UP Balloons
Fees, FAQs and Other Things
Balloons and Small Children
Kids like to chew on things. Balloons pop into tiny pieces when they are chewed on. For safety's sake, 3+ only, please.
Helium
Whenever possible, I prefer to avoid using helium as the cost to you can be quite high. We often have other ways of hanging things from the ceiling for a similar effect.
Indoor vrs Outdoor Builds
Balloon displays built outdoors require extra effort and attention to keep them in place and keep them from blowing away! Outdoor builds cost about 10-15% more, and some builds cannot be made to survive outside.
Pickup or Deliver?
Small balloon builds may be picked up or delivered, while larger ones will need to be delivered and assembled on-site before your event. We will need at least 45 minutes for most builds, and often an electric outlet to inflate the final pieces, especially in the winter.
Longevity
Indoor, outdoor; touchy, no-touchy; sunlight or shadow, hot or cold - these all play a part in how long balloons last, and there is no clear answer. A few days, maybe weeks. Scroll down to see a balloon monster from June to September.
Travel and Fees
While we gladly serve the UP and beyond, we do live in Marquette. All delivery fees include set-up, but tear down may be extra depending on cost, location and timing. Complete breakdown below.
Environmental Impact
Did you know that latex balloons biodegrade at approximately the same rate as an oak leaf, roughly one year? Balloons can be composted, and we're trying out brands who don't use plastic packaging.
How long they last
Balloon life can't be measured perfectly. As soon as you inflate it, it begins to shrink and oxidize. Sometimes a balloon animal will pop in two minutes when a child drops it on the grass; sometimes it will shrivel on a shelf for weeks as they watch their balloon animal slowly shrink.
Decorative balloons are similar. I typically anticipate an indoor balloon arch will look impressive for up to a couple weeks, but may start looking dull and start smelling of latex after a few days. Or maybe it won't. Temperature, sunlight exposure, and the amount of touching all affect longevity.
This monster (A Beholder from the game Dungeons and Dragons) was made in mid June. The owners sent me the second picture in late October. Why they kept it up that long is anyone's guess.


The Art of Balloons
Everything we create, from the smallest balloon dog to the biggest sculpture or decoration, is a custom, made-to-order, work of art designed with you in mind. That's part of what makes it special.
Balloons are, at their core, an art. Being art, we cannot promise that anything we make will look exactly like the inspiration photos, even if those photos are from our own website. (Every balloon picture on this website is proudly ours, btw!)
We will always do our best, but every creation is different - and that's part of the joy of balloons! Mounting locations vary, wind blows things around, and even available balloon brands and colors change over time.
Every build is a unique adventure, and even we are startled when balloons pop unexpectedly, uniquely changing the shape of the art of balloons.

Travel Fees
Yoopers know it can take a minute to get from Houghton to Menominee. While I don’t mind driving from Marquette to your event, extra travel means extra fuel costs.
If you spend a certain amount and live within a certain distance, we’ll deliver for free. Further the distance, higher the amount needed for free delivery:
0-10 miles – Free delivery for all orders of $25 or more
11-25 miles – $10 delivery fee, Free if ordering $75 or more
26-50 miles – $20 delivery fee, Free if ordering $150 or more
51-75 miles – $30 delivery fee, Free if ordering $225 or more
76-125 miles – $50 delivery fee, Free if ordering $375 or more
126-250 miles – $100 delivery fee, Free if ordering $750 or more
251- miles or more – contact me
Distance is measured one-way from the Yooper Dome in Marquette, as calculated by Google Maps.
If tear-down is required due to the nature of the build (if we used special stands or fixtures for installation,) then we will need to come back to get our equipment or make other arrangements.
Tear-down costs depend on distance and wait time between set-up and tear-down. For example, an event three hours from Marquette that lasts two hours will cost more than an event ten minutes away that lasts six hours.