Our quick and easy to follow descriptions will help you make up your mind what balloon decorations are the ideal solution for your special occasion.
Once we kicked off with balloon decorating, we felt confused with the substantial assortment of displays we came upon. Along our learning process, we figured out that it all boils down to three primary designs:
Balloon Bouquet
Mostly used as a centerpiece for dinner tables, the balloon bouquet truly is the heart of a balloon display. Between two and nine balloons, tied to twisting stripes, are arranged in different heights and secured to a table base.
A balloon centerpiece can be crafted from latex OR mylar (also known as foil) balloons OR you can combine them.
As the balloons will need to be helium filled this choice determines the lifespan of your balloon decorations. Whereas mylar balloons will float approximately 14 days, even the highest quality latex balloons will not keep up much longer than for about 12 to 24 hours. By using a product called 'hi-float', it's feasible to make them last 10 to 25 times as long!
Balloon Arch
Generally, balloon arches perform their purpose best when you can walk through them! So they are excellent balloon decorations for an access or exit. Frequently they are also utilized to frame the head or cake table at a wedding celebration or to create a magnificent 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". 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 stuffed balloon will do the job and can easily be decorated nicely.
With a "String of Pearls" - commonly used for wedding balloon arches - you generate an incredible outcome with quite little effort. The only problem is the short lifespan, due to the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as explained above.
If the decor for your special occasion need to last much longer, you can either utilize mylar balloons as an alternative to latex or you go with an arch with air-filled balloons.
Having said that, with these styles of balloon decorations, there is a little more constructional work required, as an air filled balloon arch requires some supportive elements:
a mounting constructed from a sturdy, flexible material like conduit, PVC pipe or aluminium rod and
a durable foundation at either end to anchor the arch.
The conduit or rod is formed into the actual arch and the balloons are connected to it, usually in bunches of three to five balloons. By utilizing different colors and placing the balloons in a specific way you'll get this wonderful spiraling result presented on the photo. Don't panic, we'll describe in detail and with lots 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 intending to do many more balloon decorations.
A much easier way to build an air filled balloon arch is by making use of so called 'Link-o-Loon' balloons.
Balloon Column
Positioned as superb eye-catchers at either side of an entrance or head dining table at a wedding ceremony, balloon columns are perfect for wedding balloon decorations. They also make great balloon decorations for defining an area of your venue, for example the dance floor or the stage decoration.
As columns are oftentimes crafted from air filled balloons, supportive materials are needed:
a strong aluminum or plastic pole and
a strong base as support for the rod.
The balloons are connected to bundles of generally three to five balloons and fixed to the pole, layer after layer. Utilizing larger sized balloons for the bottom and the top, 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 position a stuffed giant balloon at the top of the balloon column.
Like with the air filled arch, both of these balloon decorations imply you'll have to blow up a bunch more info of balloons! Getting an inflator would certainly be a great idea, specially for blowing up the giant balloon that crowns your column.
Alternatively you may fill only the balloons at the bottom with air and the rest with helium. That way you will not need a read more sturdy base and a pole, as the balloons will support themselves. Work with a nylon line to connect the balloon bunches to.
A helium filled balloon column are going to do great if you need the display solely for one evening. It saves you the hassle of creating a frame and getting an inflator. However, helium costs more air and the lifespan of the balloon decorations will be much lower.