Color Forecast

TRENDS
TRENDS
Are you prepared for wedding season?
Keeping up with wedding trends will
give you an advantage when assembling
your portfolio, attending bridal shows,
setting up a window display, or having
a consultation with the bride-to-be.
Turn wedded bliss into more business
with these engaging ideas!
Celebrate
Weddings
In Style
12
I m a g e s J A N UARY/FEBRUARY/MA RCH 13
Photo by Jessica Noelle Photography
While most brides prefer to use the same
color in different shades to create an ombre
effect, a few are opting to use completely
different colors for a rainbow effect. In fact,
some wedding experts predict that rainbow
color schemes will be another hot trend for
2013. This trend lends itself perfectly to
balloon decor, so have fun and be creative
with adventurous brides who choose the
rainbow route. Remember—no matter what
the couple’s colors are, you can achieve any
color by double stuffing Qualatex® latex!
Color Forecast
Color is very important when
it comes to weddings, setting
the mood for the event and often
reflecting the couple’s personality.
For 2013, wedding experts are
predicting popular colors to lean
more toward romantic pastels.
From the fashion runway to home
decor, the color mint is popping up
everywhere and is forecasted to be
one of the hottest hues of 2013.
Light peach and pink are also
slated to make a comeback.
Not all brides, however, will
want to follow the pastel path.
With Tangerine Tango as the 2012 Pantone®
Color of the Year, we can expect a few of the
bright colors to carry over, especially orange
and pink. Plum and varying shades of purple
are also expected to be popular colors
in 2013.
“Trends are difficult for us to keep up-todate on due to the variety of cultures we
serve,” said Kevin Proctor, cba, of Premier
Balloons in Manchester, United Kingdom.
“However, Mandarin Orange, magenta, Wild
Berry and mint green are the top four color
choices for weddings with our clients.”
Ombre is another hot fashion trend making
its way into the wedding scene. Ombre is the
graduation of color, also sometimes referred
to as gradient. An example would be decor
using the Qualatex® colors Pink, Rose, and
Wild Berry. Lighting effects can also help
achieve this look
(find advice on enhancing your balloons
with lighting in the Jul/Aug/Sep 2012
Balloon Images).
Cam Woody, cba, of Pioneer Balloon Company
In-Demand Themes
Although the colors often dictate the overall
look of the wedding, some brides also want
to incorporate a theme. The following themes
are predicted to be popular this year and can
be tied into your balloon decor:
Y Vintage - Along with the shift to pastel
colors, vintage-style weddings are also
growing in popularity. Accents of lace or burlap
are the perfect way to add texture and vintage
appeal to your balloon work.
Y Peacock - This theme can be incorporated
throughout much of the wedding decor,
whether the bride wants the actual feathers
or simply the rich, jewel color palette.
Y Birds - Riding on the popularity of bird
designs in home decor, this theme is
also predicted to make an appearance in
weddings. Experiment with accents like twigs,
feathers, or vinyl cut-outs of bird silhouettes.
Y “Green” - Cater to eco-conscious couples
by informing them about environmentallyfriendly decor like biodegradable Qualatex
latex and reusable framing materials.
Big Photo Opportunities
Featured in Martha Stewart Weddings
magazine, Brides magazine, and
TheKnot.com, the trend of using 3' balloons
in weddings is picking up steam thanks in
part to the social media site Pinterest. These
large balloons are also becoming very popular
in engagement pictures. From elegant black
and white to playful and colorful, couples are
creating memorable photos with 3' balloons.
Try cross-marketing your business with
other local vendors such as photographers,
bakeries, and bridal dress stores to reach
newly engaged couples. Getting your foot
in the door at this point means you have a
better opportunity to provide balloons for the
bridal shower and wedding.
The 3' balloon trend is also appearing in
photos on the big day itself. Some couples
choose to have just the bride and groom
holding balloons while others have the entire
wedding party with balloons. It can be a
fun way to incorporate wedding colors, and
for brides using the rainbow color scheme,
suggest giving each bridesmaid a differentcolored balloon to hold in pictures.
Larger balloons are an easy way to
decorate the wedding ceremony and
reception, lending an elegant simplicity to
the events. Because they help to make open
Lucy Lee-Allen, cba, of Frog Orange in Oxford, UK
Sue Bowler, cba, of SueBowler.com in Buckinghamshire, UK
spaces feel more intimate, they’re also ideal
for outdoor weddings or large venues. Create
a magical floating effect with helium-filled
3' balloons, or for a more budget-friendly
alternative, fill them with air and hang from
the ceiling. This technique may also appeal to
brides interested in the popular paper-lantern
trend, since it produces a similar effect.
Upsell your 3' balloons with value add-ons like
ribbon, tulle, or collars. 
13
Images JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 13
Memories
TRENDS
Wedding fairs can be a great way to
connect with brides looking for inspiration and
information. They give you the chance to meet
brides face-to-face and showcase your work.
“As a balloon decorator it can be very difficult
to break into the wedding scene and even
more challenging to reach those high-end
brides,” said Tammy Corzine of Celebrations
in Delphos, OH, USA. “Bridal shows help
break down some of those barriers by
allowing you full creative rights to show the
general public that balloons can be an elegant
addition to traditional wedding decor.”
With so many options, it’s important to be
selective in the fairs you attend, so you don’t
waste valuable time. Sue Bowler, cba, of
SueBowler.com in Buckinghamshire, United
Kingdom, recommends selecting two or three
wedding fairs within your defined travel area.
She suggests asking the organizers the
following questions:
• What other businesses will be exhibiting?
• How many of any one business type is
exhibiting?
• Is the venue balloon-friendly? (There may
be restrictions due to alarms.)
• How will the fair be advertised?
In addition to networking with brides,
wedding fairs can also be a very valuable
way to meet and build relationships with
other businesses. “When other vendors
refer you to their clients, it adds credibility and
trustworthiness to your business,” Tammy
said.
According to Kevin, he’s tried several
different marketing techniques over the years,
and he’s found that most of his wedding
That Last
Impress moms and increase profits
with long-lasting, air-fill deliveries
and decor using Qualatex® balloons.
From timeless to trendy, there’s
something for every mom!
Cam Woody, cba
Stay up-to-date each year with
wedding trends and design ideas
from the Wedding Business Booster
on qualatex.com.
I m a g e s J A N UARY/FEBRUARY/MA RCH 13
eM
ns
Busin other ’s D in
ess B
a
oos y
quala
tex.c ter at
om.
In the Details
The details of a wedding set the tone for the event and give the bride and groom an
opportunity to incorporate their personal style. Here are more ideas for including balloons:
Y Balloon backdrops or walls can create the perfect background for the cake table.
SDS™ panels allow you to easily create a design or the couple’s monogram in their wedding
colors. Or, use a balloon backdrop to create memorable photos for the bridal party and guests
as photo booths have become all the rage at wedding receptions.
Y Exploding balloons can be the perfect way to get the party started at the reception.
Y Incorporate fabric, feathers, jewels, confetti, votive candles, ribbon, or linens to add
textural interest and more perceived value to your balloon designs. Mixing balloon decor with
fabric draping and other decor pieces adds value and creates a bigger “WOW” factor.
Y Use latex balloons to make long-lasting Fantasy Flowers based on the bride’s favorite
blooms. Fantasy Flowers are perfect for bouquets, centerpieces, or other decor accents.
Visit the Wedding Business Booster on qualatex.com to find basic instructions,
and use photos of real flowers for your inspiration.
Y Add value to your balloons with custom vinyl cut-outs—perfect for the couple’s
monogram or other decorative designs. (This requires a vinyl-cutting machine such as
USCutter, Cricut®, or Silhouette Cameo™.)
Trend information from 3d-memoirs.com, mypersonalartist.com/blog, and magnifiqueboutique.blogspot.com.
14
N
HELIO
UM
H
E
R
Find in
E
struct !
th
io
View or request the Qualatex Spring Collection
2013 at “Online Catalogs” on qualatex.com.
To find a distributor, see page 34.
KB-BIM1208091
Bridal Market
Create
USA ©2012 PBC
Keren Fridman Braha, cba, of Balloons in Haifa, Israel
bookings come from Google® searches,
Facebook, and his Web site. (Find tips
for optimizing your web presence in
the Oct/Nov/Dec 2011 Balloon
Images.) Based on his experience,
Kevin offers the following advice:
• Know the venues in your area.
It’s very difficult to sell decor for a
room or venue you’ve never seen.
• Congratulate the couple! When they
contact you and tell you they’re getting
married, saying “congratulations” instantly
creates a friendly rapport.
• Spend the first few minutes talking with
the couple about their plans for the big
day. This will help define the style, scale,
and type of occasion. It shows the
customer that you’re interested in them
while helping you to come up with
suggestions for balloon decor.
• Have a separate portfolio and idea book
for wedding decor. Feature your best work in
the most flattering or popular colors.
Feeling inspired yet? Now is the time to
show your customers why weddings and
balloons are a perfect match! “Every bride
wants her wedding to be special, unique,
and memorable,” Tammy said. “It’s our job to
show her how this can be accomplished with
balloon decor.” m