Environment-friendly alternative to birthday balloon arches?

[Nickiholly]

is there any nice alternative to balloon arches these days? I’m trying to plan my first child’s birthday (he’ll be one) and sort of thought it was usually a tea and cake drop in affair but the mums I’ve met since having the baby seem to be going all out with entertainers etc and balloon arches.

I think they must be terrible for the environment so is there any other way anyone has tried to do some nice eye catching decorations? Or better not to do any?

Could you do something with either paper poms or paper honeycomb balls? I’ve never done the balloon arch for the same reason so not sure how they stick on. But I think the poms look lovely and can be recycled.

Christ almighty. You don't need to be going all out. Refuse to fall in line with what is popular. The child is going to be 1.

garlands of paper streamers
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Decoration-Hanging-Four-Leaf-Reusable-Streamers/dp/B07D3QH8TT

Totally agree, we've got to stop this rampant bloody consumerism. For a 1 year old? Just some cake and tea, lead the way. Honestly, entertainer for a 1 year old?

I agree with others that you don't need to go overboard.

I have an alternative, much cheaper and environmentally friendlier option to helium balloons for decorations. Blow up regular balloons with breath or a pump, add a short string or curled ribbon, add a blob of white blue tak to the top of balloon and stick to the ceiling. They look like helium balloons on the ceiling, but obviously aren't. If the strings are short- kids can't pull them off!

Well said 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Other mums will thank you for doing a tea and cake party. No fuss and easy going.

Our foil balloons have been reused at least 5x a year for the past 4 years. Not tried using them for a balloon arch though and have lost the odd one but still infinitely better than single use balloons!

First birthday parties are for the parents, the child is completely unaware and couldn't give a shit what happens, so do what you would like.

If you want a huge party with an entertainer etc., have one.

If you want the grandparents over and team and cake, do that.

If you want to get a babysitter and go out and celebrate getting through the first year with a nice dinner with your DP, also a good choice.

I would avoid balloons and excess presents etc. for the same reasons as you. Entertainer is fine from that perspective (as long as you're not flying them in from Australia!) and won't end up in landfill so I think actually quite a good way to celebrate if you want to go down the kids birthday party route.

Tea and cake is lovely. Start a new trend where no one needs to splurge cash on single use anything - balloons or paper decorations or anything.

This is a fab idea - thank you

Mine all had tea and cake with friends / family - went to the local park with a few mum friends and their little ones - I made a simple cake and they all sang happy birthday 🎈, also had cake with family - they are more bothered with crawling around and playing with wrapping paper 🤣

No OTT balloon arches required