The newest sweet treat buffet to emerge into wedding receptions is the cookie buffet. Near the same idea as the candy buffet, the cookie buffet offers guests the option to pursue some different sweet treats to take home with them.
This idea is also very budget friendly. You can make the cookies yourself instead of choosing to purchase them. Many cookies are fairly inexpensive to make. You can also make many different cookies using the same base ingredients and just changing a few of the “extras” in them. Be sure to realistically think about how many you will need to make or buy. For typical sized cookies 2-3 per guest is a good choice. You may decide to increase or decrease depending on the cookie size you wish to have and your budget. For 150 guests 3 cookies a piece is 450 cookies. That’s roughly 38 dozen!
Just like you would label each jar of candy at a candy buffet, you’ll want to label each vessel of cookies. Be careful in letting your guests know the contents of the cookies. Nut allergies are serious and you should warn your guests if there are cookies being served that contain nuts. Your best option is probably just to forgo any cookies that contain them all together. It’s also a nice gesture if you can, to supply cookies that are lactose or gluten-free.
Also be sure to make a small sign letting your guests know what this is and what they are expected to do. Never forget to take the time and make your instructions cute. After all this is your wedding. Try something like: “Please help yourself to a few cookies to take home and eat. We appreciate your being here and making our day extra sweet!”
What you choose to display your cookies in should continue to reflect the tone of your wedding. Be sure to have tongs on hand so that the guests are not tempted to place their hands inside the containers.
Several cookie holder ideas are:
- Vintage cookie jars
- Clear glass canisters
- Baskets
- Different size galvanized pails (check for food safety!)
- Old tea tins
- Pretty tea trays
Have on display containers for the guests to take the cookies home in. Whether they be paper bags, take out boxes, or cake boxes the possibilities are endless.
Lastly, if you really want to send your guests over the moon you could send them off with mini glass bottles of milk. Again if you choose to go this route, give your guests options. Skim, Whole and Lactose-Free should be enough choices.
