Our very simple to follow descriptions will aid you make up your mind what balloon decorations are the best option for your special occasion.
We felt overwhelmed with the huge range of displays we came across when we began with balloon decorating. Yet along our learning process, we discovered that all of it come down to three general designs:
Balloon Bouquet
Mainly used as a centerpiece for tables, the balloon bouquet really is the heart of a balloon display. Between two and nine balloons, linked to twisting stripes, are arranged in different heights and attached to a table support.
A balloon centerpiece may be crafted from latex OR mylar (also called foil) balloons OR you can combine them.
As the balloons need to be helium filled this choice determines the life expectancy of your balloon decorations. Whereas mylar balloons will float up to 14 days, even the highest quality latex balloons won't keep up much longer than for about 12 to 24 hours. By applying a product called 'hi-float', it's possible to make them last 10 to 25 times as long!
Balloon Arch
Generally, balloon arches carry out their function best when you can walk through them! They are excellent balloon decorations for an entry or exit. Often they are also utilized to frame the head or cake table at a wedding celebration or to make a spectacular stage decor.
Unlike with bouquets you get the choice between helium or air-filled balloon arch.
A floating arch is composed of single helium-filled balloons arranged like pearls along an unnoticeable nylon line, hence the name "String of Pearls". Both ends are fixed to bases, quite similar to the table bases for bouquets, just a bit heavier and generally standing on the floor. A brick or sand stuffed balloon will do the job and can easily be decorated nicely.
With a "String of Pearls" - quite often utilized for wedding balloon arches - you produce an incredible result with relatively little effort. The only problem is the short life-span, due to the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as discussed 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 specific event should last even longer.
However, with these styles of balloon decorations, there is a little bit more constructional work required, as an air filled balloon arch requires a couple of supportive elements:
a click here frame constructed from a strong, flexible material like conduit, PVC piping or aluminium rod and
a stable foundation at either end to secure the arch.
The conduit or rod is formed into the actual arch and the balloons are attached to it, usually in clusters of three to five balloons. Using a variety of colors and placing the balloons in a specific way you'll get this nice spiraling result displayed on the photo. Don't worry, we'll describe step by step and with numbers of photos how to do that!
Depending on the size of the arch you'll have to blow up quite a few balloons! This investment, obviously, only makes sense if you are considering to do many more balloon decorations.
A much simpler way to design an air filled balloon arch is by making use of so called 'Link-o-Loon' balloons.
Balloon Column
Positioned as amazing eye-catchers at either side of an entryway or head dining table at a wedding event, balloon columns are excellent for wedding balloon decorations. They also make exceptional balloon decorations for marking out an area of your venue, for instance the dance floor or the stage decoration.
As columns are normally made of air filled balloons, supportive elements are required:
a sturdy aluminum or plastic pole and
a sturdy base as anchor for the rod.
The balloons are linked to bundles of often three to five balloons and fixed to the pole, layer after layer. By utilizing larger sized balloons for the top and the bottom, and smaller sized balloons in between, the balloon column takes the characteristic shape of its model in 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, each of these balloon decorations mean you'll must blow up a bunch of balloons! Leasing an inflator would be a very good 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. By doing this you would not need a stable base and a pole, as the balloons are going to support themselves. Work with a nylon line to secure the balloon bunches to.
A helium filled balloon column are going to do well if you need the display solely for one evening. It saves you the struggle of setting up 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.