Will these balloons ruin my wedding?

[Plickers]

I am getting married in a historic, landmark in Aug. The venue has been quite strict on the things they will allow. It has been annoying at times but it’s a compromise we have to accept.

I want to add a fun element to the disco. I have found these balloons and think they are perfect. I showed the venue wedding coordinator and they said they’ve had bad experiences with balloons (wtf?) in the past so “they wouldn’t”. I feel this is overly dramatic. How hot can it get? It’s a medium sized period room (enough space for 85 people to dance).

The party room is going to be very low lit with up lights. I think the led balloons will be just right.

Do you think the venue is being ridiculous?

I actually love them. And it's your special day not theirs!!

Popping in the heat is a real issue, but if balloons are done professionally they will often have something called HiFloat in them which makes the latex stronger and makes them last longer.

Issues I remember there being at venues -
• mess from balloons containing glitter
• balloons floating to high parts of the ceiling (easily fixed by leaving a foil balloon with an extra long string on it, cover it with double sided tape, float up, fetch stray balloons)
• guests inhaling helium
• balloons being released outside - wildlife and farm animal risk

More venues are refusing balloons because they don’t fit their aesthetic.

Personally, I think they're great fun and, as it's not an outright 'no' from the venue, you can go for it.
I appreciate that vibe is not everyone's cup of tea, but some PPs have been unnecessarily vitriolic.

I spend a lot of time in an old building that hires out as a wedding venue - my advice would be: Never hang decorations with trailing sparkly bits where they would be within reach of a drunk bloke sitting on the shoulders of a drunk bloke. Especially not decorations that look like they might contain enough helium to make a drunk bloke's voice go really really really SQUEAKY so that he can make the other drunk blokes giggle.

Putting those into a historic landmark is just a no.

They are hideous

I have a severe anaphylactic latex allergy so I’d not be able to come to your wedding if I was related to you

The problem with helium is not where it goes to but where it comes from.

I work in historic houses, have the qualifications etc.

One place I worked we had a blanket ban on balloons for environmental reasons. For our use, guests, everyone. Because of the environmental impact of their creation, use of helium, and if any got out into the park the killing of wildlife.

Aside from that we banned glitter and confetti inside and absolutely only biodegradable confetti outside.

With these kinds of balloons id be concerned about the 'luminescence' on the inside, and what that would do to historic interiors when they popped. I'd have banned them too.

You want to get married in an historic house you play by their rules, and they will (and should be free) to say no to anything at any time. They are preserving something that's going to last longer than our lifetimes.

(It's why I chose a modern pub for my wedding reception instead!).

When the venue wedding coordinator said "I wouldn't" are they meaning that, due to the heat, you're likely not going to get the effect you want? If you're relying on them to be a major element of your decor and a lot burst or don't float properly you might be left disappointed.

Helium is in short supply for medical use. Completely unnecessary at any wedding.

If you want the balloons OP then go for them!

Helium is in short supply for medical use. Completely unnecessary at any wedding

if you're not aware about the existential threat to the finite supply of helium globally, and the fact it's used for medical testing, please increase your awareness because you or one of your family may be glad of it some day, so the toss up between an MRI scan and encouraging someone to have wedding balloons filled with helium will be a no brainer for you.

OP, as balloons go yours don't bother me at all and who cares if other people think they're tacky?
We had favours at our wedding which is a big mumsnet no-no.

The environmental aspect is one thing but stylistically, if your vibe is fun they're absolutely fine.

If you want them have them. You'll really regret not going for it.
I regret not splashing out on the extras I chose not to have.

I love them iv never seen them before

Quite. It's astonishing where people's priorities lie isn't it? I wish helium balloons would be banned and genuinely can't understand why people would prioritise frivolous nonsense like this over future medical use.

Add in the landfill issue for single use plastic and the potential danger to wildlife and it's even worse.

Is this really worth going bridezilla over?

If they are made of latex, that much latex in one room would make your wedding a complete no go for people latex allergy… just them being there can be a trigger… but if they burst the ‘latex dust’ is expelled into the air causing much heightened risk of reaction…

Broken bits of balloon are a choking hazard for children under about eight - which is worth planning for if you've got child guests.

Warn your guests - there may well be some who have latex allergies or phobias. I do have a phobia of bursting balloons so may not be the best person to comment but I think the random unexpected loud noises are probably jarring to a lot of people, so think about where you're putting the balloons to reduce the chances of people bursting them - near the ceiling is a good choice on that basis (but I see others saying the heat there might burst them).

If you're going for the very dark space for dancing, consider where else your elderly guests might go / where people can go to take a break.

Ex events manager here, have run many historic venues. These will not be popular no, as they cause such a headache to remove.
My experience of these in the summer is that 30% will fail to stay high enough/light up.
You will then inevitably lose “the vibe/vision” you are going for.
You will also need a vast number to create the effects you’re seeking, which is very labour intensive.
Without several hundred of these, in even an average sized banqueting room, the final outcome is often poor/disappointing to the Bride and looks lost in the room.

I would highly recommend exploring professional lighting companies who can work in tandem with your florist etc to flood the room with uplighters and similar.
Also, if you do go for the balloons, be prepared for a hefty dismantling & disposal fee.

Regardless-I hope you have a dresm on the day- with or without balloons 🎈

They look awful and tacky

What a dramatic title. The naff balloons, or lack thereof will not ruin your wedding. Presumably you are marrying the love of your life, unless they are also a balloon, or constructed from balloons, no?

Are the balloons recyclable OP? Otherwise you'd be adding to all the plastic waste.
Maybe the venue has a robust sustainability policy?

Would you consider other alternative attractive decorations / fairy lights ?

If you want a ton of them at ceiling level who is taking them all down and clearing up afterward? You or the venue? I can certainly see how it would add lots of time and effort to the clean up for somebody.

Well the venue hadn't actually said no so get them if you want OP