I used this fountain at my wedding and it was a big hit at the dessert table! I had considered renting a fountain, but to rent a "small industrial" fountain was 3x more than purchasing this one, not including the chocolate and skewers which are conveniently included in this package. In terms of buying your own, this was the tallest fountain available in this price range when I was ordering. We had 70 people at our wedding and there was plenty of chocolate to spare. It was messy fun for the whole family!I think the chocolate would have been a nicer curtain/flow if we had taken the time to level it properly (instructions included), but it flowed well enough for the rush we were in. The chocolate included is good for fountains, so you don't have to mix your own stuff. If you melt your own you MUST make sure it's suitable for fountains! If the chocolate is too heavy (not enough oil) your motor will overheat and break.Dipping Items Used: Pretzels, cubed pound cake/angel food cake, cubed rice crispies, pineapples, bananas, and strawberries. Make sure you pat dry all of the fruit that you serve. If the fruit is too wet, water will get in the chocolate and it will curdle/seize up.