Our very simple to follow descriptions will help you make a choice what balloon decorations are the most ideal solution for your special event.
We felt overwhelmed with the large variety of displays we came across when we began with balloon decorating. Along our learning process, we figured out that it all boils down to three common designs:
Balloon Bouquet
Mainly 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 arranged in different heights and connected to a table base. In the instances under the base is either a weighted flower basket or a sand-filled balloon. It can be pretty much any decorative object that is weighty enough to keep the balloons in place and where the ribbons can be tied to.
A balloon centerpiece can be made from latex OR mylar (also referred to as foil) balloons OR you can blend them.
As the balloons will have to be helium filled this choice determines the longevity of your balloon decorations. Whereas mylar balloons will float around 14 days, even the highest quality latex balloons won't stay up longer than for about 12 to 24 hours. 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 fulfill their purpose best when you can walk through them! They are ideal balloon decorations for an entrance or exit. Often they are also utilized to frame the head or cake table at a wedding celebration or to design 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 lined up like pearls along 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 typically standing on the floor. A brick or sand filled balloon will get the job done and can easily be decorated quite nicely.
With a "String of Pearls" - oftentimes utilized for wedding balloon arches - you make an amazing effect with quite little effort. The only downside is the short life-span, due to the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as explained above.
You could either use mylar balloons in place of latex or you go for an arch with air-filled balloons if the decorations for your special event should last even longer.
With these kinds of balloon decorations, there is a bit more constructional labor involved, as an air filled balloon arch needs to have some supporting elements:
a frame crafted from a solid, flexible material such as conduit, PVC piping or aluminium rod and
a stable bottom at either end to anchor the arch.
The pipe or rod is shaped into the actual arch and the balloons are connected to it, primarily in clusters of three to five balloons. Utilizing various colors and putting the balloons in an unique way you'll get this nice spiraling result shown on the photo. Do not panic, we'll describe step by step and with numbers of photos how to do that!
Depending on the size of the arch you'll have to blow up quite a few balloons! This purchase, of course, only makes sense if you are considering to do many more balloon decorations.
A much easier way to design an air filled balloon arch is by using so named 'Link-o-Loon' balloons.
Balloon Column
Placed as amazing eye-catchers at either side of an entry or head table at a wedding and reception, balloon columns are perfect for wedding balloon decorations. They also make wonderful balloon decorations for marking out an area of your venue, as an example the dance floor or the stage decoration.
As columns are generally composed of air filled balloons, supportive elements are required:
a strong metal or plastic pole and
a stable base as anchor for the pole.
The balloons are secured to clusters of normally three to five balloons and fixed to the rod, layer after layer. By using larger sized balloons for the top and the bottom, and smaller balloons in between, the balloon column takes the characteristic contour of its model in the "real" world. To click here crown your work you could position a stuffed giant balloon on top of the balloon column.
Like with the air filled arch, both of these balloon decorations mean you'll will need to blow up a lot of balloons! So, renting an inflator would be a pretty good strategy, especially for blowing up the giant balloon that crowns your column.
Additionally you may fill just the balloons at the bottom with air and the rest with helium. That way you would not need a sturdy base and a pole, as the balloons will support themselves. Utilize a nylon line to affix the balloon bunches to.
A helium filled balloon column will definitely do well if you need the display just for one evening. It saves you the hassle of constructing a frame and leasing an inflator. However, helium costs a lot more than air and the life expectancy of the balloon decorations will be much smaller.