Cookie Table/ Trays

I am!!!

I would estimate about 3-4 cookies per guest. I know traditionally, they are homemade cookies, but if you're looking to buy, maybe try Costco or Sam's Club?

Thank you @Mary. I think we are doing only homemade cookies. I plan to make a few varieties and freeze and I know a few of family members offered to help bake some as well. It looks like trays are relatively cheap from this site, but they're kinda cheap looking. Think that matters at all? http://www.webstaurantstore.com/13-bake-and-show-takeout-cookie-tray-pizza-tray-with-lid-25-case/77068155CP.html

I'm doing a homemade cookie table! I'm assuming a half dozen per guest because we're also putting out takeout boxes. As for trays, we're just using dessert stands and not necessarily trays and we'll stack the cookies on them.

We did one. I would say 3 or 4 cookies per guest if you are serving appetizers. I went to a wedding one and the appetizers consisted of the cookie table and a cheese tray. In that case increase the amount of cookies especially if you are taking pictures at another site.

We do them in Michigan too!

Looks like you want/need the actual trays? They are very inexpensive! I have some I can send you that are plastic--not so fancy but I can also send paper doilies to dress them up. The number of trays would depend on the size of the cookies.

Also the Dollar Store has some great looking ones

Ohhhhh I thought you meant the cookies! I think I'm going to put mine on chargers I bought from Michael's

We are! The ladies on both sides are already WAY too excited for the baking bees. We will probably just buy clear trays from the dollar or party store, and the venue is setting them up for us.

I'm so happy you posted this. I didn't grow up with cookie tables but FH did (we live in PGH now) and we definitely want to have one. It's tradition in his family that the females make the cookies (lady locks, wine cookies, etc.) and I want to get my own side involved, but I'm not sure how to explain the tradition/not come across as, "Hey, come to our wedding and bring cookies." Also, this is going to sound dumb, but is there usually a cookie coordinator? It sounds like typically someone separate from the bride arranges the logistics of who bakes what, where to drop them, etc.? Any insight is appreciated.

@ask213 - I have people from both sides of the family making cookies. I just mentioned our plan to have homemade cookies to people. My mom jumped in and said she'd make a few dozen. His mom and grandmother did the same. I wouldn't ask people. Just tell them your plan and let them offer to help.

@ask123 maybe throw out a line saying that the ladies on his side will be doing it as it's a tradition and they are welcome to join? Do they live close enough to you or any of the other ladies? It may be fun to host a baking party so it doesn't come off as odd/grabby/other negative connotation. We start making them early and freeze the cookies that still taste good thawed ( never realized how strange that sounds). Sometimes the venue/caterer is willing to do that, sometimes for free, sometimes not, but you'll have to check.

Mmmmmm....coooookiessss...less than four weeks to my wedding, sure wish I could HAVE a cookie!

You might be able to find glass or silver trays at local Goodwill/thrift stores. If not, Dollar Tree has a few sizes & styles of clear plastic ones that look like glass. They don't have lids, but you can fill the trays and wrap them tightly with plastic wrap until time for the reception.

A cookie buffet sounds great. Don't invite Karen.

We did this because it was an easy and cheap way to supplement the food/desserts. We just picked up a handful of different types at Costco 2 days before the wedding and set it up the day before so that all that had to be done the day of was to open the containers and set the cookies on the trays we had. We had way more than we needed but we just saved what we didn't use and had cookies to eat for a while. I've never heard of it being a local thing to any one place and have seen them all over so that's news to me. But I love them when I see them!

This is a wedding tradition that I just love, btw. Now I just need to find a friend in Pittsburgh who's getting married so I can see it in action! :-)

@mrsBBR i love the baking party idea- that could be a great way for two families to bond before the wedding. That also sounds like my dream bachelorette, haha. Unfortunately, my family is all based in NY. I guess I will see how things are shaping up closer to the wedding. If it comes down to it, I will just supplement the FIL contribution with catered cookies. I really love the tradition- people go nuts over them at all of the Pgh weddings I have been to. I have more cookie recipes pinned to my wedding board than dresses, haha. @OP I saw someone selling their cookie table trays on Pgh Craigslist a couple weeks ago. May be worth checking out.

@wwlaura I love this story about it:

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/dining/16cookies.html?referer=

My coworker recently went to a wedding that had its own cookie room off the main ballroom that they opened after dinner. He still refers to it as the best day of HIS life, let alone the happy couple.

@ask213 I'm not sure now this typically works. My family just straight out asked me "are you planning on doing a cookie table". When I respond yes, many of them offered to bake without me having to ask. I know alot of people enjoy doing that. I'm guessing I will buy the trays, distribute them to the people baking cookies, they will tray them and give them back to me to bring to the reception to night before the wedding. My reception coordinator requires the cookies to come trayed and ready to go. Hope this helps!

Ask213, my mom also filled the room off the ballroom-- she worked tirelessly! We call them "sweet tables" but they go on for days!

@ask213 - Thanks for that article! That gave some great insight into the tradition. We didn't do cookies, but we kind of did a cake version. Not the massive numbers like these cookie tables, but my cake table had 6 different kinds of cakes homemade by me, my mom, my aunt, and a family friend, plus a 2-tier wedding cake (different flavor) and a grooms cake, which was another flavor. So 8 different kinds of cake.