Balloon Waterfalls Elevate the Atmosphere

Balloon Waterfalls Elevate the Atmosphere

Balloon Waterfalls elevate the atmosphere in marble, black, gold, silver, and mini pearl balloons. This party idea is stunning and brought a stately, modern, explosive and presidential impact to a very special event! This party inspiration started when Calli, my daughter, was studying the election process with her Civic's class. Her tutor decided to add some real muscle to the material by having a class election, followed by a an inauguration ceremony to swear in the winners, and to put the icing-on-the-cake, an inaugural dinner and ball! 

Inaugural Ball! Enter Lifted Balloons with a little, no-actually a LOT of dance in my step! I volunteered to bring some serious luxury balloon swag to this fun, family, educational event! Confession. This was my opportunity to style one for the very FIRST time! I knew that I'd be offering Balloon Bursts and Balloon Waterfalls on my menu of products for party style, BUT I needed an event to play around with technique and make clumsy mistakes without the pressure of performing for a client. This could not have lined up more perfectly. I was overjoyed to create a beautiful balloon installation with high drama!

Balloon Bursts and Balloon Waterfalls-

are the best party idea for visual impact that is unforgettable! Attendees of this event still talk about this balloon installation months after the ball!

Sometimes art is so innovative and new that the world doesn't even know what to call it. My research shows that this level of balloon art / balloon work has only been on the scene for roughly two years, which I consider very new-and most of this kind of work is being pioneered way outside of the San Francisco Bay Area. I have found that the balloon industry/party event industry hasn't really figured out the perfect name for what I am showing you. The terms "Balloon Arch" and "Balloon Garland" are what is currently being used to describe what you see at Liftedballoons.com and the subject of this post. However, as you can see, it does not look like an arch in any way, nor does it resemble a garland. My team and I have wracked our brains to create names for these balloon creations and balloon installations that strike an accurate impression of what they actually look like. I don't know if I will be able to turn the vernacular to my chosen interpretation, but at least my Lifted Balloons clients will have a clear picture in mind when I suggest a Balloon Waterfall for their wedding reception entrance or a Balloon Burst for their Graduation Party. The above balloon installation falls under the category of a Balloon Waterfall, but I prefer to call it a Balloon Burst as it doesn't cascade over itself like a waterfall. It doesn't have the same movement and is fixed in place in an architectural fashion like a balloon sculpture. The color palette came from the tutor and I was relieved that she chose such an elegant color story. 

Photo booth idea that is sensational!

The students loved posing in front of this over-the-top balloon backdrop.

Homeschool students generally don't have many social special events to get dressed to the hilt for, so they embraced the semi-formal/formal attire only dress code with enthusiasm. I am proud to say that Lifted Balloons brought a photo booth balloon backdrop that matched the formality one hundred percent! Don't they look so stately and dignified posing in front of that sensational photo backdrop?

Calli is sworn in as Class Secretary-

"I, Calli Angeline Gilmore, do solemnly swear to uphold..."

What a dramatic focal point to this community clubhouse space?! The Main Clubhouse at Sycamore, is a beautiful space, yet it's a neutral canvas just begging for serious event styling. Calli is sworn in as Class Secretary after she and her running mate won the class election, in front of a Balloon Burst visually exploding with balloons of all sizes while hovering over a massive fireplace. Her tutor is a first class lady and polished educator, and it was so grand of her to give these students and our families this elegant ceremony and ball! It is noteworthy that the tutor also taught all the students, third graders up to high school, some basic ballroom steps and required every student to participate. It was such a joy to see fathers dancing with daughters, sons dancing with mothers and the younger students bravely asking each other to dance. There were several sets of pretty little shoes on top of their daddy's feet spinning around the ballroom floor! My eyes welled up many times as families carved memories into eternity while swaying, swinging, dipping and twirling. The gentlemen made sure their daughters and wives knew how spectacular and beautiful they were and the young men felt the freedom and fun of leading a lady in a dance. 

Balloon Burst is Center Stage

An unforgettable night of ballroom dancing!

Everyone had a fabulous time and didn't want the enjoyment of the evening to end. Months after the ball families continue to discuss what a magnificent experience it was from start to finish! Also, I still receive praise about the Balloon Burst that I styled for the event and how they had never seen anything like it. Personally, I love how it turned out and how it really transformed a community space into a sensational event styled in a presidential fashion! 

Lifted Balloons, event styling in Klamath Falls

 I offer my services of event styling for my Lifted Balloons' clients, just as I always have for friends like Jeanine, who summoned me for a large dinner party event. Luxury balloons elevate the atmosphere, but some venues have plenty of atmosphere, like the spectacular view of Klamath Lake from this spacious jewel box of a great room. Contact me for a consultation if you'd like me to "sprinkle magic" at your next dinner party, celebration or special event. I was thrilled to lend a hand at this private dinner party for 31 guests from all over the world, in a gorgeous lake view home. "Now, do what you do and make it look pretty," Jeanine said which is music to my ears and much similar to what most of my clients say during a project. I love it!

Event Styling

Lifted Balloons will travel.

This event was super special because I had the joy of working with two long-time close friends and my husband!

My friend Jeanine is an extraordinary hostess, bash thrower and gracious, accommodating, exceptional cook. She is meticulously organized and well seasoned at party planning and hosting, but what makes her so successful is knowing when and who to call for help. She and I brainstormed a menu for a "glamorous summer grill out," which would include gluten free, grain free, vegan, vegetarian, dairy free- basically something for everyone! We showcased fresh, locally sourced food - even the flowers and wine were local!

Food Styling

fresh . local. beautiful.

I had a blast arranging gorgeous flowers from Floranthropy in Redding, California.  This charming floral studio gave me a great "cheat", meaning Jeanine ordered a gorgeous studio designed centerpiece for the hors d'ouvres table. They also provided me with a giant bucket stuffed with blooms to create smaller, complimentary arrangements for dining tables and food stations. They lent a " wild, just-picked " vibe to the space and looked cheerful and happy in a collection of Jeanine's vintage milk bottles and colored glass. My event styling is the same as my party styling, food styling, and interior decorating: less-is-more! If you follow this blog, you know that my style is informed by hospitality. Guests aren't impressed if the decorations block their view, their walking path, or overwhelm a space. I like to choose a few things to tell the story. In this space, for this event, styling was all about the view, the flowers and the fresh, local, home cooked food! Oh and a great mucic playlist! I am a big believer is using what you have. Jeanine's glass ware was gorgeous and we used it ALL thoughtfully and beautifully. The beautiful Farmers Market apples and cheeses were showcased and became party styling decor. I love using food as the style elements. They need little finessing when they are full of color, texture, variation and beauty!

Floral Styling

Blooms can elevate the atmosphere too!

A small bundle of blooms in the powder room. 

The three of us performed like expert caterers, but unlike most caterers, we had the luxury of sitting at the table and enjoying the food with the guests. Each one of them graciously thanked us over and over again for our exceptional food and lovely hospitality. 

Tip! Hearty make ahead salads and baked potato bar make simple and satisfying dishes for large parties. 

This dinner party was a professional event marking an exciting transition in their company's development. Jeanine had a clear vision to open her home, cook for the colleagues and treat them like family. She did not want a catered, formal ,fussy feeling evening. Her plan was  to glam up and dazzle in a relaxed inviting way.  I got it!

appetizer table

States Coffee and Mercantile celebrates Anniversary Party with giant Balloons

One year anniversary party balloons in black and white were on the menu at States Coffee & Mercantile in Martinez, Ca.  Paired together like coffee and cream were giant luxury balloons in jet black and crisp white, both styled with custom tails-were simply the perfect celebration decor to elevate the atmosphere . Exceptional coffee, hip decor and authentic people who take pride in every meticulous detail. States Coffee & Mercantile is one of my happy places.

When I was invited to their one year anniversary party, I was handed a black and white invitation with a clean, modern illustration of their van with a giant balloon tied to the back. A conversation was started!

Black balloon is a beauty. 

It was so fun to create balloons for this special event. It was a delightful collaboration as these guys at States have impeccable design sensibility. I proposed we tie the balloons with a thin black leather cord and they suggested black string. I opted to use black shimmer/sparkle ribbons only, in lieu of my usual hand painted tissue tassels because I wanted them to be streamline, masculine and simple! We tied one to an entry railing in the main coffee shop wing and another we tied to one of their bottled cold brews in the newly opened Roasting Room. 

Hovering over the community table in the Roasting Room an hour before the festivities.

They were STUNNING! 

Truly every order is custom! States is an ample space and one in each room was enough to elevate the atmosphere! I mention this because sometimes we think we need balloons everywhere, but one giant luxury balloon is enough! It sets the tone, it captivates attention, it's architectural, it's mobile and guests go crazy over them! 

They threw a great party! It was a spectacular celebration with street tacos in the parking lot, a killer band inside, wine and beer and affagattos featuring their exquisite espresso! Wall to wall people spilling out onto the sidewalk meant I had to snap some balloon close ups from the outside.  

In the front window. 

I drove around the block to see them through the window again.  

I know they loved their balloons! It was a day maker for me to stop in two days later and see the giant balloons still being showcased!  

Beautiful Instagram post on States Coffee feed the next day.

LIFTED BALLOONS GRAND OPENING

Today is the day that Lifted Balloons is officially OPEN! Please come in and browse our luxury balloons with hand painted tails/garland and explore how we can help you elevate the atmosphere of your next special event! I am absolutely inflated with joy! The website is now open, this blog is up, a facebook page is happening and you can find us on Pinterest. People have been asking how they can get a Lifted Balloon and now it's easy! You can shop for your custom luxury balloon at liftedballoons.com, watch for new products, see what we've been up to, be inspired for your next celebration and also SHARE with friends! Also, you can sign up to receive the Lifted Balloon newsletter for exclusive invitations, promotions, and special announcements.

So thank you for celebrating with me today! I am so excited to share Lifted Balloons with you and equally thrilled to thank a few people! 

First I must lavish some praise on the lovely Kim Saquing of Passion Project|HQ for designing and building my branding, website, business cards and much, much more. If you are starting a business or rebranding a current one then call her. She is fabulous! She completely understood my vision! In addition, she was easy to work with, fast, focused, and understood ME! 

 Also, I thank my family for being such rockstar fans, supporters and marketers for Lifted Balloons. I also want to thank my committed friends (you know who you are) who Believe and stood by me in all my creative endeavors which led up to this. You are the love in "lifted"!