Sarah and Preston’s wedding took place on October 24, 2020 at Anthony Chapel and Garvan Gardens in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  We love a garden party celebration and what better location than a 210-acre botanical garden nestled in the picturesque Ouachita Mountains!  Anthony Chapel is located on the grounds of the botanical garden overlooking Lake Hamilton amongst a serene sanctuary of dense pines and hardwoods. “Sarah and Preston hail from Louisiana and their family and friends came from surrounding states to celebrate their big day,” says their wedding planner, Kaitie Gill with Kaitie Gill Weddings.

Sarah and Preston’s Menu

Cocktail Hour Passed Hors d’Oeuvres: 

Spinach Artichoke Crostini A creamy blend of cream cheese, spinach and artichoke hearts served warm on a toasted crostini 

Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms Fresh mushroom caps stuffed with a blend of cheeses and seasoned bread crumbs and baked until gooey 

Sausage Cheddar Balls Spicy pork sausage and sharp cheddar cheese make these treats irresistible 

Pigs in a Blanket Coins A real crowd pleaser, we wrap our plump, spicy kielbasa in flaky puff pastry and slice them into coins before baking them to a golden brown 

Dinner Menu:   Street Taco Bar 

Shredded Beef Taco  Slow-simmered shredded beef taco meat 

Grilled Chicken Fajitas  Marinated grilled chicken tossed with colorful peppers and onions 

Pork Carnitas  Juicy, tender, crispy-edged pieces of savory shredded pork just waiting to be tucked into warm tortillas, served with a chimichurri sauce

Stationary Buffet for Street Tacos:  

Mexican Street Corn Dip Sweet whole kernel corn tossed with Cotija cheese, fresh cilantro, mayonnaise, and a special blend of seasonings

Mexican Black Beans Black beans seasoned with fresh tomatoes, onions, fresh garlic, mild chile peppers, and a blend of Mexican spices 

Cheese Dip  Our creamy white cheese dip is flavored with fresh cilantro and just a touch of mild chile peppers and jalapeno peppers 

Salsa Made with fresh cilantro, garlic, onions and spices with just a kick of jalapenos

Guacamole  Made fresh with ripe avocados, tomatoes, jalapenos, cilantro, red onions and fresh lime juice  

Taco Bar Condiments  Shredded lettuce, sour cream, and shredded cheese 

Vendor Team:

Photography: Kadence Photography
Venue: Anthony Chapel and Garvan Gardens
Planning: Kaitie Gill Weddings
Catering + Bartending: Vibrant Occasions Catering
Floral + Rentals: A Perfect Bloom
DJ: Central Arkansas Entertainment
Cakes: PattiCakes Bakery 
Videography: Patrick Hawkins
Hair + Makeup: Erin Sylvest
Officiant: Hunter Chatman

The Vibrant Occasions Catering team has been on a podcast tour these last few weeks and we are excited to share our experience.  We spoke with new friends and some old friends, which is always fun.  It is a joy for our team to get the opportunity to share our passion for food whether through our services or our words.  Our story is one of family, hard work, good times and a love of people.  Get to know Chef Serge, Mary and Leah discuss all things food and business along with a whole lot of laughs from the podcast list below.  

What: podcast INSPIRE

Hosts: Tanarah Haynie and Steven Barardesca with Tanarah Luxe Floral and INSPIRE Wedding Show

Where: Inspire Wedding Show

Guests: Serge and Mary Krikorian with Vibrant Occasions Catering

On this episode:  “Well, I will say y’all are geeks and I love it.  I mean y’all are ate up with this whole food thing.  And I think it’s awesome.”  – Steven Barardesca

Hosts: Daniel Quinn and Aaron Dotson

Where: Look What I Did

Guests: Serge Krikorian and Leah Seale with Vibrant Occasions Catering
 
On this episode:  “If someone wants something that seems out of the ordinary, why not make it happen for them?”  – Leah Seale

Hosts: Bryan Striegler with Bryan Striegler Photography

Where: Bryan Striegler on Spotify

Guests: Serge Krikorian and Leah Seale with Vibrant Occasions Catering
 
On this episode:  “In the little time I’ve known you now you’ve impressed me quite a bit with just personality, but also the things you’re doing for your couples – the fact that you’re customizing so many things and the extra care and the fact that you have the personal bond with your employees…I think all that is so important.”  – Bryan Striegler

Host: Keys Dan

Where: Key Dan Show on Spotify and Keys Dan on Youtube

Guests: Serge Krikorian and Leah Seale with Vibrant Occasions Catering
 
On this episode:  “It goes back to the family.  My mom was a phenomenal cook.  As a family, we have always gathered around the table.  Anytime we do anything it has something to do with food.”  – Serge Krikorian

We were thrilled when Arkansas lifestyle blogger, Mary Kate Whitmire, agreed to sample our private fine dining option around Valentine’s Day with her husband, Colton.  Mary Kate Whitmire is the writer and creator behind Chic Little Honey, a blog where she gets to share her love for fashion, beauty, home decorating, cooking, baking, and so much more.  The blog started when Mary Kate was in college and has grown along with her through various phases of her life such as getting married, buying a home and landing her dream job as a corporate advertising copywriter.  We love that Mary Kate and Colton got to experience our fine dining dishes on a holiday where they were celebrating their love for each other.  We want to thank Mary Kate for these amazing photos she took of Vibrant Occasions Catering’s food and hope they will dine with us again!

Interested in trying our private fine dining at home or office experience?  Read more here and call ahead, so we can help you customize the perfect menu for your occasion.

Mary Kate and Colton’s Menu

Appetizers

Cheese – Stuffed Mushrooms
Fresh mushroom caps stuffed with a blend of cheeses and seasoned bread crumbs, baked until gooey.

Antipasto Skewers
Sharp cheddar and provolone skewers with slices of pepperoni and Genoa salami along with fresh grape tomatoes and a kalamata olive.

Saucy Asian Meatballs
Party – size beef meatballs tossed in a delicious Asian barbeque sauce made with soy sauce, fresh ginger, sesame oil and Hoisin Sauce.

Bacon Praline Skewers
Applewood – smoked bacon skewers caramelized with sugar and toasted pecans.

First Course

Garden Salad
Fresh salad greens with grape tomatoes, cucumbers and shaved carrots. Served with house – made Buttermilk Ranch dressing.

Second Course 

Pan – Seared Black Angus Beef Filet
Black angus aged prime beef filet pan – seared to desired temperature, draped in a cabernet sauvignon veal reduction.

Grilled Ribeye Steak
Black angus aged prime boneless ribeye steak lightly seasoned with our House Grill Seasoning and grilled to a juicy, desired temperature. Served with a garlic rosemary pan jus.

Grilled Twice Cut Pork Chops
Prime twice cut, bone – in pork chops draped in a savory sauce made with blistered red grapes, burgundy wine and fresh thyme.

Pan – Seared Wild Salmon with Cilantro Wine Butter
Wild – caught salmon filet pan seared and topped with cilantro lime butter. Served with garlic butter shrimp scampi.

Side Dishes

Potatoes Au Gratin
Thinly – sliced potatoes cooked in a creamy sauce and topped with a blend of three cheeses.

Fingerling Nutmeg Potatoes
Fingerling potatoes roasted with sweet butter, fresh garlic and a touch of nutmeg .

Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts
Fresh brussels sprouts glazed with maple syrup and tossed with applewood – smoked bacon.

Green Bean Provencal 
Fresh green beans cooked to a crisp tender.

Dessert

Strawberry Cheesecake
New York – Style Cheesecake drizzled with strawberry syrup and served with a chocolate covered strawberry.

Devil’s Food Chocolate Cake
A super moist freshly-baked devil’s food chocolate cake topped chocolate ganache and served with a chocolate covered strawberry.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Fresh, juicy strawberries are hand-dipped and drizzled to perfection in a milk chocolatey drizzle.

Michelle and Jason were wed on September 12, 2020 on a warm fall day at Rusty Tractor Vineyards in Little Rock, Arkansas with Kaitie Gill of Kaitie Gill Weddings as their wedding planner.  In a sea of navy, ivory and sage, these two could not have looked more perfect together under the beautiful vineyard sunset.  We love working with foodie couples and Michelle and Jason are a perfect example of that.  They really focused on the cuisine for their guests, so be sure to check out their delicious wedding menu, below.  

“When the best man gave his speech, he said something I will never forget and could not be more fitting for this couple.  He said, ‘There’s always going to be people who talk about who married up and who married down, but in the case you both married the best for each other,” says Kaitie Gill with Sailboat Weddings.

Michelle and Jason’s Menu

Cocktail Hour Passed Hors d’Oeuvres:

Spinach Artichoke Crostini
A creamy blend of cream cheese, spinach and artichoke hearts served warm on a toasted crostini

Saucy Asian Meatballs
Party-sized beef meatballs tossed in a delicious Asian barbeque sauce made with soy sauce, fresh ginger, sesame oil and hoisin sauce

Razorback Bites
Applewood smoked house-cured bacon bites tossed with a sweet onion jalapeno barbeque sauce

Smoked Salmon and Dilled Cream Cheese Cucumber Bites
Livened up with a zingy horseradish and dill cream cheese, these simple yet fancy smoked salmon cucumber bites are crunchy, creamy finger food perfection

Carving Station:

Black Angus Choice Prime Rib
Slow-roasted prime rib crusted in rosemary, black peppercorns, and fresh garlic, slowly roasted to a perfect medium rare, served with horseradish cream sauce and rosemary-infused au jus

Orange Rosemary Brined Breast of Turkey
Servings Breast of turkey brined overnight in an orange and rosemary brine then oven roasted, served with turkey gravy and orange cranberry chutney

Stationary Buffet:

Chipotle Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Whipped with chipotle cream and butter this sweet potato mash is a delicious twist on a classic favorite

Harvest Vegetables
A colorful mixture of fresh vegetables including brussels sprouts, asparagus, button mushrooms, red bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash and baby carrots lightly seasoned and roasted

Dinner Salad
A garden salad served with Ranch, Italian, and Thousand Island dressings

Dinner Rolls
Freshly-baked dinner rolls

Vendor Team:

Photography: Kylie Farmer Photography
Venue: Rusty Tractor Vineyard
Planner: Kaitie Gill Weddings Kylie Farmer Photography
Catering: Vibrant Occasions Catering
Floral Design: Petal Chik Designs
Cake + Cupcakes: Patticakes Bakery
Hair + Makeup: Makeup by Bayley
DJ: Crown Entertainment
Linens: Eventology
Videography: Patrick Hawkins
Shuttle Bus + Accommodations: Aloft Little Rock West
Officiant: Brother-of-the-bride, Miles

Jennifer Stafford with Love Events by Jen styled this perfectly pink spring styled shoot at Cold Springs Events in Paron, Arkansas.  Vibrant Occasions Catering adorned this elegant dinner table with a fresh spring salad and two entrees – a buttery pink salmon on a bed of wild rice with assorted fresh vegetables and lamb chops with asparagus risotto.  We topped the grazing shelf off with an assortment of gorgeous finger foods fit for the style and occasion.  Love Events by Jen is based in Wichita Falls, Texas and we love getting the chance to create weddings and events with Jennifer and her staff every chance we get.  Take a look at the images Carley Howard Photography captured of this fun project.

 “You can never go wrong with a little pink…or a lot of pink!, “ says Jennifer Stafford.  “This styled shoot was so dreamy with all the pink details, mixture of textures and smells of gorgeous, delicious food.”

When wedding planner, Anna Dickison of Perception by Anna Dickinson, asked Vibrant Occasions Catering to be a part of this beautiful equestrian styled shoot at The Pine Hill Ranch Equestrian Center we were thrilled.  It was a lovely day with so many of our “friendors” (event vendor friends) working to create a classic, dreamy vignette full of so many fanciful elements.  Vibrant Occasions Catering provided individual charcuterie boards, which have become a popular menu option for weddings and events.  Our clients always have the option of serving charcuterie in individually packaged gift boxes as well as other presentation styles. As you can see from Carper Creative Photography’s images, they look fabulous at each place setting.

Photography: Carper Creative Photography
Planner: Perception by Anna Dickinson
Venue: The Pine Hill Ranch Equestrian Center
Catering: Vibrant Occasions Catering
Floral Design: Adam Style Floral
Lighting: Central Arkansas Entertainment
Rentals: Party Time Rental and Events
Stationer: The Social Type

One of the most amazing goals Vibrant Occasions Catering accomplished last year was the addition of Our Mobile Kitchen. This has allowed our event catering business to not only expand our menu options as some menu items are best prepared on site, but it has also opened up the option to make traveling for weddings much, much easier.  Affording our team the ability to create chef-prepared food anywhere at any time granted us the opportunity to work with the fabulous Amanda Reed with Amanda Reed Weddings for Anne-Christine and Kyle’s beautiful day in Northwest Arkansas.

“Through the hustle and bustle of wedding day commotion, greetings, and agenda, Anne-Christine truly took in every moment of her big day.  She handled every change of plans that came with 2020 with grace and positivity.  AC will go down in history as one of our most joy-filled and genuine brides – and for that, we’re forever thankful,” said Amanda Reed with Amanda Reed Weddings.

See more from this colorful autumn bohemian dream wedding (and lovely dinner) below captured by Stephanie Parsley Photography.

Anne-Christine and Kyle’s Menu

Burgundy Braised Beef Brisket 
Beef brisket slowly braised in burgundy wine infused with a puree of leeks, carrots, celery and tomatoes until fork tender, served with the flavor-packed sauce reduction 

Bourbon Chicken
Roasted pieces of breast meat chicken glazed with a savory bourbon sauce made with Kentucky bourbon, soy sauce, freshly minced ginger and garlic, and sweet brown sugar

 Yukon Gold Twice Baked Potato Casserole 
Buttery Yukon Gold potatoes blended with butter and cream, shredded cheddar, green onions and crispy bacon crumble

Green Bean Provencal with Blistered Tomatoes
Fresh green beans cooked to a crisp tender and tossed with blistered grape tomatoes

Dinner Salad 
A garden salad served with ranch, Italian, and thousand island dressings

Dinner Rolls
Freshly-baked dinner rolls 

Late Night Snacks – Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders
Mini grilled burgers topped with sharp cheddar cheese and applewood smoked bacon, served on a freshly baked slider bun

Vendor Team:

Photographer: Stephanie Parsley Photography
Planning + Design: Amanda Reed Weddings 
Ceremony & Reception:
Fuller Red Barn (Groom’s uncle’s barn)
Thompson Party Shop (Groom’s sister’s barn)
Catering & Bartending: Vibrant Occasions Catering with Our Mobile Kitchen
Cake: PattiCakes Bakery 
Florist: Tanarah Luxe Floral 
Rentals:  Eventology , Nuage Linens, BBJ Linens , La Tavola 
Dress: BHLDN 
Bridesmaid Dresses: Show Me Your Mumu 
Hair: Lindsey Powers Huey 

“When guests arrived at Macy and Bryce’s wedding it was as if they were stepping into a Hallmark Christmas Movie. The magic of the twinkling lights, good company, and champagne toasts made their wedding completely magical. That night, just like a Hallmark Movie, anything was possible,” said Kaitie Gill, wedding planner with Sailboat Weddings.

Vibrant Occasions Catering was on site at Macy and Bryce’s wedding at Tanglewood Landing in New Edinburg, Arkansas to help them celebrate their big day surrounded by their family and friends during the joyous holiday season.  Our team was super excited about this wedding as it was one of the first events we had Our Mobile Kitchen on location.  The couple and their guests enjoyed dinner, dancing and the holiday spirit as showcased in these beautiful images by Benjamin Martin Photography, below.

Macy and Bryce’s Menu

Pasta Station
Chef-prepared grilled chicken alfredo and marinara with meat sauce right in front of your guests and toss with penne pasta

Harvest Vegetables
A colorful mixture of fresh vegetables including brussels sprouts, asparagus, button mushrooms, red bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash and baby carrots lightly seasoned and roasted

Dinner Salad
A garden salad served with our house made vinaigrette

Garlic Bread
Crusty Italian bread with a hint of garlic

Slider Station
Chef-prepared grilled chicken sliders and grilled hamburger sliders right in front of your guests

Grilled Chicken Sliders
Marinated grilled chicken breast grilled and served on a freshly-baked soft slider bun with house-made southwest chipotle sauce

Grilled Hamburger Sliders
Grilled hamburgers made by with lightly seasoned fresh ground beef served on a freshly-baked soft slider bun our house-made honey chipotle BBQ sauce

House-Made Potato Chips
Thin slice of white potato that has been cooked until crisp and seasoned

Garnish for Champagne Fruit Skewers
Fresh, seasonal fruit attractively skewered including cranberries

Individually Packaged Charcuterie Boxes
A beautiful display of assorted sliced meats, including salami, smoked ham, pepperoni, and capicola, along with a variety of cheeses, including gouda, goat cheese, sharp cheddar, swiss and pepperjack. Served with olives, crackers, and fresh-baked breads

We love this mimosa bar the ladies enjoyed while they were getting pampered and pretty the morning of the wedding.

Macy and Bryce read letters from one another before their ceremony.

Vendor Team

Photography: Benjamin Martin Photography 
Wedding Coordinator: Kaitie Gill Weddings
Ceremony + Reception Venue: Tanglewood Landing 
Videography: Katie Graham Photo & Video 
Hair + Makeup: Aunt of the Bride
Photo Booth: Ace Events 
Officiant: Pastor Rusty Ross 
DJ: Sam O’Donnel kzhe.com
Bride Bouquet + Bridesmaids: Flowers by Jim 
Catering + Bartending: Vibrant Occasions Catering with Our Mobile Kitchen

Photo by Jessica Brown Photography.

Let’s face it, 2020 presented some challenges for us all.  The wedding industry and the couples that the wedding industry serves were met with opportunities to get creative when it came to celebrating that special day.  As a business that thrives on providing beautiful memories, we want to spread a message of one that incorporates more joy in 2021.  The Vibrant Occasions Catering team was built by our family to serve your family and at the end of the day our goal is always to make you smile. After all, more smiles brings more joy!

Here are five tips to make you smile from Vibrant Occasions Catering:

1.  I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.  Sounds simple, but that’s the point!  Ice cream conjures up nostalgic feelings and childhood memories for most people.  Treating yourself and your guests at gatherings to this sweet treat will immediately bring a sense of comfort and happiness. Want our snow ice cream recipe?  Grab it here!  How to Make Snow Ice Cream

Groom’s ice cream station by Vibrant Occasions Catering.  Photo by Jessica Brown Photography

2.  I wanna dance with somebody.  Sometimes we just need to stop overthinking and start dancing.  We have all had our fair share of days in recent times mired in deep contemplation…well, enough of that!  Grab your partner and swing her ‘round and ‘round.  With or without a dance partner, dancing will produce endorphins to boost your mood, improving your mental and emotional health.

Photo by Jessica Brown Photography

3.  Kiss your sweetie…or a puppy. Showing affection to those around you is a reminder that we are meant to love one another.  In all the isolation many have been experiencing, we must not forget that human touch is very important to the human condition.  Don’t have a human in your quarantine pod?  Kiss that puppy, muah!

Photo by Jessica Brown Photography.

 4.  Pamper yourself. Indulge a little!  Buy that expensive perfume, go to the salon or take a bubble bath.  You deserve some pampering that will bring out your self-confidence and make you smile.

Photo by Jessica Brown Photography.

5.  Eat cake for breakfast. Yes, we said it.  Just try it.  Just try eating a piece of cake with your coffee (or tea – whatever your jam is) and experience the instant satisfaction it brings.  It’s pretty much our answer for “waking up on the wrong side of the bed.”

Photo by Jessica Brown Photography.

A big THANK YOU to Jessica Brown with Jessica Brown Photography for sharing these beautiful images with us of Holly and Jacob’s wedding that we worked together.

Vendor Team 

Photographer  |  Jessica Brown Photography
Catering and Bartenders  |  Vibrant Occasions
Film Image Scans  |  Photovision
Wedding Planner  |  Meredith Events
Ceremony & Reception Venue  |  The Grandeur House
Florist  |  Pocket Full of Posies
DJ and Lighting  |  Central Arkansas Entertainment
Cake  |  Sweet Lavender Bake Shop
Rentals  |  Party Time Rentals
Officiant  | Malvern United Methodist Church, Bruce Bennet
Hair Stylist and MUA  |  La Belle Vie Boutique Salon
Transportation (antique car)   |  Rob Haynie