Our very simple to follow descriptions will allow you decide what balloon decors are the optimal option for your special occasion.
Once we started with balloon design, we felt confused with the substantial selection of displays we saw. Yet along our learning process, we found out that everything come down to three fundamental styles:
Balloon Bouquet
Normally used as a centerpiece for dinner tables, the balloon bouquet really is the heart of a balloon display. Between two and nine balloons, attached to curling stripes, are arranged in different 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 can be tied to.
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 finest latex balloons will not keep up much longer than for about 12 to 24 hours. However, by using a product called 'hi-float', it's possible to make them survive 10 to 25 times as long!
Balloon Arch
Typically, balloon arches carry out their objective best when you can go through them! They are excellent balloon decorations for a doorway or exit. Usually they are also used to frame the head or cake table at a wedding or to make an incredible stage decor.
Unlike with bouquets you get the choice between helium or air-filled balloon arch.
A floating arch is made of single helium-filled balloons aligned like pearls throughout an unnoticeable nylon line, hence the name "String of Pearls". Both ends are fixed to bases, 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, due to the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as discussed above.
You could either use mylar balloons alternatively of latex or you go for an arch with air-filled balloons if the decorations for your specific party should last even longer.
With these kinds of balloon decorations, there is a little bit more constructional labor required, as an air filled balloon arch needs to have some supporting parts:
a frame made of a strong, flexible material such as conduit, PVC pipe or aluminium rod and
a durable foundation at either end to secure the arch.
The pipe or rod is formed get more info into the actual arch and the balloons are connected to it, usually in sets of three to five balloons. Utilizing a variety of colors and putting the balloons in a specific way you'll get this wonderful spiraling result displayed on the photo. Do not worry, we'll describe step by step 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! So, get your family and friends ready! Alternatively you could use a hand pump or even rent or buy an electrical inflator. 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 called 'Link-o-Loon' balloons.
Balloon Column
Placed as impressive eye-catchers at either side of an entrance or head dining table at a wedding, balloon columns are ideal for wedding balloon decorations. They also make exceptional balloon decorations for defining an area of your wedding venue, as an example the dance floor or the stage decoration.
As columns are oftentimes composed of air filled balloons, supporting materials are required:
a solid metal or plastic pole and
a strong base as anchor for the pole.
The balloons are connected to clusters of usually three to five balloons and fixed to the pole, layer after layer. Utilizing a bigger size 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 put 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! So, renting an inflator would be a good strategy, specifically for blowing up the huge 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 will not need a strong base and a pole, as the balloons will support themselves. Use a nylon line to attach the balloon bunches to.
If you need to have the display simply for one night, a helium filled balloon column will do fine. It saves you the struggle of creating a frame and leasing an inflator. However, helium costs more than air and the lifespan of the balloon decorations will be much smaller.