Our simple to follow explanations will assist you make up your mind what balloon decorations are the right choice for your special occasion.
We felt overwhelmed with the huge variety of displays we came across when we started off with balloon decorating. Along our studying process, we figured out that it all boils down to three fundamental designs:
Balloon Bouquet
Generally used as a main feature for tables, the balloon bouquet really is the heart of a balloon display. Between two and nine balloons, connected to twisting stripes, are arranged in different heights and secured to a table support.
A balloon centerpiece can be made of latex OR mylar (also called foil) balloons OR you can blend them.
As the balloons have to be helium filled this choice determines the life expectancy of your balloon decorations. Whereas mylar balloons will float approximately 14 days, even the greatest quality latex balloons won't stay up longer than for about 12 to 24 hours. By utilizing a product knowned as 'hi-float', it's achievable to make them last 10 to 25 times as long!
Balloon Arch
Naturally, balloon arches fulfill their function 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 lined up 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 standing on the floor. A brick or sand filled balloon will do the job and can easily be decorated nicely.
With a "String of Pearls" - oftentimes 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 some supportive elements:
a structure constructed from a sturdy, flexible material like conduit, PVC piping or aluminium pole and
a stable support at either end to anchor the arch.
The conduit or rod is shaped into the actual arch and the balloons are attached to it, mostly in clusters of three to five balloons. By utilizing 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 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 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 typically crafted from air filled balloons, supporting elements are needed:
a solid metal or plastic pole and
a sturdy 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! Leasing an inflator would be a very good idea, primarily for blowing up the giant balloon that crowns your column.
Additionally you could fill only the balloons at the bottom with air and the rest with helium. By doing this you would not need a strong base and a pole, as the balloons will support themselves. Utilize a nylon line to attach the balloon clusters to.
A helium filled balloon column will certainly do great if you need the display just for one evening. It saves you the hassle of setting up a frame and getting an more info inflator. However, helium costs much more than air and the lifespan of the balloon decorations will be much shorter.