Cookie Table at weddings?
12-25-2012, 05:55 PM
#91
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Location: Ohio, the land of 4 seasons. sometimes all in the same week!
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and yes, we have boxes for cake but I see alot of guests just put things on paper plates toss a napkin over it and home it goes! (not at my daughter's wedding-there were no paper plates to be found lol) Some weddings are a bit more casual and others are held in more formal settings. doesn't matter here-cookies are the expected.
Clothes pins, mini cupcakes with cream cheese centers, tiny kolochi, a strawberry cookie-my fave, always chocolate chips for the kids, lemon bars, peanut butter with hershey kisses on top cream cheese dainties, different flavored pitzels, chocolate dipped strawberries and chocolate dipped pretzels , and there are more that the aunts and cousins make; sprinkle in some good chocolate candies. I wish I could post pics because even tho I'm not a big cookie eater-it always looks so tempting! sugar cookies in the shape of wedding bells and decorated in the wedding colors are so popular. snow balls and chocolate crinkles are always my sisters contribution. and since the last daughter was married in November (6 years ago) we made extras for that Christmas at the same time since many cookies freeze well.
so, the majority of responders weren't familiar with this custom. that's ok, I have 2 more to wed yet so keep the customs coming! love the sharing and experience here.
Clothes pins, mini cupcakes with cream cheese centers, tiny kolochi, a strawberry cookie-my fave, always chocolate chips for the kids, lemon bars, peanut butter with hershey kisses on top cream cheese dainties, different flavored pitzels, chocolate dipped strawberries and chocolate dipped pretzels , and there are more that the aunts and cousins make; sprinkle in some good chocolate candies. I wish I could post pics because even tho I'm not a big cookie eater-it always looks so tempting! sugar cookies in the shape of wedding bells and decorated in the wedding colors are so popular. snow balls and chocolate crinkles are always my sisters contribution. and since the last daughter was married in November (6 years ago) we made extras for that Christmas at the same time since many cookies freeze well.
so, the majority of responders weren't familiar with this custom. that's ok, I have 2 more to wed yet so keep the customs coming! love the sharing and experience here.
Last edited by cherrio; 12-25-2012 at 05:58 PM.
12-25-2012, 06:21 PM
#92
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: ohio
Posts: 11
cookie table at weddings
I am from NE Ohio and have been told that this is a regional tradition. All the weddings here have them and some are now doing "Candy" bars...jars of candies and little plastic bags to take them home in.
12-25-2012, 07:05 PM
#93
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 8
Cookie Tables not new to me
Yes, this is a small world. I am originally from Niles, OH and still live in NE Ohio.
When my son and DIL were planning their wedding a few years ago, I was curious about the history of the cookie table. To me, it was an expected part of the menu. I learned that decades long ago (circa Depression), the families might not be able to afford a wedding cake, so family members and friends baked cookies and brought them for the happy couple. This seemed to originate with ethnic ceremonies, but I have observed that people of many religions and nationality cultures have cookie tables. Cookie tables are definitely a regional tradition, roughly stretching from Trumbull Co. (or so) in OH to Pittsburgh, PA and are unofficially the most popular part of the entire wedding!
Until you attend a happy event (weddings, graduations, etc) that have cookie table(s), you probably have no idea how tremendous the displays can be. I found these pictures on websites to demonstrate how massive they often are (these sizes are not unusually large). As you can see, most cookies are fancy and time-intensive to make—very special cookies. One of the most popular and traditional cookie is, again, a regional favorite—the clothespin cookie. It is a bite-sized version of a lady lock. YUM!
This is just one of our very wonderful traditions in this region.
When my son and DIL were planning their wedding a few years ago, I was curious about the history of the cookie table. To me, it was an expected part of the menu. I learned that decades long ago (circa Depression), the families might not be able to afford a wedding cake, so family members and friends baked cookies and brought them for the happy couple. This seemed to originate with ethnic ceremonies, but I have observed that people of many religions and nationality cultures have cookie tables. Cookie tables are definitely a regional tradition, roughly stretching from Trumbull Co. (or so) in OH to Pittsburgh, PA and are unofficially the most popular part of the entire wedding!
Until you attend a happy event (weddings, graduations, etc) that have cookie table(s), you probably have no idea how tremendous the displays can be. I found these pictures on websites to demonstrate how massive they often are (these sizes are not unusually large). As you can see, most cookies are fancy and time-intensive to make—very special cookies. One of the most popular and traditional cookie is, again, a regional favorite—the clothespin cookie. It is a bite-sized version of a lady lock. YUM!
This is just one of our very wonderful traditions in this region.
12-25-2012, 10:45 PM
#94
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Bosque County, Texas
Posts: 2,709
I am curious to know more about the cookie table tradition. The weddings that I usually go to have a full dinner, either served sit down or buffet, the traditional tiered wedding cake, groom's cake, open bar and a dance. Usually children are not included in the invitations. When you have all the sweet cookies, do you have an open bar? Is a dance part of these weddings?
12-25-2012, 11:16 PM
#95
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ft. Myers, FL
Posts: 1,925
I have heard of them.I'm originally from Mass. When my sister got married in 1974 (I think) her MIL's side of the family made every kind of Italian cookies for the shower and wedding. Trays and trays of them and had them on a table. And the guest also could take some home in little bags. I thought it was an Italian tradition rather than a regional one.
12-26-2012, 05:35 AM
#96
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: western Pa
Posts: 4,569
Tubroh, those tables are lovely and look just like the tables in this area.
If anyone is interested, check out WQED.com. and search for the program The Cookie Table. They delve into the history of this tradition.
If anyone is interested, check out WQED.com. and search for the program The Cookie Table. They delve into the history of this tradition.
12-26-2012, 08:59 AM
#98
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 145
Originally Posted by cherrio
so nice to hear the comments from a few folks from different regions. gives insight to parts of the country/world. when one of my daughters was married a few years ago we bought chocolates and set them in amongst the cookies. it looked pretty and was a hit. I have not been to a reception yet with a seperate candy table but, I have been to one with an ice cream bar. it was a fall wedding, and was a "children included" reception so it was also a big hit!
and Janrn; Pittsburgh is fairly close so maybe it's something of a regional area thing? I have talked to people from southern Ohio who think it's a weird custom.
and Janrn; Pittsburgh is fairly close so maybe it's something of a regional area thing? I have talked to people from southern Ohio who think it's a weird custom.
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