I can’t tell you the last time I actually bought a REAL wedding present. Even when you pick something off a John Lewis Gift List it miraculously turns up gift-wrapped (well, kind of) at the newlyweds house with no intervention from the sender.
When I was about ten I remember my cousin getting married. In the run up to their wedding I thought it was utterly amazing that they had a scrapbook of products cut out of the Argos book with a catalogue for guests to cross-reference to and pick their gift. I was in awe that getting wed meant that you could choose absolutely anything you wanted from the Argos catalogue. I was so envious.
I have been invited to seven weddings this year and I expect money or a gift voucher will be requested by the Bride & Groom rather than an Argos dinner set. I’m not a fan of just writing a cheque and popping it in a card cause I’m more of a person who loves going through the Gift Geek website and choosing a gift among them cause I feel the act of giving a gift rather than handing out money is much more personal and emotional. However I do like to at least pretend I’ve made a bit more effort and so I’ve put together a few ideas for turning an envelope crammed with money into a pretty present.
I bought most of the supplies for this project from World of Envelopes. Their selection is massive but postage can bump up the price so it’s best to buy several items in one order.
Tied-Up
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{Materials}
- Envelope
- Ribbon
- Luggage label
- Alphabet stamps
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- Take a luggage tag and stamp out your chosen message. My alphabet stamps were from The Range
- Thread the tag onto the ribbon and wrap around your card
- Hey presto, the card instantly looks more like a present!
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Pillow
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{Materials}
- Pillow box
- Ribbon
- Wrapping paper
- Luggage tag stamp
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- Assemble the box and slot your voucher, cheque, notes inside
- Punch a tag from wrapping paper, card etc and slide on to the ribbon
- Wrap ribbon around the corners of the box securing with tape or a bow
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Confetti
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{Materials}
- Velum or transparent envelope
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- Take your heart punch (or indeed any other shaped punch) and create your own paper confetti
- Pop in an envelope along with your ‘gift’
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Office style
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{Materials}
- String & washer envelope
- Bakers twine
- Washi tape
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- First of all spend a few moments marvelling at this envelope. If you could have a favourite style of envelope, I think this would be mine
- Take a few strips of washi tape and carefully place on the envelope. I hope this Bride and Groom won’t be too disappointed that they’re not receiving tickets to Paris as their present
- Remove the string that comes with the envelope and instead take coloured twine and wrap around the rings
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Heart
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{Materials}
- Double-sided wrapping paper (or you could use two sheets glued together)
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- Cut a heart from the wrapping paper
- The next steps involve several folds to turn the heart shape into an envelope. Follow this simple Pinterest tutorial to recreate
- Seal with a blob of glue or cute sticker
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How many weddings are you off to this year? Do you always have to get the cheque book out or do you send real-life gifts? All of these suggestions would work well for couples giving voucher-type gifts to their wedding party too.
Love these, a lovely personal touch. I always like to give something handmade for weddings, especially when they’re accompanied with cash.
My favourite at our wedding was from a friend who selected lots of sweets and packed them up into a load of ’10p mix’ bags, which matched our wedding colours. They’d printed personalised stickers for each one and they were all popped into a big box. Very easy and simple but so thoughtful that they’d taken the time! They were also perfect to throw into our hand luggage and much through on the honeymoon flight. xx
This is the cutest idea! And top marks for matching the wedding colours too – super thoughtful. I want a pic n mix now…. x
I think that lining a plain old envelope really makes a difference too. I did this for each of our Save the Dates and the Invitations – my husband thought I was bananas spending so much time on something that half the people probably won’t even notice but I think it made them so much more special and it’s the little details that make the difference. I do it now for special letters and cards too. http://www.weddingcrafter.co.uk/tips-and-techniques/7/techniques/35/how-to-line-an-envelope
I always try to get a handmade card too – there is a woman who makes gorgeous wedding cards at our local flea market or Etsy is also great.
I love the envelope liners Bryony, and completely agree it’s the little details that make all the difference x
Ahhh I am addicted to wrapping! I LOVE nice wrapping paper and notelets so these ideas are lovely! If it is a very close friend who I know well I tend to buy off piste (i.e. not on the list) as when we got married it was lovely getting something personal. However, I do buy on list too. I am not a fan of giving money or vouchers though I know they are useful! My absolute present rule is I will not buy anything I don’t like myself (even if they absolutely love it).
Love the phrase ‘off piste’ Victoria! One of my most favourite wedding presents was off piste (we opted for a Trailfinders list to use for the megamoon) and was a set of M&S Mr and Mrs mugs from our Bridesmaid. I still smile every time I have my tea out of that mug! x
Lovely ideas! I am such a fan of receiving and sending letters rather than emails and texts so this is very inspiring!
[…] Who’s off to a wedding this year? What kind of card will you be giving the happy couple? Oh and if your present comes wrapped in the form of an envelope then be sure to check out our archive post on pretty gift wallets. […]