Whether you are throwing a wedding on a budget or you are looking for ways to make your wedding stand out from all the others, you can achieve a variety of looks by making your own candy topiaries. If you are not familiar with what a topiary is, a topiary is made to mimic the look of a well manicured plant that has a base, a trunk or a stem and then a spherical portion for the blossoms. The topiary, although very traditional and formal in its origins, has evolved to become a very versatile and creative canvas for achieving a number of different feels and looks. The topiary lends itself to being the perfect addition to any party’s decor, including a reception or wedding ceremony. Here are three different ways that you can use candy topiaries at your wedding.
Wedding Topiaries Meant to Be Eaten
A very popular trend right now is to create a topiary that is actually meant to be eaten. Caterers are making topiaries of all sizes and then covering them with fresh fruits, bite size brownies or donut holes, etc. and then pairing the topiary with a chocolate fountain or a selection of dipping sauces. You could even incorporate a fondue theme and use marshmallows or pieces of bread on your topiary. All that you do to achieve this look is to make a topiary and use toothpicks to attach the fruit or baked goods. The guest can then pull the fruit out by the toothpick and use that toothpick to dip the fruit or cake into the sauce of their choice. The overall look of this type of topiary incorporation in very upscale and elegant. Fortunately for you, it is also a very inexpensive way to take your fruit tray up several notches.
Edible Wedding Centerpieces
Making each of the tables at your wedding lunch, dinner or reception (or all three) looking nice with fresh flowers or other custom decorations can be pricy and some people get bored with the traditional bouquet of flowers as a centerpiece. Another fun idea for incorporating candy topiaries on your special day is to decorate your topiaries with packaged butter mints or individually wrapped life savers. By simply using a hot glue gun to attach the candy inside of the wrapper onto the topiary, you have a decoration that your guests can admire for its visual appeal and use as an after dinner mint. This centerpiece is functional, decorative and interesting enough to even be a conversation starter.
Decorative Centerpieces
Candies in wrappers are ideal if you plan on having your guests eat the decorations that will be on the tables, but if you are looking to achieve a specific look with your topiary, you may have to use less practical means for getting the look that you want. For example, candies come in all different shapes, sizes, colors and textures, but it is hard to find as much diversity in a wrapper. By taking the candies out of the wrappers, or by simply buying them in bulk, you can make a topiary to match just about anything.
Although your guests may not be able to eat the topiary, they will be impressed with how beautiful you can make a topiary and how creative you can be. Ribbons and moss decorate the base and the stem of the topiary. You can also alternate the colors on your topiary or make a pattern. You could even make a monogram of the bride and groom’s initials. The possibilities are endless! If you are having trouble thinking of a look for your topiary on your own, search the Internet, home and garden magazines or take cues from your cake, floral arrangements or place settings.
For more kids crafts, visit http://www.makeplaydough.com.
