Our very simple to follow explanations will help you make a decision what balloon decorations are the ideal pick for your special party.
We felt overwhelmed with the large selection of displays we came across when we began with balloon decorating. Yet along our learning process, we discovered that all of it boils down to three simple concepts:
Balloon Bouquet
Usually used as a centerpiece for tables, the balloon bouquet actually is the heart of a balloon display. Between two and nine balloons, tied up to curling ribbons, are organized in various heights and affixed to a table base. In the examples beneath the base is either a heavy flower gift basket or a sand-filled balloon. It can be almost any decorative object that is weighty enough to hold the balloons in place and where the ribbons can be attached to.
A balloon centerpiece may be made of latex OR mylar (also referred to as foil) balloons OR you can blend them.
As the balloons will need to be helium filled this choice determines the lifespan of your balloon decorations. Whereas mylar balloons will float as much as 14 days, even the best quality latex balloons would not stay up longer than for about 12 to 24 hours. By utilizing a product knowned as 'hi-float', it's achievable to make them last 10 to 25 times as long!
Balloon Arch
Generally, balloon arches fulfill their purpose best when you can walk through them! So they are excellent balloon decorations for an access or exit. Frequently they are also utilized to frame the head or cake table at a wedding celebration or to design a spectacular stage decoration.
Unlike with bouquets you have the choice between helium or air-filled balloon arch.
A hovering arch is composed of single helium-filled balloons organized like pearls along an invisible nylon string, hence the name "String of Pearls". Both ends are fixed to bases, very similar to the table bases for bouquets, just a bit heavier and often basing on the floor. A brick or sand filled balloon will do the job and can easily be decorated nicely.
With a "String of Pearls" - commonly utilized for wedding balloon arches - you build an incredible effect with relatively little effort. The only drawback is the short life-span, because of the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as discussed above.
If the decorations for your exclusive event should last longer, you can either utilize mylar balloons as an alternative to latex or you go with an arch with air-filled balloons.
With these options of balloon decorations, there is a bit more constructional work involved, as an air filled balloon arch needs some supportive elements:
a structure made from a sturdy, flexible material like conduit, PVC piping or aluminium pole and
a tough bottom at either end to secure the arch.
The pipe or rod is formed into the actual arch and the balloons are connected to it, typically in sets of three to five balloons. Utilizing different colors and placing the balloons in a special way you'll get this nice spiraling effect shown on the photo. Don't panic, we'll explain step by step and with lots of photos how to do that!
Depending on the size of the arch you'll have to blow up quite a few balloons! This investment, of course, only makes sense if you are planning to do many more balloon decorations.
A much simpler way to build an air filled balloon arch is by using so called 'Link-o-Loon' balloons.
Balloon Column
Positioned as amazing eye-catchers at each side of an entry or head dining table at a wedding and reception, balloon columns are great for wedding balloon decorations. They also make exceptional balloon decorations for defining an area of your wedding venue, as an example the dance floor or the stage decoration.
As columns are normally crafted from air filled balloons, supporting materials are required:
a solid metal or plastic pole and
a strong base as anchor for the pole.
The balloons are tied to clusters of often three to five balloons and fixed to the pole, layer after layer. By utilizing even bigger balloons for the bottom and the top, and smaller balloons in between, the balloon column takes the characteristic shape of its model in the "real" world. To crown your work you could place a stuffed giant balloon above the balloon column.
Like with the air filled arch, the two of these balloon decorations imply you'll must blow up a bunch of website balloons! So, renting out an inflator would be a really good idea, especially for blowing up the giant balloon that crowns your column.
You could fill only the balloons at the bottom with air and the rest with helium. That way you would not need a stable base and a pole, as the balloons are going to support themselves. Utilize a nylon line to connect the balloon clusters to.
A helium filled balloon column will definitely do great if you need the display just for one evening. It saves you the hassle of setting up a frame and getting an inflator. However, helium costs much more than air and the lifespan of the balloon decorations will be much shorter.