Our quick and easy to follow descriptions will aid you decide what balloon decorations are the optimal choice for your special occasion.
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
Mostly used as a centerpiece for desks, the balloon bouquet truly is the heart of a balloon display. Between two and nine balloons, linked to curling ribbons, are arranged in various heights and secured to a table base.
A balloon centerpiece can be made from latex OR mylar (also named foil) balloons OR you can combine them.
As the balloons need to be helium filled this choice determines the life-span of your balloon decorations. Whereas mylar balloons will float around 14 days, even the highest quality latex balloons will not keep up much longer than for about 12 to 24 hours. By applying a product knowned as 'hi-float', it's possible to make them last 10 to 25 times as long!
Balloon Arch
Naturally, balloon arches carry out their objective best when you can go through them! They are perfect balloon decorations for an entry or exit. Usually they are also utilized to frame the head or cake table at a wedding or to make 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 aligned 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 used for wedding balloon arches - you produce 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 alternatively of latex or you go for an arch with air-filled balloons if the decoration for your specific party should last even longer.
Having said that, with these types of balloon decorations, there is a bit more constructional work involved, as an air filled balloon arch needs some supportive elements:
a mounting crafted from a strong, flexible material such as conduit, PVC pipe or aluminium rod and
a sturdy foundation at either end to anchor the arch.
The conduit or rod is shaped into the actual arch and the balloons are attached to it, primarily in bunches of three to five balloons. Using various colors and putting the balloons in an unique way you'll get this great spiraling result displayed 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 making use of 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 marking out an area of your venue, for instance the dance floor or the stage decoration.
As columns are generally made from air filled balloons, supportive elements are needed:
a strong 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 top and the bottom, 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! Leasing an inflator would be an excellent idea, particularly for blowing up the giant balloon that crowns your column.
Alternatively you could fill just the balloons at the bottom with air and the rest with helium. By doing this you will not need a strong base and a pole, as the balloons will support themselves. Use a nylon line to secure the balloon bunches to.
A helium filled balloon column will certainly do fine if you need the display solely for one read more evening. It saves you the struggle 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.