Our quick and easy to follow explanations will aid you make up your mind what balloon decors are the ideal pick for your special party.
We felt overwhelmed with the large selection of displays we came across when we started with balloon decorating. Along our learning process, we figured out that it all boils down to three common designs:
Balloon Bouquet
Primarily used as a main feature for counters, the balloon bouquet really is the heart of a balloon display. Between two and nine balloons, tied to twisting stripes, are organized in different heights and attached to a table bottom.
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 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 latex balloons would not stay up longer than for about 12 to 24 hours. Having said that, utilizing a product called 'hi-float', it's achievable to make them last 10 to 25 times as long!
Balloon Arch
Generally, balloon arches fulfill their purpose best when you can walk through them! They are ideal balloon decorations for an entrance or exit. Frequently they are also utilized to frame the head or cake table at a wedding celebration or to design a spectacular stage decoration.
Unlike with bouquets you have 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". Both ends are fixed to bases, very 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 downside is the short life-span, as a result of the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as described above.
You could either use mylar balloons instead of latex or you go for an arch with air-filled balloons if the decor for your special occasion should last a lot longer.
Having said that, with these styles of balloon decorations, there is a little more constructional work required, as an air filled balloon arch needs to have a couple of supportive elements:
a structure constructed from a sturdy, flexible material like conduit, PVC piping or aluminium pole and
a stable 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 good spiraling effect 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 have to blow up quite a few balloons! This purchase, obviously, only makes sense if you are intending to do many more balloon decorations.
A much less complex way to design an air filled balloon arch is by utilizing 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 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 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 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 will need to blow up a ton of balloons! Renting an inflator would be a good idea, especially 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 website a pole, as the balloons will support themselves. Work with a nylon line to secure the balloon bunches to.
If you need the display only for one evening, a helium filled balloon column will do fine. 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.