Balloon Arches & Kits - Party Decorations by a Professional

the idea

Make your bar, buffet, or dessert table really stand out by framing it with a balloon arch in lieu of—or in addition to—a traditional backdrop. Alternatively use as entrance or room decoration.

balloon arch over a party dessert table to create a backdrop

two balloon arches over a table to create a backdrop for a party

the how

Choose freestanding (19 ft) or table mounted (12 ft)
Freestanding creates a big arch (up to 400 balloons) from the floor up, framing the bar, buffet, or dessert table in between
Table mounted option (approx 100-120) balloons clamps to the table so the balloons don’t go all the way to the floor, making a smaller arch
Both are easy to assemble, collapsible, and reusable
Check out my separate page of Backdrop Stands, Frames, and Fixings for circular, hexagonal, and rectangular frames to create variations on a traditional balloon ‘arch’

balloon arch over over a foil fringe curtain to create a party backdrop

balloon arch over an outdoor ceremony aisle

the why

AS ENTRANCE DECORATIONS

Functional; identifies party location and directs guests to the entrance
Welcoming; a warm welcome subliminally puts guests at ease (versus a bare/cold entrance)
First impressions matter; guests make judgments and form opinions quickly
Attention to detail; many people overlook the importance of having some entrance decorations to greet guests
Anticipation; exterior decorations build anticipation and tease what’s to come

balloon arch outside a house for a party

balloon arch over a party dessert table to create a backdrop for a graduation party

the why

AS PERIMETER / room DECORATIONS

Transformative; helps transform a domestic space or empty venue into a party environment
Size; can help dress large areas
Atmospheric; perimeter decorations are important early on, before the room fills up, to help create a party atmosphere and ensure it feels like a special occasion
Intimacy; helps define the party space and envelope guests to create an intimate atmosphere

the why

as a backdrop

Value; allows you to create a large, eye-catching, feature wall / display
Maximize budget; by concentrating decorations around one larger display rather than dress entire room
Impact; a backdrop creates a strong visual impact, turning a bar / food table into a display
Special; a dessert / buffet table with no backdrop can look a bit sad, lacking, or underwhelming
Visibility; backdrops help identify the location of bars and food stations in large or crowded rooms
Focal points; more visible bars and food stations encourage mingling by creating destinations for guests to explore

balloon arch over a party dessert table backdrop for a baby shower

the why

this idea

Dramatic; makes a big and bold display to wow guests
Memorable; guests remember creative, unusual, or unexpected decorations
Personalizable; can be personalized with a custom name sign (see bottom of page)
Photo-worthy; a great photo-op for guests to share and tag on social media
Inexpensive; 12 ft tabletop arch offers a low cost solution that won’t blow your budget
Reusable; can be re-used for future events

balloon arch over entrance doors to a party

balloon arch over a party dessert table backdrop for a 1st birthday party

ADVICE FROM A PRO

Matt’s tip

“If you’re on a budget, the 12 ft tabletop arch is a great low-cost party backdrop solution at around $12 for the arch plus the cost the balloons. Alternatively, the freestanding 19 ft frame is around $45.

Check out my Backdrop Stands, Frames, and Fixings page for circular, hexagonal, and rectangular backdrop frames you can also use to create variations on the traditional balloon ‘arch’ shape.

Of course, the most labor-intensive part of a balloon arch is blowing up and attaching the balloons, so don’t forget to pick up an electric balloon pump (see below)

If using as a bar, buffet, or dessert table backdrop, you might want to personalize the balloon arch by pairing it with a custom name sign. Check out my round-up of creative party signs here or preview some in the images below.

Alternatively, balloon arches make dramatic entrance decorations to wow guests as they arrive.”