River’s Edge Convention Center Caterer Features

One of the more difficult decisions to make when hosting an event is the catering service. Your guests might forget what kind of music they heard or how the flowers were arranged, but the tastiness of a meal is one of the features of an event that is sure to be remembered.

If you are planning an event in Central Minnesota, take a look at a spotlight on a few of the fantastic catering services available at the River’s Edge Convention Center in Downtown St. Cloud.

Food Ecstasy

Food Ecstasy is a family owned full service, licensed catering company serving green organic local culinary menu choices. The company has served parties of 50 to 300.

Food Ecstasy’s mission statement is to create a menu with your design & style ready for your “signature of approval.” The reality that food is art awakening your taste buds.

Food Ecstasy begins a partnership by asking the bride and groom 5-questions to help them get creative and make their wedding as unique as possible. These questions include:

1. Is there a theme for the day?
2. Where did the couple meet?
3. How did they meet?
4. What kind of foodies are they?
5. Do they envision a Formal-Classic-Casual-Rustic-Vintage or Eclectic style?

Food Ecstasy has served the Central Minnesota area - including numerous events at the River’s Edge Convention Center - for more than 35 years. Learn more about the company on their website.

Sterling Catering

Booking with Sterling Catering has many great benefits. Aside from delicious food and great service, each menu pricing includes:

• Linen table cloths (white, ivory or black)
• Skirting on all appropriate tables
• Linen napkins 
• China plate service for all courses 
• China coffee cups
• Stainless flatware for all courses
• Glass water glasses for dinner service
• Coffee (hot herbal tea upon request) and water service during dinner
• Salad service with main entrée
• All necessary serving staff

For wedding parties, Sterling offers a complimentary Jacuzzi suite for the Bride and Groom on the night of the reception at the Best Western Kelly Inn - when available. They also offer a complimentary space for a Groom's Dinner the evening before and a Gift Opening the day after at the Best Western Kelly Inn depending on availability.

Find out more about Sterling Catering and contact the company on their website.

Courtyard by Marriott

When you choose to have the Courtyard by Marriott help you plan the perfect menu for your wedding, rest assured that you are in very capable hands.

With over 50 collective years of wedding planning experience, the Courtyard provides the freshest ingredients prepared by an award-winning culinary team offering a contemporary spin on all your traditional favorites and then some. They also have all the latest alternatives for dietary and allergy restrictive needs.

Meet with one of the Courtyard by Marriott directors to talk about the amazing wedding packages. Incorporating things like your favorite color or flowers is simple, but adding in flavors from your first trip together or a hobby the two of you share… that’s the personal flair you’ll get from the Courtyard.

5 Tips For Choosing the Right Venue for Your Event

It seems like every restaurant or hotel is trying to be the location for your next event. There are many venues to choose from in our area, but how do you know that your choice will be one that supports every aspect of your planned event?

Follow these tips as a start.

1) The Right-Sized Room(s)

Have you ever been to a meeting or a get-together where the room is way too big, leaving you feeling like there should be more happening? Or worse, a space that is too small and gets stuffy and warm?

The venue you choose should have the right-sized room for your group and for the type of event you’re planning. River’s Edge Convention Center offers more than 75,000 square feet of continuous exhibit space alone with 24-foot ceilings and easy on-grade load-in access. We have an extensive list of room choices; view square footage and ceiling height specifications here.

2) Catering or Beverage Choices

Look for a venue that has catering on-site or great catering vendors that they regularly use. This will ensure that professional service and delicious food are served for your guests (complete with linens and catering staff in most cases). Beware those venues that only work with 1-2 caterers or liquor providers, forcing you to choose from a weak menu. River’s Edge Convention Center provides you with the freedom to choose from among many quality, local caterers – from BBQ to sophisticated fare.

3) Layout for Flow for Guests

Do a walk-through of how your guests will flow through your event. Where will they enter and register? Where will they find materials or refreshments? What additional rooms might you need to reserve as overflow, green room, or staging area? Working with experienced event planners like the pros at River’s Edge will help you think through the spaces and added needs you require for your event.

4) Ambiance

Does the venue feel right for your event? Is it professional enough, friendly and welcoming, or up-to-date with the latest technology and amenities? (Bonus: River’s Edge also has a view most other places can’t compete with!)

5) Extra Amenities

These are the things you may not have even thought about! A River’s Edge, we provide the following added amenities: open access to Wi-Fi for a fee, seating and stage arrangements, access to more than 1,500 parking stalls within a four block area and 700 parking stalls connected to the facility by a skyway system, and more.


For more information or to reserve the perfect space for your event, contact us!

The Questions You Need to Ask When Choosing a Wedding Venue

Your big day is right around the corner! Choosing a partner for the rest of your life can be nerve-racking enough – adding wedding planning to the mix can be enough to put some over the edge. Knowing the right questions to ask when booking a venue can help you enormously.

We have put together a few questions to ask when booking and planning your dream wedding venue.

The Date

When choosing a venue, the calendar can be a deal-breaking factor in deciding on a venue. Some venues are in high demand and book quickly for certain months, so this should be the very first question you ask.

The Guests

Yes, this day is all about you and your soon-to-be spouse, but having your family and friends there is a huge part in making this day special. Asking about the location of the venue and how many guests it allows is on our top lists of important questions to ask. A venue that accommodates the guests you want and an easy to find location with available lodging can be a determining factor.

The River’s Edge Convention Center has many banquet rooms for parties big and small, as well as a convenient location with many food and lodging choices for those out of town guests.

The Food and Drinks

Choosing a catering company that fits your wants and needs is another important aspect of planning a wedding. Most venues have a list of catering companies and liquor options that they allow. Some venues have more than others, and some have very limited options, and some host food and beverage services in-house. An extensive list of licensed caterers with many different types of food and drink options is desirable in a wedding venue.

The Décor

Whether you have expensive tastes or are a matrimonial minimalist, decorating is always an important aspect of a wedding. If you plan to bring your own decorations or hire a company, asking about the process of decorating a venue is a need-to-know. Some venues have a list of suggested professional decorators to help you in your decorating decisions.

The Equipment

Everyone needs a place to sit, stand, and (most importantly) dance. Available equipment options are important, as well as their prices. Think about the visual and sound equipment needed as well. The River’s Edge Convention Center has an ample list of equipment and prices to look at as well.


Overall, everyone hopes their big day will go as smoothly as possible. Creating a memorable and enjoyable wedding doesn't have to be hard or stressful. Asking the right questions and getting the right information about your venue can help the process.

For more information on The River’s Edge Convention Center and what they offer for weddings, visit our website.

Why Hosting Prom at River's Edge is a Good Idea

One of the most anticipated high school seasons is fast approaching — prom season! Prom is a time for dancing, dressing up and making lifelong memories with friends. Though prom is undoubtedly one of the most unforgettable high school memories, it can be a pain for parents and schools to set up for their kids. That’s why you should book your school’s prom at River’s Edge Convention Center.

Tons of space

No matter the theme, activities, or size of the crowd, the River’s Edge has the space that you can customize to fit your needs. For example, our pre-function space will work perfectly as a backdrop for prom photos. We’ve got 150,000 square feet of space, including a 16,000-square foot ballroom. Download a colored map of the floor plan, or check out our full brochure for more details.

Decorating

At the River’s Edge, you can do all the decorating yourself. Assemble a prom committee, designate a group of art students, or recruit parents or volunteers to help. You also have the option of hiring a professional to do it for you — we’ve got a great list of them on file!

Catering

With the connections we have, you can bet you’ll find tons of catering options for a beautiful evening. Don’t worry about the setup, after party clean-up, or refilling food and beverages throughout the night. We’ve got it all under control.

Equipment Rental

Worried about finding a rental company for prom? Luckily, you don’t have to go through another company to rent your equipment. We’ve got everything you need to host a fun prom: dance floors, pianos, podiums, tables and chairs, microphones, projectors, spotlights and much more. Read our Material Service Price Guide for more information.

We Provide Services

Worried about housekeeping? Not sure if there will be enough parking? Nervous about setting up and executing the perfect slideshow or video? We can help. Just let us know about all your event details and service needs before the event, and our friendly staff will be happy to help.

Planning the perfect prom at the River’s Edge Convention Center makes perfect sense. If we haven’t convinced you yet, contact us with your questions and concerns.