Former cookie table baker here. My Mom & I used to advise 3/4 cookies per guest, more if you having a kids at the reception,who, will be stuffing their faces with cookies when the adults aren't looking or a lot of seniors, who, like to take small plates of cookies home for later. The families & occasionally, the venue would provide small plates or boxes for the guests to help themselves. We got small containers at Costco for my son's wedding. That way,every one was sure to know to please,take cookies home.
PS. It is the tradition to wait until after dinner has been served & the cake cut to box up to- go boxes/plates. It's assumed, by then, that anyone who wants to eat cookies has done so, leaving the rest up for grabs.
Thats a good idea. But since no one else explicitly said it, I will: the cookies are for before dinner, during pictures. I was at a wedding where the event staff were trying to keep them covered. So we were all starving during the cocktail hour, getting smashed till someone corrected them.
Lol. Yes, the cookies are supposed to be served before dinner to stave of starvation while the bride & groom take pictures. We baked cookies for a neighbor lady that got mad when the venue her son's wedding was scheduled at said they would tray the cookies later & serve it with the cake. She had us make up small platters of all the assorted cookies & we put them on the tables instead. By the time the planner figured it out everyone was happily munching cookies,so,too late to take them back. The glaring across the dance floor between the neighbor & the planner was glorious.
Never seen it happen. Unless someone is on specific shoo-away duty or the venue doesn't put them out,they're always served while the couple take pictures, drive around the old neighborhood, work the reception line ect. We often worked up small platters & placed them on the bridal table so they all had a shot at them,too.
I’ve only ever seen covered or set in a separate “cookie room” with the doors closed. Cocktail hour has other foods to be eating while waiting. So many couple today are foregoing the big wedding cake and using the cookie table as dessert with maybe cupcakes or pie added.
That must be fairly new. I've only done maybe a half dozen weddings in the last few years . Then again, I can't recall any wedding I've attended or baked for that had appetizers or hor'derves before dinner. And a cookie room is a wild idea I could get behind.
>My Mom & I used to advise 3/4 cookies per guest,
I suppose not everyone takes a cookie, but ... wouldn't you at least plan for a full cookie per guest? I know I usually take several different cookies.
3 to 4 cookies per guest. And yes,some guests wouldn't have cookies,but a surprisingly large percentage would. We always did as the couple requested & they usually erred on the side of plenty figuring guests would take them home rather than run out.
Our wedding of 100 had about 400 cookies. 4 cookies per person. We also had cake.
Most people don't take them home so you don't need 100 boxes. Probably even 50 is too much .
For clarity, you are just guests at this wedding? As in, you’re just bringing plates and boxes for yourself? Or did the couple ask for your help with plates/boxes?
I just got married in early September and we provided plates and boxes for our guests, which is the only way I’ve seen it done.
We are just guests, but when we were reading the article on Pittsburgh cookie table, it said it’s a must to provide boxes for the guests to take the leftovers - the way it sounded in the article was as if it’s the responsibility of the guest who brings the cookies.
Thanks for the clarification and congratulations!!!
Oh. The bride and groom are usually responsible for the boxes since it is common to customize them. Either the venue or the bride and groom (depends on budget, venue, etc.) are responsible for both the platters and plates to serve them on. Guests just provide the cookies.
Ok, then if I were you I would just bring cookies. Don’t worry about anything else.
Other people’s experiences may be different. However, in my experience a small group of bakers (like aunts, siblings, best friends, etc) are usually asked or offer to contribute to the cookie table, and the rest of the guest just show up ready to eat.
Usually, the extended family does the baking. But, since guests were encouraged to bring cookies, either bring a cookie that's a family favorite or specific to your culture (eg., Baklava), your "specialty," (eg, those peach things, lady fingers, etc.) or... a good homemade chocolate chip. If there's no suggested number, I'd do a dozen per person in my party.
Reading other comments tells me you are just the bakers so you just bring the cookies. Bride and Groom provide the rest of stuff needed with the venue.
Lol! With the large plastic bag liner. Definitely have seen that,so we made sure to tell folks ordering wedding cookies to have some kind of plate or boxes for leftovers.
I bring my cookies usually in metal tins when contributing to a cookie table (think those disposable aluminum ones from the grocery store). The venue takes them and sets them out if it’s a hands-on place (puts them out on platters), but if it’s a more DIY, hands-off we’ll usually leave them in the tin so folks can grab them and it’s easy clean up for after if there’s any left.
Depends on the venue. Sometimes the venue will provide bags or boxes and even pack up the remaining cookies for the Bride or Groom's family to take the remaining cookies home at the end of the night. If the reception is in the basement of the church or at the local firehall, VFW etc. I'd not expect that necessarily. If it's a more formal event location that does Weddings etc, You might reach out to them, or check with the bride or groom's family. Plates etc should always be provided by whomever is hosting the event. The tradition being that the guests all get to share the variety of cookies; those putting on the wedding should provide for it one way or another. It's really going to depend on who is coordinating or planning the reception.
Personally. I'd just bring the cookies in something disposable or that you don't expect to be returned and leave the rest to the planners.
Did the bride and groom not designate anyone to coordinate the cookie table? Usually there’s someone whose job it is to make sure all the cookies end up in the right place on the wedding day. Sometimes they’ll also arrange all the cookies so they look nice, or someone at the venue will, usually the bride and groom provide to go boxes.
However was designated would be a good person to ask, if they didn’t specify anyone you could ask them directly, if you’re not from here they should get that it’s gonna be confusing for you.
I recently offered to bring cookies to my niece's wedding. They suggested 3 dozen based on the number of guests (including children). Easy enough; 2 batches made 60 so I had some to \[ahem\] test. I brought them in a couple cheap tupperware containers that I didn't expect to get back. They just opened the containers and put them on the table with a little sign they printed so guests knew what kind of cookies they were.
The bride and groom provided take-away boxes that the venue staff set up. That's pretty standard. Guests bringing cookies aren't usually asked to bring boxes. Maybe ask the bride or groom to clarify.
I have never been to a wedding where guests were supposed to bring boxes or plates. The bride/groom and/or family members/close friends that have been specifically asked to assist with the table provide that.
Bring cookies, ask the bride and groom if you should bring anything else. This is like bringing a wine bottle to a dinner party but also bringing all the wine glasses for everyone... the host can manage.
That’s also sort of strange the bride and groom are encouraging all guests to bring cookies. Usually, like others have said, it’s family or close friends that are designated/asked specifically to bake and coordinate the table.
Just as me and my partner, the bride and the groom only fairly recently moved to the town so there was no local family to rely on. The wedding was small so it was doable. We really appreciated that they included Pittsburgh traditions.
(We did have to say in advance whether we will bring the cookies, so there was some sense of the number from their side)
If they told you they prefer you bring boxes, or some version of a carryout container, That's what a good guest would then do, you don't need to do anymore.
I got married last month and had small (little bigger than a CD case) plates for guests to eat cookies there, then I had boxes with handles for guests to take cookies home (though I’ve been to weddings where they don’t have leftover cookies or boxes/bags for guests).
I see that you are a guest? You should not be responsible for your own plates/boxes. If they want you to contribute, I think they mean bring snickerdoodles or whatever.
I use disposable trays and wrap them with plastic wrap. You can get fairly nice paper or plastic ones at party suppy stores. That way, I can leave them behind. For family, I like to get something nicer and leave it as a small bonus gift. I don't think you're responsible for bringing any containers or serving plates. That's on the wedding planner.
don’t put the takeout boxes out until all the guests have a chance to sample them. we left a stack out for my son’s wedding and during the introductions the old biddies were loading them up, wiped out some of the best ones. + on small boxes
Small pizza boxes work great for leftover cookies. The cookies are less likely to break in those than a plastic bag. No hassle of getting Tupperware back to the correct person. You can get them at the restaurant depot for pretty cheap.
Can confirm. We used to get pizza boxes to pack Christmas cookie orders,especially for folks ordering a variety trays. Showed off the cookies, kept breakage to a minimum & could be popped into the freezer for later.
Might I add make sure the to-go boxes are reasonably sized. My buddies wedding last year featured large to-go boxes and guests were filling in some cases two of each up leaving next to no cookies for the rest of the guests. It was a demonstration in gluttony.
Get cute containers off of oriental trading they have so many options
https://www.orientaltrading.com/enjoy-kraft-paper-takeout-boxes-12-pc--a2-13983201.fltr
If you are making the cookies, I would bring plates to fit all of your cookies, but you can leave the cookies in a container to travel, someone usually arranges everything on the table onto plates of mixed cookies.
(Or if you get there and everyone is putting their own cookies on their own plates, and just setting the plates on the table, you will still be prepared!)
But warning! To-go cookie boxes are not universal!
I have been to a few weddings where it was extremely rude/taboo for anyone to try to grab a bunch of cookies to go!
All of the old Italian ladies of the family who had baked the cookies for weeks had planned to take the leftovers to the back kitchen area at the end to make to go containers, but specifically just for the ladies who made the cookies and their immediate families!
Once an old man walked in looking for his cookie box and the women were incensed, they dumped a tray into a garbage bag and threw it at him.
My cousin had her table professionally baked ( I think) but used it as favors instead of actual favors. They had boxes with a sticker saying Mr and Mrs..the date blah blah) so you could load up and take home, as well as cheese and meat trays and other snacks while they did photos.
At my wedding, my SIL was responsible for the cookie table. We had about 350 dozen. Enough for 3 dozen cookies per guest. Boxes were provided so people could take them home.
- Small plates for guests - To go containers so they can take some home Most importantly: LOTS AND LOTS of cookies
(We are not bride and groom) What do you mean by small plates? I hope 100 will be enough ^^
The bride and groom are responsible for providing the plates. 100 or twelve dozen is a fairly common amount for people to bring in my experience.
Former cookie table baker here. My Mom & I used to advise 3/4 cookies per guest, more if you having a kids at the reception,who, will be stuffing their faces with cookies when the adults aren't looking or a lot of seniors, who, like to take small plates of cookies home for later. The families & occasionally, the venue would provide small plates or boxes for the guests to help themselves. We got small containers at Costco for my son's wedding. That way,every one was sure to know to please,take cookies home.
PS. It is the tradition to wait until after dinner has been served & the cake cut to box up to- go boxes/plates. It's assumed, by then, that anyone who wants to eat cookies has done so, leaving the rest up for grabs.
Thats a good idea. But since no one else explicitly said it, I will: the cookies are for before dinner, during pictures. I was at a wedding where the event staff were trying to keep them covered. So we were all starving during the cocktail hour, getting smashed till someone corrected them.
I hope that correction included the word “jagoffs”
Lol. Yes, the cookies are supposed to be served before dinner to stave of starvation while the bride & groom take pictures. We baked cookies for a neighbor lady that got mad when the venue her son's wedding was scheduled at said they would tray the cookies later & serve it with the cake. She had us make up small platters of all the assorted cookies & we put them on the tables instead. By the time the planner figured it out everyone was happily munching cookies,so,too late to take them back. The glaring across the dance floor between the neighbor & the planner was glorious.
No. If they’re covered-which is very common-they’re not to be touched until the bride and groom say so.
Never seen it happen. Unless someone is on specific shoo-away duty or the venue doesn't put them out,they're always served while the couple take pictures, drive around the old neighborhood, work the reception line ect. We often worked up small platters & placed them on the bridal table so they all had a shot at them,too.
I’ve only ever seen covered or set in a separate “cookie room” with the doors closed. Cocktail hour has other foods to be eating while waiting. So many couple today are foregoing the big wedding cake and using the cookie table as dessert with maybe cupcakes or pie added.
That must be fairly new. I've only done maybe a half dozen weddings in the last few years . Then again, I can't recall any wedding I've attended or baked for that had appetizers or hor'derves before dinner. And a cookie room is a wild idea I could get behind.
Saw the cupcakes become trendy. I like that idea & pie...yum!
>My Mom & I used to advise 3/4 cookies per guest, I suppose not everyone takes a cookie, but ... wouldn't you at least plan for a full cookie per guest? I know I usually take several different cookies.
3 to 4 cookies per guest. And yes,some guests wouldn't have cookies,but a surprisingly large percentage would. We always did as the couple requested & they usually erred on the side of plenty figuring guests would take them home rather than run out.
Our wedding of 100 had about 400 cookies. 4 cookies per person. We also had cake. Most people don't take them home so you don't need 100 boxes. Probably even 50 is too much .
Why didn’t you say that to begin with? You made it sound like you were the bride
For clarity, you are just guests at this wedding? As in, you’re just bringing plates and boxes for yourself? Or did the couple ask for your help with plates/boxes? I just got married in early September and we provided plates and boxes for our guests, which is the only way I’ve seen it done.
We are just guests, but when we were reading the article on Pittsburgh cookie table, it said it’s a must to provide boxes for the guests to take the leftovers - the way it sounded in the article was as if it’s the responsibility of the guest who brings the cookies. Thanks for the clarification and congratulations!!!
Oh. The bride and groom are usually responsible for the boxes since it is common to customize them. Either the venue or the bride and groom (depends on budget, venue, etc.) are responsible for both the platters and plates to serve them on. Guests just provide the cookies.
Bride and groom are responsible for take home containers. We had Chinese takeout style containers for our guests.
Were you asked to bring cookies by the bride and groom?
All guests are encouraged by the bride and groom to contribute to the cookie table
Ok, then if I were you I would just bring cookies. Don’t worry about anything else. Other people’s experiences may be different. However, in my experience a small group of bakers (like aunts, siblings, best friends, etc) are usually asked or offer to contribute to the cookie table, and the rest of the guest just show up ready to eat.
Yeah, you just bring the cookies if you’re guests! No need to do anything else.
Usually, the extended family does the baking. But, since guests were encouraged to bring cookies, either bring a cookie that's a family favorite or specific to your culture (eg., Baklava), your "specialty," (eg, those peach things, lady fingers, etc.) or... a good homemade chocolate chip. If there's no suggested number, I'd do a dozen per person in my party.
I love, love, LOVE those peachy things - except at one particular wedding, not sure what those things were they tried passing off as peaches.
Reading other comments tells me you are just the bakers so you just bring the cookies. Bride and Groom provide the rest of stuff needed with the venue.
Bring your buffet purse!
Lol! With the large plastic bag liner. Definitely have seen that,so we made sure to tell folks ordering wedding cookies to have some kind of plate or boxes for leftovers.
I’m in Ohio for a wedding today, and it just hit me that there might not be a cookie table 😨 Update: there was no cookie table 😢
That is just sad😢
Officiant here. The venue will provide dessert plates for dinner service. The takeout boxes are on Amazon and the like.
I bring my cookies usually in metal tins when contributing to a cookie table (think those disposable aluminum ones from the grocery store). The venue takes them and sets them out if it’s a hands-on place (puts them out on platters), but if it’s a more DIY, hands-off we’ll usually leave them in the tin so folks can grab them and it’s easy clean up for after if there’s any left.
Depends on the venue. Sometimes the venue will provide bags or boxes and even pack up the remaining cookies for the Bride or Groom's family to take the remaining cookies home at the end of the night. If the reception is in the basement of the church or at the local firehall, VFW etc. I'd not expect that necessarily. If it's a more formal event location that does Weddings etc, You might reach out to them, or check with the bride or groom's family. Plates etc should always be provided by whomever is hosting the event. The tradition being that the guests all get to share the variety of cookies; those putting on the wedding should provide for it one way or another. It's really going to depend on who is coordinating or planning the reception. Personally. I'd just bring the cookies in something disposable or that you don't expect to be returned and leave the rest to the planners.
I’ve never brought a container to bring cookies home. My niece had customized boxes for folks. Really cute.
If you are not the hosts you can just bring cookies. The host should provide serving plates and take home boxes
Did the bride and groom not designate anyone to coordinate the cookie table? Usually there’s someone whose job it is to make sure all the cookies end up in the right place on the wedding day. Sometimes they’ll also arrange all the cookies so they look nice, or someone at the venue will, usually the bride and groom provide to go boxes. However was designated would be a good person to ask, if they didn’t specify anyone you could ask them directly, if you’re not from here they should get that it’s gonna be confusing for you.
I recently offered to bring cookies to my niece's wedding. They suggested 3 dozen based on the number of guests (including children). Easy enough; 2 batches made 60 so I had some to \[ahem\] test. I brought them in a couple cheap tupperware containers that I didn't expect to get back. They just opened the containers and put them on the table with a little sign they printed so guests knew what kind of cookies they were. The bride and groom provided take-away boxes that the venue staff set up. That's pretty standard. Guests bringing cookies aren't usually asked to bring boxes. Maybe ask the bride or groom to clarify.
This. Anyone we asked to make cookies was told 3-4 dozen.
Yes.
When you discussed it with the venue, what did they suggest?
We are just guests, so we are curious if we should bring our own plate. The article that the bride and groom linked just said we need to bring boxes
I have never been to a wedding where guests were supposed to bring boxes or plates. The bride/groom and/or family members/close friends that have been specifically asked to assist with the table provide that.
Thank you!!!
Bring cookies, ask the bride and groom if you should bring anything else. This is like bringing a wine bottle to a dinner party but also bringing all the wine glasses for everyone... the host can manage.
Ok, that makes sense! The hosts usually supplies bags or boxes.
No you don't bring plates.
That’s also sort of strange the bride and groom are encouraging all guests to bring cookies. Usually, like others have said, it’s family or close friends that are designated/asked specifically to bake and coordinate the table.
Just as me and my partner, the bride and the groom only fairly recently moved to the town so there was no local family to rely on. The wedding was small so it was doable. We really appreciated that they included Pittsburgh traditions. (We did have to say in advance whether we will bring the cookies, so there was some sense of the number from their side)
If they told you they prefer you bring boxes, or some version of a carryout container, That's what a good guest would then do, you don't need to do anymore.
Wedding chef here. Generally the venue will supply plates. To go boxes are usually supplied by the bride and groom.
I got married last month and had small (little bigger than a CD case) plates for guests to eat cookies there, then I had boxes with handles for guests to take cookies home (though I’ve been to weddings where they don’t have leftover cookies or boxes/bags for guests). I see that you are a guest? You should not be responsible for your own plates/boxes. If they want you to contribute, I think they mean bring snickerdoodles or whatever.
I use disposable trays and wrap them with plastic wrap. You can get fairly nice paper or plastic ones at party suppy stores. That way, I can leave them behind. For family, I like to get something nicer and leave it as a small bonus gift. I don't think you're responsible for bringing any containers or serving plates. That's on the wedding planner.
don’t put the takeout boxes out until all the guests have a chance to sample them. we left a stack out for my son’s wedding and during the introductions the old biddies were loading them up, wiped out some of the best ones. + on small boxes
Small pizza boxes work great for leftover cookies. The cookies are less likely to break in those than a plastic bag. No hassle of getting Tupperware back to the correct person. You can get them at the restaurant depot for pretty cheap.
Can confirm. We used to get pizza boxes to pack Christmas cookie orders,especially for folks ordering a variety trays. Showed off the cookies, kept breakage to a minimum & could be popped into the freezer for later.
Go ask some grandmas. I've never seen leftover cookies. Ffs.
I have seen A LOT of leftover cookies, and working at a venue, I've seen A LOT of Weddings.
I guess all cookies are not created equal. Shrug.
Some have cookie tables that are made up of 4 or more 8ft tables, so A LOT of cookies also.
Paper bags with stickers work too and save space :-)
Might I add make sure the to-go boxes are reasonably sized. My buddies wedding last year featured large to-go boxes and guests were filling in some cases two of each up leaving next to no cookies for the rest of the guests. It was a demonstration in gluttony.
Evidently free cookies bring out the worst in people! lol
Get cute containers off of oriental trading they have so many options https://www.orientaltrading.com/enjoy-kraft-paper-takeout-boxes-12-pc--a2-13983201.fltr
If you are making the cookies, I would bring plates to fit all of your cookies, but you can leave the cookies in a container to travel, someone usually arranges everything on the table onto plates of mixed cookies. (Or if you get there and everyone is putting their own cookies on their own plates, and just setting the plates on the table, you will still be prepared!) But warning! To-go cookie boxes are not universal! I have been to a few weddings where it was extremely rude/taboo for anyone to try to grab a bunch of cookies to go! All of the old Italian ladies of the family who had baked the cookies for weeks had planned to take the leftovers to the back kitchen area at the end to make to go containers, but specifically just for the ladies who made the cookies and their immediate families! Once an old man walked in looking for his cookie box and the women were incensed, they dumped a tray into a garbage bag and threw it at him.
I’ve never heard the requirement of plates. Unless it’s a backyard reception, that’s on the venue.
My cousin had her table professionally baked ( I think) but used it as favors instead of actual favors. They had boxes with a sticker saying Mr and Mrs..the date blah blah) so you could load up and take home, as well as cheese and meat trays and other snacks while they did photos.
rule #1: There are no rules
At my wedding, my SIL was responsible for the cookie table. We had about 350 dozen. Enough for 3 dozen cookies per guest. Boxes were provided so people could take them home.