How-to
How to wrap plastic cutlery in paper napkins: choose the napkin, stack the set, roll or fold a pouch, and secure it for a wedding table.
A napkin that unrolls in a guest's hand or lets the knife slide out is the usual way a wrapped place setting goes wrong. The fix is mostly in the first two decisions, which napkin to use and how the utensils are stacked, and the folding itself is simple once those are right.
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Start with a square napkin, since even folds are easiest to get from that shape. It also needs to be sturdy enough to survive being folded and rolled without ripping, and large enough to cover the handles of a full set. Small cocktail napkins tend to leave the cutlery poking out, so a lunch or dinner napkin is the safer pick.
The plastic silverware comparison for wedding covers the finish and piece counts of each set.
The roll is the quickest option and suits a buffet line or a long banquet table. Work with the napkin unfolded and flat, and keep a hand on the stack until the first fold is made.
A loose roll unwinds on its own, so a closure matters. Anything guests can remove easily works well, and for a wedding some online stores will customize napkin bands.
A pouch hides the handles and shows off a patterned napkin. Some decorative napkins are printed on the outside only, so check which side carries the pattern before the first fold; the pattern should end up facing out on the finished pouch.
Finished rolled sets can be placed together in a basket for a tidy display at a buffet, so guests can pick up a set on the way down the line.