never heard of this and we have catered at many weddings. I think this is a great idea.

I have never heard of a cookie table at a wedding but it sounds yummy. Several of the nieces and nephews in my family and my daughter don't really like cake. SO they had a small wedding cake for them and served cheesecakes to the guests. I made them all. Some of the weddings I made several different kinds of cheesecakes. Everyone liked it. It was somthing different.

I have never heard of this tradition on the west coast, but cupcake trees in lieu of a huge wedding cake have become popular. I think that is a great idea. Have you ever been "HONORED" with the job of cake cutter? That is a horrid job. Thankfully it is usually reserved for the younger gals.

When my niece was married in Erie PA a few years ago they had a full sit down meal and then the cookie table. Her brother who was married in Pittsburgh did not have the cookie table. This was new to me, hadn't seen it before. I know my sil, mil and aunts on both sides spent weeks baking and freezing cookies for it.

I'm from same area and it wouldn't be a reception without the cookie table.

Usually they are Italian cookies like biscotti, chocolate tattoos, sesame seed, tea balls, Hello Dollies, etc. most tables have at least 15-20 different types.

I live in CT, grew up in CA, have relatives in SD and ND (but haven't gone to weddings there). This is the first I've ever heard of a cookie table - but I think it's a wonderful idea. I wouldn't be surprised if they do it in the Dakotas, because all my relatives and friends there are superb cookie makers!

My grand son had the sundae bar at his wedding in Calif. Great success. I didn't even miss cake.... smile.

Definitely a cookie table but watch that the wait staff doesn't steal all the lady locks!!!

I also live in Niles!! small world huh? I live near the High School

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

at my niece's weeding, we had a chocolate candy table, all home made chocolates - was a BIG hit.

I am from southern Ohio and it is the custom here for as long as I can remember. A new custom is the candy bar and cupcakes instead of the traditional wedding cake.

I've never seen this where I live, but I'm all for it. My family LOVES cookies of any kind. We always have different kinds when we get together.

I'm from Southwest Ohio near Cincinnati and have never heard of a cookie table at a wedding before. I love the idea though......I do LOVE me some cookies!

open bar/kids or no kids, cookies and or cake etc are all bride/groom/budget decisions.

haha this is an area that is very much Italian so maybe . . . I am Irish but married an Italian with a very large family

I have never heard of serving cookies at a wedding reception, but I think it is a brilliant idea. It sounds like so much fun, that several members of the family (and maybe friends too) could be a part of the wedding party by contributing their own special cookies. The take home bags or boxes is a nice touch too.

I've never heard of this but would love to see it come to my area. I don't like most cakes but cookies, oh my!!!

I think it must be a regional thing. Cool idea. I think anymore weddings are less formal and very different. One this summer had pink as her color and she had a cotton candy machine :) Several lately have a photo booth for guests, complete with clothes to dress up. Never heard of the cookies but sounds fun, maybe that has taken the place of the groom's cake that used to be handed to guests.