Sometimes the most meaningful recognition comes from the place you call home. When we learned that Vibrant Occasions had been named the winner of The Saline Courier’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Caterer, we honestly didn’t have words. After all these years of serving our Saline County community, to have our neighbors choose us as their favorite? That’s a feeling we’ll treasure forever.
The Award That Means Everything
We are absolutely speechless at the continuous support we have been given from our community. We are more grateful for the opportunities we’ve been given than words can accurately say. Being named the 2025 Readers’ Choice winner by The Saline Courier represents something so much deeper than just another award – it’s validation from the people who know us best.
The Saline Courier’s annual Readers’ Choice contest is about celebrating the local businesses that make Saline County “a great place to live, learn, work and play.” The process involves community members first nominating their favorite businesses across ten different categories, then voting online to determine the winners. Knowing that people took the time to not only nominate us but then rally others to vote for us? That’s community support at its finest.
Our Saline County Roots Run Deep
Based right here in Benton, we’ve been part of this community’s fabric for over two decades. From our early days catering small gatherings to now serving elaborate weddings and corporate events throughout Saline County and the entire state of Arkansas, we’ve watched this community grow and change – and we’ve been honored to be part of so many of your most important moments.
Whether it’s a graduation party, a nonprofit fundraiser, a wedding reception, or a corporate event in Saline County, we’ve had the privilege of creating culinary experiences that bring people together. Each event has taught us something new about what our community values: authenticity, quality, and genuine care for the people we serve.
It’s About the People, Always
Our staff work incredibly hard every day to make sure that not only is our food delicious, but that we leave unforgettable memories for each and every person that we are blessed to cross paths with. This award belongs to every single team member who has poured their heart into making someone’s special day even more special.
Vibrant Occasions Catering is a dream that has become a reality because of you, our community, and our amazing family that we have the pleasure of working with every day. When Chef Serge first started developing his unique recipes in our Benton kitchen, he was cooking for neighbors who became friends, and friends who became family.
What Sets Saline County Apart
There’s something truly special about serving the community where you live, work, and raise your family. Our three sons have grown up in this business, working events around their academic and career schedules, making this truly a family-built enterprise. They’ve seen firsthand how Saline County embraces local businesses and supports the people who are committed to making this place better.
The personal connections we’ve built over the years are what make this recognition so meaningful. We’re not just the caterers who show up for your event – we’re your neighbors. We shop at the same stores, our kids go to the same schools, we support the same local causes. When you trust us with your most important celebrations, you’re trusting people who are genuinely invested in this community’s success.
From Sergio’s Pizza to Vibrant Occasions
Our journey in Saline County began with Sergio’s Pizza, that little run-down pizza parlor that Serge and Mary transformed into one of the top 1% independent pizza restaurants in the nation. Even then, we knew we were onto something special – not just the food, but the way food could bring a community together.
When we transitioned to catering and eventually launched Vibrant Occasions, we brought that same commitment to excellence and community connection with us. Every dish we create, every event we cater, every interaction we have is guided by our understanding of what Saline County values: quality, authenticity, and genuine care.
Looking Forward in Our Community
Thank you to The Saline Courier for this incredible recognition and to our community for continuing to trust us with your most meaningful moments. We look forward to serving Saline County for many years to come.
This award reminds us why we fell in love with this business in the first place: the opportunity to be part of people’s most joyful celebrations, to create memories that last a lifetime, and to do it all in a place we’re proud to call home.
A Community That Lifts Each Other Up
What we love most about The Saline Courier’s Readers’ Choice Awards is how they celebrate the entire ecosystem of local businesses that make our county special. From automotive services to entertainment, health and beauty to professional services, these awards recognize that every local business plays a role in making Saline County the vibrant community it is today.
Being part of that directory of winners – knowing that residents can turn to this list when they’re looking for quality local businesses – is both an honor and a responsibility. It means we need to keep earning that trust every single day.
Our Promise to You
To everyone who nominated us, voted for us, and continues to choose us for your special events…thank you from the bottom of our hearts. This recognition belongs to you as much as it belongs to us, because without your support, trust, and enthusiasm, none of this would be possible.
We promise to keep working every day to earn the title of Saline County’s favorite caterer. We promise to keep innovating, keep caring, and keep creating those unforgettable experiences that make your celebrations truly special.
Here’s to Saline County, here’s to community, and here’s to many more years of making people happy with great food and genuine care.
Ready to experience Saline County’s favorite catering for your next event? Contact us at mary@vibrantoccasionscatering.com or call 501-408-2111. Follow our journey on Instagram @vibrantoccasionscatering and YouTube at “Cooking with the Kriks.”