Plain favor boxes are easily prettified; bonus points for presenting them in a color gradient (we mixed three glitters to produce four shades). Boxes, B.T. Elements, btelements.com.

These petits fours by Dragonfly Cakes are packaged beautifully (and easily) by placing them in small boxes by Sophie's Favors and attaching a faux flower on top.

Pillowy pom-poms make the perfect adornment for favor boxes -- or anything, for that matter. Writ large, they're also a refreshing alternative to the ubiquitous paper lanterns in an outdoor reception tent, and they lend a whimsical, personal vibe to an otherwise stuffy, formal ballroom. Choose from tulle, organza, and net, perhaps with a lace or Swiss-dot pattern, then set aside just a few minutes to put them together (the breezy adornments are easy to make).

As they say, it's all about the packaging. On the next few slides we share some of our favorite packaging ideas.

Seal your treats with a pretty ribbon and pearly round labels (to make, use circle craft punches and sew tags to ribbon). Pyramid boxes, Bayley's Boxes. Metallic paper, and translucent paper, Paper Presentation. 32mm silk ribbon (color #178), YLI.

Favor boxes can look playful or sophisticated with yarn. Many of these ideas use the same technique: Attach the end of yarn to the bottom of a box with a clear round mailing seal. Wind yarn around the box several times, cut off, and affix the other end to the bottom with a second seal. Precut all of your yarn before wrapping.

Play with color by swapping the lids on bright boxes. Affix printed labels, then tie contrasting elastic cording in bows and loop them around corners.

This romantic box is swathed in organdy and finished with ribbon and a monogram sticker.

Buttons make charming closures: Punch holes in the box's lid for the button, slip wire through, and fasten on the underside. Then, tie a ribbon to the button's base, loop it around the box, and wrap to secure.

Add your mark with these favors inspired by the packaging of fine chocolatiers. You can cover prepackaged chocolates in personalized paper decorated with your initials, names, or wedding date. Any word-processing program can produce simple type, but a graphics program is needed for more complicated designs. Print on lightweight paper, and finish with slim ribbon.

Two-tone ribbon shows off its colors on this simply wrapped box.

A hand punch makes these cheerful dots (and a lot of confetti), while paper lining makes them stand out.

Boxes topped with flowers make a beautiful centerpiece -- a table number is embroidered onto ribbon encircling the largest box. Inside, the stems sit in water bottles stabilized by crumpled paper. Favor boxes, which contain nonpareils, double as place cards.

This place-card favor blooms with tiny paper flowers.

For a sophisticated favor, stack cookies in a plastic box lined with your monogram on all sides. To line the box, scan calligraphed initials and print onto card stock -- back with glassine using double-sided tape. Score and fold to fit in box.

Origami paper in shades of orange and an understated tag create a stylish favor.

Favors and seating cards function as one. Place truffles or any small favors in boxes, and wrap in solid and patterned papers. Print names and table numbers onto adhesive-backed paper, cut out, and affix to tops.

A tiny tassel makes opening this box especially fun. The wide, striped fabric around the box has been trimmed with pinking shears at the sides.

Give your guests a little something ''from the lovebirds'' with these cute packages.

The box gets a new silhouette from a sheer paper band that's folded at the top and secured with a ribbon -- the couple's names and wedding date were rubber-stamped on the band before it was wrapped around the box.

A beaded message and a few lines of Shakespearean verse photocopied onto newsprint paper spell out pure romance.

Tiny bows are the prettiest way to add polish to little favor boxes, but trying to cut evenly notched ends, which keep the ribbon from unraveling, can fray the nerves of the most patient bride. Our quick-fix tip: Center skinny ribbon over one saw-toothed notch of pinking shears, and snip. You'll clip a neat V in seconds, leaving you time to tend to more important details.

A copper-cord tie is finished with a monogrammed wax seal.

Paper ribbon printed with a poem binds a stack of boxes.

A secret message hidden beneath coconut-and-cashew truffles is revealed as the chocolates are devoured. The packaging seems fancy, yet this is just a standard box trimmed with scalloping scissors. The tabs are usually tucked in, but we left them out, punched holes, and threaded ribbon through for a unique form.

If you don't want to hide your pretty favors inside a box, use a see-through package to showcase them instead. A trio of pastel macaroons in this clear container is finished with a paper flower.

These groovy favors are made using just four different flower punches.

Do guests a favor and present them with tokens of affection that you've planted inside these petite flower-topped boxes. Wrap each small box with a belt of layered ribbons or a strip of woven fabric, and cap it off with a single fabric blossom.

Tiny versions of the favor boxes were placed on guests' pillows; chocolate dragees are nestled inside.

Boxes of pecans are given as favors; each is decorated with a vintage illustration indicating the table assignment.