DIY Wedding Balloons How to save money with DIY Balloon Decoration
Professional Decorating of your wedding with balloons can be a stunning but expensive extra which may end up being cut from your budget.
You don't have to miss out on all the party atmosphere balloons can add.
Although it is not possible to re create the elaborate decorations a professional can offer you can really save money and create a good effect by doing some basics yourself. It's also a good way to involve extra bridesmaids in your planning.
Materials
Eleven inch diameter balloons are the most commonly used. You can inflate them to just 10 inches to save on helium if wished. The diameter is across the balloon not neck to top.
Try to keep to 2 or 3 toning colours which match the rest of your wedding. Silver or ivory team well with other accent colours.
5mm curling ribbon is used to tie the balloons and comes in lots of colours.
Balloon weights are available but just about anything can be used to weigh down balloons. Open one of your napkins and place it on a square of net, fill it with 150 gms of gravel and tie up with some of your curling ribbon. Attach the balloons to this.
Helium
Hire a canister of helium. Helium is the most expensive part of balloon decorating and disposable bottles do not contain enough to do a wedding. Hiring a bottle is quick and easy to do.
You'll also need sharp scissors, a tape measure and 15lb fishing line available from tackle and craft shops if you are planning on making a simple arch.
Technique
To look really good all the balloons need to be the same size. To do this, place two dining chairs back to back a set distance apart and pass each balloon between them. This will enable you to keep them all the same size and looking professional.
Cut lengths of about 1 1/2 meters curling ribbon and encorporate it as you tie the neck of the balloon with a tail hanging down. In this way you don't need to tie it on afterwards and the balloons can be allowed to float up to the ceiling to be collected into bunches after inflation.
Bunches of balloons look best in odd numbers, three, five and seven.
Floating Arches are impressive but surprisingly easy to make. They are created by tying the inflated balloons directly onto a length of 15lb fishing line in alternating colours. Wet the line with your finger tips before sliding the balloons along. It prevents the line cutting the latex.
Allow approx 1 1/2 to 2 hours to make 14 bunches of five balloons and a small arch.
Important to Remember
Latex balloons will only float for around 16-20 hours depending upon their size. The decorating must be done on the day of the event and not before so get someone you trust to do this for you.
Keep it simple if it is your first time decorating with balloons. Making sure all the balloons are the same size and the bunches are a uniform height will give the best possible impact as guests walk through the door.
Fill the venue with your own bunches of toning balloons and place an arch over each door and behind the cake table. Don't forget a bunch in the bathrooms and any other areas which people must pass through.
You'll create a party atmosphere at a fraction of the cost of getting a professional in and it's a good way to involve extra bridesmaids in your day.
Mother of four, Caroline Creasey, runs http://www.SillyJokes.co.uk, the UKs leading joke and party shop selling thousands of fancy dress goods and party supplies. If reproducing this article please include this link.