Okay, so the other day I got this wild idea to make a wedding dress out of balloons. I’ve seen those amazing balloon artists do crazy stuff, and I thought, “Why not a dress?” It sounded fun, and maybe a little bit insane, but I was up for the challenge!
Getting Started
First things first, I needed balloons. Like, a LOT of balloons. I went to the party store and basically cleared out their white and ivory balloon section. I also grabbed some of those long, skinny balloons for details, and some clear ones for an “illusion” effect. The cashier gave me a look, but hey, gotta commit!
- White balloons (lots!)
- Ivory balloons (almost as many)
- Long skinny balloons (white and ivory)
- Clear balloons
- Balloon pump (a lifesaver!)
- Ribbon
- Safety pins (just in case)
The Skirt
I started with the skirt, figuring it would be the easiest part. I blew up a bunch of white balloons in different sizes – some big, some small, to give it some texture. Then, I started tying them together in clusters. This was a bit tricky, but I got the hang of it after a few tries. My fingers were definitely feeling it, though!
Once I had a bunch of clusters, I started tying them together to form a large circle. This would be the base of the skirt. I kept adding more and more clusters, building it up until it was the right length and fullness. It looked like a giant, fluffy cloud!
The Bodice
The bodice was way harder. I used the long, skinny balloons for this, weaving them together to create a sort of corset shape. I inflated them, but not all the way, so they were still flexible. This part took a lot of trial and error. I popped a few balloons along the way, and had to redo sections a couple of times. But, I kept at it!
I used clear balloons to create an illusion of a sweetheart neckline.
Putting it All Together
Once I had the bodice and skirt, I carefully tied them together with more ribbon. This was the moment of truth! I held my breath as I lifted the whole thing up. It was surprisingly heavy, and I was a little worried it would all fall apart, but it held!
The Final Touches
I added some extra details, like a few strategically placed ivory balloons on the skirt and some “pearl” accents (made from tiny white balloons). I even made a little balloon veil! It was looking pretty good, if I do say so myself.
I tried the dress on (very, very carefully!). It was a bit awkward to move in, and I definitely wouldn’t recommend dancing in it, but it actually looked like a wedding dress! A very puffy, very fragile wedding dress, but still! I was pretty proud of myself for pulling it off.
It was a fun, messy, and slightly ridiculous project. I wouldn’t recommend doing this for an actual wedding (unless you’re REALLY brave), but it was a great way to spend an afternoon and get creative. Plus, I have some awesome photos to show for it!
