Our simple to follow descriptions will let you make a choice what balloon decorations are the perfect solution for your special occasion.
When we kicked off with balloon design, we felt overwhelmed with the massive assortment of displays we discovered. Yet along our learning process, we discovered that all of it boils down to three simple concepts:
Balloon Bouquet
Usually 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 gift basket or a sand-filled balloon. It can be almost any decorative object that is heavy enough to hold the balloons in place and where the ribbons can be tied up to.
A balloon centerpiece can be crafted from latex OR mylar (also named foil) balloons OR you can combine them.
As the balloons must 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. By working with a product called 'hi-float', it's possible to make them last 10 to 25 times as long!
Balloon Arch
Typically, balloon arches carry out their objective best when you can walk through them! So they are perfect 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 a magnificent 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 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 make an amazing result with reasonably little effort. The only problem is the short lifespan, due to the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as explained above.
If the decoration for your unique website function have to last a lot longer, you could either use mylar balloons as opposed to latex or you choose an arch with air-filled balloons.
With these kinds of balloon decorations, there is a little bit more constructional effort required, as an air filled balloon arch needs to have some supporting parts:
a mounting crafted from 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 attached to it, primarily in bunches of three to five balloons. Using various colors and putting the balloons in a specific way you'll get this great 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 plenty balloons! Get your family and friends prepared! As an alternative you may use a hand pump or maybe rent or buy an electric pump. This investment, obviously, only makes good sense if you are considering to do much more balloon decorations.
A much basic way to make 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 dining table at a wedding ceremony, balloon columns are excellent for wedding balloon decorations. They also make wonderful balloon decorations for defining an area of your wedding venue, for instance the dance floor or the stage decoration.
As columns are often crafted from air filled balloons, supportive elements are needed:
a strong metal or plastic pole and
a sturdy base as anchor for the pole.
The balloons are secured to bundles of often three to five balloons and fixed to the rod, layer after layer. Using a larger 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 on top of the balloon column.
Like with the air filled arch, both of these balloon decorations mean you'll will need to blow up a ton of balloons! So, getting an inflator would be a pretty good strategy, particularly for blowing up the giant balloon that crowns your column.
You may fill only the balloons at the bottom with air and the rest with helium. This way you won't need a sturdy base and a pole, as the balloons are going to support themselves. Work with a nylon line to affix the balloon bunches to.
If you need the display only for one evening, a helium filled balloon column will do fine. It saves you the trouble of constructing a frame and renting an inflator. On the other hand, helium costs more air and the life-span of the balloon decorations will be much lower.