1. Vibrant Table Catering & Events was voted Best Oregon Caterer by the readers of Northwest Meeting & Events Magazine!
2. Owners Art Fortuna and Kurt Beadell attended the Catersource “Top Gun” Conference. The “Top Gun” caterers represent the nation’s top 50 independent caterers, by region. Vibrant Table was honored to represent the Northwest. We gained invaluable knowledge from sharing experiences with some of the most successful caterers in the country.
3. We welcomed the stellar Food in Bloom Catering and two of the Daily Cafes into our growing vibrant family. The Daily Cafes at Montgomery Park and Rejuvenation are now f&b cafes, and they’ve expanded their services to include drop-off corporate catering.
4. We are happy to announce the formation of the VT Group. The Group consists of Vibrant Table Catering & Events, Food in Bloom Catering, and f&b cafe.
5. Vibrant Table added some magnificent new venues in 2011! VT Group now manages the events and booking at Lan Su Chinese Garden and the Imago Ballroom. We also can also be found at Leftbank Annex and Domaine Margelle Vineyards.
6. We had another outstanding wedding season at Zenith Vineyard, which also hosted a fun wine-tasting dinner with us for the fabulous ISES group.
7. Portland gained attention for some remarkable events, including the Allure of the Automobile exhibit at the Portland Art Museum. Allure brought record numbers of visitors to PAM and attracted many new event clients.

the Best Photograph of 2011?

We scoured the thousands of images that our very talented and generous photographer colleagues have sent us. We picked some of our faves but can’t whittle it down to one representative image. Please help us by liking or commenting on your favorite 2011 image. Find them on our Facebook Page.

From left to right: Holland Studios, VT staff, Sara Gray Photography, David Barss Photography, Evrim Icoz Photography 

Vibrant Table is excited to present our newest vibrant event venue: Imago Ballroom. Imago Theatre has recently renovated their 3,500-square-foot ballroom and is opening for private events starting 2012. Light walls, 25-foot ceilings and massive, 18-foot windows create an airy atmosphere that can easily adapt to nearly any event scheme.

That’s not all. Other highlights include beautifully refinished hardwood floors, a spacious Bridal Lounge, Groom’s Pad, and black Chiavari chairs. In addition, Imago Ballroom has a separate, gorgeous theatre, perfect for wedding ceremonies, plenary sessions, or special entertainment.

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stats at a glance

LOCATION: 17 SE 8th Ave, Portland, Oregon 97222

EVENT BOOKINGS: 503.297.9635

Arrange a Tour

Vibrant Table is honored that Imago Ballroom has selected us to manage private event rentals at their beautiful, new event space. Tours are by appointment only. Contact us and we will gladly arrange a private viewing.

Catering Options

When holding your event at Imago Ballroom, you will have three catering options:

Vibrant Table Catering & Events – Vibrant Table specializes in creating the entire event — from concept development to the final touches on your table top. Voted best Portland caterer for five years (Oregon Bride Magazine, 2006-2010) and best Oregon caterer (Northwest Meeting & Events Magazine, 2011) you can rest assure that you and your guests will be taken care of when choosing Vibrant Table Catering & Events

Food in Bloom Catering – Food in Bloom has been an influential front-runner in Portland’s catering community for over 30 years. They are “all about the food” — preparing world-class dishes with fresh, usually locally sourced, ingredients. From highly-trained, respected chefs to their knowledgeable event planners, their team knows cuisine. They will create a personalized, innovative menu for your celebration, making them an ideal option for food-focused events.

f&b cafe catering – Elevating traditional daytime fare with creative twists, f&b cafe catering is the perfect choice for those needing not-so-ordinary boxed lunches, elegant platters, or imaginative snacks. Their simple straightforward drop-off service makes them an ideal match for corporate meetings, luncheons, think-tanks, or conferences.

Other Things to Know

• Black Chiaviari chairs are included with your event rental. More elegant than traditional folding chairs, Chiavaris are normally rented for $9 each. These beautiful chairs will automatically elevate your event at Imago Ballroom without impacting the budget!
• The light walls at Imago make it a versatile backdrop. Consider adding colored washes with up-lighting to integrate your event color scheme. When it comes to maximizing a limited decor budget, investing in lighting provides significant bang for the buck.
• Imago Theatre is internationally acclaimed (based right here in Portland!) and is known for their magical productions that defy classification. Private event rentals will be worked around the theatre’s performance schedule. Looking to make your event especially memorable? Why not treat guests to a private show?
• Imago is a unique, very Portland space, with fun nooks, but there is no elevator. So be prepared for lots of stairs and narrow hallways. The Ballroom is on the third floor and the very spacious Bridal Lounge in on the fourth floor. Provide room in your budget for extra labor as items will need to be hand carried.
• Not all areas of Imago are wheelchair accessible. The Ballroom, for example, is only accessible by stairs.
• Depending on your menu and guest count, your caterer may need to augment available kitchen amenities in order to ensure your guests are served hot, freshly prepared dishes. Don’t be surprised if you see a few kitchen items added to your catering proposal.

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One of the first things I learned from Jacqueline Mandell, Portland wedding officiant and Buddhist meditation instructor, is that there is no such thing as a standard Buddhist wedding ceremony. Instead, she says, Buddhist symbols and elements are infused into the customs of whichever country the couple is from. Once the world’s largest religion, Buddhism is most commonly practiced in India, Cambodia, China, Tibet, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Laos, Burma, Sri Lanka, indonesia, Taiwan and Vietnam – covering a wide swathe of Asia rich in cultural diversity.

No matter the country of origin, Buddhists value qualities of love, wisdom, respect and follow a standard of ethics that nearly all religions support – do not lie, steal, cheat, etc. A Buddhist marriage ceremony often provides space for the newlyweds to meditate on transferring their Buddhist principles into their marriage, allowing for a more spiritual, mature union.

Jaqueline, who runs Pure Heart Sangha, finds that many of her clients are contemporary couples attracted to Buddhist philosophies, meditation or Asian cultures. others are practicing buddhists with different styles of meditation.

Having grown up in a somewhat-average American family, I personally know very little of Buddhism and was struck by the beauty, deep respect for family, and peacefulness that exudes from the five weddings showcased here.

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Buddhist Values & ways to represent them in a wedding

As there are no pan-cultural Buddhist wedding traditions, the ways a particular couple express their Buddhist values are designated by their cultural influences. Look for symbolic elements throughout the ceremony, reception, and venue.

• Love, Respect & Honor – altar with meaningful symbols and photos of loved ones or ancestors, meditation, victory banners,  tea ceremony
• Positive Space & Blessings – incense, prayer flags
• Non-Harming of Life – vegetarian menu, though not all Buddhists are vegetarians. Buddha ate whatever was offered, demonstrating gratefulness, another key value.
• Generosity — abundance of food, donations to a charity
• Transformation & Wisdom – lotus flowers, candles, prayer, meditation, bells or gong
• Joy & Happiness – golden fish
• Connectedness – red string, endless knot, white ceremonial scarf
• Protection – Buddha statue, victory banners, parasols
• Purity – water, white ceremonial scarf

More juicy Tid-Bits

• Some Buddhist monks do not officiate weddings.
• In Buddhism, the body is respected as a holy vessel with the head, being the highest point on the body, symbolizing enlightenment. For that reason, it is disrespectful to touch another person’s head or point the soles of your feet toward someone, including Buddha.
• Expect an abundance of food. It would be seen as a negative omen if provisions were to run out. Leftovers are most commonly given to family members or donated to relief agencies.
• In many Buddhist cultures, public displays of affection are viewed negatively, so the newlyweds may choose to forgo a kiss at the close of the wedding ceremony.
• Couples may change clothes frequently, and you may see lots of rich fabrics such as silks, brocades, and fine cotton.
• The traditional wedding colors vary depending on the country or culture.
  • Red, Crimson, & Gold – China
  • Saffron & Brown – Thailand, Burma, India, Sri Lanka, Laos, Vietnam
  • Black & Gray – Japan & Korea
  • Red, Blue, Green, White & Yellow – Tibet
• Common flowers are peonies, orchids, ikebana, roses, wisteria, and lotus

Share your Buddhist Wedding Experiences

Have you ever attended a Buddhist wedding? Did you include Buddhist elements at your own nuptials? Please share your experiences with future brides who may be looking for ideas in the comments below!

Shout Outs

Vibrant Table is indebted to the amazing photographers that so generously share their work. A special thank you to the photographers featured in this blog post – who spent precious time this busy wedding season searching for images we could share with you.

MOSCA PHOTO – Buddhist statue (VT modified for use in header), incense
SARA GRAY PHOTOGRAPHY – brown altar with family pictures on wall, bride in yellow dress handing tea to relative
EVRIM ICOZ PHOTOGRAPHY – tea pot with flowers, koi in Lan Su Chinese Garden lake with lotus, Lan Su waterfall with Chinese characters, altar with gong and incense
JAMIE BOSWORTH PHOTOGRAPHER – table with umbrellas (at Lan Su Chinese Garden), drum performers, fan with flowers, laughing Buddha placeholder, eternity sign
JESSICA WATSON PHOTOGRAPHY – Urban couple with red tea set

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About Vibrant Table

Vibrant Table Catering & Events is an award-winning, catering and event production company in Portland, Oregon. We provide services in Portland, Salem, Vancouver, and surrounding areas. We offer a wide range of services including custom menus, event planning, event design, floral and decor.

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appetizer Options

• Salad Rolls – Thai delicacy with tofu, carrots, mint and a ponzu dipping sauce.
• Vegetable Samosas – East Indian fave with potatoes and peas. Served with lime-cilantro chutney.
• Corn & Shrimp Fritters – Tasty bites from the South, made with roasted sweet corn, Oregon pink shrimp, and watercress aioli.

The Nitty Gritty

• You may choose one or all of the above options. Average of 1.5 hors d’oeuvre pieces per guest, to be passed by Vibrant Table event staff.
• Purchase of full-service catering package required. (Peruse our seasonal holiday menu or other Vibrant Table catering menus for ideas!)
• Book with us by Thanksgiving (November 24, 2011). Event date must occur by January 31, 2012.
• Available to new bookings only.

About Vibrant Table

Vibrant Table Catering & Events is an award-winning, full-service catering and event production company serving Portland, Salem, Vancouver, and surrounding areas.

shout out

Header image by Portland photographer Jamie Bosworth.

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Bren and Doug chose a relative’s beautiful garden as the setting for their nuptials, nixing the cost of renting a venue. CATERING NOTE: Expect some added cost for barbecues and other cooking necessities since a professional on-site kitchen is not available.

A naturally stunning backdrop, the garden also allowed them to save on extra decor.

Bren and Doug kept their guest count low. All around this is the most impactful way to reduce wedding costs. There are fewer rentals, fewer staff, fewer goody-bags, and less food.

Since there were more than a dozen children attending, Bren and Doug offered a kid’s buffet. Popular with the little ones because it’s loaded with things they love and costs much less than the Northwest-themed buffet served to the adults. A win-win!

Our fabulous florist, Page Winograd, says that limiting the types of flowers in your arrangements helps save precious dollars because it allows her to buy larger quantities. Gerbera daisies, roses, poppy pods, and lamb’s ear are used throughout the bridal bouquets, table centerpieces, and even the cake. (flowers by Vibrant Table, cake by La Joconde)

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Have any cost-saving tips? Please share them in the comments below!

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You might also like

• More event tips from Vibrant Table
• Other real Vibrant weddings
• Gorgeous bridal bouquets from our team of talented florists.

About Us

Vibrant Table Catering & Events is an award-winning, full-service catering and event production company serving Portland, Salem, Vancouver, Hood River and surrounding areas.

Vibrant Table and Cindy Thompson Event Productions have partnered on scores of projects. Specializing in corporate galas, community functions, and non-profit fundraisers, clients have included Delta Airlines, Girls, Inc, Tektronix, and the Portland Timbers. We are more than honored to feature Cindy Thompson, and Cindy Thompson Even Productions, as this month’s Vibrant Vendor.

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VT: Tell us a little bit about Cindy Thompson Event Productions.

Cindy Thompson

CTE: We are an experienced, creative and nimble team of professionals who have created some of the most innovative and memorable events for corporations, non-profit organizations, communities, and individuals. We understand how to elicit emotion and passion that drives people to give more, sell more and care more, and we tailor each event to the needs and goals of each client to ensure success based on their benchmarks.

VT: What was your first taste of the event industry? How did you get where you are today?

CTE: When I was a junior at Lewis and Clark College, I had an internship in the promotion department of KGW Radio. My first assignment was helping produce a birthday party for Packy the elephant at the Oregon Zoo. It was the biggest birthday party certainly I had EVER seen, with more than 10,000 people showing up to celebrate the birth of the famous pachyderm.

I continued to work at the radio station upon graduation, and by age 24 I was producing the city’s largest one-day event—Neighborfair. It was the first big event of its kind at Waterfront Park. When I left the station 6 years later, I started my own event company called “Celebrations.”

VT: Give us a glimpse of that early Cindy Thompson; what was she like? How has she changed?

CTE: Full of energy and ideas and loved making things happen and bringing people together. Loved being in the middle of all the energy. Moving quickly, doing many things at once, but very grounded at the same time. Laughing a lot and having a lot of fun with friends and business associates.

After nearly 30 years in the industry, I have more experience and knowledge but I still like to push the creative envelope whenever I can so people can experience something new and different. After raising two boys, I have learned a lot about patience. I truly enjoy working with people to create something out of nothing.

Portland Timbers

VT: What’s different about the way events are done now?

CTE: I marvel at how I used to produce the biggest one-day event in Portland—KGW Neighborfair—that drew 300,000 people to Waterfront Park. This was done WITHOUT computers, cell phones, fax machines or even voice mail! The technology, without a doubt, has changed the way we do business – mostly for the good, but sometimes there is too much information exchange than really necessary.

VT: Who inspires you?

CTE: On a local level, Vibrant Table’s very own Kurt Beadell. We have grown up in the industry together and created some very unique events going back 20 plus years. On a national level, David Stark.

(Writer’s comment: If you go ga-ga for creative websites, David Stark’s is a great way to waste 15 minutes. Be sure to visit each and every one of his pages.)

Girls, Inc's Power of the Purse

VT: What ideas and trends do you find exciting right now?

CTE: Incorporating sustainability and getting back to community and more personal touches. Street eats (food carts), flash mobs, farm to table dinners, family style service, urban rustic, personal touches, authenticity, experiential events, celebrity chefs, and culinary interaction.

VT: Why is it important to hire an event planner/producer?

Event guests painting a mural.

CTE: An experienced planner/producer can help an individual or company take their event to the next level, creating something truly memorable. In addition to the creative vision, they utilize their resources to create a team of professionals that will create the best possible event for the budget. They manage the hundreds of details that happen behind-the-scenes, and their experience allows them to handle those unexpected scenarios that can happen (and potentially ruin) an event.

VT: What types of business, organizations, or individuals would be interested in your services?

CTE: All types and sizes of corporations, non-profit organizations, civic groups, and individuals.

VT: Is there anything you DON’T do?

Cindy Thompson (right) and Katie Lesseg, Event Coordinator and Cindy's right hand.

CTE: We don’t generally do weddings, unless for a previous client or for a very special situation. We don’t do business meetings.

VT: Do you have any professional pet peeves?

CTE: People who “abuse” social media just to keep their names in the forefront but who don’t really have anything interesting to say. Disorganization. People who don’t follow through.

VT: What advice would you give to the budding event planner?

CTE: Start out as an intern with a company to learn the ropes and get experience.

VT: Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about you or Cindy Thompson Event Productions?

CTE: We have a passion for creating unique events, and we believe that events can bring people together in a way unlike anything else. Through our unique blend of creativity and attention to detail, we go above and beyond for clients, exposing them to ideas that they never dreamed of before.

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Photo credits

From top to bottom: Dodge & Burn Studios, Craig Mitchelldyer, Dodge & Burn Studios, Jim Lomasson, Dodge & Burn Studios

You might also like

Cindy Thompson says she’s inspired by her long-time friend, Vibrant Table Creative Director and Co-Owner, Kurt Beadell. You can learn more about Kurt by…

• watching this video of ‘Riches of a City’ grand opening gala, produced by Ambient Sky Studios. Kurt shares his inspiration behind the event design.
• exploring our galleries, which showcase many of Kurt Beadell’s event designs.
• Watch other Vibrant Table videos on our You Tube Channel.

Below are some of our favorite shots from the afternoon. Thank you to owners Art Fortuna and Kurt Beadell for a welcome break on this busy summer!