| Birthdays are times of celebrations and fun, | | | | look great just scattered on the floor, and |
| and balloons are a popular way of | | | | if you are renting a hall, then you should |
| commemorating this. Since the 1970's balloons | | | | consider inflating a hundred or so, and just |
| have been a symbolic way to signalling a | | | | letting them bob against the chair and table |
| celebration of some kind, whether it is | | | | legs. Be careful not to step on them, as they |
| wedding balloons, birthday balloons, or more | | | | certainly go off with a bang! |
| general party balloons. There are the common | | | | |
| plain balloons, which usually come in | | | | Balloons are very versatile, as you can not |
| multicoloured variety packs, there are | | | | only use them as wall decorations, but they |
| special balloons with the celebrated event on | | | | can also be filled with helium, and used as |
| it, or there are even balloons that you can | | | | centrepieces. A few birthday balloons |
| buy from card shops already inflated with | | | | attached to the table by a weighed object |
| helium. The latter are made of much stronger | | | | makes an attractive place marker, too. You |
| plastic than normal balloons, and normally | | | | could also try and find a balloon sculptor, |
| stay inflated for several days. | | | | who can make balloons into useful structures, |
| | | | including stands. The latter is relatively |
| What kind of birthday balloons you buy | | | | uncomplicated, involving tying two balloons |
| depends upon you needs. Helium-inflated | | | | together, and then crossing two more tied |
| birthday balloons make great birthday gifts, | | | | balloons over the top, and so on until you |
| and even a balloon covered in childish | | | | have the complete structure. A couple of |
| cartoon characters can touch the heart of a | | | | columns (probably of plain, rather than |
| young woman (provided there is also a larger | | | | 'happy birthday' balloons) either side of the |
| gift, of course). These kinds of birthday | | | | door, can provide an attractive entrance to |
| balloons can be quite expensive, though, so | | | | your celebration room. For more complicated |
| they are better used as individual presents, | | | | structures, such as balloons that form an |
| rather than as decorations for a party. | | | | arch across the ceiling, it is probably |
| Getting a large amount of cheaper balloons is | | | | better to involve a professional. |
| more practical for this purpose. | | | | |
| | | | Whatever function you want your balloons to |
| If you are planning a birthday party, | | | | serve, they symbolise a light and festive |
| birthday balloons are always appropriate. You | | | | atmosphere. Try and pick light-coloured |
| can tie them to wall fittings in bunches, and | | | | balloons for your decorations, unless the |
| hang them from the backs of chairs. | | | | guest-of-honour prefers black or dark |
| Air-inflated balloons will hang downwards | | | | colours; in which case, buy your birthday |
| from the string, so you must take that into | | | | balloons from a specialist source, and use |
| account when arranging them. Balloons also | | | | sparingly in a mix with brighter colours. |