Hiring a chocolate fountain...the do's and dont's

The Church is booked, the reception is planned, and to complete your perfect day you have decided that you would like your guests to enjoy the luxury of a chocolate fountain.

A fountain is a great way to have your wedding remembered for all of the right reasons.

Imagine the faces of your guests when they see the spectacular fountain and smell the rich aroma of the Belgian chocolate.

There are however  some very important points that are well worth considering before you book.

Do…..

Have a conversation with the hire company to discuss your requirements first.

Ask the company if they ALWAYS bring a spare machine with them. It doesn’t happen often, but they can break down, and if they haven’t got a spare with them, your evening could be ruined.

Ask them to provide you with contacts of past customers, so you can check their credibility.

Think about the timing and flow of your evening..ie, when you would like the chocolate fountain to run from.

Think twice about dry hiring a fountain (without an operator) None of your guests will want to mess about with chocolate when they have their best clothes on!!

Try to provide the operator with some sort of refreshment. They will be standing for long periods of time, often without anything to eat or drink.

Think about the choice of milk, plain, white or flavoured chocolate. You might love the thought of cappucino flavoured chocolate, but most guests would prefer either milk or plain.

Ensure that the hire company have public liability insurance, food hygiene certificates and all their equipment is PAT tested. Most reception venues will ask for proof.

Choose your dipping items carefully. Think about what the majority of guests would like. The three most popular are..strawberries, marshmallows and profiteroles.

Offer a mixture of fruit and confectionary items.

Ask if the remainder of the dipping items and chocolate is left behind for your guests to enjoy, once the operator has left.

Ask if the company can recommend other wedding service suppliers. Their main business is weddings and parties and they can often pass on details of other good reputable companies.

Don’t…..

Pay a deposit to anyone until you have had a chance to taste their chocolate. Not all companies use the same chocolate. It should be Belgian and the best is called…Barry Callebaut. (The same chocolate that Thorntons chocolate shops use)

Be scared to ask for a bespoke package. Packages can often be tweaked to suit individual clients.

Book a company that limits the chocolate that is offered. 10kg of chocolate sounds a lot, but the large machines need this amount to run properly, so if that is all they are offering, it is all you will get. A machine that is running out of chocolate half way through the evening, does not look good.

Book the first company that you come across. Make sure you get lots of quotes and compare packages on offer.
Run the chocolate fountain before or at the same time as the evening buffet. It is best utilised as a dessert option…after the buffet or meal.

Site the chocolate fountain outside or near to a door. The chocolate will not flow properly, because of the draft and it will attract insects to it.

Be tempted to save money and buy a home chocolate fountain for your reception and expect the same performance as a professional machine with an operator. They will look naff and they never work as well.

Provide the operator with a chair. They should stand at all times and offer assistance to the guests.

Ever forget to use the napkins or plates that are provided. If you don’t use them, you could end up with chocolate all over your dress!!

Forget to enjoy the delights of the fountain yourselves….after all, it’s your big day.

Article kindly supplied by Lynn Dixon Chocolate Fountains Hire  © 2007