Happy Anniversary Letter Balloons: Foil or Latex, and When to Use Each
The banner is what everyone photographs, so it has to look crisp. Here is when foil letters are worth it, when latex does the job better, and how to hang them without a struggle.
Emily Parker · 4 min read
The banner is the part of the room everyone photographs. It is the first thing they read when the door opens, and it sits behind every picture of the two of you. So when one letter sags, flips around or hangs a little lower than the rest, the whole room looks slightly off.
Choosing the right kind of letters, and hanging them well, fixes that.
What foil letters do well
Foil letters are what most people picture: shiny, crisp, clearly readable.
- They hold the shape of the letter, so "ANNIVERSARY" reads as a word, not a row of blobs.
- They keep their look for a long time, so they still look good the next morning or after a long party.
- They come in gold, silver, rose gold and more, to match almost any palette.
What latex does well
Latex balloons cannot spell, but they bring what foil cannot:
- Volume and softness, for garlands, clusters and fullness around the words.
- Color in quantity, at a gentler price per balloon.
- A natural, matte or chrome finish that makes foil letters stand out when placed around them.
Latex slowly loses air, so it is best inflated close to the moment. Here is how long latex balloons stay inflated.
So which should you use?
Both, in different jobs: foil for the words, latex for the frame.
| Setting | Letters | Around them |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom surprise | Foil "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY" or "I LOVE YOU" above the bed | A few heart balloons, string lights |
| Dinner for two | A short foil word on the wall or window | A small latex cluster in one corner |
| Anniversary party | Large foil letters behind the cake or the couple | A full latex garland in your palette |
Sizing the letters for the space
"HAPPY ANNIVERSARY" is sixteen letters long. Before you buy, measure the wall: in a bedroom above a headboard, smaller letters fit neatly on one line; on a party wall, larger letters read from across the room. If the full phrase is too wide, split it over two lines, "HAPPY" above "ANNIVERSARY", or choose a shorter message such as "I LOVE YOU" or your names.
Common letter balloon mistakes
- Letters hung in the wrong order. It happens more often than anyone admits, usually with the double P or the double N.
- Mixing finishes or sizes, so one letter stands out for the wrong reason.
- Hanging only from the two ends, which makes the middle sag into a smile.
- Placing latex balloons in front of the words, hiding the message the whole room is built around.
Color and finish tips
- Pick letters that contrast with the wall: gold on white or dark walls, silver on white or grey.
- Use the same finish for every letter. One chrome letter among matte ones looks like a mistake.
- Let the latex around them repeat the letter color plus one accent.
Hanging them without a struggle
- Inflate each letter with air (unless the instructions say otherwise) and lay them in order.
- Thread them onto one string or ribbon through the small loops at the top.
- Fix the two ends to the wall with removable hooks, then add one hook in the middle to stop sagging.
- Turn each letter to face forward and space them evenly.
- Step back to where people will stand and check that the line is straight.
If you would rather have the whole message and the balloons around it matched for you, this kit spells it out in one box:
For more ideas on choosing balloons, see anniversary balloons for a room versus a party, or browse the romantic and anniversary kits.
