I love everything about the holiday season, and cookies are definitely high on that list! Unfortunately baking multiple types of cookies myself isn't always an option, so we hosted a party that's the next best thing - a cookie exchange party! We decked the halls in pretty pastel colors and invited guests to bring their favorite confections and good cheer. Pretty platters were brimming with sweet treats and everyone was pleased as punch to take home a sampling of all the delectable delights. Take a peek at all the merry details below and be sure to download the free printable cookie exchange tags here!
We set the mood for our party with a delightful pastel color palette that consisted of mint green, pale pink and light blue with touches of gold here and there. Guests were enchanted with the vintage, yet modern feel of the decor.
A large tree would have overwhelmed the space, so we created a whimsical Christmas tree out of foam board trimmed in fringed crepe paper streamers. We then dressed the tree with wood bead "ornaments" and topped it with a pretty pink star. The tree effortlessly hung over our dessert table with a few strips of double sided foam tape. Our makeshift tree was the perfect focal point for our gathering.
You can find the steps to create your own Fringed Crepe Paper Christmas Tree here.
The Tablescape
We lined our dining table with a lush garland of greenery, which was sprinkled with faux craft snow.
Sprigs of boxwood with white berries were tucked into our garland for an extra layer of texture. Round glass ornaments and mini place card ornaments, painted in shades of mint green, light blue, light pink and gold, dotted the garland and provided a welcome pop of color.
Three DIY wooden trees were a beautiful addition to the center of our dining table. The trees were painted in shades of light pink and mint green, and then received a lovely touch of gold spatter paint.
Additional round glass ornaments, along with mini ornament place card holders, were painted in colors to coordinate with our theme and were tucked into DIY Unfinished Wood Sleighs that sat at each end of our table. We painted the sleighs light pink and blue then embellished each side with a glittery snowflake.
The Place Settings
Guests could hardly wait to take their seats at our gorgeous table!
Each place setting was arranged by topping blush scalloped dinner plates with Mint Green Polka Dot Dessert Plates. Premium gold forks received a touch of light blue paint and rested atop Mint Green Polka Dot Dinner Napkins.
DIY Mini Stockings were painted light blue with gold polka dots and sat next to each place setting, ready to be filled with cookies. Jumbo gold jingle bells looked festive tied to each with a light pink bow. Sprigs of boxwood were tucked inside each stocking for an extra cheerful detail.
Bright pink wine glasses were brimming with wine once the guests took their places. Their deeper shade of pink was perfectly juxtaposed with the lighter pastel tones used throughout the party.
A sampling of beautifully detailed sugar cookies, from Say Anything Bakery, sat in the center of each of the guests' plates.
Guests were particularly enamored with the cookies in the shape of adorable snowy pink houses!
Each plate also held an adorable wooden snowman that we turned into a place card.
The snowmen were first painted white, and then their hats were painted mint green and pale pink.
Guests' names were then printed onto white cardstock and secured to the front of the snowmen with a dab of hot glue. They made the perfect little take-home gift for everyone!
Cookies and Such
Our buffet was piled with an assortment of delightful cookies and sweets for guests to enjoy and package up.
A round pink serving tray beautifully displayed a variety of macarons and coconut macaroons. Guests could barely keep their hands off them!
DIY Unfinished Wood Sleighs, painted light blue and pink and jazzed up with a glittery snowflake, sat on either end of our buffet. Cookies, wrapped up in Gold Dot Cellophane Bags and tied with mint green ribbon, looked so charming tucked into the wooden sleighs.
One of our favorite decor details from the party was our DIY Triangle Shelf Christmas Tree. It somehow seemed modern and classic all at the same time thanks to the mint green paint. We loved that our painted glass ornaments were the center of attention hanging from Gold Baker's Twine. Another 3D wooden stand up tree, that was painted light pink with gold flecks, was perfectly paired with the DIY Triangle Shelf Christmas Tree.
Be sure to check out the details to create your own DIY Triangle Shelf Christmas Tree here.
A gold dot serving tray sat in the middle of our buffet and held perfectly portioned cookies packaged up in Mini Hot Pink Favor Boxes. The boxes rested gracefully in the tray on a sprinkling of faux craft snow.
We love a good pun and couldn't resist including a cheeky quip on our cookie tags! They looked cheerful tied to the mini boxes with a bit of pretty mint ribbon. Be sure to download the free printable cookie exchange tags here.
Clear Cupcake Stands were painted light blue and held delicious lemon cookies on either side of our tray of mini favor boxes. The cookies fit right in with our decor thanks to their mint green bow. Be sure to only paint the outside portions of the cupcake stands to ensure they remain food safe.
An assortment of white chocolate macadamia nut, oatmeal raisin and chocolate chunk cookies formed a nest for adorable sugar cookies from Missy P Sweets and looked right at home on a pink round serving tray.
Our adorable Mrs. Claus Bakery Sign was the perfect finishing touch next to all our confectionery delights. Guests were smitten with the sweet candy cane heart detail on the sign! You can find the details to create your own Mrs. Claus Bakery Sign here.
We would be remiss to not share another look at the gorgeous cookies from Say Anything Bakery! They rested atop a layer of strawberry thumbprint cookies on a mint green cake plate and were the talk of the party.
As the party wound down, the guests all departed with joyful hearts, full tummies and a bevy of treats to savor later.
We hope you've found a few ideas to host your own cookie exchange party this coming holiday season! Be sure to check out the details to create your own whimsical DIY Fringed Crepe Paper Christmas Tree Backdrop, modern DIY Triangle Shelf Christmas Tree and Mrs. Claus Bakery Sign.
