| In "Decorating Your Party: How to avoid common | | | | use much stronger lights with larger balloons, cluster |
| mistakes: Part I" we talked about some of the | | | | the lights together and so on. |
| selections you can consider in order to enhance the | | | | 6. Centerpiece bases. |
| look of your party (such as, colors, size of the room, | | | | Bases for the centerpieces, as well as floral |
| height of the ceiling). This time, let's talk about some | | | | long-and-low centerpieces sometimes are creations of |
| of the technical details party decorations and what | | | | art, as well as a noticeable part of your party |
| you can do about them. | | | | decoration budget. |
| 1. Production time. | | | | One thing though: they sit on the tabletop together |
| You should be aware of when your room becomes | | | | with food. In some cases, the caterer puts so many |
| available for your party. Many times, it is only two | | | | plates on the table; the food is so colorful and |
| hours in advance. Make sure to let your decorator | | | | plentiful, that the bases are lost. Actually, the smaller |
| know about this at the beginning of your | | | | the base, the easier it is for the caterer and the less |
| conversation. It does not mean that you can not use | | | | it gets in the way of your guests and food. |
| extensive balloon decorations! But it should be taken | | | | So, when you plan to spend money on the bases of |
| into account. There are several ways to go about | | | | balloon bouquets or other centerpieces - talk to your |
| it:a) Sometimes the place where you are renting the | | | | caterer first. |
| room (whether it is a hotel or a community hall) can | | | | 7. Balloon ceiling (balloons with ribbons on the ceiling) |
| provide a back room for production of party | | | | Things to keep in mind:a) If the ceiling is a rough |
| decorations and then only the installation needs to be | | | | surface, many will pop during production, many more |
| accomplished in the two hours.b) With the help of | | | | during the party.c) One balloon takes less than a |
| your decorator you can choose party decorations | | | | square foot. So, if you are in a large room, you will |
| that are fast to produce and still look astounding.c) | | | | need a substantial budget to cover the ceiling |
| The decorator can get extra help, but may also | | | | completely. If you do, it will work, though I would |
| charge you extra because of the time constraint.d) | | | | check the alternatives for the money. If you only |
| The decorator can rent a truck and brings bits and | | | | cover the ceiling partially, the air conditioner or fan will |
| peaces to be assembled on the spot quickly. This | | | | blow the balloons around and will rub them against |
| also might cost extra, as it is due to the time | | | | the ceiling. In most cases this will kill a large portion of |
| constraint at your location. | | | | them. |
| 2. Ceiling Sensors. | | | | 8. Balloon Drops |
| Some venues have sensors on the ceiling so if a | | | | The perfect party decorations for the theatre - type |
| balloon goes up, an alarm sounds and fire truck | | | | room. That is, a room with a very high ceiling and a, |
| shows up 20 seconds later. Costly for the owner and | | | | relatively, small floor area. Then balloons on their way |
| may be for you. | | | | down "have time" to fly in all directions and cover |
| Don't panic! You can still use balloons. Almost any | | | | everybody in the room. |
| party decorations that can be done with helium filled | | | | In a regular-sized room we'll be lucky if we can cover |
| balloons (the type that flies) can be done with air | | | | the dance floor. In addition (and this is a matter of a |
| filled balloons on a frame and has no need to be | | | | personal opinion) the hanging net full of balloons does |
| anywhere near the ceiling. | | | | very little for decorations, as well as letting |
| 3. Doing it the day before. | | | | everybody know what is coming. On the other hand, |
| If, for some reason, you have to do balloon | | | | if someone is not looking in the right direction at the |
| decorations the day before, keep in mind that regular | | | | moment when the balloons are released, they can |
| (11" round) helium filled balloons will be half-dead by | | | | miss the whole thing. |
| the morning and on the floor by the middle of the | | | | One solution to these problems is the so-called |
| day. | | | | "explosive balloon", also known as "popping balloons". |
| If all you need are simple balloon bouquets, you can | | | | Relax! There are no real explosive used! All it is a |
| ask the decorator to use high float. This substance | | | | large (3-foot or larger) balloon, stuffed with smaller |
| keeps balloons from deflating much longer. If you | | | | balloons and sometimes with confetti (check your |
| have more elaborate party decorations - use air filled | | | | contract with the venue!!! It might be a big "NO-NO"!) |
| balloons on a frame instead, as I mentioned in the | | | | or even lottery wins. One or several of these |
| previous point. | | | | balloons are placed on the ceiling and when the time |
| 4. Transparent balloons. | | | | comes, they all pop with the push of button. |
| Just keep in mind that they look great at the first | | | | You can distribute these balloons all over the room if |
| moment, especially if you have bright balloons inside, | | | | you want to cover everybody, or use a few in a |
| but in a few hours they will be less transparent, kind | | | | strategic spot if you choose. No more heavy hanging |
| of dim and will become more and more opaque as | | | | nets and not a single person can guess at what is |
| party goes on. | | | | coming! |
| 5. Balloon lights. | | | | Here, it is worth mentioning that one can put these |
| This is a very effective technique for low-light | | | | balloons together to make a wall and then explode |
| parties!!! For the regular light or daylight parties they | | | | the entire wall... Let us talk about it next time. |
| are hardly noticeable. If this is the case, one has to | | | | |