A SWEET DISASTER WITH 

Let me take you back, way back to a time before chocolate fountains became a wedding staple, before every bride and her dog had one in their home, and before they were as common as wedding cupcakes. Ah, the good old days.

It was over 21 years ago when I first set my sights on the elusive, majestic chocolate fountain. I bought the real deal—the big, shiny, show-stopping machine from the UK. It was a statement piece, the kind that could make your dessert table look like something out of a dream. A grand waterfall of chocolate that just seemed to flow endlessly. It was like bringing a piece of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory straight to Johannesburg, and let me tell you, it was a sight to behold. At the time, there were only a handful of companies doing chocolate fountain rentals, and we were lucky enough to be one of them.

We were on top of the world, with our big (and rather expensive) machines, serving up a chocolate experience that made every wedding and corporate event feel like something out of a high-end movie set. You could dip strawberries, marshmallows, pretzels—whatever your heart desired—into this glorious river of chocolate, and life was sweet. But oh, it didn’t come cheap. I’m talking “save for a year” kind of expensive.

But then, enter Erol. Ah yes, Erol—my then-nemesis. He had his own grand idea (and by grand, I mean not-so-grand for me). Erol, who we shall forever remember for his audacity, imported a whole bunch of teeny tiny domestic chocolate fountains from China. They were everywhere, and suddenly, it seemed like every bride and her dog could have one of these miniature, glorified chocolate fountains as the centerpiece of their wedding table. They were cute and cheap—too cheap—and they became the must-have trend for weddings and parties, even though they often didn’t last longer than the average attention span of a child in a sweetie store.

It wasn’t just the quantity of fountains that grew; it was the quality—or should I say lack of it. These little fountains, though adorable, were more trouble than they were worth. Brides everywhere were thrilled to have their mini chocolate waterfalls, but little did they know, their wedding day was about to be filled with chaos—and not the “I’m-so-happy-I’m-getting-married” kind of chaos, but the “someone-call-an-ambulance” kind.

The real pièce de résistance? The moment when, in the middle of the festivities, the fountains went wild—like some sort of chocolate-fueled hurricane. Picture this: Mrs. Grunphutic (you know the one, the distant, disapproving aunt who, for reasons unknown, has to be at every family event) is standing too close to the fountain, happily stuffing marshmallows into her mouth, oblivious to the fact that her chin is now streaked with chocolate. Suddenly, without warning, the fountain’s motor gives up the ghost and—BAM!—the chocolate starts flying. It sprays everywhere, like the world’s most bizarre sprinkler system. It’s all over her dress, her hair, and let’s not forget, all over the poor guests who weren’t quick enough to duck.

OH

THE AMOUNT OF CHOCOLATE

Ah, but it doesn’t stop there. As the chocolate rains down, the real chaos begins. Guests are trying to avoid the “chocolate storm,” while Mrs. Grunphutic, who still hasn’t noticed her fashion-forward chocolate streaks, continues to munch happily, completely unaware of the fact that the machine’s out of control.

It was a sight to behold. The pride and joy of the dessert table turned into an absolute disaster, and yet somehow, the guests were laughing. Sure, they were dodging flying chocolate, but they were also sharing the kind of memory that would last a lifetime. You just couldn’t make this up.

So here we are today. 2025 you can still get those tiny chocolate fountains for your wedding (if you’re feeling brave), but let’s be honest: nothing beats the drama of a real chocolate fountain. Mrs. Grunphutic’s chocolate-covered chin is the stuff of legends, and if you’re lucky, you will probably still have one at your table.

Because?  YES!!!!… Chocolate fountains are BACK in fashion! Oh yes, they’ve made a glorious return, and this time, they’re better than ever. You can still have the elegance and grandeur of the fountain experience you’ve always dreamed of—but with a twist. We’ve stepped up our game and now offer top-quality milk, dark, or white chocolate, and if you really want to take it to the next level, we can colour your chocolate, too! You heard me right. You can now have neon pink, bright blue, or even purple chocolate cascading down your fountain. And yes, I’m talking about Mrs. Grunphutic and her streaks. You could have her walking around with neon pink streaks down her chin as she continues to shove marshmallows in her mouth—and no one will stop her.

So, let’s embrace the chaos, the fun, and the fabulousness that chocolate fountains bring. No more bland, boring chocolate displays—now we’re talking about a full-on, chocolate-coated extravaganza. The question isn’t whether you want a chocolate fountain at your event, but rather: What colour will you choose?