Vibrant Table
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Catering to the Senses

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Paper Flowers: A Unique Bride’s Bouquet

Filed Under: Bridal Boutique, Brilliant Blooms, Inspiring Ideas

Vibrant Flowers had the great and rewarding experience of creating an entire bridal bouquet out of hand-crafted paper flowers. See how we rose to the challenge.

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In March 2014, we received an email from a bride who was interested in having us provide the flowers for her wedding in October. Pretty standard, so far. But as we talked more, an interesting dilemma was revealed. She was allergic to flowers. Yes, that’s right, allergic to flowers! Not just one type of flower, we’re talking ALL flowers.
Our Solution? A handmade paper flower bouquet. Vibrant Flowers is not just a florist, we are a team of artists and decor specialists!
We certainly couldn’t have our bride sneezing, tearing up and ruining her makeup before she even got to the altar.

paperrose

One rose could have upwards of 100 petals!

whiteyellowflower

Each flower is completely unique.

greensivory

1 paper petal is made of 3 layers.

ivory

Each petal was hand-cut and shaped.

greenflowers

We bleached and dyed the tissue to get the colors and variations in  transparency.

stamens

We even made our own stamens.

hydrangea

Hydrangea!
Making a bridal bouquet is always special. Being able to spend months working on this bouquet was truly rewarding. It was a very thoughtful and sweet process that translated into a unique keepsake for our bride.
paperbouquet

Using Fruits & Vegetables in Floral Decor

Filed Under: Brilliant Blooms

fall produceIt’s not hard to notice the rich colors and intricate textures of Autumn.  As the season changes we are reminded just how lucky we are to be here, witnessing the beauty and bounty of nature surrounding us.

Our grocery stores are stocked with tremendous sculptures of produce, some of which we haven’t seen since last year, leaves turn colors we never expect, the sky light reflects a different hue that accentuates textures and colors we could not see before.

fall leaves

 

As florists and decor specialists, we cannot ignore the new variety of ingredients we have to work with!  This time of year is so exciting, flavorful and luscious.

Here are some examples of Vibrant Flowers beautiful bounty. Our designer’s favorites this year have been osage oranges, lady apples and persimmons. We are grateful to have and use these amazing combinations of color, form, line and texture. Enjoy!  We sure did!

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Fall table arrangement by Vibrant Flowers in Portland, Oregon

Romanesco Broccoli

Fall flower arrangement in mercury glass vase by Vibrant Flowers in Portland, Oregon

Pomegranates, Cranberries & Figs

Fall table arrangement by Vibrant Flowers in Portland, Oregon with peach roses and persimmons

Persimmons

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Interview with Creative Director Kurt Beadell

Filed Under: Biz Buzz, Catering Chronicles, Inspiring Ideas, Setting the Stage, Soiree Spotlights

Creative Director Kurt Beadell shares his inspiration behind the event design for the opening gala of “Riches of a City”, an art exhibit at The Portland Art Museum showcasing local artists – a celebration that absolutely needed to honor our wonderful city.

How does he do it? Watch the video by Ambient Sky and find out!

Photo Credit: Header image is from the Madame Pompadour opening gala, also at the Portland Art Museum. Photo taken by the talented Evrim Icoz.

Venue Transformations: Leftbank Annex

Filed Under: Catering Chronicles, Inspiring Ideas, Setting the Stage, Soiree Spotlights, Spectacular Spaces

Last night’s event at Leftbank Annex was one-of-a-kind. Local chef celebrities – including Gabriel Rucker from Le Pigeon, Naomi Pomeroy of Beast,  Natalie Harkness of Nel Centro and David Anderson of Genoa – each prepared a course. Billy Schumacker of Food in Bloom Catering prepared the hors d’oeuvres and Vibrant Table staffed and styled. Guest sommeliers were Gaironn Poole of Blue Hour and Savanna Ray of Wildwood Restaurant , and our great friend Dianne Hosford of Oregon Brand Management MC’d. A giant thank you to all that took part!

Design elements included a wall of votives, mirrors, white circular leather couches, and rich eggplant-colored blooms. We thoroughly enjoyed working with First Republic Bank’s event planner, Kymberlie Boston-Kiplinger.

We are proud of how it turned out! Here’s a glimpse at before-and-after:

Guest chefs help plate the main course, including Top Chef and James Beard Award nominee Naomi Pomeroy, James Beard Award winner Gabriel Rucker, Chef Billy Schumacker, and Nel Centro manager Darren Hamilton.

Vibrant Table event manager, Clayton Allport, instructs staff before guests arrive:

Holiday Party Decor Ideas

Filed Under: Inspiring Ideas, Setting the Stage

Holiday Ideas from Vibrant Table

Holiday Ideas from Vibrant Table

Looking to get that holiday party ‘just right’? Let Vibrant Table help you plan both menu and décor with some useful tips.

  1. Incorporate a simple color palette to develop a cohesive look.
  2. Lighting, lighting, lighting — use candles, lamps, and fireplaces to create that warm, inviting glow.
  3. Lots of kids? LED candles are worry-free alternatives to traditional votives.
  4. Ornaments aren’t just for the tree. They can be hung from the ceiling, scattered on a table, or stacked in a glass vase for an inexpensive yet highly effective centerpiece.
  5. To make a buffet more attractive, serve items at different levels. Stack platters and bowls on stands or pretty boxes. You can even throw a table cloth over some sturdy, but unsightly, cardboard boxes.
  6. Shot glasses are multi-functional and can usually be found en masse at local thrift stores. Use them as votive holders, miniature flower vases, or single-serving containers for appetizers or desserts.
  7. Vases and jars convert foods to centerpieces when filled with pretty edibles. Add your favorite holiday candies, punch or snacks. Provide tongs or ladles for service.
  8. Fruits and vegetables in flower arrangements provide bright infusions of color, appealing textures and are inexpensive alternatives to blooms.
  9. Nothing’s worse than running  out of food, but neither do you want to eat leftovers for a week afterward. We recommend at least 10 appetizers per person for an early evening gathering, where your guests are likely to arrive hungry. For later festivities, 4 to 6 bites will usually do.
  10. Signature cocktails are fun and can coordinate to your evening’s theme. They can be timely to make in the heat of the moment, so don’t go too complicated, do some prep work ahead of time, or leave a nicely framed recipe for guests to make themselves. Here are our top picks:

BARFLY WITH A TWIST
Try Integrity Absinthe garnished with a sugar cube.

MORE THE CASABLANCA TYPE?
How about a Poinsetta, a premium sparkling wine such as Argyle with pomegranate juice?

FOR THE SWINGER
A martini is a must. We recommend a Winter White Cosmo with Crater Lake Vodka, white cranberry juice, Cointreau and lime.

Credits

All images in our inspiration board are of Vibrant Table events. A special gratitude to Evrim Icoz Photography for donating these images:

  1. Christmas trees at The Portland Art Museum
  2. Scrolled vase and candles