Big Balloons are Awesome

Is there anything cooler than big balloons!? If you're looking to make a statement at your next party or celebration, big balloons are the way to go!

These make a big statement, pun intended.

You can't find them in every store so plan ahead and keep some on hand so you're always ready to celebrate! Whether it's a birthday, graduation, anniversary, or baby shower, large balloons are a great way to add pizzazz to a party.

Jump to:

• Big balloons are the coolest
• What size balloons should I get?
• How to inflate large balloons
• Things to know about decorating with balloons
• Big Balloons are great for celebrations!

Big balloons are the coolest

Over the years, I've gotten a little bit lazy with my party planning.

Although this site started out as a party-focused blog, parties are SO MUCH WORK!

I'm not even sure how I made it out alive after throwing a Lego Dance Party and this Ziggy Stardust Inspired Birthday Party.

Now that my kids are older, I've been able to scale back with the size of the parties we throw but I always try to make them special and full of fun surprises.

Big balloons are a great way to make a statement without putting hardly any energy in. Whether they are filled with confetti or have a lot of flair trailing off, they take up space and provide a lot of visual interest.

And they can also color coordinate with just about anything you need them to. There are so many options, now!

What size balloons should I get?

Balloons get big REALLY quickly. Not only do they get large, but unmanageable.

Before you start buying balloons, think about how you want to use them. 

Extra-large balloons work great in photos, but they aren't always practical for an actual party.

They can also be really pricey, PLUS, you need to fill them up with helium. If you need to transport them somewhere, will they fit in your car???

These are all things you need to think about. 

36" balloons

The 36" balloons are really cool but are HUGE! And take a ton of helium to fill up.

They are great for weddings and photoshoots.

But for a party at your home, they can be overwhelming.

17" balloons

My favorite balloons for parties at home are 17" round balloons. They look much bigger than a regular 12" latex balloon.

And because they are round, they look more impressive and not so run of the mill. These are perfect for using at parties!

How to inflate large balloons

Because large balloons can be cumbersome to transport, you need to think about your options for inflating.

You can buy Balloon Time helium tanks from Target at a reasonable cost. Just keep in mind that if you are inflating lots of balloons, especially big ones, you may need more than one tank.

If you are only inflating one or 2 and can fit them in your car, you can take them to the grocery store or Party City to have them inflated. 

I've always had great luck with my grocery store's floral department. Party City wants you to buy their balloons so you may have to buy some to get them to inflate the others.

It's been a while since I've used Party City. They might have pricing to inflate balloons on their own now. 

If you have a lot of balloons to inflate, consider renting a larger helium tank. Look for balloon dealers in your area and see if they have a rental option. 

Bonbon Balloons is my favorite balloon maker and have so many cool options. They are where I go for inspiration on decorating with large balloons.

They are based in London, so ordering from them isn't probably feasible. But it's a great place to start for ideas. 

Things to know about decorating with balloons

Balloons always put a smile on people's faces. And there are tons of ways you can decorate with them. But there are a few things you should know.

There has been a helium shortage for a while. So it might be a little more expensive to fill them up right now. For a while, Party City stopped filling up balloons entirely.

And while you can still find the Balloon Time tanks at Target, they are really expensive if you try to buy one off Amazon. 

Balloon Sticks are a good alternative to helium. 

Anything you attach to the balloon can weigh it down. So the balloon has to be able to hold enough air to support any flair you want to add.

The larger the balloon, the less of an issue you have. But if you want to do something with a small balloon, even the string can be too heavy. Keep this in mind as you plan your balloon decor. 

Always have backup balloons.

If you are new to using big balloons, they can pop or arrive with a hole just like regular balloons. If you have a decor plan that is all about the placement of these balloons, make sure to have a few extras! 

Wind is not your friend.

You may have these really cool images in your head for where you want to place the balloons at a party but if they are outdoors, they most likely won't want to stay put. 

Make sure you have heavy enough weights to keep them where you want them. And know that if you have a long string they could get blown into the side of a building, or into where the guests are standing. 

Big Balloons are great for celebrations!

Big balloons are one of my favorite party decorations and I know you'll love them too! 

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• Balloon Decoration for a Summer Party
• How to Put a Picture on a Balloon for Mother’s Day

Originally posted April 17, 2012.