Help!!

[SJayneW]

All of my friends are laughing at me when I hand them my invitation. Their reaction is "You expect me to make 7 dozen cookies?"

I have my heart set on this; what can I do?

[Debbi]

I got the same reaction the first year but kept it small so they would at least try it. Going on our third year and the invitation list continues to grow. Good luck and be persistant!
~D~

[Bonnie]

I can see where the number would scare them but remind them that most batches of cookies make 3 1/2 dozen so that is only doubling the recipe which they would do anyway even to get 4 or 6 dozen.

[SJayneW]

Thanks; I do have a handful of people who are pretty excited about it. Most of us work together, so I think if some of them chicken out because of the amount, they will hear about how great it was, and want to be there next year. I HOPE!!

[Bonnie]

Yep and then they will be sorry they missed out. My first exchange had around 9 ladies and every year I send out 20 invitations and get anywhere from 9-15 RSVP's. Seems to be more ladies every year. I have gone from asking for 6 dozen to 4 dozen just because it is a crazy time of year BUT a lot of ladies do want to make the "traditional" 6 dozen.

You're the hostess and it is your time and money being spend on the party so you should do it your way. Rules can be changed from year to year so if you find this time around that 7 dozen was a bit much fine change it for next year BUT make it a great exchange for the ones that do work hard and want to participate. Believe me these ladies are grateful just to have some time to themselves to visit and relax before Christmas.

I ended up cancelling my party this year (could not find a weekend or evening to host one) However, I was invited to one that is being held on a Tuesday morning which is perfect for me. When the invite said 6 dozen I thought - YIKES only because I was use to doing my 4 dozen but two extra dozen is no biggie. These ladies invited 20 as well and so far have around 15 coming. They have gone all out to make it fun - it's a progressive type exchange. At one house a huge brunch at one house, a white elephant exchange at the second and the cookie exchange at the third. I can't imagine complaining about the request for 6 dozen cookies.

Also, not many ladies host these exchanges so when someone is invited they should be kind enough not to make remarks - either accept or decline.

[Robin]

It might take a few years to get people rolling on this. My advice is to invite twice as many people as you think you actually want. Example, if you want 10, invite 20.

Additionally, I've found over the years, that people who RSVP'd "yes", end up not showing due to other commitments or them not baking their cookies, or illness or whatever and people who RSVP'd "no", ending up showing up anyway.

The above example actually happened for my TV show, a gal named Nancy said she couldn't attend... they used her story, she's the one that went to the high quality Italian bakery... her visiting relatives left her house early and she realized at the last minute that she could come.

My cookie parties are more an "ever changing cast of characters"... there's only a handful of people who always show up every year. I understand this, as everyone is busy for the holidays.

[SJayneW]

Well, Robin, I've taken your advice and invited actually invited 16 people; my house is small and more than 10 people feel a little cramped.

All but 2 people have RSVP'd Yes, and 3 of them want to bring a friend.

While I think this is great, and I always say 'the more the merrier', I worried that they will feel crowded and not have fun.

I'm also concerned that now everyone will only have about half a dozen of each cookie to take home. Is that OK? Do people mind that?

[Carla]

I don't think people will mind that number at all. Last year, I had my first exchange, and had 12 ladies here, and they each brought 6 dozen, and no one complained about the number of each cookie they got. I think if they are having fun at the party anyway, they don't even think about that!
So, don't stress out (like I'm doing - my party is Friday and only 4 out of 30 women have rsvp'd yes!!!!) Just relax and have fun!

[huffjoann]

Don't you just hate it when people don't RSVP!!! I even give them a date I expect an RSVP by so I can make sure I don't need to coerce anyone into changing their cookie recipe so we don't have too many like cookies. I think I had about 90% RSVP rate this yr.
As far as getting too few of each cookie, I look at like this, if you are planning on serving the cookies for something, arrange it like a sampler platter so then you only need a few of each kind to present.
My thoughts on the quantity of cookies, you either do or do not want to participate regardless of amount. Would 1 dozen more of less make that big of a difference that all of a sudden people would be jumping out of the woodwork to bake cookies. I think a lot of people don't realize that once you get your batter mixed up and start the actual baking, it goes fairly quick.
I request 6 dz., but the swap my Mom goes to asks for 8 dz. and they had 19 ladies at theirs on Sunday, so I think part of it is just finding the "right" crowd who loves the insane holiday baking and this type of thing.
I only felt bad about the 6 dozen when I found out at my exchange that one lady wasn't coming only because she couldn't afford to bake the cookies. Well in a true christmas spirit another friend found out and she told her that is not a good enough reason to miss out, I will take care of your cookies for you, so come on with me and have some fun!!! The girl who wasn't coming emailed me this morning to thank me and she said she was so glad the other stepped in with generous heart and did that so she wouldn't miss out.

[SJayneW]

I'm happy that they are finally getting excited about this. I know I am! I am having so much fun planning this thing.

I'll post a new thread with all of my plans.

[Robin]

huffjoann said:

Don't you just hate it when people don't RSVP!!! I even give them a date I expect an RSVP ........

I think part of it is just finding the "right" crowd who loves the insane holiday baking and this type of thing......

It's rude to not RSVP to an invitation of any kind. I drop people from the list if there's 2 years of no RSVP. One woman I dropped I later ran into and she asked if I was still giving the party, she said she wanted to come if I still was, so I put her back on the list. No, I didn't tell her why she was dropped! Some people never give parties and they have no idea how much time or trouble we put into it!

Joan, you hit the nail on the head the type of group, the 'insane baking group'... unfortunately very few of my attendees fit that profile. Most come for the 'party', the fun, fellowship, break from the kids, husbands, holidays and the food! They only bake once a year for my party.

The other big stress is the morning of the party, when the phone calls start pouring in of people calling to say why they can't come, even though they RSVP'd YES. I've heard every 'excuse' in the world.

I think to myself, "Why can't they just say "Hey, I didn't have time to bake my cookies", which is probably a lot closer to the truth then, "I'm sick, my kids are sick, my dog ate my recipe, my grandmother died, yada yada yada.


I've always said this: A Cookie Exchange is one the hardest types of parties to give. That's because it's during the busiest time of year and it takes a lot of planning for the attendees. So I am always greatful for the people who do make the effort and show up.