Three fundamental techniques for balloon decors



Our simple to follow explanations will help you figure out what balloon decors are the best pick for your special event.
We felt overwhelmed with the large selection 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


Usually used as a centerpiece for tables, the balloon bouquet really 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 could be virtually any lovely looking item that is heavy enough to keep 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 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 function best when you can go through them! They are perfect balloon decorations for an entry 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 lined up like pearls along an invisible 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 do the job and can easily be decorated quite nicely.

With a "String of Pearls" - quite often used for wedding balloon arches - you produce an amazing result with reasonably little effort. The only downside is the short longevity, as a result of the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as explained above.

You could either use mylar balloons instead of latex or you go for an arch with air-filled balloons if the decor for your special occasion should last a lot longer.
Having said that, with these styles of balloon decorations, there is a little more constructional work required, as an air filled balloon arch needs to have some supportive elements:

a structure constructed from a sturdy, flexible material like conduit, PVC piping or aluminium pole and
a stable support at either end to secure the arch.

The pipe or rod is formed into the actual arch and the balloons are connected to it, mostly in clusters of three to five balloons. By using different colors and placing the balloons in a special way you'll get this good spiraling effect shown on the photo. Don't panic, we'll explain step by step and with lots of photos how to do that!

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

A much easier way to build an air filled balloon arch is by using so called 'Link-o-Loon' balloons.

Balloon Column


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, for instance the dance floor or the stage decoration.

As columns are usually crafted from air filled balloons, supporting elements are needed:
a strong metal or plastic pole and
a sturdy base as anchor for the stick.

The balloons are secured to bundles of often three to five balloons and fixed to the rod, layer after layer. Using larger sized balloons for the top and the bottom, and smaller balloons in between, the balloon column takes the characteristic contour of its model in the "real" world. To crown your work you could place a stuffed giant balloon on top of the balloon column.

Like with the air filled arch, both of these check here balloon decorations imply you'll will need to blow up a ton of balloons! Renting an inflator would be a fantastic idea, in particular for blowing up the giant balloon that crowns your column.

As an alternative you might fill only the balloons at the bottom with air and the rest with helium. That way you won't need a stable base and a pole, as the balloons are going to support themselves. Make use of a nylon line to affix the balloon clusters to.

A helium filled balloon column are going to do alright if you need the display only for one evening. It saves you the trouble of building a frame and getting an inflator. Yet, helium costs a lot more than air and the life expectancy of the balloon decorations will be much shorter.


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