Three essential methods for balloon decorations



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 large variety of displays we came across when we began with balloon decorating. Along our learning process, we figured out that it all boils down to three general designs:

Balloon Bouquet


Mainly used as a centerpiece for tables, the balloon bouquet actually is the heart of a balloon display. Between two and nine balloons, tied up to curling ribbons, are organized in various heights and affixed to a table base. In the examples beneath the base is either a heavy flower basket or a sand-filled balloon. Yet it can be virtually any lovely looking item that is heavy enough to hold the balloons in position 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 blend them.

As the balloons have to be helium filled this choice determines the life expectancy of your balloon decorations. Whereas mylar balloons will float approximately 14 days, even the greatest quality latex balloons won't stay up much longer than for about 12 to 24 hours. By applying a product knowned as 'hi-float', it's achievable 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 excellent balloon decorations for a doorway or exit. Often they are also used 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". 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 filled balloon will do the job and can easily be decorated nicely.

With a "String of Pearls" - usually utilized for wedding balloon arches - you build an incredible effect with relatively little effort. The only drawback is the short life-span, because of the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as discussed above.

You could either use mylar balloons in place of latex or you go for an arch with air-filled balloons if the decorations for your specific event should last longer.
However, with these types of balloon decorations, there is a little bit more constructional work involved, as an air filled balloon arch requires a couple of supportive components:

a frame 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 shaped into the actual arch and the balloons are connected to it, primarily in bunches 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 presented on the photo. Do not panic, we'll explain in detail and with numbers of photos how to do that!

Depending on the size of the arch you'll need to blow up plenty balloons! So, get your family and friends ready! You might use a hand pump or even rent or buy an electrical inflator. This investment, obviously, only makes sense if you are preparing to do much more balloon decorations.

A much simpler way to create an air filled balloon arch is by making use of 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 aluminum or plastic pole and
a solid base as support for the stick.

The balloons are linked to sets decorating balls with pictures of normally three to five balloons and fixed to the pole, layer after layer. By utilizing even bigger balloons for the bottom and the top, and smaller balloons in between, the balloon column takes the characteristic shape of its model in the "real" world. To crown your work you could place a stuffed giant balloon above the balloon column.

Like with the air filled arch, the two of these balloon decorations imply you'll must blow up a bunch of balloons! Getting an inflator would certainly be a very good idea, specially for blowing up the giant balloon that crowns your column.

Additionally you might fill only the balloons at the bottom with air and the rest with helium. By doing this you would not need a stable base and a pole, as the balloons are going to support themselves. Utilize a nylon line to attach 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 trouble of building a frame and renting an inflator. Yet, helium costs more air and the life-span of the balloon decorations will be much lower.


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