Sweet Advice: What Desserts Do I Serve?

You you know I'm all over the interwebs connecting with you guys about all kinds of things. Today, I'm responding to one reader's question that I got on Facebook.

Keri said, "Hi Shauna, I'm a fan from Seattle. I'm doing a dessert table for a 1 yr old's party for about 20 people. I was trying to figure out how many types of dessert I should do and how many of each dessert. Can you recommend what desserts would make a well-rounded dessert table?"

Hi Keri, thanks for the question! I have some bad news, there's no right answer for this because your group of 20 is different from any other group of 20. But, I can give you a little help. Since this party will probably have a lot of kids in attendance, make the desserts small, easy to eat, and simple. This isn't the time for cheesecakes and pavlovas. Choose desserts that spark childhood nostalgia for the adult guests, and they'll also please the little ones. Cupcakes and cookies are timeless classics. If you want to add a sophisticated vibe that's still kid-friendly, consider macarons.

With kids, you want to be aware of any food no-nos. A 1 yr old shouldn't eat any dessert with raw honey. Also avoid choking hazards that might get in the wrong hands, like gum balls, popcorn, and hard candy. With any group, you want to be sensitive to people's allergies or dietary restrictions. A lot of kids have nut allergies, and older guests may be diabetic and need sugar free options.

As far as quantity goes, remember that some guests won't eat any dessert (crazy people), some will eat one or two items, and some people (sugar addicts like me) will eat one of everything. You don't need twenty of every treat. Instead, make sure the more common/popular items are represented in larger quantities than unconventional items/flavors.

image 1: Graphic + Glitz (photo by paper antler), image 2: Sweetly Surprised (photo by Emily Steffen)

Sweet Advice: How Do I Get Business?

I get a lot of emails from readers who are trying to start their own dessert businesses. This week, I got a Facebook message from Briana, so I figured I'd share my response here with all of you.

Briana asked, "I'm curious to know if there is any advice you can share with me on how I can attract event planners and corporate clients as a new and upcoming business?"

Thanks for the question, Briana! When I started out, I was a new stay-at-home mom looking for a job that would give me the flexibility to stay home and still be creative and involved in the "real" world. I didn't have any connections in the event industry or any experience. What I did have was time to pull together a portfolio of my dessert tables, which were examples I created in my home, and time to rove the internetz.

I met Maddy Hague online about three years ago. We chatted a few times, then met up for dinner one day. Since then, we've worked on a ton of projects together and even became business partners a few months ago when we launched Confetti Pop. We followed these same steps when we started CP, and The Style Lab, which starts next week. These tips have worked for me time and again.

1) Get to Know the Pros: Learn about the event industry, planners, and other professionals in your area.

2) Be Proactive: Don't wait for them to find you. Engage with them via social media. If they have a funny tweet, respond. If you like one of their Facebook pics, let them know. I have several followers, one who lives in Kuwait, that are very active in the comments section, on Instagram, and Twitter.

3) Jump at Opportunity: Any time you can meet people or show your work, jumped at it wholeheartedly. Just be careful that you don't lose money and weigh the pros and cons before accepting a free gig.

I hope that helps, Briana. Thanks for your question, and for introducing yourself on Facebook. Feel free to engage on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram, too.