Our very simple to follow descriptions will allow you make a decision what balloon decors are the perfect option for your special party.
When we started with balloon decor, we felt overwhelmed with the substantial assortment of displays we came across. Yet along our learning process, we discovered that all of it boils down to three essential concepts:
Balloon Bouquet
Usually used as a centerpiece for tables, the balloon bouquet really is the heart of a balloon display. Between two and nine balloons, attached to curling ribbons, are arranged in various heights and affixed to a table base. In the examples beneath the base is either a heavy flower gift basket or a sand-filled balloon. Yet it can be virtually any lovely looking material that is heavy enough to hold the balloons in place and where the stripes may be tied to.
A balloon centerpiece can be made from latex OR mylar (also named foil) balloons OR you can blend them.
As the balloons need to be helium filled this choice determines the life expectancy of your balloon decorations. Whereas mylar balloons will float approximately 14 days, even the highest quality latex balloons won't stay up much longer than for about 12 to 24 hours. But, by using a product called 'hi-float', it's possible to make them last 10 to 25 times as long!
Balloon Arch
Naturally, balloon arches carry out their function best when you can go through them! So they are best 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 made of single helium-filled balloons lined up like pearls along an unnoticeable 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 usually standing on the floor. A brick or sand filled up balloon will get the job done and can easily be decorated quite nicely.
With a "String of Pearls" - quite often utilized for wedding balloon arches - you create an amazing result with reasonably little effort. The only downside is the short longevity, as a result of the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as explained 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.
With these types of balloon decorations, there is a bit more constructional work involved, as an air filled balloon arch requires some supportive components:
a structure constructed from a sturdy, flexible material like conduit, PVC piping or aluminium pole and
a stable support at either end to secure the arch.
The pipe or rod is shaped into the actual arch and the balloons are attached to it, mostly in clusters of three to five balloons. By using different colors and placing the balloons in a special way you'll get this good spiraling effect shown on the photo. Don't panic, we'll explain step by step and with lots of photos how to do that!
Depending upon the size of the arch you'll need to blow up plenty of balloons! So, get your friends and family ready! As an alternative you can use a hand pump and even rent or buy an electric pump. This investment, obviously, only makes good sense if you are intending to do a lot more balloon decorations.
A much less complex way to create an air filled balloon arch is by utilizing so called 'Link-o-Loon' balloons.
Balloon Column
Placed as website 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 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 larger balloons for the bottom and the top, and smaller 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 above the balloon column.
Like with the air filled arch, each of these balloon decorations imply you'll need to blow up a great deal of balloons! Getting an inflator would certainly be a really good idea, primarily for blowing up the giant balloon that crowns your column.
You may 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 bunches to.
If you need to have the display simply for one event, a helium filled balloon column will do fine. It saves you the struggle of setting up a frame and leasing an inflator. However, helium costs much more than air and the lifespan of the balloon decorations will be much smaller.