We met Sandee at an event not too long ago and fell in love with her and her fabulous work! Candee is sweet (yay pun!), easy to work with, never pushy, and has a great love for her work. She’s creative and kind and loves working with brides to come up with all kinds of unique ideas. We highly recommend and put our stamp of approval on Candee by Sandee!

1. Tell us a little bit about you and what you do with Candee by Sandee.
I’m a wife and mother of four amazing children, ages ranging from 12 to 23. I’ve been in the restaurant and catering industry for about twenty one years. I began Candee by Sandee about five years ago because I saw a growing demand for fun candy “bars” but didn’t seem to see anyone really taking candy displays to the next level. I really see Candee by Sandee as a candy and (recently added) dessert buffet “styling” company. Our mission is to provide tasty treats and present them in a way that is interesting, entertaining and delightful to all of the senses.
2. How did you get interested/started in candy/dessert buffets?
My very first real job in high school was working for Helen Grace in a mall. I loved arranging all the candy displays and making fudge from scratch, in a giant copper kettle in the store window. Favorite childhood memories are the trips through the (then) large candy check out area at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor or my parents letting me stop at the candy store on Main Street, USA in Disneyland to pick out ONE special treat on the way to the parking lot! I guess I have always loved sweets and desserts. The desire to arrange candy and desserts in beautiful displays was imprinted in my heart and subconscious mind from way back.
3. Why do you love doing these candy/dessert buffets?
My absolute favorite thing about the sweet stations, is seeing people’s reaction, whether it’s a client or their guest. Maybe it’s my culture of pleasing people, but I love to make people happy. I’ve had reactions from people who see a candy they maybe haven’t seen in years or sometimes decades, and suddenly you see a 40 or 50 year old turn in to an 8 year old again right before your eyes. There’s something about candy and dessert bars that allow people to become a kid again. I’ve also had a bride in tears because she was so touched by some personal detail I added to her table. In any case, I try to always bring my clients vision, not only to fruition, but push it a little further. I love to hear that the table was so much more than they had dreamed of.
4. What inspires you?
I truly find inspiration in everything. I’m very visual, so everyday I’m inspired by color, fabric, texture, architecture, nature, décor, people… the list goes on. Obviously food inspires me, too! As far as what inspires my displays, I’m always inspired by my clients. I like to get to know them, their style and personality. I see myself as being “commissioned” to create something on their behalf, so they have as much, or more, to do with inspiring me as anything.
5. What is your favorite candy?
Oh, that’s a tough one. It really changes week to week… sometimes I’m really into Peanut Butter M&M’s or SweetTarts… but I’ll tell you this, my weakness will always have something to do with anything covered in chocolate… fruit, nuts, ice cream, pretzels, coffee beans, even gummy bears or popcorn. I can appreciate a REALLY good chocolate… a great American chocolate I absolutely love is Scharffen Berger. It’s amazing.
6. Advice to brides and grooms that want a candy/dessert buffet at their wedding?
My advice would be to really communicate your vision and personality with your buffet provider. If you have a budget, please share it… we’re a team. I love when a bride and groom are upfront with me about how much they want to spend and how much they’re ‘willing’ to spend, two totally different things. It’s important to convey that so we can give them the most bang for their buck. Sometimes you have to nip and tuck here or there to get the big “ooh ahh” somewhere else. Also very important is defining what the buffet means to them and how it ranks in priority to their and their guest’s experience.
7. 3 words that describe you
Passionate
Compassionate
Grateful
{photo credit: Elite Productions International}
{photo credit: 2 Rings & a Dress courtesy of Ceremony Magazine}
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