Our quick and easy to follow descriptions will aid you decide what balloon decorations are the right 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 stay 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 function 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 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 string, 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 typically basing on the floor. A brick or sand stuffed balloon will get the job done and can easily be decorated nicely.
With a "String of Pearls" - frequently used for wedding balloon arches - you generate an incredible outcome with quite little effort. The only disadvantage is the short lifespan, because of the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as discussed above.
If the decoration for your exclusive party needs to last longer, you could either use mylar balloons as opposed to latex or you choose 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 needs some supportive elements:
a mounting crafted from a good, flexible material like conduit, PVC piping or aluminium pole and
a sturdy base at either end to anchor the arch.
The conduit or rod is shaped into the actual arch and the balloons are attached to it, mainly in clusters of three to five balloons. By utilizing various 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 describe in detail 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, of course, only makes sense if you are planning to do many more balloon decorations.
A much simpler way to build an air filled balloon arch is by using so named 'Link-o-Loon' balloons.
Balloon Columns
Positioned as amazing eye-catchers at each side of an entry or head dining table at a wedding and reception, balloon columns are great for wedding balloon decorations. They also make exceptional balloon decorations for defining an area of your wedding venue, for instance the dance floor or the stage decoration.
As columns are usually crafted from air filled balloons, supporting materials are needed:
a solid metal or plastic pole and
a sturdy base as anchor for the pole.
The balloons are secured to bundles of typically three to five balloons and fixed to the pole, layer after layer. By using bigger balloons for the bottom and the top, and smaller sized balloons in between, the balloon here 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 mean you'll need to blow up a great deal of balloons! So, renting an inflator would be a great idea, especially for blowing up the huge balloon that crowns your column.
As an alternative you might fill only the balloons at the bottom with air and the rest with helium. That way you would not need a stable base and a pole, as the balloons are going to support themselves. Make use of a nylon line to connect the balloon clusters to.
A helium filled balloon column will definitely do alright if you need the display only for one evening. It saves you the trouble of building 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 shorter.