There's so much that goes in to planning a wedding reception. Choosing the venue, the menu, the music, the cake...it's all enough to make a bride-to-be go crazy.

If you've been toying around with ideas for food but haven't gotten anywhere, why not consider having a chocolate fountain at your reception? Chocolate fountains have grown in popularity over the past few years, and they're showing up at all kinds of events from bridal showers and wedding receptions to corporate events. It's an attractive addition to just about any special event.

With a spread of fruit and other dipping foods to go with it, it would be a place for your guests to gather other than the bar, and it would be a nice contrast to other finger foods. When they're running, chocolate fountains look like liquid chocolate sculptures, which make them like edible centerpieces. Plus, they're fun, relatively easy, and will be a hit with kids and adults alike.

If you like the idea of having a chocolate fountain at your reception, here are a few ideas of what you can do with it.

Guess what: you can do it yourself

You may be looking at your wedding budget and wincing at the cost of hiring a chocolate fountain company for your reception. Fear not. Like most things with weddings, you can save yourself a lot of money if you do it yourself instead of farming it out.

You can find chocolate fondue fountains for sale online at sites like LiquidationConnect.com, and you can find the chocolate to melt inside them the same way. Look for chocolate with a minimum of 34 percent cocoa butter to make sure that it will run smoothly in the fountain.

If you're worried about spills and such, ask a friend to watch the fountain for you. That way you'll have somebody you trust over there, and you'll be able to enjoy your receptions without worries.

Appetizer or dessert?

Chocolate fountains can work as an appetizer or a dessert, so your decision on when to do it depends on what kind of food you're having at your reception. If you have lots of heavy hors d'oeuvres at the beginning of your reception, you might want to save the fountain for the end. If you've got relatively light finger foods, then you can use your fountain at the same time.

What to dip?

The wonderful thing about chocolate is that you can dip just about anything in it. Well, you may want to avoid tortilla chips, but anything that typically tastes good with chocolate, you can serve with your chocolate fountain.

Fruits like strawberries, bananas, pineapples and kiwi, or snacks like cookies, pretzels and marshmallows are all good ideas. Steer clear of juicy fruits like watermelon, or soft things like cake, which may crumble when dipped and ruin the flow of the fountain.

Get thee to a chocolate fountain!

You don't have to break the bank to have an elegant, tasty chocolate fountain at your wedding reception. With a little planning ahead, you can do it yourself and have that little extra sweetness on your special day. No doubt, friends and family will be gushing over it for months and years afterward.

About the Author

Benjamin Cohen is the president of LiquidationConnect.com, which provides consumers with fun, unique, affordable gift items. If you want a chocolate fountain at your reception, we have a wide selection to fit just what you need. To see our complete line of chocolate fondue fountains, visit http://www.LiquidationConnect.com today.