Creative and Fun Wedding Ideas Made Simple Creative and Fun Wedding Ideas Made Simple
A trail mix bar is definitely a popular wedding trend nowadays for casual, rustic-themed receptions in the summer or fall. Not only is it great having guests gather around and choose their treats, but as the hosts, you simply set out your favorite nuts, oats, dried fruits and berries, maybe even some candies and marshmallows. No cooking or baking required! Simply some great ideas like these for putting your own trail mix buffet together—easily and attractively! (*this post contains affiliate links)
Simple Ways to Plan a Trail Mix Bar
1 – Glam up your trail mix bar station. One approach you could take would be to go fancy! Use glass apothecary jars, mini topiaries, and antique style candelabra combined with wood slabs and a kraft paper banner—and it works!
2 – Use quaint containers. Much of the charm of your bar will come from the serveware you prepare. Consider having mason jars, vintage-style tea tins and bread boxes. Just add little labels on sticks to help guests make their choices!
3 – Set out a tempting selection of ingredients. Offer an eye-catching array of ingredients to ‘mix’! Consider items that are sweet, savory, and salty. Some examples include: candies like chocolate chips, M&Ms, jelly beans; nuts like cashews, peanuts, and almonds; sunflower seeds, mini marshmallows, and pretzels. You can also opt for some spicy choices that are flavored with cajun, wasabi, sriracha, and hot bbq sauce.
4 – Bring in those multi-purpose cylinder vases. Those amazingly versatile glass cylinders that can act as vases, planters, candle holders, and yes even food servers. Simply attach various ingredient labels to the vases and tie them with jute twine (see below) .
5 – Help guests out with signs. Just in case guests wonder what all those yummy munchies are…and what to do with them, display helpful signs and labels. You could go with a bunting-style banner, individual tent cards, or an all-in-one kraft paper sheet (see below)!
6 – Include rustic and natural touches. Since your theme and venue are likely to be laid-back and rustic, make use of woodsy elements like wood chips and woven country baskets. Other options would be wood slabs, twigs, berries, bunches of wheat, acorns, pine cones, and colorful wildflowers.
7 – Prepare take-home containers. Take your pick from bottles, mini baskets, woven boxes, and a whole slew of pouches for guests to bring their goodies home in. [See our post on trail mix packaging options.] A great idea, though, would be muslin drawstring bags (see below) that you can personalize with stamped designs, your monogram, or a fun message!
8 – Provide serving scoops such as stainless steel ice cream scoops that come in a variety of sizes. Other creative ideas include measuring cups, tea cups, decorative paper cups, and oversized spoons.
9 – Create a cozy at-home look. Want a more casual look for your table? You can always go for a more hand-crafted vibe—especially for an at-home wedding.
Trail Mix Bar Glass Containers
Amazon finds like these glass containers and jars make buying in bulk a practical option. These are great for creating a spread using 3-4 receptables. Add your own labels and banners to suit the theme or style of your wedding.
Glass Canister Jar with Glass Lid (Circleware Chalkboard)
1/2 Gallon Penny Candy Jar With Cover
Trail Mix Bar Inspiration from Creative Blogs
1 – Styling by Erin Lindeman of Lindeman Weddings, photo by Hayley Young; via Seattle Magazine; 2 – Emmaline Bride; 3 – Craft Bits; 4 – photo from Southern Weddings; 5 – Confetti Daydreams; 6 – Weddings Magazine; 7 – Kojo Designs; 8 – The Beauty in Real Life
More Trail Mix Station Table Inspiration:
Brown bags of various ingredients such as chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, Cherrios, pretzels, cranberry mix, animal crackers, and Reese’s Pieces. Via Bee-ing Mommy blog.
As featured in a Farmer’s Market wedding, this complete spread of rustic elements include glass canisters and jars of different sizes, paper bags with labels, and baskets. Fillings such as Honey Nut Cheerios, raisins, craisins, M&Ms chocolate candies, and a variety of nuts from almonds to cashews. Via Pink Peppermint Design.
Another similar harvest spread as the one featured earlier, that also includes fresh produce as props. Items such as pretzels and nuts are presented in large canister jars. Via Me Photography.
A bountiful array of fillings are made available in various sizes of glass cylinders tied with rustic-looking labels. Items such as organic pomegranate blueberry chia granola, organic sunflower kernels, and M&Ms milk chocolate candies are displayed with large silver scoops. Via Kroger on Twitter.
We just love this vintage trail mix bar display with aluminum and teal top glass containers presenting fillings like frosted Cheerios, Teddy Grahams, yogurt raisins, Gold Fish, and sunflower seeds. Via Fab You Bliss photographed by Alison Mish Photography.
In this mini “make your own trail mix” bar presented on a rattan tray, ingredients such as pretzel sticks, M&Ms, peanuts, banana chips, dark chocolate covered almonds, and raisins are displayed in mini ramekins and elongated serving plate. Via The Littles and Me blog.
Simply use brown kraft paper bags with clothespins and labels for your trail mix station! In this easy buffet display for a camp theme, ingredients like camping pillows (marshmallows), mushrooms (chocolate biscuits), and wood chips (fortune cookie wafers) are displayed for guests to grab and create their own goody bag. Via Jacks and Kate.
In this DIY fall trail mix bar with a harvest inspiration, seasonal elements such as pumpkins, garlands, and fall themed candies like candy corn are displayed cleverly on serving bowls lined with colored ribbons and labels. Via United with Love wedding blog. Photo Credit: Kate O. Photography.
Ceramic cups and clear glass bottles are laid out on an upcycled library card catalog. With a modern boho-inspired trail mix signage in the backdrop, this spread brings sweet, salty, crunchy, and spicy options using the following ingredients: honey wasabi peanuts, raisins, sesame sticks, gummi bears, popcorn, granola, chocolate covered pretzels, and sprinkles to name a few items. Via Kojo Designs.
Such a great roundup of ideas! Will be doing this for my summer wedding. It will be an outdoor reception in a park!