Our very simple to follow descriptions will allow you decide what balloon decors are the optimal option for your special occasion.
We felt overwhelmed with the huge range of displays we came across when we started off with balloon decorating. Yet along our learning process, we figured out that everything come down to three basic styles:
Balloon Bouquet
Typically used as a centerpiece for dinner tables, the balloon bouquet really is the heart of a balloon display. Between two and nine balloons, connected to curling stripes, are laid out in different heights and connected to a table base. In the instances below the base is either a weighted flower gift basket or a sand-filled balloon. It can 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 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 latex balloons would not stay up longer than for about 12 to 24 hours. By utilizing a product called 'hi-float', it's feasible 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 throughout an invisible nylon string, hence the name "String of Pearls". Both ends are fixed to bases, quite 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" - usually utilized for wedding balloon arches - you put together an incredible effect with fairly little effort. The only drawback is the short life-span, because of the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as described above.
If the decorations for your exclusive event must last much 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 little more constructional labor involved, as an air filled balloon arch needs some supportive elements:
a frame made from a solid, flexible material such as conduit, PVC piping or aluminium pole and
a tough bottom website 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 a variety of 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! Get your family and friends ready! You could use a hand pump or even rent or buy an electrical inflator. 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
Placed as impressive eye-catchers at either side of an entrance or head dining table at a wedding, balloon columns are ideal for wedding balloon decorations. They also make great balloon decorations for defining an area of your wedding venue, as an example the dance floor or the stage decoration.
As columns are oftentimes composed of air filled balloons, supporting materials are required:
a solid aluminum or plastic pole and
a strong base as anchor for the pole.
The balloons are tied to clusters of usually three to five balloons and fixed to the pole, layer after layer. Utilizing a bigger size balloons for the top and the bottom, 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 at the top of the balloon column.
Like with the air filled arch, each of these balloon decorations mean you'll have to blow up a lot of balloons! So, renting an inflator would be a fantastic strategy, specifically for blowing up the huge balloon that crowns your column.
You may fill only the balloons at the bottom with air and the rest with helium. This way you will not need a sturdy base and a pole, as the balloons will support themselves. Use a nylon line to secure the balloon bunches to.
A helium filled balloon column will do fine if you need the display solely for one evening. It saves you the headache of creating a frame and leasing an inflator. On the other hand, helium costs more than air and the life-span of the balloon decorations will be much smaller.