Up and Away in Your Beautiful Balloon Themed Wedding
You've probably thought about using balloons as part of your wedding reception decorations, but why not go one step further and create a whole theme for your wedding around balloons.
Hot air balloons have both the romance of old fashioned travel and adventures, while these days they are often brilliantly colored and just plain fun.
Jules Verne's book 'Around the World in Eighty Days"* could provide perfect inspiration for a fun, adventure based theme, with the hero's travels to exotic places during his journey giving you ideas for decor.
Give each reception table the name of one of his stopping points (Egypt, India, Hong Kong, New York, amongst others) and decorate accordingly.
The original book does not include a balloon at all, though there are trains, elephants, steam ships and even a sledge used for the epic journey.
You may not want to go that far with your wedding day transport but you could have some fun with old fashioned style maps - age them by dipping them in tea - to let your guests know where they are sitting at the reception, and do the same for place cards and menus.
If you really want to push the theme look at Victorian inspired suits for your groom's party, and give your bridesmaids pretty parasols, updos and long dresses.
For a modern take on ballooning use images of huge, brightly colored hot air balloons to inspire your wedding stationery, color scheme and decor.
Strong contrasting colors in stripes or checks are often used and these can be repeated in your table linen and choices for bridesmaids' dresses.
For the truly creative and adventurous find out how to make your own miniature hot air balloons (this might be a fun project for your husband to be) and fly them at the end of your celebrations for the grand finale.
If things go well, the glimmer of flames floating through a still night would make a truly romantic end to the evening.
Even if your balloons don't fly, the effort will be remembered by all your guests.
If you are not up for this, paper lanterns, which are available in many different colors, will give the same effect and create a soft light around your dance floor.
Forget traditional balloon decorations and take your wedding experience to new heights.
*If you don't want to read the book there are plenty of movie versions to watch.
Hot air balloons have both the romance of old fashioned travel and adventures, while these days they are often brilliantly colored and just plain fun.
Jules Verne's book 'Around the World in Eighty Days"* could provide perfect inspiration for a fun, adventure based theme, with the hero's travels to exotic places during his journey giving you ideas for decor.
Give each reception table the name of one of his stopping points (Egypt, India, Hong Kong, New York, amongst others) and decorate accordingly.
The original book does not include a balloon at all, though there are trains, elephants, steam ships and even a sledge used for the epic journey.
You may not want to go that far with your wedding day transport but you could have some fun with old fashioned style maps - age them by dipping them in tea - to let your guests know where they are sitting at the reception, and do the same for place cards and menus.
If you really want to push the theme look at Victorian inspired suits for your groom's party, and give your bridesmaids pretty parasols, updos and long dresses.
For a modern take on ballooning use images of huge, brightly colored hot air balloons to inspire your wedding stationery, color scheme and decor.
Strong contrasting colors in stripes or checks are often used and these can be repeated in your table linen and choices for bridesmaids' dresses.
For the truly creative and adventurous find out how to make your own miniature hot air balloons (this might be a fun project for your husband to be) and fly them at the end of your celebrations for the grand finale.
If things go well, the glimmer of flames floating through a still night would make a truly romantic end to the evening.
Even if your balloons don't fly, the effort will be remembered by all your guests.
If you are not up for this, paper lanterns, which are available in many different colors, will give the same effect and create a soft light around your dance floor.
Forget traditional balloon decorations and take your wedding experience to new heights.
*If you don't want to read the book there are plenty of movie versions to watch.
