custom sugar cookies: how to describe your event when ordering

Custom sugar cookies: how to describe your event when ordering

Custom sugar cookies can bring a theme, colour palette, milestone, or short message into a celebration. The easiest way to begin is not to have every design decision finalized. Instead, send a clear event brief with the details that affect timing, quantity, design direction, and collection or delivery.

At Bake Sale, our public FAQ says custom sugar cookie orders require at least one week’s notice and a minimum order of 24 cookies. It also asks customers to include reference pictures, the event date, and the quantity when enquiring. These are useful starting points, not confirmation that every date or design will be available, so please contact us before making firm event plans around a particular request. (bakesaletoronto.com)

1. Begin with the occasion and event date

Start by telling us what you are celebrating. A birthday, baby shower, wedding, corporate gathering, holiday event, thank-you gift, and everyday celebration may each call for a different design direction. You do not need to write a long explanation. One or two sentences can give us helpful context.

For example:

• “We are planning a first birthday party with a woodland theme.”
• “These cookies are for wedding welcome bags.”
• “We need a simple branded treat for an office appreciation event.”
• “We are hosting a holiday gathering and would like a seasonal design.”

Include the event date, not just the date you hope to pick up the cookies. If the cookies need to arrive before the event, explain when they must be in hand and allow time for transport, setup, and serving.

Bake Sale’s current FAQ lists at least one week’s notice for custom sugar cookies. It also says most other items need 24 hours’ notice and larger cakes need 48 hours, but those timeframes do not replace the custom-cookie planning period. Contact us as soon as the event date is known, particularly when the date is fixed or the order is part of a larger celebration. (bakesaletoronto.com)

2. Explain the design direction clearly

A useful design brief separates the essential details from the flexible ones. Tell us what you would like the cookies to communicate and identify the visual elements that matter most.

You might include:

• The theme or occasion.
• Preferred colours or a general colour family.
• A name, date, initials, logo, or short message.
• A preferred shape, if you have one in mind.
• Whether the look should feel playful, elegant, seasonal, modern, or simple.
• Any design features you would like to avoid.

Reference pictures can help us understand the direction. You can mention what you like about each image, such as the colours, lettering, floral detail, character, shape, or overall simplicity. A reference image should guide the conversation rather than imply that every detail can be reproduced exactly.

It is also helpful to identify your priorities. Perhaps the event colours are essential, while the exact shape is flexible. Maybe the wording matters most, while you are open to our advice on how to arrange it. This gives us a practical starting point when discussing the request.

Avoid sending a large group of unrelated images without explanation. A short note such as “I like the muted colours in the first image and the simple lettering in the second” is easier to work from than a collection of pictures with no direction.

3. Share the quantity and guest context

Tell us how many cookies you are considering, even if the number is still approximate. Bake Sale’s FAQ currently lists a minimum order of 24 custom sugar cookies, so include a quantity that reflects the event rather than asking only about the design. (bakesaletoronto.com)

The number of guests is useful context, but it does not automatically determine the order quantity. Explain how the cookies will be used:

• Will each guest receive one as a favour?
• Will they be placed on a dessert table for guests to choose from?
• Are they being added to welcome bags or gift boxes?
• Will they be served alongside cake, cupcakes, or other treats?
• Are some being reserved for hosts, vendors, speakers, or a family keepsake?

If you are unsure about the quantity, say so. We can discuss the product format and the information needed to confirm a suitable order. You can also compare custom sugar cookies with other celebration options in our current catalogue, including cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, macarons, squares, scones, gifts, and ice cream cakes.

If you are ordering for a Toronto or Etobicoke event, include the venue area and whether someone else will be collecting or receiving the order. This helps keep the event plan and handoff details together from the beginning.

4. Discuss ingredients and guest considerations directly

If an ingredient, allergy, or dietary concern affects your event, raise it before ordering and ask about the specific product. Bake Sale’s public FAQ states that we are not a nut-free bakery and cannot guarantee products are free from nuts or other allergens. It also directs customers to staff for questions about ingredients used in a specific product. Do not treat a decoration, colour, or product name as an allergen guarantee. (bakesaletoronto.com)

You can include questions such as:

• “Are there specific ingredients we should discuss for this order?”
• “One guest has an allergy concern. What information can you provide about this product?”
• “Are there handling or serving considerations we should know before ordering?”

Give us enough information to understand why the question matters, but do not assume that a requested change can be made until it has been confirmed by our staff.

5. Confirm pickup or delivery details

Tell us how you would like to receive the cookies and where they need to go. Bake Sale’s FAQ says delivery is available for online items and that an additional delivery charge applies. Current delivery availability and arrangements should be confirmed for the particular order. (bakesaletoronto.com)

For delivery, double-check the complete address, unit or suite number, recipient name, local phone number, building access instructions, and any concierge details. Our current policy says recipients should be available during the delivery window and that specific delivery-time requests cannot be accommodated. It also explains that inaccurate address information, unavailable recipients, unattended packages, weather, traffic, and other circumstances can affect delivery outcomes. Review the current policy before relying on delivery for a time-sensitive event. (bakesaletoronto.com)

For pickup, confirm who is collecting the cookies, the scheduled date, and how the order will travel from the bakery to the event. If the cookies are going to another person or venue, make sure that person knows when to expect them and where they should be taken after collection.

A simple message you can send

Use this outline when contacting us:

> Hello, I am planning a [type of event] on [event date] in [Toronto or Etobicoke area]. I am interested in custom sugar cookies for approximately [quantity] guests/cookies. The theme is [theme], and the colours or wording we would like are [details]. I have attached [number] reference pictures and noted the features that matter most: [priority details]. The cookies would be [picked up/delivered], and I would like to confirm current availability, design options, timing, and any ingredient questions. Thank you.

A message like this gives us the occasion, date, quantity, design direction, references, and fulfilment preference in one place. We can then discuss what needs to be confirmed before you finalize the order.

At Bake Sale, we are a women-owned and operated neighbourhood bakery established in 2004 at 5230 Dundas Street West in Toronto. Explore our cakes, cupcakes, cookies, cake pops, squares, scones, gifts, and celebration options, or contact us for help choosing the right fit and confirming pickup or delivery details.

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