Blog | Vibrant Table Catering & Events

WHY CHOOSE A CENTRALLY LOCATED VENUE FOR YOUR WEDDING

February 28, 2018 Filed Under: Catering, Events, Inspiring Ideas, Venues, Weddings

If you live in a sizable city, choosing a wedding venue can be daunting. For example, within a two-hour radius of Portland, Oregon, there are hundreds of venue options. How does one choose amongst the beautiful coast, the stunning gorge, the rustic mountains or the rolling hills of wine country?

We suggest a centrally located wedding venue; meaning a venue close to Portland, serving as an epicenter for your wedding celebration, complete with transportation and accommodations to fit your needs. Think of Portland as a home-base, and the nearby 7 wonders of Oregon are easily within reach.

What are the benefits of having a wedding in the center of it all?

Close to Accommodations

Having your ceremony and reception within the city allows your guests to easily choose accommodations close to your venue including hotels and housing rentals. You and your fiancé can reserve room blocks nearby that fit your needs. In more remote locations, it can sometimes be difficult to secure adequate nearby lodging.

Convenient Transportation

A centrally located wedding will ease the burden of travel for you and your guests. Many cities, like Portland, have a good public transportation system. In addition to inexpensive light rail, streetcar and bus options, Lyft, Uber, PDX Pedi-cab and Double Decker PDX can accommodate guests quickly and easily. Your guests won’t have to rent a car and park to get to and from the airport, wedding events and attractions around the city. A central location also alleviates the cost of shuttling guests to and from venues outside the city.

Treasury Ballroom | Photo: Evirm Icoz

Reduces Vendor Costs

Consider the cost of vendor travel and accommodations before booking an out-of-town venue. Photographers, make-up artists, hair stylists, etc. may charge for travel. These charges can be avoided if booking within city limits.

Minimizes Packing Stress

Unless arranged with a planner, there will be some items that you, your bridal party or family will need to bring to the wedding reception site. For example, you may need to bring client-provided alcohol, décor items, wedding attire, bridal party gifts to the ceremony and reception site. Depending on what your venue can accommodate, you may be able to bring some items the day prior, freeing more of your time the day of your wedding. If you forget something, you can rest easy knowing you have nearby resources to pick up that last minute item.

Close Rehearsal

Keep in mind that your bridal party and family will need to travel to your ceremony walk-through and rehearsal. A centrally located venue will allow your friends and family to settle in to their accommodations and get to these events in a timely manner. Additionally, being within the city opens up a world of fantastic rehearsal dinner options.

Tasting Room at The Loft at 8th Avenue

Lets Your Guests Have Fun

A centrally located wedding destination will allow guests to enjoy your city. It can be difficult to pack in a relaxing and fun trip when most of that time is spent traveling. Easily accessible bars, restaurants, tourist attractions near accommodations and venue make for an easy and fun getaway. Guests can enjoy your reception without worrying about driving home after a night of celebrating.

Cascade Rooftop at The Exchange Ballroom | Photo: Donny Mays

Start your Honeymoon!

If you’re that couple that prefers to keep the party going after the wedding reception, choosing a downtown venue will allow you and your guests easy access to nearby attractions and Portland’s nightlife. If you’re that couple who is exhausted after a long day of celebrating, if you’re centrally located, your hotel is nearby. Start relaxing as soon as possible!

At VT Group, we are proud to manage four of Portland’s most beautiful and diverse wedding venues. All venues can accommodate both ceremony and reception on-site. As one of Oregon’s premier hospitality purveyors, VT Group also provides casual to high-end, full-service catering, event production and facility management.

Our exclusive venues include:

The Loft at 8^th Avenue

Portland’s newest wedding venue!

The Loft at 8th Avenue is a modern, wedding venue located in Portland’s Central Eastside Industrial District. The versatile spaces within the Loft are a perfect fit for your wedding events. Our unique tasting rooms can host your intimate rehearsal dinner or cocktail hour while our larger Annex and Outdoor Space allow for a seamless flow from ceremony to reception.

The Loft at 8^th Avenue is ideally located in Portland’s newest bustling neighborhood, the Central Eastside, providing your guests easy access to the amazing accommodations and attractions Portland has to offer.

The Exchange Ballroom

The Exchange Ballroom is a perfect blend of contemporary design with historic character and boasts amazing views of downtown Portland.

This wedding venue embodies the Portland vibe with a clean and modern aesthetic; a perfect blank canvas to do what you want in terms of décor, color, lighting and theme to create a stunning event.

The gorgeous Cascade Rooftop can host your ceremony overlooking the city and is perfect for cocktail hour. Located in the Central Eastside Industrial district, the Exchange Ballroom is centrally located with easy access for both driving and/or public transport.

The Treasury Ballroom

The Treasury Ballroom is Portland’s best downtown wedding venue. Boasting iconic architectural details and located within the 100-year-old U.S. Bank Building, the ballroom is a piece of Portland’s history. With a fresh and bold color palette, the Treasury Ballroom is perfect for elegant and sophisticated weddings.

Located in the heart of downtown Portland, the Treasury Ballroom is steps away from a plethora of incredible food, beverage and cultural attractions the city has to offer.

Lan Su Chinese Garden

Lan Su Chinese Garden stands alone as a breathtaking, one-of-a-kind venue. Exquisite pavilions and lush gardens provide a beautiful backdrop for sharing your special day.

The natural, calm beauty of the Garden is surrounded by the bustling city of Portland.

Invited to an Oregon Wedding and Don’t Know What to Wear?

February 13, 2018 Filed Under: Events, Factual FAQs, Inspiring Ideas, Uncategorized, Weddings

From dreamy ceremonies on the Oregon coast to funky Portland soirees, Oregon can host a multitude of wedding styles all year. As a guest, this variety can be fantastic but leaves us scratching our heads as to what to wear.

Worry not! We’ve got you covered.

Consider these elements when dressing for your next wedding:

Weather

If you hadn’t noticed, it rains here. Even in summer months, a sunny day isn’t guaranteed! Have a backup plan and bring a small umbrella for outdoor ceremonies/receptions.

For coastal weddings, the weather is even more unpredictable and becomes chilly in the evening. Bring an extra layer. If the attire is ‘beach formal’, consider bringing a jacket or wrap to pair with dresses or linen sport coat to pair with a shirt and pants.

Venue

There are so many wonderful venues in Portland that each carries their own vibe. While the invite should ultimately dictate the style of dress, it’s good to consider the venue as well both in style and venue setting (indoor/outdoor).

For example, the Portland Art Museum and Treasury Ballroom are indoor, architecturally beautiful sites that pair well with glamorous looks. Outdoor venues like Barn Kestral and Lan Su Chinese Gardens may invite lighter color palettes and an extra pair of shoes! Not every venue is heel-friendly.

Requested Attire

When we think of Portland, we often think of its casual vibe but that doesn’t mean casual attire for every wedding. Keep the formality of the wedding in mind. Most invitations will indicate the desired guest attire. Reference the Wedding Style Guide below.

Buying different looks (especially formal) for every wedding can get expensive. We recommend utilizing a rental site such as Rent the Runway or The Black Tux to look sharp without spending a fortune.

And formal attire doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with your dress or suit. For example, if you need to dress formally for an Art Museum wedding but want something playful too, consider renting a rose colored or tartan suit.

Season

Consider fabrics appropriate for the season. Linen and chambray jackets are fantastic for warmer months while velvets and tweeds are perfect for the winter.

Still need some help? Portland has a Black Tux showroom where you can try on different styles before renting.

Happy Oregon wedding seasons!

Vibrant Table

Vibrant Table Catering and Events is a leader in event innovation, providing award-winning catering, venue management, floral and décor and event production. Our culinary style is inventive, diverse and event inspired.

Stay Sane While Planning Your Same-Year Wedding

February 13, 2018 Filed Under: Weddings

Getting married in nine months, six months, even less? While the average wedding planning spans 12 to 18 months, that doesn’t mean you can’t plan a fabulous wedding in less time! Here are some tips to planning your wedding within the year.

First things, first. Book the big vendors as soon as you can. Once you have these arranged, it will allow the rest of the planning details to fall into place.

Find your venue

Waste no time in finding your venue. While it may seem that every venue is booked on short notice, that’s not actually true. If you are willing to be somewhat flexible with your date, many vendors have holes in their booking calendar and would love to fill it! Venues may offer specials deals for bookings within the year.

Found your perfect venue but the date isn’t available? Consider a Friday, Sunday or even a weekday –these days are typically less expensive.

portland-wedding-exchange-ballroom-shelley-marie-photo-1377_cr

Wedding reception at Exchange Ballroom

Book your photographer/videographer

In addition to venues, photographers and videographers often offer specials trying to fill in their yearly calendar.

Consider your caterer

When choosing a caterer, consider these options:

Full-Service

Choosing a full-service caterer is a wise choice for planning same year weddings. Some offer planners who can assist with timelines, floor plans and rentals (glassware, linens and décor). This level of support and guidance can be extremely important when planning on a short timeframe.

Exclusive

Consider choosing a venue/exclusive caterer combination. Some venues prefer exclusive caterers and for good reason—they intimately know the space and work closely with the venue representative to provide thoughtful service.

Large Operation

Do your research and consider the size of the catering company. Larger catering companies can execute multiple events on the same day meaning they are more likely to accommodate your event needs even when booked on short notice. Often, these companies can offer a wide array of dinner styles—plated, buffet and family style.

DJ/Band

If you have a particular DJ or band in mind, book as soon as you can! Choosing great music service is essential to a fun and inviting reception. Don’t let this element of your special day be an afterthought.

As you plan your wedding, there are ways to keep your timeline from getting the best of you!

Use a planning tool

Start off on the right foot and consider an all-inclusive wedding planning tool that does it all including wedding website, customizable checklist and registry. This will help you manage your time and budget. Plus, you can easily register for anything: cash, gifts, experiences from one place.

Don’t get overwhelmed with inspiration

While it’s tempting to scour Instagram, Pinterest and wedding websites for hours on end, it can also make you feel burnt out. Before you begin to consider various themes, venues, options (you’ll be making a lot of choices!), make a short list of priorities or must-haves.

For example, if you’ve always envisioned an outdoor wedding or a small intimate wedding, start with that focus and go from there. If you have a semblance of vision, you can save a lot of time and stress by not considering every option under the sun. Additionally, people will have a lot of opinions and ideas. The more confident you feel in your choices, the easier it will be to say yes or no as you plan.

Make decisions quickly

One of the many benefits of planning a wedding on a shorter timeline is that it forces you and your partner to be decisive. By giving yourself fewer options (read above) and sticking to your choices, you can streamline the planning process. Your time is valuable. For example, when selecting photographers, know and consider only those in your budget. View their galleries. If you love their work, contact a few at a time until your dates align. Don’t second guess your choice and exhaust all options.

Cut out the clutter

Another benefit of short-term planning is that you don’t have time to add unnecessary items to your wedding. More time gives you more opportunity to think you need more than you do. Keep it simple.

Listen

Most couples have never planned an event of this size or importance. So, it’s silly to think that you should know how to plan a wedding.

If it’s in your budget, hire a planner. He/she can take off a huge amount of stress, especially on a short timeline. If a planner isn’t an option, look at your circle of family and friends. Who throws amazing parties? Who had an amazing wedding of their own? Who is organized? Whose style do you love? As someone who loves to entertain, he/she would certainly love to give you sage advice. The key is to listen.

Photo: Becca Blevins Photography. Vibrant Table wedding reception at Bridal Veil Lakes.

Vibrant Table

Meet Madeline Howard – Artistic and Floral Director of Vibrant Flowers

August 18, 2017 Filed Under: Brilliant Blooms, Catering Chronicles, Inspiring Ideas, Setting the Stage, Weddings

VT Group and Vibrant Flowers welcomed Madeline Howard as Floral and Artistic Director in May, 2017. Madeline brings over 17+ years of floral experience and a versatile background in wedding and event design. Her journey began at her parent’s floral shop in Las Vegas and eventually brought her to Portland 10 years ago. Her work has been featured in Portland Bride and Groom, the tv show Grimm, and countless venues and homes in the Portland area.

She shares her experience and vision for Vibrant Flowers:

What drew you into working with flowers and what do you love about the floral/event design industry?

Growing up in and around the floral industry it was something I fell into naturally. I have periodically taken time away from floral and floral design but it’s something that continually draws me back. I find not only the creative aspect of conceptualizing ideas stimulating but the mechanics of bringing visions to life. I really enjoy working with my hands and connecting with the client to bring the personal ideas to life. It’s important to me that clients feel like our parties and designs are inspired by them and they can connect with what we develop for them.

What makes a successful client relationship for you?

It’s all about connection. I think it’s important that we all have different ways of understanding each other whether it be visual, verbal or intuitively. Once we’re able to find the best way to communicate, it becomes sharing ideas or coming to a client with more guidance. We really have such a variety of needs from our clients. Sometimes they have something very specific in mind and other times it’s a bit vaguer and it becomes a journey for us to find exactly what they need – together. Something that has really been exciting for me since I’ve come to Vibrant Table, is working with so many creative people. It allows for so many more resources for accomplishing a client’s vision. I feel like it’s a team effort.

Out of all the work experiences you’ve had with Vibrant Flowers (she’s been working with VT as a designer for several years), what is most memorable?

As of recent my most memorable is an installation for Wendy and Ben’s wedding. I think that’s mostly because not only was I able to share that amazing design experience with my team but I was able to bring in a couple of my favorite freelance designers. I feel really fortunate to not only be surrounded with so many creative people in my work but my outside life as well. It was such a great experience!

Another memorable event was a Legacy Holiday Party in 2006 at the Portland Art Museum. The event was in the sunken ballroom and the party was all set in red with tree formations throughout the room. They had a 45 min cocktail hour in which we completely flipped the room from red to green with all new tree formations. It was the first time I had ever seen a room converted like that (which is funny to think about now). It blew my mind on how well the VT group is able to work together to accomplish something like that so seamlessly.

What do you think makes Vibrant Flowers stand out in the industry and market?

Our versatility. Whether contemporary and modern or vintage, our designers’ unique talents combine to bring our clients’ visions to life.

Our lead designer, Summer Morgan, comes from an art and theater background and designer, Amy Kubow, has an extensive garden and outdoor knowledge specializing in event work.

Keep your eyes on this space, as we’ll be highlighting Summer and Amy in upcoming posts.

What are the 3 most important values to Vibrant Flowers?

Service. Creativity. Rapport.

What is your favorite flower?

This one is hard because flowers are so seasonal and each season has its highlights. I usually default to ranunculus. To me, they’re like baby peonies and poppies had a baby. I love the vibrancy of colors they come in and the delicacy of their petals.

What is your favorite part of your work day?

Conceptualizing! I love when people come to me with ideas and need to know how we can bring it to life for their event. I feel like when I get going my mind producing ideas it’s the most stimulating thing I can do. It makes me think about everything more creatively.

Outside of work, what is a perfect day for you?

Kicking it with my friends on an adventure! I love spending time either vacationing or camping. I’m really fortunate to not only have a great partner but a close friend group of about 10 of us. We love traveling together. It’s waking up and doing a big group breakfast going out and exploring our surroundings and returning to family style dinner. I grew up with 9 siblings and nothing makes me feel more at home than being surrounded by people I love.

Vibrant Flowers

Vibrant Flowers provides innovative and unique event décor from conceptualization to installation. Our designers merge floral, color, lighting, texture and staging to bring each client’s vision to life.

Full service and décor and event stylizing – drapes to centerpieces and everything in between
Floral design studio –décor, installations, lighting, drapes, structures, – chuppah, mandap, arches, ceremony settings, props, furniture, stylizing,
Large in-house inventory for rent
Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs
Specializes in room flips

What to Expect at Your Caterer’s Tasting

August 14, 2017 Filed Under: Biz Buzz, Catering Chronicles, Factual FAQs

What is a client’s favorite part of planning their event? Tastings of course! As part of the event or wedding planning process, clients often want to test the food to ensure it’s to their liking. Though this usually doesn’t require too much convincing of our clients, below we have shared some things you can expect from a caterer, and more specifically from Vibrant Table, when shopping (and tasting) around for catering companies.

Food

The tasting is your opportunity to give your caterer honest feedback on specific dishes (too salty, not enough sauce, etc.) so the caterer can adjust the dish to your specifications. It is also your opportunity to decide not to serve something if you do not care for how the dish tastes, so you want to be honest with your taste buds and your caterer to let them know your likes as you are served. Be aware that most companies will want you to have narrowed down your food selections to only a few items before the tasting so that they aren’t preparing unwanted food.

Keep in mind that some caterers do not hold tastings; tastings are expensive and labor intensive. Companies often recommend you speak with past clients as testimony to the quality of their cuisine and services if tastings are not an option.

VT POLICY: You may select up to four appetizers, two salads, and two entrees with sides. If dessert will be part of your Vibrant Table menu, you may select up to two for your tasting. Most of the choices on our menus can be prepared for a tasting, and you’ll want to select items that you intend to serve at your event. For plated meals you will receive taster sized portions of each of the items plus one full-size plate per table so you can view the actual presentation. Come hungry! Anything you can’t finish can be packed up upon request.

Scheduling

Some companies provide group tastings of seasonal menus so that you may experience the company’s style and flavor. Other companies offer samples of their menu “du jour,” during a scheduled appointment. Some have you attend an event they are catering to try their food, while others refuse to do tastings completely!

Unlike restaurants, catering kitchen staff is not always available to prepare samples on the spot, so you may need to have some flexibility in your schedule to match up with your caterer’s tasting schedule.

VT POLICY: Tastings take place at the Loft at 8^th Ave on Thursdays, starting on the hour between 12pm and 4pm.

Contracts

A common question we get is, “Do we have to sign a contract BEFORE the tasting?” Of course, every company will answer this differently, but typically the caterer will allow you to test out your food choices before committing to them. Some companies offer complimentary tastings that end up being costly to the company when the client is just shopping around, so they may ask you to sign a contract before handing out samples to guarantee your business.

VT POLICY: It is not required to sign the contract before the tasting; however, we do require payment up front for the cost of the food and services during the tasting, which can and will be applied to the overall event total if you choose to continue with our services.

PRICING: As mentioned above, if you have signed a contract already with the company, a tasting is often complimentary, but if there are special requests, there may be extra charges associated. This cost is often added to the overall cost of the event, which can be paid off at a later date. If your company did not require you to sign a contract beforehand, be prepared to pay up front for the tasting.

VT POLICY: Vibrant Table Catering & Events offers a complimentary tasting, for up to four guests, for events valued at or in excess of $8,000. For events totaling less than $8,000, the cost for a tasting is $50 per person. Additional tastings are subject to charge.

Decor

If the catering company also provides décor services, they will often include this as part of the tasting to give you a little sneak peek into what your table settings will look like. Of course, this can also come down to your budget; how much you want to spend will show in the amount of décor the caterer provides for the tasting.

VT POLICY: For tastings, Vibrant Table tries to recreate the ambiance of the event by setting the table and bringing in as much of the planned décor as possible.

Think of your tasting as a trial run of what the event will feel like. Your caterer, especially if they are helping with event planning, will want to discuss the specifics of your entire event during the tasting, including the timeline of events. You don’t need to know everything at this time, but this information will help them to put together a list of outstanding items to discuss and decide upon in the future. We know no one will turn down the chance to eat delicious food, so a tasting is the perfect way to mix business with taste bud pleasure. Enjoy!