Our quick and easy to follow explanations will aid you make a choice what balloon decors are the best solution for your special event.
We felt overwhelmed with the large variety of displays we came across when we began with balloon decorating. Yet along our learning process, we understood that it all boils down to three simple 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 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 named foil) balloons OR you can combine them.
As the balloons must be helium filled this choice determines the life-span of your balloon decorations. Whereas mylar balloons will float around 14 days, even the finest latex balloons will not 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! So they are perfect 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 string, hence the name "String of Pearls". Both ends are fixed to bases, similar to the table bases for bouquets, just a bit heavier and typically basing on the floor. A brick or sand stuffed balloon will get the job done and can easily be decorated quite nicely.
With a "String of Pearls" - often used for wedding balloon arches - you make an incredible outcome with quite little effort. The only disadvantage is the short lifespan, due to the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as discussed above.
You could either use mylar balloons alternatively of latex or you go for an arch with air-filled balloons if the decoration for your specific party should last even longer.
With these kinds of balloon decorations, there is a little bit more constructional effort required, as an air filled balloon arch needs to have some supporting elements:
a frame made of a solid, flexible material such as conduit, PVC pipe or aluminium rod and
a strong bottom at either end to secure the arch.
The pipe or rod is formed into the actual arch and the balloons are connected to it, usually in sets of three to five balloons. Utilizing a variety of colors and putting the balloons in a specific way you'll get this wonderful spiraling result displayed 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 could use a hand pump or even rent or buy an electrical check here 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 making use of so named 'Link-o-Loon' balloons.
Balloon Columns
Positioned as amazing eye-catchers at each side of an entry or head dining table at a wedding and reception, 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 usually crafted from air filled balloons, supporting materials are needed:
a solid metal or plastic pole and
a strong base as anchor for the pole.
The balloons are tied to bundles of often three to five balloons and fixed to the rod, layer after layer. Utilizing a larger size 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 put a stuffed giant balloon on top of the balloon column.
Like with the air filled arch, both of these balloon decorations mean you'll have to blow up a ton of balloons! Getting an inflator would certainly be a pretty good idea, specially 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 would not need a stable base and a pole, as the balloons are going to support themselves. Utilize a nylon line to connect the balloon clusters to.
If you need the display specifically for one party, a helium filled balloon column will do fine. It saves you the hassle 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.