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Vibrant Occasions Catering

A Celestial Celebration at Cross Iron Cottage

by | May 6, 2025 | Wedding Catering

A bride and groom sit on the grass, embracing in front of a stone house with a gated entrance and a sign that reads Cove Home Cottage, Est. 2016. The day is sunny and the yard is landscaped with bushes and trees.

When the stars align, magic happens and for Levi and Sabrina, this wasn’t just a romantic saying but the literal backdrop for their special day. At Vibrant Occasions Catering, we’ve helped create countless memorable celebrations, and having the opportunity to cater a wedding during such a rare celestial event as a solar eclipse made this day particularly special.

A woman in a white dress sits in an armchair by a window, gazing outside thoughtfully. A teapot and teacup rest on a small wooden table beside her. Sunlight filters through lace curtains.

An Eclipse-Inspired Garden Party

Levi and Sabrina’s wedding at Cross Iron Cottage in Malvern, Arkansas was timed perfectly with the April 2024 solar eclipse. What began as a lighthearted pact during the 2017 eclipse (“If we’re still together when the next one comes around, let’s get married!”) transformed into a charming celestial-themed celebration that perfectly captured their playful spirits.

The couple envisioned a relaxed garden party atmosphere with a brunch-inspired feel, exactly the kind of creative culinary challenge we love. Their venue, Cross Iron Cottage, provided the perfect backdrop with its rustic charm and gorgeous outdoor spaces for guests to enjoy lawn games and celebrate under the changing sky.

A bride and groom kiss under a wooden arch decorated with flowers and a gold circular frame, surrounded by colorful floral arrangements outdoors on a sunny day.

Farm-to-Table Love Story

What made this wedding particularly special for our culinary team was the opportunity to work with beef from the groom’s family farm, Flying C Ranch. Our chefs crafted a mouthwatering Bulgogi Brisket using this locally-sourced beef, creating a dish that literally brought a piece of Levi’s heritage to the celebration.

This personal connection to the food is something we deeply value at Vibrant Occasions. When couples bring elements of their story to the menu, it transforms a meal into something much more meaningful: a shared experience that guests remember long after the day ends.

A wooden table decorated with a lush floral arrangement, featuring purple roses, blue hydrangeas, yellow and white flowers, and greenery, set in a warmly lit rustic room with wooden walls.
A bride and groom sit together at a table decorated with candles and pastel flowers, smiling at each other, in front of a wooden wall.
A young man in a gray suit holds a microphone and speaks in a wooden-paneled room, while people seated at a table in the background listen attentively.

A Brunch-Inspired Feast

The couple’s menu was designed to complement their daytime celebration with light, flavorful options that matched the garden party atmosphere:

Cocktail Hour:

  • Chicken and waffle bites
  • Stuffed mushrooms

Main Course:

  • Bulgogi Brisket (featuring Flying C Ranch beef)
  • Caprese Chicken

Each dish was thoughtfully prepared to be enjoyed in a social setting, allowing guests to mingle and celebrate while taking in the rare celestial event happening overhead.

Sweet Eclipse Finale

Sweets by Logan coordinated a dessert experience that cleverly tied into the eclipse theme. Their elegant white cake with vanilla frosting featured a chocolate drizzle designed to echo the moon crossing the sun, complemented by fresh spring berries for a refreshing finish, the perfect sweet note for an afternoon celebration.

Creating Moments, Not Just Meals

At Vibrant Occasions, we understand that catering is about creating moments that become part of a couple’s story. For Levi and Sabrina, those moments included:

  • Watching guests enjoy comfort food with a gourmet twist while celestial-themed decor caught the light
  • Seeing the bride’s face light up when she first spotted the chocolate eclipse detailing on their cake
  • Hearing laughter ripple through the reception as everyone paused to don eclipse glasses and witness the rare phenomenon together

Planning an Unforgettable Celebration

Sabrina’s approach to wedding planning offers wisdom for other couples: consider a weekday wedding to save on costs, keep your guest list intimate, and be flexible with your vision. These choices allowed them to invest in what mattered most to them like quality catering that reflected their personalities and story.

We were honored to work alongside an incredible team of vendors, from the meticulous planning by Ramsey and Company to the vibrant arrangements by A Perfect Bloom that complemented our culinary presentations.

Your Story, Your Menu

Every couple has a unique story, and at Vibrant Occasions Catering, we believe your wedding menu should reflect that narrative. Whether you’re planning a celestial celebration, a rustic farm wedding, or a classic elegant affair, our team is passionate about creating custom menus that become a meaningful part of your special day.

Just as Levi and Sabrina incorporated elements of their journey, from family farm beef to eclipse-inspired desserts, we can help you bring your own story to the table in delicious, memorable ways.

 

Vendor Team

  • Ceremony & Reception Venue: Cross Iron Cottage | @crossironcottage
  • Wedding Planner: The Ramsey and Company | @theramseyandcompany
  • Catering: Vibrant Occasions | @vibrantoccasionscatering
  • DJ: Premier Entertainment | @thepremierdj
  • Florist: A Perfect Bloom | @aperfectbloomm01
  • Hair & Makeup: Elevated Arkansas Artist | @elevatedarkansas
  • Photographer: Maggie Gulling Photography
  • Wedding Dress: Gretchen Bohling Designs | @gretchenbohling
  • Suits: The Backroom | @thebackroomclothing
  • Cake: Sweets by Logan | @sweets_by_logan

Beef Supplier: Flying C Ranch | @flyingcranchar

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