Our easy to follow explanations will allow you figure out what balloon decorations are the perfect option for your special party.
We felt overwhelmed with the huge selection of displays we came across when we started with balloon decorating. Along our studying process, we figured out that it all boils down to three fundamental 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! So they are ideal balloon decorations for an entrance 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 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" - often used for wedding balloon arches - you produce an amazing result with reasonably little effort. The only problem is the short longevity, due to the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as explained above.
If the decoration for your unique function have to last a lot longer, you may either use mylar balloons instead of latex or you go for an arch with air-filled balloons.
Having said that, with these styles of balloon decorations, there is a little more constructional work involved, as an air filled balloon arch needs some supportive elements:
a mounting crafted from a good, flexible material like conduit, PVC piping or aluminium rod 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 bunches of three to five balloons. By utilizing various colors and placing the balloons in an unique way you'll get this great spiraling result presented 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 utilizing so named 'Link-o-Loon' balloons.
Balloon Columns
Positioned as superb 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 metal or plastic pole and
a strong base as anchor for the pole.
The balloons are tied to clusters of usually here 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 imply 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.
You could 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 clusters to.
A helium filled balloon column will certainly do great if you need the display just for one evening. It saves you the hassle of setting up a frame and getting an inflator. However, helium costs much more than air and the lifespan of the balloon decorations will be much shorter.