We've all heard the expression, "It's what's on the inside that counts," but paying attention to presentation is far from shallow. Packaging can set a theme, tone, or mood—not to mention fashionably disguise the gorgeous gift beneath. Chic fabrics, papers, and prints upgrade any present while also letting receivers now how special they are to you. The finished product makes everyone happy—so clearly, it's time to get wrapping.
Are your wrapping skills not as strong as you'd like them to be? Then we've got good news: It's surprisingly easy to package gifts (whether they're welcome bags, wedding favors, bridal party presents, or holiday packages) beautifully without investing major time or money. Steal some of the following wedding favor-packaging ideas (and a few free templates, too!) and use them as inspiration for wrapping your own gifts, whatever the occasion.
Plus, wrapping up wedding favors doesn't have to feel like a chore. Grab your mom and your bridesmaids, pop some bubbly, and get crafty together. Working in a team, with the people who've stood by your side throughout the entire wedding planning process, will make a wedding chore feel more like a celebratory event. And believe us—having someone ready to pass the tape will seriously expedite the process. However you take on packaging your gifts, these adorable ideas are guaranteed to make an already-thoughtful gift feel even more personal.
Take the Cake Boxes
Send guests home with slice-shaped boxes that look good enough to eat. Use simple supplies like paint, ribbons, pipe cleaners, hot glue, and faux fruit and flowers to make the cake boxes resemble the real thing. (The "whipped cream" on our cherry slice is piped collage clay, and the "icing" on the strawberry one is colored hot glue.) Fill them with themed candy, or have your caterer add cake slices.
Bayley's Boxes, Inc. Large Cake-Slice Boxes, $1 each, bayleysboxes.com
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From top:
R. Flower Fake Lemon Slice, $14 for 10,
. Gootrades Artificial Red Cherries, $8 for 50,
. Mod Podge Collage Clay in "Light Pink," $10 for 4 oz.,
. Recollections "Coral" Paper Flower, $5 for 2,
. DinoPure Artificial Strawberry, $11 for 30,
. GlueSticksDirect Pink Faux Wax Glue Stick, $7 for 12,
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Bark-Inspired Bags
Setting up a candy bar on the big day? Slip sour gummies or chocolate bark (pun intended!) into wood-grain wedding-favor pouches lined with glassine bags.
The Paper Sand Box Wood Grain Favor Bags, 4" by 6", $7 for 25, thepapersandbox.etsy.com
. Paper Mart Glassine Bags, 3 3/4 " x 6 1/4", $21 for 1,000,
papermart.com
Pine Tree Stamp
If you're getting hitched in winter—or getting ready to give out holiday presents—use a little pine-tree rubber stamp to turn simple kraft paper into festive gift wrap for favor boxes.
Worthwhile Paper Little Pine Tree Rubber Stamp, $12, worthwhilepaper.etsy.com
. Paper Farm Kraft Wrapping Paper, $18 for 100',
amazon.com
. Paper Presentation Gift Boxes, $15 for 10,
paperpresentation.com
Pinecone Boxes
Make decorative pinecone boxes look even more natural with a coat of brown acrylic paint.
Martha Stewart Crafts Pinecone Decorative Boxes, $7 for 3, amazon.com
. Martha Stewart Crafts Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Craft Paint, in "Chestnut Brown," $2,
michaels.com
Faux Wood Gift Box
Craft a vessel that looks like it's been whittled by painting lids of oblong wooden boxes with a faux-bois pattern roller and acrylic craft paint.
Paper Mart Oblong Wooden Boxes, $9 for 3, papermart.com
. Martha Stewart Crafts Faux-Bois Pattern Roller, $20,
michaels.com
. Martha Stewart Crafts Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Craft Paint, in "Acorn," $2,
michaels.com
Patterned Paper Chocolate Wrap
Talk about a sweet deal: Two chocolate bars packed together as one! We wrapped milk chocolate bars with pretty designs printed on plain paper, then tied the bundle together using silamide waxed nylon thread.
Download the Blue Dandelion Wrapping Paper Design
Wrapped Journal Gift
Try pairing that pocket journal with a trio of colored pencils to encourage brilliant thoughts. We wrapped the present in a pattern that you can print onto paper and use yourself! Secure with a cyan-hued yarn.
Muji Colored Pencils, $11 for 36, muji.com
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Jar Favor Wrapping Idea
Even a store-bought spread gets a personal touch with a floral label and matching lid cover.
Soap Gift Wrap
Crisp folds—sew the ends closed with a machine—and a paper band printed with a dandelion motif are fresh details for an even fresher surprise: soap.
Adirondack Fragrance & Flavor Farm Balsam Soap Bars, $10 each, newyorkmakers.com
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Plant Gift Wrapping Idea
Prettify a pot holding cheery imaptiens with a simple wrap. Add care info to the back of the tag.
Copper Gift Wrap
To dress up a basic white gift box, apply metallic tape that's been cut at an angle.
Metalized Mylar Tape, from $7, uline.com
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Wax Seal Gift Wrap
Present small items (like homemade cookies!) in canvas-wrapped paper boxes, secured with twine and wax seals, for packages that are just as delightful as what's inside.
Ornament Box
House delicate ornaments in simple wooden boxes so guests at your upcoming holiday party can carry them home safely.
Studded Gift Box
Top presents with brassy buttons for a sophisticated spin on the metal embellishments of the punk and glam-rock past.
Glitter Gift Boxes
Plain favor boxes are easily prettified when dusted with subtly-hued glitter.
Feather Gift Box Wrapping
Your friends and family will be all atwitter over gifts tied with ribbon and adorned with a feather tuft.
Tied Fabric Wrapping
Give your gifts a soft and sweet look by cutting a square of lightweight linen, setting the box in the middle, and affixing the two opposite fabric corners to the box top using double-sided tape. To finish, knot the other two together.
Fabric Gift Wrap
Textiles make gorgeous (and easy and inexpensive) packaging for gifts. Simply wrap each item and finish with ribbon, yarn, or a rubber-stamped tag.
Paint Splattered Gift Tins
Take a brush to paper and use your creation to cover cylindrical tins, which get a cute finish from our free "XO" sticker clip art.
Fringy Gift Wrap
Embellish a gift wrapped with a simple length of twine with a keepsake leather tassel key chain.
Stitched-Paper Gift Wrap
Gussy up a gift with a needle and thread. These special deliveries are adorable—and totally doable.
Calligraphed Jewelry Boxes
Show your love for your friends by gifting them jewelry in calligraphed hexagon papier mâché boxes.
Malachite Wrapping Paper
Wrap gifts in malachite-print paper, tie them with a gold cord, and finish them off with a sprig of flowers.
Marble Favor Wrapping
For extra elegance, wrap favor boxes with marble wallpaper and tie with twine or thread.
Stamps in Lieu of Wrapping
Retro motifs can remind you to celebrate life at a slower pace—and showcase hobbies like biking, sewing, and reading. Use them to personalize notebooks with a rubber stamp, like these glasses, bikes, and scissors options.
Muji Note Books, from $2, muji.com
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Stamped Gift Tag
A kraft paper gift tag with a silverware stamp hints at a culinary delight—actually a hunk of nutty Romano cheese—wrapped up in parchment paper.
Metallic, Confetti-Filled Mailer
The opposite of junk mail: A metallic bubble mailer holding pink confetti and candles topped with heart-patterned tape.
Thank-You Note Wrapping
Give the fixings for a fine cup of joe. Buy the beans from a local roaster, stamp your many thanks on the bags, then fill 'em up.
Parchment Paper Wrapping
When you want something less showy than tulle or cellophane, parchment is a naturally charming wrapper for wine. Tie a big tag on with twine, then voilà!
Food To-Go Box
Following the last song, offer sweets to go in boxes with labels that you've created These dulce de leche doughnuts with almonds look sweet wrapped in bagel boxes adorned with stamps.