How to make a Balloon Arch

by Bonjour Baby Showers

A beautiful balloon arch is the perfect way to add a stunning statement to any party or celebration. So whether it’s a baby shower, hen do, wedding, birthday or engagement party, arch balloons are our ultimate go to for creating a breathtaking party feature. A balloon garland is incredibly versatile and can be hung above a desserts table, fireplace, entrance way, dance floor and even outside to wow your guests and create a big impact.

Balloons have always been a key essential item at any party and celebration. However, the explosion of the balloon arch and garland trend has turned the humble balloon into a beautiful artform, which allows you to create luxurious and sophisticated backdrops.

Whilst building a DIY balloon arch can seem a bit daunting, don't let this discourage you as it is very simple to assemble and will provide a great talking point and photo backdrop at your party. To help you make your balloon garland a success, our guide will save you precious time and covers the supplies you need, step-by-step instructions, balloon stylist secrets and pro tips to make our balloon arches with ease.

Our Balloon Arches

Our balloon arch kit has everything you need to create a beautiful DIY balloon garland, including over 50 x balloons (5" and 12") in rose gold, pastel pink and matte grey colour and also garland tape and glue dots. Our balloons are suitable for air inflation only and a balloon pump (hand or electric) is recommended to make the process easier.

1) Inflate the balloons with a balloon pump.

Whilst a balloon pump isn't essential to creating a balloon arch, it is recommended as it will speed up the process and make it a lot easier. Smaller balloons such as the 5" size, can be more difficult to blow up without a pump.

Blow up and tie all of the balloons and set aside. Try to inflate the balloons in a round shape rather than oval shape. Unroll the plastic balloon garland tape.

2) Secure your first 12" balloon.

Leave about 30cm of balloon tape free at the start. Pull your first 12" balloon through the larger hole and then slide it across to the smaller hole to secure it.

3) Add the other 12" balloons

Add the other 12" balloons through each hole. If the balloons are getting too tight, skip a hole to allow more room.

4) Hang the garland and trim to size

Once you have added all the 12" balloons to the tape, hang up the garland using string or command hooks and wire and trim the tape to size.

If you want to install the display as a balloon arch, simply build as per the instructions. With the balloon garland laid out flat in front of you, identify where you would like the display to curve. Take the wire/string and loop it around the garland and tie a knot ensuring that it is securely around the tape in between the balloons. Take the loose ends of the wire/string and tie a knot to create a hanging loop - this ensures that the balloon garland is secure and the loop can be shortened if required.

Repeat this step for the beginning and end of the balloon arch but instead using the garland tape holes for added stability. To hang your balloon arch, ensure your command hooks or equivalent are in place and hang the middle section first before securing the top and bottom sections. As the balloons are filled with air and not helium they will settle into position and create a beautiful balloon archway.

5) Add the 5" balloons

Fill in any gaps in the balloon arch with the 5" balloons and use the double sided glue dots to secure them in place. For the easiest application, unroll the glue tape to reveal one glue dot. Press the exposed glue dot lightly to your chosen location on the balloon and pull the tape gently away. Place the 5" balloon into the gap in the garland and press lightly to secure it's position and allow the glue to adhere.

If you are short on time or want all the design and styling done for you, our rose gold balloon arch kit has everything you need and will save you a lot of time and effort.

Looking for balloon arch kits, shop our Rose gold Balloon arch kit today.

PRO TIPS:

If creating your own DIY balloon arch, make sure you source high quality latex balloons, as cheaper balloons will not withstand the pulling and twisting required when positioning the garland in place and will likely pop. Cheap latex balloons are not only bad for the environment but the colour variation will be noticeable once inflated and will not last for very long. High quality balloons will ensure that the colour is consistent and that your balloon arch will still look beautiful before, during and after the party.
Add accessories to the balloon arch such as flowers, foliage, paper flowers or ribbons to add a special touch and wow factor to your stunning display. Add these extra accessories after the balloon garland has been assembled and installed and any fresh items should be added on the day of the event to prevent them wilting.
Have everything you need to start assembling at your fingertips. The first step is to make sure you have decided where you want to hang the balloon arch and have your command hooks or equivalent installed. To make the process as simple as possible, gather your scissors, string/wire and all the balloons ready to hand.

FAQ's

Do I need to use helium?

Our balloons are suitable for air inflation only and are not suitable for helium. We recommend using a balloon pump (hand or electric) to make the inflation process easier and quicker.

How long will it take to assemble the balloon arch?

It will take approx approx 30 - 45 mins to make the garland if using a balloon pump, as it will definitely make the inflation quicker and easier. The majority of the time will be spent inflating the balloons and the rest adding them to the garland time.

How far ahead can I make the balloon arch?

The premium balloons we use for our garland means that you have the luxury of preparing the garland a few days before the event. This prevents a last minute rush on the day of the party and any unnecessary stress. For best results when preparing your balloon arch in advance, store the balloon arch or the loose inflated balloons away from heat, sun and high humidity. If possible, store the inflated balloons in a sealed bag to prevent them loosing their shine, becoming cloudy or oxidising.

How long will my balloon arch last?

Once inflated our balloon garlands can last up to 1-2 weeks before the colour starts to oxidize and they begin to loose air. Different temperatures and humidities can impact these timings, especially if installing outside due to the UV rays from the sun.

How do I hang the balloon arch?

We recommend using command hooks and either wire or string so that the garland is free-standing.

What balloon pump do you recommend?

We recommend a Qualatex dual action hand pump, as it inflates both on the push and pull stroke so is very efficient.

Are your balloons biodegradable?

Our premium balloons are made of 100% natural rubber latex and contain no fillers or substitutes and are biodegradable. When you are finished with your balloon garland, "pin and bin" them and dispose of them correctly to help keep our animals safe and our environment clean.

Looking for a baby shower balloons arch or a wedding balloons arch, our elegant sophisticated balloon party kit will create the ultimate statement.

WARNING: Children under eight years can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Adult supervision required. Keep uninflated balloons from children. Discard broken balloons at once. Always inflate the balloon by balloon pump. Never inflate the balloon by mouth. Made from natural rubber latex.

How to make a Balloon Arch

Our Balloon Arches

PRO TIPS:

FAQ's

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