Balloon Mania
Amanda Gardner
Inflate your dream wedding with fantasy, romance, elegance and… balloons. That’s right, bring more color and fun to your day when you decorate and celebrate with the twistable spheres. Here are suggestions from pros in the field:
BELIEVE IT OR NOT
How about a life-size Cinderella carriage with four-foot-tall movable wheels? Wynn and Lindy Bell, of Final Touch Balloons in Portland, Oregon made such a creation. The fantasy carriage, entered in a competition, took 275 man hours to construct. If for sale, it would cost about $5,000 to $7,000, the Bells say. But don’t lose heart: less expensive alternatives are available, they add, saying they’ve made smaller, non-movable versions which are perfect cake settings.
DANCE IF YOU DARE
Set the tone for your wedding at the entranceway of your reception or ceremony. Imagine hundreds of balloons constructed into a tunnel which guests must pass through. For added drama, plan for them to explode after you and your groom walk through after as Mrs. and Mr. MERRY POPPINS’ Explosions of the balloon kind also work great on the dance floor. A balloon artist can rig a large, opaque balloon above the dance floor and set it with a remote control device. The guests have no idea what’s inside until a DJ or band member pulls the trigger and dozens of smaller balloons or confetti drop onto the dance floor to mingle with dancers. According to 27-year-old Lisa Devins of New Jersey, “The highlight of my reception was this magical moment. It was one thing to plan it - another to experience it. I was still thrown for a surprise!”
THE MAGIC OF BALLOONS
Set up fun balloon activities. Larry Moss, an award-winning balloon sculptor, creates headless bride and groom designs for photographer’s props. Wedding party members stand behind the bodies to have their pictures taken. “It’s a great photo opportunity,” Moss says. A pair of exquisitely detailed sculptures runs about $500 and can serve as a centerpiece for the reception room.
HOLY BALLOON SCULPTURE!
A balloon sculptor can entertain at weddings by fashioning animals, hats, wedding cakes and even caricatures of the wedding guests. Think this wouldn’t fly at a formal wedding? Moss insists, “That’s when it is particularly fun. Before long guests are laughing and playing.” Adds 26-year-old Brenda Doring of Jamestown, New York, “I knew I struck a chord when my usually serious father was giggling like a child after he was handed a ‘sword and shield’ to battle my uncle who was equally armed.”
COLOR YOUR WORLD
Order balloons to match your wedding colors. Don’t worry if you can’t find the exact shades. A balloon specialist will double up balloons to achieve the right hue. For example, a red balloon placed inside a white one creates an amazing shade of pink. EXTRAS In what other ways can the colorful spheres add joy to your wedding? Consider tying small helium-filled balloons to floral bases instead of the traditional floral centerpiece. A cloud of color overhead is created when balloons fill the empty space at the top of a cathedral ceiling. Add balloon bouquets of various heights to form false corners and walls.
Want to party with a balloon artist? Here are points to consider:
• Make sure you click with the balloon artist’s personality. After all, this person will be interacting with you and your guests.
• Does the artist listen to your input? A pro can only help you achieve your dream if he or she pays attention to your ideas.
• Ask to see the balloon designer’s portfolio of photographed work. Is it creative, elegant, romantic? Keep in mind that round balloons lend a more bubbly and fantasy-like atmosphere.
• Ask if what you see would work out for your wedding.
• Invite the artist to tour your wedding or reception site to get a feel for its dimensions and decor.
• Ask how much set-up time is needed and if you need to secure the space the day before to allow for balloon prep time.