Wedding favors

[Army Wife'79]

Cookie table??? Ahhhh, do tell us more. Never heard of that one.

[PhoenixAzul]

Originally Posted by Army Wife'79

Cookie table??? Ahhhh, do tell us more. Never heard of that one.

Oh man, the cookie table is the best part of a Pittsburgh wedding. Typically, all the women in the families bake their best cookies, and bring them to the reception (or give them to the Mother o' the Bride a few days before). Then they're spread out on a table, with either little boxes or plates (some people just use their napkins...we're not posh!) and load up on all the different cookies. It's sort of a bonus favor. Apparently it's a sort of "family pride" thing. Most brides get a wee book with the recipe cards as well.

One wedding we went to this summer had 120 DOZEN (that's right, 1,440 cookies) cookies baked by the brides grandmother ALONE.

A bride on a wedding site I frequent used this description, framed, on her cookie table to break it down to the out-of-towners:


The Cookie Table

The cookie table is a Pittsburgh tradition attributed to the collaborative culinary efforts of many ethnic groups. Nobody knows the exact origin of the tradition; it may be Italian or Slovak or Polish or Croatian or Greek. The Scandinavians may get involved, and the Indians, too. The Germans do cookies, and so do the Irish. Certainly, the cookie table is an outward symbol of the support and love which the bride and groom receive from all of their friends and family, no matter what their heritage. In fact, it’s symbolic of what makes America great: a medley of cultures taking the best of each. In this case, it’s favorite family cookie recipes.

There may be no greater tribute to cross-cultural friends and marriages than a Pittsburgh cookie table.

- Adapted from “The Cookie Table: A Pittsburgh Tradition”, by Suzanne Martinson

And number two:

These cookies were all homemade by the mother of the bride, sisters, aunts, cousins and grandmothers. Extended family got involved, too. Friends - of everyone involved today - jumped into the mix. The cookie table truly is the gift of love.

[Bride] and [Groom] truly thank, from the bottom of their hearts, everyone involved in the production of this cookie table and in every aspect of this day. There is no way that we could ever adequately express our gratitude. So simply: Thank you.

And remember, in Pittsburgh, people don’t wonder, “How was the wedding?” They ask, “Were the cookies good?”

- Adapted from “The Cookie Table: A Pittsburgh Tradition”, by Suzanne Martinson

[sageofages]

Originally Posted by PhoenixAzul

Oh man, the cookie table is the best part of a Pittsburgh wedding. Typically, all the women in the families bake their best cookies, and bring them to the reception (or give them to the Mother o' the Bride a few days before). Then they're spread out on a table, with either little boxes or plates (some people just use their napkins...we're not posh!) and load up on all the different cookies. It's sort of a bonus favor. Apparently it's a sort of "family pride" thing. Most brides get a wee book with the recipe cards as well.

One wedding we went to this summer had 120 DOZEN (that's right, 1,440 cookies) cookies baked by the brides grandmother ALONE.

A bride on a wedding site I frequent used this description, framed, on her cookie table to break it down to the out-of-towners:


The Cookie Table

The cookie table is a Pittsburgh tradition attributed to the collaborative culinary efforts of many ethnic groups. Nobody knows the exact origin of the tradition; it may be Italian or Slovak or Polish or Croatian or Greek. The Scandinavians may get involved, and the Indians, too. The Germans do cookies, and so do the Irish. Certainly, the cookie table is an outward symbol of the support and love which the bride and groom receive from all of their friends and family, no matter what their heritage. In fact, it’s symbolic of what makes America great: a medley of cultures taking the best of each. In this case, it’s favorite family cookie recipes.

There may be no greater tribute to cross-cultural friends and marriages than a Pittsburgh cookie table.

- Adapted from “The Cookie Table: A Pittsburgh Tradition”, by Suzanne Martinson

And number two:

These cookies were all homemade by the mother of the bride, sisters, aunts, cousins and grandmothers. Extended family got involved, too. Friends - of everyone involved today - jumped into the mix. The cookie table truly is the gift of love.

[Bride] and [Groom] truly thank, from the bottom of their hearts, everyone involved in the production of this cookie table and in every aspect of this day. There is no way that we could ever adequately express our gratitude. So simply: Thank you.

And remember, in Pittsburgh, people don’t wonder, “How was the wedding?” They ask, “Were the cookies good?”

- Adapted from “The Cookie Table: A Pittsburgh Tradition”, by Suzanne Martinson

Note to self....

Have a cookie table at the next spawnling to get married reception.

LOVE the idea!

[ZTABullwinkle]

I have to agree with many of the previous posters on here who say favors usually end up in a drawer or the trash. I was reading this blog, Weddingbee, and someone posted this idea. I think it is a great way for your guests to have a voice in your donation, but not paying for favors that are going to end up in the trash. This is how I plan on doing my "favors."

Weddingbee: Sweet Charity

[Army Wife'79]

OMG that is awesome. I would love to see a cookie table. Army wives historically have cookie exchanges within their "coffee groups" and it is so much fun to taste everyones "best" recipes. Maybe I should email D and tell her to keep an eye out for boys from Pennsylvania.

[SWTXBelle]

I LOVE the whole cookie table idea - especially if the bride gets a cookbook with all the recipes.

[Jill1228]

We were married in Las Vegas and had decks of cards done with our names and wedding date on them. They were done in our wedding colors and were a huge hit

[RaggedyAnn]

Now I want cookies and mac and cheese! Will someone just post pictures of yummy fruit! I'm trying to lose weight here!

That cookie table idea is cool. I'll have to pass it on to the next person I know who is getting married.

[Army Wife'79]

Excellent column on the whole "favors" issue. Seriously, when did we turn weddings into children's birthday parties?? I love Miss Manners.

[SthrnZeta]

Originally Posted by Army Wife'79

Excellent column on the whole "favors" issue. Seriously, when did we turn weddings into children's birthday parties?? I love Miss Manners.

This is such a good point - and I really like what she said about making a donation instead: "Yeah, we thought about giving you a gift and then decided not to." That's almost worse! I think we may have a basket of rock candy or cookies or something up front, little bags of chocolate maybe, something edible and not an expensive gift. The gifts should go to the wedding party that helped organize the day to show your appreciation, you shouldn't have to show appreciation to people that just show up for the party. Now there's going to be even more money for food/booze/honeymoon! Thanks Miss Manners!

[ZTABullwinkle]

Thank you mods!

[ZTAMich]

Thanks mods for cleaning up this thread!!

[PeppyGPhiB]

My fiance's father has volunteered to make wine splits with custom labels for our wedding guests to take home (he makes his own wine).

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

My fiance's father has volunteered to make wine splits with custom labels for our wedding guests to take home (he makes his own wine).

Apparently there is a winery here where they do this. At my Godson's wedding, we each received a bottle of wine with a label that had a picture of the bride and groom. The bridal party had gone to the winery and were involved in the bottling/labeling so it was like a little mini-party and time for the bridal party to get to know each other too. Very cool idea.

The other wedding I went to this summer gave wine stoppers. Also a great favor. I'd been wanting one and was excited to get it!

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Apparently there is a winery here where they do this. At my Godson's wedding, we each received a bottle of wine with a label that had a picture of the bride and groom. The bridal party had gone to the winery and were involved in the bottling/labeling so it was like a little mini-party and time for the bridal party to get to know each other too. Very cool idea.

The other wedding I went to this summer gave wine stoppers. Also a great favor. I'd been wanting one and was excited to get it!

Yes, there are a few wineries in the Seattle area that will do it, but we love that the wine is actually going to be from "the family wine estate" (haha).