S'mores Buffets For Weddings? A New Twist On An Old Favorite

For some people, the thought of S'Mores, that sticky sweet mix of chocolate and marshmallow squeezed between two yummy graham crackers, evokes a not so pleasant memory of latrines and Girl Scout camp. That, and getting up to be "fire builder" at 5:30 a.m., because you drew the short straw on the Caper Chart. The Caper Chart was where all sorts of horrendous jobs were listed and assigned at Scout camp. And trust me, "Fire Builder" at 5:30 a.m. was not the shortest straw you could get...try "Latrine Duty." Now that was a job when you would feign violent illness and have your parents come get you from Scout camp just to avoid.

However, the Scout leaders, who I'm firmly convinced were a bunch of sadistic kid haters, did have one redeeming quality at camp. At the end of each and every day, they would bring out bag after bag of fluffy white pillows, boxes piled high with yummy Hershey's chocolate bars, and stacks of honey graham crackers. Suddenly, Scout camp seemed alot more bearable and definitely more palatable than eating unsalted potatoes wrapped in tin foil!

Alot of brides these days are getting away from the traditional elegant wedding with candleabras and white tablecloths and going for more casual affairs using burlap, casual flowers, and mason jars as decor. More and more, couples are choosing to be married in an outdoor venue or in their own backyard. Alot of this has to do with the economy and trying to cut costs, as well as couples who are concerned about their wedding's impact on the environment. However, many couples are just trying to get away from the formal, stuffy weddings of the past and have a fun time with friends and family. It's hard to get more fun or interactive than a s'mores buffet. If you think guests are going to be reluctant to handle sticky s'mores while they're dressed to impress, make sure to have plenty of wet wipes available for clean up!

Setting up a S'Mores buffet can be as simple or as complicated as you make it. First things first, you need a table with a table covering not so special that you'll be crying about it for years to come when the chocolate stains don't wash out! A quick and easy way to add rustic charm to your table is to cover it with burlap that you can get at any home improvement store. It's actually used in landscaping and you can get it in pretty large pieces, so you can use it as a covering that goes all the way to the ground or cut it and use it for an overlay. Just like a candy buffet, you want to add visual interest by creating different levels on the table. Use smaller pieces of burlap over small boxes to add height or add some old crates or other rustic pieces.

Now it's time to add the important part... the S'mores ingredients! If you think marshmallows are just marshmallows, think again! Marshmallows have gone the way of the cupcake and gotten themselves all kinds of respect by going gourmet. Yes, there are now gourmet marshmallows and they come in all sorts of delicious flavors included Pina Colada, Peppermint, and Dreamsicle. So when you set up your buffet, you can offer an array of different flavored marshmallows for your guests' culinary delight!

The same with chocolate, you don't have to offer just the standard Hershey's chocolate squares, although there's certainly not anything wrong with that. However, some couples want to offer their health conscious guests heart-healthy dark chocolate. Additionally, there's white chocolate and other assorted flavored chocolates. Chocolate now comes pepper-flavored, mixed with fruit, even bacon-flavored, and all in handy bar form perfect for use on a s'mores buffet.

Finally, there's the graham cracker. Again, you don't have to go with the ordinary, but instead could offer your guests several options from honey graham, cinnamon, and even chocolate graham crackers. With all these different options, your guests can create the s'more of their dreams!

Since so many people are having outdoor weddings now, if there's a fire pit at your venue, PERFECT! Nothing beats the ambiance of roasting a marshmallow over an open fire. However, if you're totally in love with having s'mores at your wedding and there is no fire pit, or your wedding is indoors, a way to get around that is to set up a s'mores buffet using Sterno. You know, Sterno is the cute little fire in a silver can that you can buy at Wal-mart, light and have your guests still be able to roast their marshmallows over an open flame, albeit an artificial one! Make sure you provide some non-flammable sticks or roasting forks for your guests to use and let them go for it! If your venue absolutely forbids flame of any kind and you absolutely must have s'mores (maybe you and your fiance met over a s'more at summer camp!,) try s'more cupcakes or even s'more martinis!

Last. but not least, s'mores make adorable (and cheap!) wedding favors. All you need is a marshmallow or two, a miniature Hershey bar, and a graham cracker broken in half and placed in a 4 x 6" zip-loc bag. Add a cute tag with the happy couple's name and the date tied on with a little ribbon, or to add to the rustic look, twine, and you have a sweet little favor. You can make 70 for about $22, now that's a price you can hardly beat for a wedding favor! There's even a poem you could print on a card to attach or frame and place on display on your s'mores buffet table. It reads as follows:

S'more laughs,

S'more hugs,

S'more kisses,

S'more falling in love,

S'more time spent together,

S'more memories we've made,

But most of all we are happiest to say,

We have S'more family & friends to love today!

So go ahead,...have your outdoor wedding. Drink out of mason jars, eat off of burlap tablecloths and your thrift shop china if you want. Just don't forget the graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate, and break out the s'mores!

For more rustic wedding ideas, be sure and check out these articles:

Mason Jars For Wedding Decorations...Rustic, Beautiful and Cheap!

Burlap And Bling: How To Use Burlap In Your Wedding Decor And Still Make It Beautiful