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
trusted cleaning company Arlington Heights ..It's time to look for a banquet facility. Most clients... Read More
Diamond engagement rings for many years typically came in the... Read More
Planning a second wedding? Prevent favorite guests comparing your second... Read More
Brides looking to stay on top of their wedding plans... Read More
Your wedding day is the day when all the details... Read More
All brides want to be beautiful on their wedding day,... Read More
A 2005 mother of bride dress tends to have a... Read More
Prescription for a happy marriage: one cup of tea or... Read More
The wearing of a man wedding ring is a relatively... Read More
Although I do believe in "till death do us part",... Read More
One of the most elegant rituals you can choose for... Read More
When it comes to decorating your reception tables, the centerpieces... Read More
When it comes to your decorating budget it really depends... Read More
The most unique beach wedding reception ideas are sparked by... Read More
Wedding shower invitations should lay out all of the necessary... Read More
One of the biggest areas of dispute in estate planning... Read More
When you are planning a budgeted menu, you must first... Read More
According to the Encarta Dictionary, love is an intense feeling... Read More
It's your day! The most special day of your life,... Read More
It really doesn't matter if you are planning to have... Read More
Being disc jockeys, we get the opportunity to evaluate many... Read More
If you're like most people, you probably entered into marriage... Read More
If you're planning your wedding day then you'll be all... Read More
When it comes to choosing a honeymoon destination it's usually... Read More
Between paying for the wedding and setting up a new... Read More
house cleaning near Wilmette ..Thinking about remarrying? Consider these reasons why others have chosen... Read More
How do you handle arguments that lead to heated exchanges... Read More
The wearing of a man wedding ring is a relatively... Read More
Have you heard enough about the "Runaway Bride" yet? Well,... Read More
As most of you know the evening festivities for a... Read More
No one said that you had to follow the rule... Read More
Your wedding flowers usually tie to your wedding theme. When... Read More
If you are planning to have a full wedding that... Read More
'Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.' This is... Read More
The tradition of hosting a bridal shower for the bride... Read More
An ideal combination. A good career, a great husband and... Read More
Your wedding is quite possibly the most important day of... Read More
Australia honeymoon vacations are more than just being the pleasure... Read More
Astrology is considered to be the oldest of all sciences,... Read More
The most enjoyable part of the wedding reception is the... Read More
There are many answers to this question, it all depends... Read More
Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel and Bookpleasures is pleased... Read More
The tempo of the music begins to rise. Drums begin... Read More
One of the most joyous occasions in life is a... Read More
One way to increase your chances of enjoying a happy... Read More
That first wedding was a dream, a gorgeous long white... Read More
Deciding the menu is a pretty simple affair. Once you've... Read More
So, you decided to opt for an outdoor wedding under... Read More
Just the thought of all the expenses that come with... Read More
Imagine the following scenario. Your spouse has given you an... Read More
Marriage & Wedding |