Our quick and easy to follow explanations will aid you decide what balloon decorations are the optimal choice for your special occasion.
We felt overwhelmed with the huge range of displays we came across when we kicked off with balloon decorating. Along our studying process, we figured out that it all boils down to three fundamental designs:
Balloon Bouquet
Normally 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 attached to a table base. In the examples beneath the base is either a heavy flower basket or a sand-filled balloon. Yet it could be virtually any lovely looking item that is heavy enough to keep the balloons in position and where the stripes can be tied to.
A balloon centerpiece may be crafted from latex OR mylar (also known as foil) balloons OR you can combine them.
As the balloons must be helium filled this choice determines the longevity of your balloon decorations. Whereas mylar balloons will float around 14 days, even the finest latex balloons will never keep up much longer than for about 12 to 24 hours. However, by utilizing a product called 'hi-float', it's achievable to make them survive 10 to 25 times as long!
Balloon Arch
Typically, balloon arches perform their objective best when you can walk through them! They are excellent balloon decorations for a doorway or exit. Often they are also used to frame the head or cake table at a wedding event or to make an incredible stage decor.
Unlike with bouquets you have the choice between helium or air-filled balloon arch.
A floating arch is made of single helium-filled balloons arranged like pearls throughout an unnoticeable nylon line, hence the name "String of Pearls". The two 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" - usually utilized for wedding balloon arches - you put together an amazing effect with fairly little effort. The only drawback is the short life-span, as a result of the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as described above.
You could either use mylar balloons instead of latex or you go for an arch with air-filled balloons if the decor for your special event should last much longer.
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 support 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 clusters of three to five balloons. By using 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! So, get your family and friends ready! Alternatively you might use a hand pump and even rent or buy an electrical inflator. This investment, of course, only makes sense if you more info are preparing to do much 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
Positioned as excellent eye-catchers at each side of an entryway or head table at a wedding celebration, balloon columns are excellent for wedding balloon decorations. They also make wonderful balloon decorations for marking out an area of your venue, for instance the dance floor or the stage decoration.
As columns are generally made from air filled balloons, supportive elements are needed:
a strong metal or plastic pole and
a solid base as support for the stick.
The balloons are secured to sets of generally three to five balloons and fixed to the rod, layer after layer. Using 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 on top of the balloon column.
Like with the air filled arch, the two of these balloon decorations imply you'll must blow up a bunch of balloons! Renting an inflator would certainly be a fantastic idea, in particular 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 won't need a stable base and a pole, as the balloons are going to support themselves. Make use of a nylon line to connect the balloon clusters to.
If you need the display just for one party, a helium filled balloon column will do fine. It saves you the trouble of building a frame and getting an inflator. Yet, helium costs a lot more than air and the life expectancy of the balloon decorations will be much shorter.