Our easy to follow explanations will let you determine what balloon decors are the ideal pick for your special party.
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
Typically 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 under the base is either a weighted flower 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 may be made of 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 lifespan of your balloon decorations. Whereas mylar balloons will float up to 14 days, even the best latex balloons would not keep up longer than for about 12 to 24 hours. By using a product called 'hi-float', it's feasible to make them last 10 to 25 times as long!
Balloon Arch
Generally, balloon arches perform their purpose best when you can walk through them! So they are optimal balloon decorations for an entrance or exit. Commonly they are also utilized to frame the head or cake table at a wedding or to create a magnificent stage decor.
Unlike with bouquets you get the choice between helium or air-filled balloon arch.
A hovering arch is composed of single helium-filled balloons lined up like pearls along an invisible nylon line, 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 standing on the floor. A brick or sand filled balloon will do the job and can easily be decorated quite nicely.
With a "String of Pearls" - oftentimes utilized for wedding balloon arches - you create an amazing effect with fairly little effort. The only downside is the short life-span, as a result of the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as described above.
If the decor for your special event must last much longer, you can either work with mylar balloons in place of latex or you go with an arch with air-filled balloons.
However, with these kinds of balloon decorations, there is a little bit more constructional work required, as an air filled balloon arch needs to have a couple of supportive components:
a frame made from a solid, flexible material such as conduit, PVC piping or aluminium pole and
a tough 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, typically in sets of three to five balloons. Utilizing a variety of colors and putting the balloons in a special way you'll get this nice spiraling effect shown on the photo. Don't worry, we'll describe in detail and with numbers of photos how to do that!
Depending upon the size of the arch you'll need to blow up plenty of 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 intending to do a lot more balloon decorations.
A much easier way to design 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 perfect for wedding balloon decorations. They also make excellent 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, supportive 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 lot of balloons! So, renting an inflator would be a good strategy, specifically for blowing up the huge balloon that crowns your column.
Alternatively you could fill just the balloons at the bottom with air and the rest with helium. This way you will not need a strong base and a pole, as the balloons will support read more themselves. Use a nylon line to secure the balloon bunches to.
A helium filled balloon column will do fine if you need the display solely for one evening. It saves you the headache 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.