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.

A Spotlight on The Creative Decor Vendors at the River’s Edge Convention Center

You might be aware that the River’s Edge Convention Center has some amazing spaces to host events, but do you know much about our incredible decor vendors?

If you choose to host a wedding or event at the River's Edge, you’ll have access to all the creative abilities of many designers. Learn more about three of our design vendors below:

Designer Y&I Events

Owner Yasmin Hussein owns Y & I Events based out of the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis. Specializing in multicultural event planning, the company boasts seasoned designs and decor rental for all occasions.

“When we get a new client,” says Hussein, “we sit down with them for a complimentary consultation. I will find out their vision for their wedding, where and when the wedding is taking place. When getting all the information about the wedding, from the event space to how many people attending.”

She continues, “We start brainstorming the decoration ideas and even though every bride is a designer, I show them my vision and it usually works. We start the process of the decoration a few days before to prepare everything we need to make the event happen. The day of the wedding we start putting the vision to come alive.”

View a gallery of decor examples from Y & I Events here.

Arch Angels Wedding Decor

Mary Regan is the owner of Arch Angels Wedding Decor. Arch Angels is a full-service wedding decoration company specializing in making your wedding beautiful, elegant and exactly what you want.

The company helps eliminate stress for brides and party planners of all types by providing delivery, set up, and take down of all of their unique products, which include chair covers, backdrops, centerpieces, ceiling draping and more.

Click here to view a slideshow of Arch Angels’ work at the River’s Edge Convention Center.

Designer Weddings

Designer Weddings is all about creating the perfect wedding. The company takes pride in using the wedding couple’s venue and molding it into one-of-a-kind decor attraction at a fraction of the cost.

Says owner Sara Almjeld, “As a designer decorator, I take whatever conceptualizations I'm given and enhance the bride and groom's vision. While the big things are important, it's the details of wedding décor that are the differentiation between what's good and great.”

“While every couple may want ‘the Pinterest wedding,’ my job is to decorate a wedding that reflects the bride and groom as individuals with their own personalized flair,” she adds. “A couple's wedding should reflect both individual's aesthetics, allowing the décor to be perceived as more than just pretty decorations and more as a representation of both parties as people.”


These three companies represent a sample of our available vendors. Hosting your event at the River’s Edge Convention Center gives you the opportunity to really make the event your own and create the theme of your dreams.

Contact us to learn more.

The January Wedding Expo 2018: A Beautiful Day of Fun!

The first St. Cloud Wedding Expo of the year was held at the River’s Edge Convention Center on January 14th and had over 90 wedding professionals in attendance!

We’d like to express a very big thank you to all the exhibitors and couples that came out to join us. We met so many fabulous couples and had an absolute blast! From florists to calligraphers to photographers, the St. Cloud Wedding Expo is the largest in the Central Minnesota area.

River’s Edge Convention Center was transformed to an ethereal collection of booths and vendors who welcomed hundreds of brides, grooms, friends, and family members. The atmosphere was not only excited, but elegant, feminine, and fun.

Dozens of professionals were on hand from all corners of Minnesota to make the details of any wedding come alive. Represented were vendors for everything from catering, baking, venues, photography – even Paintball for bachelor and bachelorette parties. Truly something for everyone.

A highlight of the expo is the runway show of gorgeous wedding fashion, including bridal gowns, menswear, and bridesmaid fashions. Lots of lace, sequins, and voluminous skirts were on show for brides and grooms looking for that personal inspiration.

The next wedding expo will be held this fall; look to our Facebook page for more information.

For anyone planning their wedding day, River’s Edge Convention Center is a memorable venue for weddings of all sizes. We partner with several options for caterers, decorators, and liquor suppliers for your specific wedding ideas. As our name implies, we are located along the beautiful Mississippi River, offering spectacular views for your special day. Find out more, or contact us to find out if your date is available!

The Wedding Expo is coming to Saint Cloud!

It is that time of year again! The bi-annual Saint Cloud Wedding Expo is to be held on September 24th at the River’s Edge Convention Center. If you just got engaged this summer or are planning to get engaged soon, join us as vendors provide all types of service imaginable for your dream wedding! If you miss out, you will have to wait until January 14th for the next one. Here is a preview of just a few of the 90 vendors you will find at the expo!

Cold Spring Bakery

A local favorite, Cold Spring Bakery will be there with a lot of gorgeous ideas for your perfect wedding cake. Stop by the booth and check if there are any samples!

Mantra Salon And Spa

Located downtown Saint Cloud in the Regency building, Mantra Salon and Spa is a chic and relaxing place to get your bridesmaids all dolled up the big day. They specialize in weddings and will make you look stunning for the most important day of your life!

Pearl Limo

An elegant limousine ride can take stress away from planning wedding-day transportation, and can be a great way to sneak in some relaxation time with your bridal party. Plus - who doesn’t want to arrive in style?

Carrie Johnson Bridal

A long-time favorite of the Saint Cloud locals, Carrie Johnson is one of the best places to go get your formal wear. Their top-notch customer service and limitless options will ensure you find a jaw dropping wedding dress, as well as the perfect duds for all your wedding party.

Todd Myra Photography

The choice of photography can be overwhelming. You want your photos to be unique and really capture the authentic love between two people. Consider Todd Myra Photography, a highly reviewed professional whose photography is creative and affordable!

As you can see, there is a lot of knowledge and fun to be had at the Saint Cloud Wedding Expo September 24th. Just purchasing a ticket to this premier event enters you to win prizes valued at thousands of dollars! This is an event you do not want to miss! RSVP to the Facebook event or find out more information on the website.  

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.

The St. Cloud Wedding Expo Returns to River’s Edge

On January 15th, the St. Cloud Wedding Expo brought in over 90 vendors to the River’s Edge Convention Center, creating an incredible atmosphere for soon-to-be newlyweds in the center of Downtown St. Cloud. Hundreds of forthcoming brides and grooms experienced the latest trends in wedding food, fashion, and decor and found inspiration for the wedding of a lifetime.

We would like to give special thanks to Geyer Wedding & Event Rentals for decorating the Herberger Suite for reception demonstrations. Experiences like these give brides and grooms a hands-on look and clear expectations of their upcoming nuptials. Not only does this give couples clearer choices, but it gives them peace of mind.

Once again this year, Sauk Rapids’ Granite City Lumberjacks donated a few dashing fellows to participate in the runway show. Sponsors of the runway show included Tip Top Tux, Celebrations Bridal & Formal Wear, & Mantra Salon & Spa.

Did you miss out on the wedding expo this time around? Don’t worry! The St. Cloud Wedding Expo is held twice a year, so be sure to mark your calendars. The next illustrious event will be held on September 24th from 10 AM - 2 PM and January 14th, 2018. These events will take place in the spacious Terry Haws Rooms A & B covering over 30,000 square feet for wedding inspiration.

If you’re in the process of planning a wedding, the River’s Edge Convention Center offers a truly memorable Minnesota wedding reception site in a wide variety of sizes, setups and celebration styles, as well as an unforgettable view of the Mississippi River. Unlike many other venues, you can book your wedding at the Convention Center within 12 months of your I Do’s - with easy access to our list of Caterers and Decorators.

The River’s Edge Convention Center Has A New Website!

Planning your wedding, coordinating your next businesses meeting or figuring out how you’re going to spend your next night out in St. Cloud became a whole lot easier with the launch of the River’s Edge Convention Center’s new website! The new website was built with you in mind -- the people who plan and attend events in St. Cloud’s 180,000 square foot premier destination. The website is clean, easy to navigate and all the resources you need are readily available.

The main tabs across the top of the screen direct you to the pages you need when you’re planning an event at River’s Edge Convention Center. Click on the tab you need (Weddings/Socials, Conferences, Meetings, Entertainment, Consumer/Trade Shows) and you’ll be directed to all the information and resources needed to make your event a success. You’ll have access to our building layouts, catering information, internet service, room prices and more.

Not planning an event but are looking for something fun to do in the area? Scroll down our home page for our calendar of events, parking information and directions, or you can even sign up to receive notifications about River’s Edge Convention Center news and happenings. We want your experience at our facility to be the absolute best it can be, and we are very excited to provide you with all the resources you need to make that happen. You can also stay updated about events by getting social with us; click on the social media icons on the left side of the homepage.

We look forward to seeing you at the River’s Edge Convention Center! What do you like best about our new website? Your feedback is important to us! Let us know in the comments below: