Our easy to follow explanations will let you determine what balloon decors are the ideal pick for your special party.
When we kicked off with balloon decorating, we felt overwhelmed with the massive variety of displays we discovered. Yet along our learning process, we discovered that all of it boils down to three simple concepts:
Balloon Bouquet
Mostly used as a centerpiece for desks, the balloon bouquet truly is the heart of a balloon display. Between two and nine balloons, linked to curling ribbons, are arranged in various heights and secured to a table base.
A balloon centerpiece can be made from latex OR mylar (also named foil) balloons OR you can combine them.
As the balloons need to 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 never keep up much longer than for about 12 to 24 hours. However, by using a product called 'hi-float', it's possible to make them survive 10 to 25 times as long!
Balloon Arch
Generally, balloon arches fulfill their purpose best when you can go through them! They are ideal balloon decorations for an entry or exit. Commonly they are also utilized to frame the head or cake table at a wedding celebration or to create a spectacular stage decoration.
Unlike with bouquets you get the choice between helium or air-filled balloon arch.
A hovering arch is composed of single helium-filled balloons organized like pearls along an invisible nylon string, hence the name "String of Pearls". The two ends are fixed to bases, quite 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, because of the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as described above.
You could either use mylar balloons in place of latex or you go for an arch with air-filled balloons if the decor for your special event should last much longer.
However, with these kinds of balloon decorations, there is a little bit more constructional work required, as an air filled balloon arch requires a couple of supportive components:
a frame made from a solid, flexible material such as conduit, PVC pipe or aluminium rod and
a tough base 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 an unique way you'll get this good spiraling effect presented on the photo. Don't panic, we'll explain step by step and with lots of photos how to do that!
Basing on the size of the arch you'll have to blow up quite a few balloons! This investment, of course, only makes sense if you are preparing to do many more balloon decorations.
A much easier way to create an air filled balloon arch is by utilizing so called 'Link-o-Loon' balloons.
Balloon Column
Placed as outstanding eye-catchers at either side of an entrance or head table at a wedding event, balloon columns are ideal for wedding balloon decorations. They also make great balloon decorations for marking out an area of your venue, for example the dance floor or the stage decoration.
As columns are commonly made of air filled balloons, supporting materials are required:
a sturdy aluminum or plastic pole and
a stable base as support for the rod.
The balloons are connected to bunches of typically three to five balloons and fixed to the pole, layer after layer. By using bigger balloons for the bottom and the top, and smaller sized balloons in between, the balloon column takes the characteristic look of its model in the "real" world. To crown your work you could position a stuffed giant balloon at the top of the balloon column.
Like with the air filled arch, each of these balloon decorations mean you'll need to blow up a great deal of balloons! Leasing an inflator would certainly be a fantastic idea, in particular 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. That way you will not need a strong base and a pole, as the balloons will support themselves. Make use of a nylon line to affix the balloon bunches to.
If you need to have the display specifically for one party, a helium filled balloon column more info will do fine. It saves you the hassle of building a frame and renting an inflator. On the other hand, helium costs much more than air and the life expectancy of the balloon decorations will be much lower.