Our very simple to follow descriptions will allow 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 basic designs:
Balloon Bouquet
Normally 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 can 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 quality latex balloons would not stay up 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 objective best when you can go through them! So they are perfect balloon decorations for a doorway or exit. Usually they are also used 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 throughout 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 typically 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 required, as an air filled balloon arch needs some supportive elements:
a structure crafted from a good, flexible material like conduit, PVC piping or aluminium pole 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 clusters of three to five balloons. By utilizing various colors and placing 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 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 check here 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! So, renting out an inflator would be a very good idea, especially 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.
A helium filled balloon column are going to do alright if you need the display only for one evening. 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 lower.