Balloon décor questions, answered

How far in advance should I book?

Two to four weeks is comfortable for most events. Peak weekends — spring, graduation season and the holidays — fill faster, sometimes months ahead. If your date is set, check it now and we’ll tell you honestly whether it’s still open.

Still deciding what to book? Our planning guides for birthdays and baby showers walk through what to settle before you reach out.

What happens after I check my date?

You’ll hear back within 24 hours, usually much sooner. We’ll confirm whether your date is open, ask a few questions about your vision, and send a clear, itemised quote — one number and exactly what it covers. Asking is free and carries no obligation.

When is my date actually reserved?

Your date is reserved once you’ve accepted your proposal and booking agreement and paid the retainer. Until both are done, the date stays open to other clients. Sending the inquiry form doesn’t book anything — it starts the conversation.

How does payment work?

A retainer of 50% of your total is due when you book, and it counts toward your balance — it isn’t an extra fee. The remaining 50% is due 7 days before your event. Payments go through Stripe’s secure system; we don’t collect or store your card details ourselves. Quotes are valid for 7 days and subject to availability.

My event is less than 7 days away. Can you still help?

Often, yes — it depends on availability, so ask straight away. Bookings made within 7 days of the event are paid in full at booking, and a rush charge, shown as its own line in your proposal, applies. Same-day and emergency requests are quoted individually.

Can I reschedule or cancel?

We’d much rather move your date than lose it. We offer one courtesy reschedule when you ask at least 7 days before your original date, the new date falls within 90 days of it, and it’s open on our calendar — your retainer transfers with you. The retainer itself is non-refundable, and what’s refundable beyond it depends on how much notice we have.

Please send reschedule or cancellation requests in writing to hello@emeraldballoondesigns.com. The full detail is in our Cancellation & Refund Policy.

What’s the difference between Classic, Organic and Double Stack?

They’re three ways of building the same piece. Classic uses same-size balloons in the same cluster repeated end to end, so the colour pattern stays exact and the line stays sharp. Organic mixes balloon sizes so the piece swells and thins — full, soft-edged, never quite symmetrical. Double Stack is our densest build: clusters layered until the frame underneath disappears, with no gaps and no breathing room.

Our guide to Classic vs. Organic garlands goes deeper on the first two.

What if I don’t know what style I want?

That’s fine — most people don’t when they first reach out. Browse the Portfolio by design or by event, save anything that looks like your celebration, and choose “Not sure yet” on the form. We’ll guide you from there.

Can you match my colours and theme?

That’s the whole point. Every install is designed around your palette, your theme and your space — nothing off the shelf. Send a colour swatch, an inspiration photo or just the feeling you’re after and we’ll build the concept from there.

Can you work from a Pinterest or Instagram photo?

Yes — inspiration photos are one of the most useful things you can send. We use them to understand the look you want, then design our own version around your colours, your space and your package. No two installations are identical, including compared to the photos you send, so expect the same feeling rather than an exact copy.

What types of balloon décor do you offer?

Garlands, arches, hoops, frames and photo backdrops, columns and number stacks, and centrepieces and ceiling balloons — all custom-built in your colours. Every one is shown with real EBD work in our Portfolio.

What does balloon décor cost?

Our three packages are set prices: The Glow at $532, The Moment at $740 and The Showstopper at $1,098. Each is a complete organic garland installation — design, delivery, installation, styling and takedown included. Add-ons, extended-distance delivery and rush bookings are priced separately and shown in your proposal before you book. Standalone pieces outside the packages are quoted individually. See what each package includes.

What’s included in a package?

The whole job. Design and colour planning, all materials, standard delivery, on-site installation, styling until it’s right, and takedown afterwards. What changes between the three packages is scale and scope — never how much of the work lands back on you. The Services page breaks down each one.

Is delivery included?

Standard delivery is included with every package within 20 miles of our Cypress base. Beyond that, and for standalone items, delivery is quoted from your event address and shown as its own line in your proposal before you book — no surprises.

Do you deliver and install, or do I set anything up?

We do all of it. We deliver, build and style everything on site, then come back afterwards and take it down. You don’t collect, transport, assemble or clean up a single balloon.

Can balloon décor be installed outdoors?

Yes — but Texas heat, sun, wind and rain all affect balloons, and no balloon is weatherproof. For outdoor events we use products chosen to hold up better outside where appropriate. There’s no surcharge just for being outdoors; only actual added requirements, such as extra anchoring or equipment, would appear in your proposal. Tell us it’s outdoors when you check your date so we can plan for it.

Where can you install — walls, backdrop stands, freestanding?

All three. Garlands and arches can dress a wall, a backdrop stand or one of our covered frames, and columns and floor pieces stand on their own. Venues set their own rules about what can be attached to walls or ceilings, so tell us about any restrictions, ceiling height limits or load-in windows and we’ll design around them.

What do you need from me on installation day?

Access to the space at the agreed time, with the installation area clear and ready; venue details such as load-in, parking and elevator or stair access; and a contact who’s reachable on the day. If anything at the venue affects our work — power, ceiling height, attachment rules, outdoor conditions — let us know in advance. The setup-challenges field on our inquiry form is the easiest place to mention it.

What areas do you serve?

We’re based in Cypress, Texas and install across Cypress, Katy, Tomball, Spring and Greater Houston. A little outside that? Just ask — we travel for the right event.

What information do you need for a quote?

Your date (even an approximate one), your venue or city and the event ZIP code, your colours or theme, what you’re interested in — a garland, an arch, a backdrop, columns — and which package you’re drawn to, if any. “Not sure yet” is a perfectly good answer to the last two. Check your date and we’ll take it from there.