Champagne Fountain - buy or hire?

ChuckleVision_2

Our wedding is in August. My girlfriend would like a Champagne Fountain, and looking at the cost of hire (around £150) I think it would be more cost effective to purchase a new one and either sell it on or hire it our myself after the wedding. I can't seem to find an importer of them in this country so would probably need to get on shipped from the USA.

This seems to be the best priced one.

Small beverage fountain at GalaSource.com

Does anyone know of any better suppliers or a better idea?

annie-c

It's a new one on me; I've never heard of one before - had to check the link to see what it was!

All I can say is, have you had recommendation from anyone who has actually used one? How does it keep the champagne nice and fresh? I've only ever drunk champagne from freshly opened bottles, in narrow necked glasses in order to keep the bubble in. It sounds like a fantastic idea, but I'd personally prefer freshly served champagne and enjoy the smell/taste rather than the 'display'....

I'd sooner have a chocolate fountain, or a firework display as a 'something extra' for the big day....

But I'm sure an expert will be along soon, with some advice!

Congratulations to you both, anyway!

Annie

ChuckleVision_2

Thanks Annie,

Yeah I was thinking that. Not sure how it keeps in the fizz and also not sure if it needs to be monitored when switched on.

Personally I can stand the stuff anyway! (I'm a red wine or real ale man, so we'll probably be getting a barrel of Old Spot too!)

this is the company that seem to be the main makers: APEX Fountains.com

annie-c

Mind you, after my last post, I had a look at chocolate fountains and they cost £400 per event, without anything to dip in! And fireworks wouldn't be cheap either!!

Rachie_B

oh god its one of these thngs that people like to have cos they think it looks good etc

but in reality is really quite tacky IMO ,sorry

can you try and persudae her otherwise

this is the MSE forum after all lol

[Deleted User]

Hmm chocolate fountains. They don't cost 400 pounds, more like 60 from here:

http://www.firebox.com/index.html?dir=firebox&action=product&pid=1134&src_t=sbk&src_id=fountain

or 50 quid here:

http://www.play.com/Gadgets/Gadgets/4-/747712/The_Chocolate_Fountain/Product.html

My gf's brother had one at his engagement party, it was great. Get one of those, a load of strawberries and marshmallows and everyone is happy

annie-c

£400 is for the hire of a giant, banquet sized one that will cater for a wedding style dinner , all the chocolate you can eat and a member of staff to 'assist' guests (not to make pigs of themselves I guess!!!) and to keep it all running.

£30-40 would buy a domestic one (cost even less on offer in Asda sometimes) but on a much smaller scale - might be a nice touch though....

iwanttosave_2

You can get a domestic one for £9.99 from somewhere at the moment, I will go and have a quick scour and see where it is

iwanttosave_2

found it, read here and get the code from my post in the link. I dont like the idea of a champagne fountain at all I think chocolate with stawberries, exotice fruits ect is much more nicer

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=194062&highlight=chocolate+fountain

Mikeyorks

annie-c wrote:

I had a look at chocolate fountains and they cost £400 per event, without anything to dip in! And fireworks wouldn't be cheap either!!

No - the dry cleaning bills from dipping the fireworks in would be horrific !!;)

Becles

I love chocolate, especially "proper chocolate" from the likes of Hotel Chocolat etc.

When working at a recent birthday party, I was thrilled when the party organiser said we could use the chocolate fountain if we wished. However I didn't like the chocolate on it. It was very sweet, and didn't taste like normal chocolate. My husband was surprised that I only dipped 2 things in it - some brownie and a strawberry.

I was talking to the man running it who said the chocolate has to have oil added to it to keep it flowing, which affects the taste of it.

I was really disappointed with the taste, and it put me off using one again.