the hoopla died down. That would save a huge chunk of change over the $400-500 one day rental, and bring the chocolate fountain within reach of a lot more brides (and happy guests).
And if you happen to fall in love with it and the day for selling it never comes?
Well, it happens. Just ask us.
About the Author
Blake Kritzberg is editor at "FavorIdeas.com." Stop by for a huge selection of wedding favors, Bridezilla's weekly adventures, and free resources for brides: save-the-date eCards, screensaver, wallpaper and web site templates. http://www.favorideas.com
For more on http://www.favorideas.com, see: http://www.favorideas.com
same day cleaning service Glencoe ..The elegant and sophisticated look of glittering, gleaming gold. There's... Read More
Celebrate your marriage by planning a Florida honeymoon vacation with... Read More
The tempo of the music begins to rise. Drums begin... Read More
Here comes the bride! Walking through the alley confidence holding... Read More
The wedding service in the Greek Orthodox faith is an... Read More
1. Start with a nice clean piece of paper (lavender... Read More
One of the biggest on-going problems for couples is how... Read More
Overwhelmed is a common feeling a bride-to-be experiences as she... Read More
An outdoor wedding reception can be host to an almost... Read More
Second marriages can be a tricky situation for a variety... Read More
How do you handle arguments that lead to heated exchanges... Read More
OK, so you have your heart set on the top... Read More
Chocolate fountains, once a rarity at weddings, are becoming more... Read More
While through history brides have agonized over what to wear... Read More
If you're going the increasingly popular route of personalizing your... Read More
You've been engaged for months, you've made it through planning... Read More
So your not one of those fabulous actresses or models... Read More
Personalized wedding favors are among the most popular of gift... Read More
When it comes to your wedding services, nobody wants to... Read More
For better or worse, in people's minds weddings and wedding... Read More
The best and most valuable gifts are often not material... Read More
"Couples who've had sex before marriage will inevitably have sexual... Read More
It really doesn't matter if you are planning to have... Read More
Planning a bridal shower? Maybe a dear friend or even... Read More
Everybody who has decided to marry wants their day to... Read More
tidy up service Buffalo Grove ..When you're married, the boundaries between yourself and your spouse... Read More
Your wedding is nine months away and you decide to... Read More
Wedding rings are a symbol of union. A union between... Read More
Cruising down the river was always deemed by couples the... Read More
The wedding gown is most important choice for a bride... Read More
Games for a wedding shower are the best ways to... Read More
Have you ever noticed that weddings seem to be all... Read More
If you have met the person or the couple several... Read More
As a Personal Trainer for brides-to-be, I often get asked... Read More
Deciding the menu is a pretty simple affair. Once you've... Read More
Inviting your possible guests on your wedding day can be... Read More
Rounding up the guys to devour some barbecued red meat... Read More
Today's tech savvy couples are plugging in and creating unique... Read More
Nestled in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg's romantic and beautiful... Read More
Just as destination weddings are fast growing in popularity, so... Read More
Many people believe that weddings have to be costly. But... Read More
My husband had two affairs last year. I am pretty... Read More
Mens wedding bands are an emerging phenomenon. Whilst women have... Read More
Brides through the ages have accessorized with wedding jewelry to... Read More
A wedding is one of the most special days planned... Read More
The wedding service in the Greek Orthodox faith is an... Read More
The wedding favor box carries on the timeless tradition established... Read More
Rose petals will add luxury to a wedding day or... Read More
No one has as much fun as the bride to... Read More
Diamond engagement rings for many years typically came in the... Read More
Marriage & Wedding |