Food Station Ideas: Easy DIY Dessert Station August 28, 2020
Level-up the fun!
Are you planning for a micro backyard wedding or thinking of throwing an intimate event or party soon? If you are looking for ways to add fun to your celebration, food and dessert station ideas are a guaranteed hit!
Depending on what type of event you will host and what kind of food you want to serve, there are endless choices for party food (and drinks) stations.
COVID SAFETY REMINDER: As we are in the middle of a pandemic, it is paramount that you give importance to proper food handling and safety protocols. The goal is for your guests to avoid touching and having contact with other food or items.
We recommend that you look for alternative ways on how to present food— separately serve condiments (you can serve them in individual packets and not in a “dig in” bowl), individually packed food, use tasteful and disposable clear tableware & flatware, or if you feel a little bold, you can use the black and gold theme! See below for product suggestions, especially the cute mini disposable plates that work well with all the food stations presented here.
Also, hiring professional servers for the day of your event will be a great help! There are companies like Staff Shop that allows you to hire a server or a bartender for the day of the event! This is great if you have everything already planned out, picked-up, figured out; as long as you give them clear direction, they will professionally execute! Great ideas coming your way!
6 Food Station Ideas: Easy DIY Dessert Station.
Let’s go over these ideas in detail!
1. Sandwich Bar
A sandwich bar is a perfect food station idea, especially if you’re throwing a cocktail wedding. A DIY cocktail sandwich bar is very easy to set-up. Just order food from Subway catering or your favorite deli and ask them to cut 6-inch sandwiches into four slices. Wrap these mini-sandwiches in pretty parchment paper bags and secure them with twine.
Tip: Ask your supplier not to add condiments as you will serve these separately. Read more about how to execute this sandwich bar here.
POSSIBLY THE BEST DISPOSABLE PLATES FOR YOUR EVENT
Another option is to serve the cute sandwiches on multi-tiered dessert trays, making sure they are presented nicely by adding garnish such as cherry tomatoes or olive slices.
COCKTAIL SANDWICH STATION: ELEVATE & ENJOY
2. Cookie bar
Because who doesn’t love cookies, right? An easy route is to order cookies, as many varieties as you want, from your trusted baker to build this easy peasy cookie bar.
There are several ways on how you can present cookies nicely—
1. Stack pieces and tie a pretty ribbon around it and serve it on a beautiful tray
2. Place several pieces on individual wooden trays *so classy!*, or also a cute mini clear disposable plate, and you can add milk on the side too!
3. Serve the cookies on a tiered stand and place labels on the side so your guests will know that treat they’re getting.
Want to elevate this cookie station idea? We got more creative tips here.
EASY DIY + BUDGET FRIENDLY COOKIE DESSERT BAR
3. Donut Station
Another crowd-pleaser is a donut station as a dessert station idea! The most common way to serve these delicious treats is to neatly arrange them on top of the other or place them on a donut wall; however, that may not be the best option, especially since we’re in the middle of a pandemic.
Just like the cookie bar, you can put them in cute mini disposable trays.
4. Popcorn bar
Guests love scrumptious treats, and a popcorn bar will surely be a hit. An easy yet stylish way to set-up a popcorn bar is to place them in cute mini plates. The best thing about this? It can be a food station idea, but also a dessert station possibility!
Want to elevate it? Add DRIZZLE (using squeeze bottles!) options like chocolate, salted caramel (this sounds so high-end right?), or even cheese (a classic fave!)
Just the simplest creative additions, elevate the feel of popcorn!
5. Nachos Station
Nachos food station idea for your party? Go for it! But how do you serve them without being tacky? Place them in nice individual clear cups or if you feel like being fancy, serve them in cute ramekins! Yes, there are tons of plastic tableware options that are tasteful and disposable—very pandemic-friendly!
Just layer the dips in the cups *layering will highlight the beautiful colors of each variety* and add a few nacho chips on top. Voila! You have a tasty-looking nacho bowl/plate for your food station.
6. Sangria Bar
If you’re already planning or looking for food station ideas (and dessert station!), why not add a drinks station, too, right? Impress your guests with a DIY sangria bar!
Make sure that you have time to prepare the sangria ahead. Choose recipes for white, red, and sparkling sangria (or you can all serve them together). You can serve kid-friendly sangria if you have young guests (a mix of fruit juices sans alcohol). Serve your mixes in lovely glass dispensers and place fruits and fresh herbs on the side as add-ons. Read more detailed steps to execute a sangria bar here.
So far, we’ve shared a trifecta; food station idea, dessert station ideas, and added a drink bar as well! I think it’s safe to say we’ve covered an almost full meal option!
Remember that you might want to consider having coverage, like wedding/event insurance, to give you extra peace of mind if you are serving alcohol.
Servers and Bartenders
If you opt-out of hiring a planner or coordinator but need an extra server, set-up help, and/or bartender, there are staffing companies like Staff Shop, where you can hire help directly and not worry about other things needed to be executed on the day of the event. Remember not to underestimate the work and hours needed, as well as things that are still to be done on the day of your event, even if you have everything planned already.
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SAFETY PROTOCOL EXTRA TIP
With your guests and yourself wearing a mask and practicing social distancing, you can also rent stanchions together with signs to ensure physical distancing is practiced. To take things further for extra safety, you can also rent clear dividers (you can also decorate it!) to put in between tables. Another option is to provide clear face shields that they can still wear, should they need to take the mask off to eat and/or drink. Adding extra preventative measures is always a good idea.
Check with your local government and public health officials about any guidelines, protocols, policies, and/or regulations that you need to meet if you will be holding an event.
WELCOME + CARE PACKAGE IDEAS FOR YOUR GUESTS
DISCLAIMER: We’ve rounded up suggestions that are pandemic friendly. However, please note that it is still your responsibility to practice safety protocols, Covid-19 event guidelines, and constant hygiene, and if need be, consult your local public health professional and abide by your government mandates. We do not guarantee that your event will be 100% safe, as all safety practices are ultimately up to you and your guests.
**The execution of your event using our guides will depend on how open you are to alternatives, other options, and unexpected products/design/ideas. It is suggested to do a concept trial and set your comfort level to make it a much easier and faster execution.**
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