A theme is a palette plus a focal point, not a sticker on a balloon. For a birthday that focal point is usually the age: a pair of foil numbers with a latex garland in the colours of the cake, plus character supershapes if there is a favourite cartoon in the house.
Weddings and engagements work in the opposite direction, with restrained white, ivory, blush, sage or chrome, giant latex with tassels, and an arch framing the ceremony or the sweet table. Baby showers and gender reveals use pastels and a reveal balloon; graduations use cap and scroll figures with the colours of the school or university.
Corporate and government occasions get their own treatment: brand colours, printed logos, and installations sized for a lobby or a stage rather than a living room.
- Birthdays: foil numbers, character supershapes, confetti and garlands
- Baby shower and gender reveal: pastels plus a reveal balloon filled with confetti
- Weddings: white, blush and chrome arches, giant latex, sweet-table backdrops
- Graduations: caps, scrolls and stars in the colours of the institution
- Corporate and national dates: brand or flag palettes with printed logos
Larger themed installations are described on the event decoration page.