• You’ll need time. You can’t rush the assembly of certain do-it-yourself favor packaging. So plan to devote a few nights to the job.
• Enlist help. If you’re doing it all by yourself it’s going to take longer than if you have a group of friends and family to assist.
• Are you crafty? Some of the do-it-yourself favor packages are quite tricky to put together. If you don’t have patience to deal with this kind of craft, think about purchasing your favors ready-made.
• Will the favors look professional when complete? Do a test run with a small batch of the wedding favors you intend to put together. Sometimes the packaging is flimsy and once you’re done bending down flaps, the box looks like it’s been through the wringer. If you don’t like the results, move on to something else.
• Go simple. If you’re already stressed about other details of the wedding, don’t add one more thing to your list. Go with a simple favor that will not require hours of your evenings and weekends to complete. Remember, it’s the thought that counts. No one will know how much time you invested but you.
• Think about cost per piece. If you can get the same thing ready-made for the same price, go for it. Your time is valuable and if the item is going to cost the same once you fill it, why not go with a pre-fab package?
• Do a durability test. Put together one or two of the packages complete with filling and see how well it travels in the back seat of your car. After all, you have to transport your favors to the reception somehow and if they won’t survive the trip, wouldn’t you like to know ahead of time? Walk away from any favor that is going to spill, break, or leak. You just don’t need the headache.
• Go with adorable packages that are easy to assemble. You can find boxes in the shape of brides and grooms that you can fill with candies easily. Use miniature glass bottles that you can fill with mints or gumballs. Just forego any tying of ribbon that could become tedious after the 87^th one.
• Anything that takes just a few seconds to put together is your best bet. Think votive holders where you just need to pop in a candle. Or choose a silk sachet bag that you can fill with chocolates. Favor boxes that require you only to come up with the contents are also a great choice. If it’s a fill and go kind of favor, it’s a good idea.
• Craft stores are a great resource for DIY wedding favors. You can find tins to fill with goodies, bubbles and swans that you can incorporate into the decor, glass containers of every kind that you can fill with things like heart-shaped candies or gumballs. Browse around. You’ll find that the wedding aisle has many bows already formed to save you time. Lots of shortcuts are there on the shelves ready for the taking.

Think about your time and resources before you plan to do your favors yourself. They’re a good, cost-effective idea if you have the patience and drive to complete them.

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To create the vintage look in the upper right corner of this collage, look to flapper girls of the 1920's or Victorian hats worn in the 1800's for inspiration.  This box was created using simple white feathers, ribbon, and natural floral components that can all be purchased at a local craft store.

For the splish splash beach wedding favors on the lower left corner, you can create a sand surface in any pattern you choose by artfully placing on white glue and then sprinkling it with artificial sand or brown glitter.  For the sand castle, use card stock to make a cut-out and glue it to the chest after you've sprinkled it with "sand" as well.  You can buy miniature seashell decorations at a local craft store as well.  Simply glue them on to the treasure chest with hot glue.

If you are dreaming of a white Christmas, these snowflake adorned treasure chests might be the answer.  Simply cover the lower half of the chest in white glue and sprinkle with artificial snow to create a glimmery effect.  Then add a die-cut snowflake or snowflake dazzler.  The perfect favor choice for a winter wedding!

Favor photo courtesy of the 2009 Weddingstar Catalog.

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The top left favor was created by taking a white floral embossed gift box and embellishing it with a white hydrangea bloom and hand-painted butterflies.  This delicate and beautiful favor will look amazing on your garden party or spring/summer wedding reception tables.

Simple green bear grass is tied in a unique pattern around a cubed gift box to create the favor on the top right corner of the photo.  It takes a bit of practice to get a grass pattern that you like, but it is well worth the effort.  What a great favor idea for the guests at green or garden weddings.

Bring some urban sophistication to a modern wedding with the sculptural ribbon design like the one shown in the lower left hand corner.  A simple white favor box is first wrapped with double-sided brown/green ribbon and then the ribbon is cut and starched to create the center portion (which is pinned to the box).   Modern. Fresh. Unique.

Travel stamps are used to create the "return to sender" favor in the lower right corner of the photo.  You can find small travel stamps at your local craft store.  Stamp your honeymoon, wedding ceremony or destination wedding location all over the gift box.  Tie with simple package ribbon or yarn for a whimsical touch.  We recommend using plain favor boxes (non-embossed) so that you can get good contact with the ink stamp.

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The example in the upper right corner shows how you can mix and match favor boxes to create an elegant and unique look that ties in perfectly with your color scheme.  Best of all, this favor is affordable. The black and white favor boxes are embellished further with wedding words ribbon (faith, hope, joy, love and cherish) along with clear heart-shaped dazzler confetti pieces.  Simply use a hot glue gun to secure the embellishments in place after you've filled the boxes with your favorite edible candy or other small gift for your guests.

The second DIY favor example in the lower left corner of the photograph shows a classic floral patterned favor box that is topped with the initials of the bride and groom.  You can create the initials by purchasing textured paper at your local craft store and using letter templates and an knife tool to cut out the letters.  Simply glue them to the favor box lid.  Be sure to take the favor boxes to the store with you when looking for matching textured paper.  Add a small piece of ribbon and heart dazzler for a bit of sparkle.

Add a Moroccan flair to your favors by dressing them up with some beading and gold roping that you purchase at a local craft store.  The rich jewel tones add an elegant touch to the simple floral pattern favor box as shown in the bottom right corner of the photo.  Jewels like the ones shown can be somewhat expensive so look for craft store sales and coupons to save some money.

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