My baby brother Norman got married.
I guess he’s not a baby anymore.
And he married a wonderful woman, Stefanie.
She’s beautiful…
Inside and out.
I love these two.
For the wedding Stefanie’s wish for the favours were wedding cake cookies inspired by this Martha Stewart photo:
Here’s our version:
150 of them (plus ‘in-case’ extras)…
One was put on each place setting at the reception tables.
We also made cupcakes for a cupcake tier.
The top tier originally was supposed to have this super tall cake on top made by Konstadin of Cakes by Konstadin, who is genius at making life like gumpaste roses…
But I’m such a clutz… the cake toppled over (my fault), in transition, and my friend Dianna of Yours to Savour, came to the rescue and whipped up another small cake for me, and I used Konstadin’s rose for the top. Fewf!
A few of my cousins and Aunt, who flew over from Europe for the wedding, helped put all the cupcakes together the day of.
This is how we always dress when putting cupcakes together… Seriously, not really, that was shortly before the ceremony.
Here we are morning of assembling.
Cupcakes flavours were; carrot, vanilla and chocolate. The flowers were from Petra International. (See my flower post on Petra International, here).
*
Making Wedding Cookie Cakes
Guess how many cookies we made?
1000.
Yes, that’s right.
One thousand cookies.
150 guests at the wedding, multiplied by 6 cookies per cookie cake, and 100 extra cookies in case of breakage etc. (Especially with a clumsy person like me around!).
Any ideas how much butter?
This much:
Thanks to all the wonderful people on Facebook who helped me out with suggestions on where to buy butter and the favour boxes!
Here’s my recipe if you like. But, I do have to say that these aren’t the kind of cookies which can be made ahead and stored in your freezer.
The 150+ little gumpaste flowers on top were easy to make though. Here’s a video on the same process. All I did differently with these, was spray them with PME pearl lustre spray at the end. I was even able to make them weeks ahead and store in a cool, dry spot. (Sorry about the photographs again – phone pics).
My cousin Silja from Switzerland, my Mom and I made the cookie cakes together.
The cookies for each tier were 2″, 3″ and 3.5″
After baking and cooling 1000 cookies, we stacked them in matching layers of two and adhered them with white royal icing.
Instead of flooding 500 cookies with royal icing (only covered 3 cookies per cookie cake), I decided to use rolled fondant instead.
For that many cookies, it was much faster to roll the fondant out and use circle cutters.
You’ll notice we cut the smallest circles out of the largest circles to save fondant. The largest circle was going to be covered by the next layer of cookies anyways.
A thin layer of clear corn syrup on each piece of fondant…
500 fondant circles on 500 cookies later, then took all the finished stacks and adhered those together with royal icing, and topped each with a sugar flower.
Thank goodness good family friends (family, really), Pia and Alfons, came to help with boxing them.
It took the 5 of us about 3 hours to finish:
- taping the ribbon to the bottom of each box with a clear circle sticker, to help keep it in place
- gently placing cookie cakes in boxes
- tying first a knot, inserting Love is Sweet tag, and finishing off with a bow
Cutting 150 ribbons to the proper length, assembling the boxes, cutting the vellum paper to fit in the bottom so that the cardboard didn’t get greasy, and punching out the Love is Sweet tags, was done ahead (Thanks, Mom and Silja!).
Oh, and the adorable tags were from the Etsy shop Confetti Printables. Easy to customize to the desired colors and Holly was so prompt and lovely to deal with. After I’d purchased the design in the matching wedding colors, I went to a print shop to have them done on cardstock. The corresponding circle punch was from Michael’s. The clear boxes are from The Box Depot. We used the 4″ by 4″ by 4 1/2 ” box.
All in all it was a fun, community effort getting these wedding cookie cakes done. I realized even more how blessed I am to have good family and friends. How amazing was it as well that eleven relatives on our side alone, flew over from all over Europe to come celebrate! Here they are to the left of Stef and Norm.
And Stef and Norman’s wedding day… so special. (There aren’t too many pics of me because I shy away from photos anyways, and the ones I am in… I’m such an emotional person… I was teary-eyed in so many of them).
And not a beautiful, teary-eyed, like Stef walking up the aisle with her Dad. I love this picture! (Here come my happy tears!)
Isn’t she absolutely stunning!
And my lovely mother and brother walking down the aisle. I don’t know why, that’s what started getting me so emotional… my little brother, all grown-up, walking down the aisle with my Mom. I’m so proud of him.
I love these two.
One of my favorite shots of the wedding, just like one of my own fave wedding photos, is this one where the just married couple gets pelted by traditonal Swiss wedding candies… Under each wrapper is a sweet saying for the couple. Let’s just say that the candies aren’t soft though!
Have I mentioned that I love these two?
If you’d like to see the dance that resulted in this photo, you can click here or below to find it on YouTube. Just a warning, the video is 15 mins long, so I’m mainly sharing it here for family or for anyone who is procrastinating from perhaps any of these; a) cleaning the bathroom, b) writing an essay c) doing your taxes d) all of the above. It’s really sweet (the video), and I enjoyed it, but I’m biased of course, and as I mentioned, I love these two.
All the best to you on your life’s journey together, Stef and Norman! I know your humour, sense of adventure, and love for each other will bring you through thick and thin, and if you ever need anything from your sister, just call.
Love is sweet.
xo,
Marian
p.s. Special thanks to Scarlett O’Neill for letting me use many of her beautiful photographs in this post. She has such amazing photography talent!
Brantcookies says
Wow what a lot of work for you and your family, but what a beautiful result for a beautiful couple!
Yuri - Chef Pandita says
How cute are those cookie cakes? Congrats to the newlywed couple 🙂
Rita-Greer,SC says
Loved the whole wedding blog from the prep to the outtakes! Thank you for sharing such a beautiful day with your family. The Wedding Cookie Cakes, Cupcake Weding Cake and The Dance were all fantastic!
Caroline @ chocolate & carrots says
What a handsome couple! You are such a sweet big sister to make all of these for them! 😀 They are beautiful!!!
Tesei says
Marian, this is the cutest post I’ve read in a very long time. You did sucha great job and for such a great occassion. I can’t tell you how many times my little 4 year old made me play for him the part of the video where bride and groom dance! This video will stay in your lives forever, thank you so much for sharing such an important day in your lives!
Esther Dares says
Marion, your brother is a sweetie! Stef is beautiful. This is a wonderful post. My daughter is getting married in September, I will be showing her these cookies.
niner bakes says
OHMY Marian this post was so wonderful…I love weddings, which woman doesn’t =)
But since it is your brother and his wonderful wife, it was really touching to read your blogpost.
1000 cookies, that’s huge! But how come I think that no matter what you start to do that you will succeed anyway?? haha.. I LOVE all your work, I am happy there were many people helping you out too, so kudos to them as well.
Wonderful Monday, wonderful post, thanks Marian!
xoxo, love
niner
p.s. too bad I cant see the video…German rules lol
Kendra (Royal Cookie Designs) says
Beautiful wedding photos, beautiful favors and beautiful words you wrote about your brother and new sister 🙂 Loved your post!
Francesca says
Such a beautiful bride, and very beautiful cookies to ‘match’. The wedding looked perfect – I am sure everyone had a wonderful day, and were very grateful to share it with the happy couple. Such a lovely post – thank you.
The Partiologist says
Everything about this post is gorgeous! Love it all! 🙂
Congrats to the bride and groom!
Donna says
The favors and cupcakes are stunning and certainly a “labor of love.” Such elegant presentations at the reception! How wonderful that family helped you assemble both. These are very special gifts from the heart for your brother and his beautiful bride, as is this wonderful post!
Misty Richmond says
That is a beautiful love story. Amazing cookies too.
Francesca Dolcimaterieprime says
Everything means beauty in this post… Love it
Kiss
Francesca
Claudell says
Beautiful photos and beautiful couple!
Congrats on your delicate work and thank you for sharing with us…
Get some rest please!!!
Claudell
Kimmie says
Gorgeous! 1000 cookies, shoot me now!
Jen Mc says
WOW… You are truly amazing for being able to complete such a project so well in such a short time. So very thoughtful, too! Congrats to you and your brother!
Maria Helena says
A wonderful wedding…amazing…
Maria says
I want to get married again-to Josh, just so I can have these cookie cakes. GORGEOUS!
Debbi Hook says
What an awesome sister you are…and how crazy is it that I cried when I was reading your blog post? YOU are a lovely person!
Georgia says
Wow! So many things pop out to comment on your post. The main thing that remains with me – besides 1000 cookies!!! – is “I love these two.” What a wonderful statement in so many ways. Congratulations on your wonderful family.
Jaclyn's Cookies says
Wow! 1000 cookies! Plus cupcakes?! The favors looked beautiful, and so did your brother and new sister-in-law!
Elena Mayoral says
OHHHH!!!!!!!, What a beautiful and lovely video!!!!, thak you very much for share it with all of us!!!!.
Top one for the cookie cakes!!!!, Really a very good job!!!
Paula says
These cookies were a beautiful labour of love for your brother and his wife. What a stunning couple they make and what a beautiful family you have. It must have been such a wonderful day and celebration and you are so sweet to have shared some of it with us.
Gaby says
OMG Marian!! What a wonderful job you did for the beautiful couple. I really enjoyed your post… it was very touching, and the pictures are awesome!! All the best for your brother and his beautiful wife. Thanks for sharing this post with us.
Mari says
Congratulations and best wishes to the newly weds! Marian, the wedding favours and cupcakes are beautiful. Thanks for sharing this lovely post, that’s very inspiring in many ways.
Cupcations says
Simply gorgeous!
I recently did the cookie cakes for my sisters baby shower, I hardly had any help and almost promised myself never to make them again lol and I only made 33! You must have a lot of patience!
Love the idea of cutting the fondant in the middle you are right that does save you tons of fondant! Wish you have posted this earlier 😀
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=400504006648429&set=a.271871389511692.74038.215268065172025&type=3&theater
Anne says
Thank you for sharing that wonderful event. The wedding cakes are so beautifully done!
Jackie @ This Sweet Wife says
I loved your post. It’s was so touching to read about your family and the wedding. You did a beautiful job on the cookie cakes and the cupcakes. Absolutely beautiful!!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
Marian, Those are utterly amazing! I’m sure your sister-in-law feels very welcomed into the family. 🙂
Amy says
Marian,
You are an inspiration! I loved all of it, especially reading your thoughts! My little brother is getting married in a little less than two weeks…I’m doing cookie favours, cupcakes, and the sweet table…so obviously I’m here reading your blog instead of baking! hahaha And Scarlett O’Neill is very talented too…you guys make a good team! What a timely post! Thanks for sharing! xo
Amy says
P.S. WHERE DID YOU GET THAT CUPCAKE STAND??!!
charlene says
What a great wedding..The pictures are wonderful and the couple is beaming.
I made the exact favors for my daughters’ wedding and they came out just perfect…Everyone loved them, and I did too….
As far as the tears, that just shows how much we love …
Stefanie says
A huge thank you to my amazing sister-in-law and the team of amazing people behind her that put this together. Marian’s talent is remarkable and I’m so glad that our closest family and friends could enjoy it first-hand and celebrate her with Norm and I. One thing about Marian (as I”m sure you all know) is that she never does anything below 150% and you can see this in everything she does – Love her so much! xoxooxx
Mercedes@Satisfy My Sweet Tooth says
Wow beautiful and couple and so lucky to have you! 1000 cookies and cupcakes! Was this your largest production ever?? You are amazing and everything was gorgeous!
Michiganlass says
Marian,
Just beautiful, what a cute couple, congratulations to them!! You did an amazing job, so much work!! Where did you find the plastic boxes?? Thanks so much for sharing your family, very pretty Mom too:)
Let us know where the boxes came from, unless I missed it:)
Kim - The TomKat Studio says
Absolutely beautiful job with the cookies, Marian! Congratulations to your brother and his new wife! What a gorgeous couple!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says
What a tremendous time in their lives and a lovely favor you did by making them these beautiful favors! Congrats to the happy couple!
Donna says
OMG…..WHAT a labor of love……thank you for sharing…your work and the video. You can tell that they are soooooo in love. Many wonderful wishes for many years together to a very beautiful couple. God bless you all! 🙂
Annie says
I used your cookie recipe for a wedding this past weekend. Mine weren’t as thick, but they froze and baked beautifully at 325F =)
Marian N says
One thousand cookies you say. Are you mad or just the world’s best older sister?
The latter I suspect. Another amazing job M.
Also watched the video and love, love, loved it. I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard someone start singing sto lat. I am of Polish and French descent so the song was quite familiar to me.
Your posts always lift me up and this one especially so. Marian N
ROSA MARY FEIJOO says
I LOVE THIS COOKIES AND ALL…. THANK YOU
Karyn - Pint Sized Baker says
What a wonderful day for your family!! Lots of love and stress and in the end it was all worth it!
Loved the video as well. Laughed when they broke out into the Robot!
Sandi says
Congrats to your brother and what an amazing gift of your time and talent that you gave! Norman’s lucky to have a sister like you. Beautiful!
Tanja Schuurman Robinson says
Hi Marian….I watched the entire video, tearing up at the end….thanks for sharing!! The cookies and cupcakes are remarkable, looks like a wonderful family event. Congratulations on your new sister! 😀
Silja says
ohh Marian, your post is amazing…I’m so happy to see all these pictures and I’m glad I could be a part of this wonderful day. xoxo from Switzerland
jOrge says
WONDERFUL!!!!
Thanks for share this beautiful wedding!!
Lorna says
Thank you for sharing. LOVE those wedding cookie favors. My daughter just got engaged last week. Wedding is NEXT summer. I may just “copy” your cookie favors … if my daughter approves … and I am sure she will. Lorna
p.s. your bride and groom are beautiful. Congrats to them.
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says
Absolutely amazing and such a sweet post.
diana Keller-cannon says
Marion-
I love the video! Their dance segment was awesome! That must have taken some practice!!!!
lexy says
ADORABLE and shes gorgeous! Why aren’t you in the toasts!!