The Key to a Man’s Heart…

Valentine’s Day wouldn’t be complete without an Amy Atlas-designed dessert table overflowing with artfully-arranged sweets. I’ve noted my Amy Atlas obsession in previous posts here and here, but I couldn’t resist sharing these drippingly gorgeous shots that are appropriately themed “Love Is the Key to My Heart.” The bubblegum pink & soft grey palette is a refreshing alternative to Valentine’s red, and the tempting treats include key cupcakes, a macaron tower, ruffled buttercream cake, & loads of candy! Lucky for us, Amy shares a few of her tried-and-true tips on designing chic and sweet buffets…

Tell a Story
Take something that inspires you and create your dessert table around it. The design can be inspired from something as personal as a family heirloom to as simple as the pattern on the host’s invitation. Let the dessert table tell a story about the event so that the dessert not only becomes functional, but becomes part of the event design.

Keep it Simple
Keep the color palette simple so that the display won’t look too busy and make sure your serving pieces work well with the mood of the overall table.  Don’t stress about filling up your table with many different elements.

Sample Your Sweets
Always sample your dessert vendors before using them for your event. A beautiful cake is not always the best tasting cake! Pick desserts and candy that not only look good together, but provide a balance for your guests’ palate.

Give A Gift Bag
Provide goody bags for your guests as take-home desserts. It’s always a treat to give your guests something to remind them of how sweet the day was.

*Tips from Amy: Notes on a Party

*Photos: Belathee Photography