Our very simple to follow descriptions will allow you decide what balloon decorations are the optimal option for your special occasion.
Once we started with balloon design, we felt confused with the huge selection of displays we saw. Yet along our learning process, we found out that everything come down to three basic 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, connected to curling stripes, are laid out in different heights and connected to a table base. In the instances below the base is either a weighted flower gift basket or a sand-filled balloon. It can be essentially any decorative item that is heavy enough to keep the balloons in position and where the ribbons can be tied to.
A balloon centerpiece may be made of latex OR mylar (also referred to as foil) balloons OR you can blend them.
As the balloons will need to be helium filled this choice determines the lifespan of your balloon decorations. Whereas mylar balloons will float as much as 14 days, even the best quality latex balloons would not stay up longer than for about 12 to 24 hours. Having said that, utilizing a product called 'hi-float', it's achievable to make them last 10 to 25 times as long!
Balloon Arch
Generally, balloon arches fulfill 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 design a spectacular stage decoration.
Unlike with bouquets you have the choice between helium or air-filled balloon arch.
A hovering arch is composed of single helium-filled balloons organized like pearls along an invisible nylon string, 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 often basing on the floor. A brick or sand filled balloon will do the job and can easily be decorated nicely.
With a "String of Pearls" - usually utilized for wedding balloon arches - you put together an amazing effect with fairly little effort. The only downside is the short longevity, as a result of the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as described above.
You could either use mylar balloons instead of latex or you go for an arch website with air-filled balloons if the decor for your special occasion should last a lot longer.
With these types of balloon decorations, there is a bit more constructional work involved, as an air filled balloon arch needs to have some supporting parts:
a mounting made of a strong, flexible material such as 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 sets of three to five balloons. Using 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 in detail and with numbers of photos how to do that!
Basing on the size of the arch you'll will have to blow up quite a few balloons! 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 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, as an example 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 strong base as anchor for the pole.
The balloons are tied to clusters of often three to five balloons and fixed to the rod, 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 contour 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, both of these balloon decorations mean you'll have to blow up a lot of balloons! So, getting an inflator would be a fantastic strategy, 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 are going to support themselves. Utilize a nylon line to connect the balloon clusters to.
If you need to have the display specifically for one event, a helium filled balloon column will do fine. It saves you the hassle of setting up a frame and getting an inflator. However, helium costs much more than air and the life expectancy of the balloon decorations will be much shorter.