Create Your Own Vintage Halloween "Wicked" Dessert Table

I love vintage anything so a Vintage Halloween theme for my party's dessert table was a no-brainer! Having designed and built holiday buffets for work through the years, it's still one of the most enjoyable parts of hosting a party for me!

Here, you'll learn the steps to creating a wonderful, themed dessert table or buffet for your next party. This one is a vintage Halloween theme with a highlight on witches, potions and alchemy, even. Your theme can be anything you want but the steps will be the same.

Lots of info and photos, so let's get started!

Image belongs to me: DecoratingforEvents/MandeeSears by Creative Commons: Attribution - No Derivatives 2.0 License (CC by 2.0)

Rustic Faux Wood Finish Wise Owl Bird Statue Figure

The first thing I do is come up with keywords that will help me visualize what I am going for. In this case, here are some of my keywords:

Potions, cauldrons, spells, incantations, jars and bottles, crystal ball, lanterns, skulls, skeleton keys, spiders, spider's web, witches, owls, recipes, books, dead branches, spiders, ravens, etc...

I may not use all of these ideas but it helps to get me going.

14" Orange Tissue Paper Pom,
Set of 4

So, I purchased some tissue paper balls and few small things I didn't already own that reminded me of a vintage Halloween. After I had chosen the menu and decided what serving dishes I would use, I made my backdrop. It's easier to get that out of the way prior to arranging the table.

Then, I placed my empty serving dishes where I thought I wanted them on the table -- careful to make sure everything was easy to get to for my guests. Then I began adding the décor a little at a time. I changed things around until I really liked the final outcome.

Now, all I had to do was plate up the desserts and set them in place. Waaalaaaaaa!

Here's mine! Photos below show more details.

This and all images in the photo gallery below belong to me: DecoratingforEvents/MandeeSears but are licensed at Flickr under the Creative Commons: Attribution - No Derivatives 2.0 License (CC by 2.0)

There are, literally, thousands of different ways to make a backdrop for your Halloween buffet or dessert table. Let your imagination take over! Here are a few to get you started:

1. Table Cloth or Fabric on the wall -- This is the most simple way to come up with a backdrop for your table. However, make it more interesting by layering cloths or fabrics with different colors and textures. Hang the first one flat on the wall as a base. Drape and swag additional cloths or fabrics for depth. Try cheesecloth for an eerie look!
2. Use Streamers - Cut crepe paper streamers in your colors and let them hang down from the ceiling to just past the top of the table. Use Vintage or themed paper cut outs, lanterns or tissue balls in front of the streamers.
3. Cover your wall with paper, plastic or cloth in a color where black will pop (white, ivory, orange, green, red, etc...). Find a full branch or a few branches you can spray paint black. Use them plain or add Halloween props. This is great for a graveyard or haunted house look.
4. Instead of covering the wall completely with fabric, hang it so it frames the table like curtains. Hang a vintage style banner in the center with an appropriate Halloween saying on it.
5. Cover your wall with patterned gift wrap paper. This can be a cool effect!

Image Credit: Anders Ruff Custom Designs by license CC BY-ND 2.0

Image Credit: Dinner Series by license CC BY 2.0

Image Credit: Anders Ruff Custom Designs by license CC BY-ND 2.0

Vintage Halloween

Since my table was already a distressed, off white and gray finish so I choose not to use a table cloth to cover it. I used the décor and dishes to create the vintage feel.

Below are some of the items I used from around the house to add interest and character to the dessert table:

• Vintage Fostoria Dishes (American pattern)
• old sewing machine drawer
• Skeleton Keys
• Vintage folding camera
• antique picture frame decorated with branches
• old miniature coat rack
• Old bottles, a couple with chalkboard paint

Image Credit: Image belongs to me - DecoratingforEvents/MandeeSears and are licensed by Creative Commons: Attribution - No Derivatives 2.0 License (CC by 2.0)

Have Some fun with your Halloween Party!

Whether you choose a vintage Halloween theme or some other theme for your Halloween party -- the buffet or dessert table is a centerpiece of the event and should be decorated accordingly. Let your imagination go and come up with some cool and fun ways to display and decorate your food offerings.

Your guests will love your creativity and will want to be on your guest list next year -- for sure!

Image belongs to me - DecoratingforEvents/MandeeSears and are licensed by Creative Commons: Attribution - No Derivatives 2.0 License (CC by 2.0)

I am very happy and honored to say Create Your Own Vintage Halloween "Wicked" Dessert Table was awarded a Purple Star on tuesday, October 2, 2012. Thank you so much to the person that nominated it and to Robin and Bonnie for bestowing the award.

Stars | Purple Star

I am overwhelmed and overjoyed -- on Sunday, October 7th, this lens/article was selected as Lens of the Day by the Squidoo Team. Thank you so very, very much to the person that nominated it and the Squidoo staff for choosing it.

Halloween Buffet Ideas - Buffetscape
The buffet at any party is one of the main attractions. At a Halloween party, it can become part of the décor by using some Halloween buffet ideas. Everythin...

How to Create a Bewitching Buffet | Halloween Food Ideas
Your Halloween party deserves Halloween food ideas that will delight, gross out and complete the party in a way that only themed food can! We have a love af...

Halloween Food Ideas for a Not-so-Scary Kids Halloween Party
This is a collection of fun Halloween food ideas that are appropriate for a younger kids Halloween party. They will love to see a Halloween buffet filled wit...

Spooky Halloween Décor | Halloween Party Ideas
You've been invited to the Transylvania Hotel this Halloween season. This party will have spooky Halloween décor everywhere! Think Gothic, old European cast...

Buffet Ideas | Having Fun with Fruit & Veggie Displays
I love Buffets! And, new buffet ideas are something I am always on the lookout for -- a new or different way to display foods -- especially fruits and vegeta...

Ideas for Buffet Tables | Setting a Buffet Table
Decorating buffet ideas and setting up a beautiful presentation can add so much to your event -- whether it is Easter Dinner at home, a wedding reception, sh...

Thank you for stopping by!

Do Come Back and See Me Again!

~ DecoratingforEvents ~

back to top