Our quick and easy to follow descriptions will aid you decide what balloon decorations are the right 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
Generally used as a main feature for tables, the balloon bouquet really is the heart of a balloon display. Between two and nine balloons, connected to twisting ribbons, are arranged in various heights and secured to a table support.
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. By applying a product knowned as '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! So they are ideal balloon decorations for an entrance or exit. Usually they are also utilized to frame the head or cake table at a wedding or to make a magnificent stage decor.
Unlike with bouquets you get the choice between helium or air-filled balloon arch.
A floating arch is made of single helium-filled balloons aligned like pearls along an unnoticeable nylon line, hence the name "String of Pearls". The two ends are fixed to bases, 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 used for wedding balloon arches - you produce an amazing result with reasonably little effort. The only problem is the short longevity, due to the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as explained above.
If the decor for your unique function have to last a lot longer, you may either work with mylar balloons instead of latex or you go for an arch with air-filled balloons.
Having said that, with these styles of balloon decorations, there is a little more constructional work involved, as an air filled balloon arch needs some supportive elements:
a mounting crafted from a good, flexible material like conduit, PVC pipe or aluminium rod and
a sturdy base at either end to anchor the arch.
The conduit or rod is shaped into the actual arch and the balloons are attached to it, mainly in bunches of three to five balloons. By utilizing various colors and putting the balloons in an unique way you'll get this great spiraling result presented on the photo. Do not worry, we'll describe in detail and with numbers of photos how to do that!
Basing on the size of the arch you'll will have to blow up plenty balloons! Get your family and friends prepared! You might use a hand pump or even rent or buy an electrical inflator. This investment, obviously, only makes good sense if you are considering to do much more balloon decorations.
A much basic way to make an air filled balloon arch is by making use of so named 'Link-o-Loon' balloons.
Balloon Columns
Positioned as superb eye-catchers at each side of an entry or head dining table at a wedding ceremony, balloon columns are excellent for wedding balloon decorations. They also make wonderful balloon decorations for defining an area of your wedding venue, for instance the dance floor or the stage decoration.
As columns are often crafted from air filled balloons, supportive website elements are needed:
a strong metal or plastic pole and
a sturdy base as anchor for the stick.
The balloons are secured to bundles of often three to five balloons and fixed to the rod, layer after layer. Using larger sized balloons for the top and the bottom, and smaller sized balloons in between, the balloon column takes the characteristic contour 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, both of these balloon decorations mean you'll will need to blow up a ton of balloons! So, getting an inflator would be a pretty good strategy, particularly for blowing up the giant balloon that crowns your column.
As an alternative you may fill just the balloons at the bottom with air and the rest with helium. This way you won't need a sturdy base and a pole, as the balloons are going to support themselves. Work with a nylon line to affix the balloon bunches to.
A helium filled balloon column are going to do well if you need the display only for one evening. It saves you the headache of constructing a frame and renting an inflator. On the other hand, helium costs more air and the life-span of the balloon decorations will be much lower.