Our simple to follow explanations will help you make a choice what balloon decorations are the best solution for your special event.
Once we kicked off with balloon decorating, we felt overwhelmed with the impressive variety of displays we discovered. Yet along our learning process, we understood that it all boils down to three general designs:
Balloon Bouquet
Generally used as a centerpiece for tables, the balloon bouquet actually is the heart of a balloon display. Between two and nine balloons, tied to curling ribbons, are organized in various heights and attached to a table base. In the examples under the base is either a heavy flower basket or a sand-filled balloon. Yet it could be essentially any decorative item that is heavy enough to keep the balloons in position and where the ribbons can be tied to.
A balloon centerpiece can be made from latex OR mylar (also called foil) balloons OR you can blend them.
As the balloons have to be helium filled this choice determines the life expectancy of your balloon decorations. Whereas mylar balloons will float approximately 14 days, even the greatest quality latex balloons won't stay up much longer than for about 12 to 24 hours. But, by using a product called 'hi-float', it's possible to make them last 10 to 25 times as long!
Balloon Arch
Naturally, balloon arches carry out their function best when you can go through them! They are perfect balloon decorations for an entry or exit. Commonly they are also utilized to frame the head or cake table at a wedding or to create a magnificent stage decor.
Unlike with bouquets you get the choice between helium or air-filled balloon arch.
A hovering arch is made of single helium-filled balloons lined up like pearls along an invisible nylon line, hence the name "String of Pearls". The two ends are fixed to bases, quite similar to the table bases for bouquets, just a bit heavier and usually standing on the floor. A brick or sand filled up balloon will get the job done and can easily be decorated quite nicely.
With a "String of Pearls" - quite often utilized for wedding balloon arches - you create an amazing result with reasonably little effort. The only downside is the short longevity, as a result of the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as explained above.
You could either use mylar balloons as an alternative of latex or you go for an arch with air-filled balloons if the decoration for your special occasion should last a lot longer.
With these types of balloon decorations, there is a bit more constructional effort required, as an air filled balloon arch needs to have some supporting parts:
a mounting crafted from a strong, flexible material such as conduit, PVC pipe or aluminium rod and
a durable foundation at either end to anchor the arch.
The pipe or rod is formed into the actual arch and the balloons are connected to it, typically in clusters of three to five balloons. By using different colors and placing the balloons in an unique way you'll get this great spiraling result displayed on the photo. Do not worry, we'll explain step by step and with lots of photos how to do that!
Depending on the size of the arch you'll need to blow up plenty of balloons! So, get your friends and family ready! As an alternative you may use a hand pump or maybe rent or buy an electric inflator. This investment, of course, only makes sense if you are preparing to do many more balloon decorations.
A much less complex way to design an air filled balloon arch is by making use of so named 'Link-o-Loon' balloons.
Balloon Columns
Placed as outstanding eye-catchers at either side of an entryway or head dining table at a wedding ceremony, balloon columns are great for wedding balloon decorations. They also make exceptional balloon decorations for defining an area of your wedding venue, for instance the dance floor or the stage decoration.
As columns are frequently made of air filled balloons, supporting materials are required:
a solid metal or plastic pole and
a solid base as support for the rod.
The balloons are connected to clusters of often three to five balloons and fixed to the rod, layer after layer. Using even bigger balloons for the bottom and the top, and smaller sized balloons in between, the balloon column takes the characteristic look of its model in the "real" world. To crown your work you could put a stuffed giant balloon on top of the balloon column.
Like with the air filled arch, both of these balloon decorations imply you'll must blow up a great deal of balloons! Renting an inflator would be a fantastic idea, specially for blowing up the giant balloon that crowns your column.
Additionally you could fill only the balloons at the bottom with air and the rest with helium. By doing this you would not need a strong base and a pole, as the balloons will support themselves. Utilize a nylon line to attach the balloon clusters to.
If you need to more info have the display specifically for one event, a helium filled balloon column will do fine. 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.