A Candy-Themed Bridal Shower for Dylan Lauren

July 27, 2011

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With This Ring

Credit: DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN

Cheeky Ring Pop favors were presented to guests as if they were crown jewels.

For all of the candy used in this story plus more ideas visit our comprehensive Candy Glossary.

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Host and Guest of Honor

Credit: DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN

Darcy poses with the glowing guest of honor, whom she decked out with a gumball-and-jawbreaker necklace and a candy ring like her own. "This theme is so much fun and perfect for Dylan," she says. "But, really, who doesn't like candy?"

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The Invitation

Credit: DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN

Strawberry chocolate bars from Chocolate Editions by Mary & Matt (chocolate-editions.com) were sent to guests as invites. Darcy's illustration (darcymillerdesigns.com) provides the details on the outside. Inside are the initials of Dylan and her fiance, Paul Arrouet. Custom stamps from Zazzle (zazzle.com) top it all off.

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Mother of the Bride

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Dylan poses with her mom, Ricky.

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Sweet Drinks

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Lemon Drop cocktails -- punched up with swizzle sticks -- are served on a tray lined with jelly beans.

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The Welcome

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A candy display is the first thing guests see; the framed heart mosaic is made with gum -- an inexpensive way to liven up a blank space -- and the vessels are filled with sweets (specialty candies from Dylan's Candy Bar, 866-939-5267; letter pops from Vintage Confections, vintageconfections.etsy.com; yellow and pink jawbreakers from Kidz Confections, 888-452-9547).

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Group Shot

Credit: DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN

Dylan cozies up to her friends: "I feel lucky to be celebrated so sweetly," she says.

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The Littlest Guests

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Darcy and her daughters greet everyone from a staircase draped with a gumball garland.

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Takeaway Treats

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Guests scooped their goodies into little cellophane bags from ForYourParty.com.

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Candy Rings

Credit: DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN
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The partygoers were awed by this dazzling array of candy rings; many were made by Barcelona bakery Escriba (escriba.es).

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Distinguished Guests

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Fashion editor Andre Leon Talley smiles for the camera, wearing cake whiz Sylvia Weinstock's iconic glasses.

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Comfort Cuisine

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New York City caterer Peter Callahan (callahancatering.com) served up comfort foods, including these miniature turkey burgers, to satisfy guests' cravings for something savory.

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The Party

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Dylan and pals don't waste any time digging in to the evening's focal point, a spectacular spread of pink and red candy.

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Great Grub

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French fries -- in glassine bags with custom stickers bearing Darcy's drawing -- are another irresistible option.

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Cocktail Fare

Cones filled with savory flavors were served as well.

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Mini Mac and Cheese

Mini mac and cheese hors d'oeuvres rounded out the menu.

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Gracious Guests

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Dylan mingles with her well-wishers.

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Bubble-Gum Martini

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The cocktails adhere to the sweet theme; this bubble-gum martini gets its flavor from a mix of vanilla vodka and banana and melon liqueurs.

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Drink Up

Guests gather to enjoy the sweet drinks.

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Mini Treats

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Small cupcakes from Baked by Melissa (bakedbymelissa.com) are crowned with white-chocolate discs from American Chocolate Designs (americanchocolatedesigns.com) printed with sketches of the bride and groom.

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Themed Snacks

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Witty (and delicious) caviar "gems" top cracker rings.

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Crowd-Pleasing Treat

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Mini milkshakes are served in double shot glasses -- the perfect size for party sipping -- and garnished with chocolate chip cookies. One word: Yum.

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The Candy Bar

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Need a better view of our larger-than-life smorgasbord? Behold! To re-create it, keep the colors monochromatic. Design it with or without the perimeter, depending on how many sweets you want to offer (order 1/4 pound of candy per person). The acrylic initials and heart were custom made by I Love Lucite (310-966-0740), but "you could also arrange little glass bowls in the shape of your letters," suggests Darcy.

Here, the breakdown of every morsel.

Candy inside the initials: 
SweetWorks gourmet gumballs (candy.com)

Candy in the heart, clockwise from top left: 
Sixlets chocolates (candy.com)
Hammond's Candies cinnamon straws (hammondscandies.com)
Albanese Candy gummi bears (albaneseconfectionery.com)
Madelaine Chocolate chocolate hearts (candy.com)
"Really Cherry" gumballs (candy.com)
Jelly Belly red-apple jelly beans and licorice wheels (Dylan's Candy Bar, 866-939-5267)

Candy around the outside (in Container Store trays, 888-266-8246): 
Mehlenbacher's Taffy sticks (805-460-9871)
Jelly Belly cotton-candy jelly beans (Dylan's Candy Bar, 866-939-5267)
Sixlets chocolates (candy.com)
Haribo gummi pink-grapefruit slices (candywarehouse.com)
Madelaine Chocolate malt balls (candy.com)
Madelaine Chocolate milk-chocolate hearts (candy.com)
Dryden & Palmer cherry rock-candy crystals (rockcandy.com)
Kimmie Candy Company choco almonds (shopkimmiecandy.com)

Visit our candy glossary for a full breakdown of all of the sweets used here

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Princess Jewels

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A crown-shaped form, covered with glittering hard candies, is displayed in a bell jar.

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The Cake

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Mark Joseph's cake, bedecked with fondant hearts, carries on the "D loves P" theme (markjosephcakes.com).

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Sweet Send-Offs

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Tubes of Jelly Belly jelly beans in gradient colors are set out for guests to take home.

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Tasty Jewelry

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Candy necklaces, tucked into jewelry boxes, are another playful favor.

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Guest Book Cards

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Friends were asked to write "sweet wishes" to Dylan with personalized pencils (pencils-rus.com) on candy-shaped notecards.

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Guest Book

Guests dropped their personalized cards into an oversize footed hurricane vase.

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Edible Work of Art

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An elaborate bib necklace made from dragees is a candy masterpiece.

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The Happy Couple

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Dylan gives her fiance, Paul, a squeeze.