Preferred Vendor Spotlight: Why We Love Aunt Catfish’s on the River
When couples begin planning their wedding, there are a few decisions everyone gets excited about—the dress, the flowers, the music, the décor.
And then there’s the food.
Because if there is one thing your guests will absolutely remember from your wedding, it’s what you fed them.
At Riverside Pavilion, we’ve had the opportunity to work alongside countless wedding and event professionals over the years. Our Preferred Vendor list isn’t simply a collection of local businesses—it represents vendors we know, trust, and feel confident recommending to the people who celebrate with us.
When it comes to catering, Aunt Catfish’s on the River has earned that place.
A Port Orange Favorite That Knows How to Cater a Wedding
If you’re local to the Port Orange area, chances are you already know Aunt Catfish’s.
The longtime riverfront restaurant has become known for its Southern-inspired cooking, seafood, homemade sides and, of course, those cinnamon rolls.
But what some couples don't realize is that Aunt Catfish’s also has an experienced full-service catering operation.
Their catered wedding menus go far beyond simply delivering food to the venue. Full-service catering options can include linens, china, silverware, glassware, setup, service and cleanup.
On a wedding day, those details matter.
Instead of trying to coordinate five different pieces of your reception separately, you're working with a team accustomed to handling the flow of a catered event from beginning to end.
Wedding Food That Still Feels Like Real Food
One reason we love recommending Aunt Catfish’s is the variety they can bring to a wedding menu.
Couples can build menus featuring options like chicken marsala, parmesan-crusted chicken, beef burgundy, grilled or broiled fish, salmon, shrimp, roast pork, sirloin and more.
Then come the sides—mashed red potatoes, fresh green beans, sweet potato casserole, broccoli cheese casserole, cheese grits, cinnamon stewed apples and other comfort-food favorites.
And yes...
You can have Aunt Catfish’s famous cinnamon rolls at your wedding.
Honestly, we’re not sure we need to sell you any further than that.
A Caterer That Already Knows Riverside
There is another major reason Aunt Catfish’s has become one of our Preferred Vendors:
They know our venue.
That might not sound as exciting as choosing your cake flavor or floral arrangements, but when your wedding day arrives, it becomes incredibly important.
An experienced Riverside vendor already understands the property, how events flow through the space and what goes into successfully serving a room full of guests here.
Our teams have worked together repeatedly, which helps create smoother communication between the venue and catering staff.
And when you're planning one of the biggest celebrations of your life, smooth is exactly what you want.
A Partnership Built on Trust
Our relationship with Aunt Catfish’s extends beyond simply having their catering team walk through our doors.
There is a genuine working relationship between our teams.
Our own Deb is also a valued member of the Aunt Catfish’s team, creating a unique connection between Riverside and their catering operation.
She understands the rhythm of events at Riverside—the setup, timing, flow of the room and all those tiny behind-the-scenes details guests may never notice but event professionals absolutely do.
That familiarity can make communication between the venue and caterer feel incredibly natural.
For our couples, it means another layer of experience working behind the scenes on their wedding day.
Their Couples Have Plenty to Say, Too
We aren't the only ones who have noticed.
Aunt Catfish’s has built a strong reputation specifically within the wedding industry, with couples repeatedly praising both their food and their catering staff.
Wedding reviews frequently mention attentive service, generous portions, smooth buffet service and guests continuing to talk about the food long after the wedding ended.
They've also previously earned The Knot's Best of Weddings recognition.
That's exactly the kind of track record we want behind a Riverside Preferred Vendor.
Waterfront Meets Waterfront
Maybe we're partial to businesses that appreciate a good river view.
Aunt Catfish’s and Riverside Pavilion are both deeply connected to the Port Orange waterfront, and there's something fitting about bringing a beloved local riverfront restaurant into another Port Orange gathering place on the water.
It gives couples the opportunity to create a wedding that feels distinctly local.
Beautiful waterfront views.
A room filled with the people you love.
Great music.
Comforting, memorable food.
And a team of local professionals who already know how to work together.
That's a pretty wonderful recipe for a wedding.
Why Preferred Vendors Matter at Riverside
Choosing wedding vendors can become overwhelming very quickly.
There are hundreds of photographers, caterers, DJs, bartenders, florists and coordinators to choose from—and Google can't tell you what it's actually like when all of those vendors have to work together on your wedding day.
We can.
That's why our Preferred Vendor relationships matter.
When we recommend someone like Aunt Catfish’s, it's because we've seen their team in our space. We know the relationship. We know their experience. And we're comfortable putting their name in front of our clients.
So if you're planning a wedding or special event at Riverside Pavilion and wondering what you're going to feed everyone, Aunt Catfish’s on the River is absolutely worth putting on your tasting list.
Come for the wedding menu.
Stay for the cinnamon rolls.
And leave the logistics to teams that already know how to work together.
Planning Your Riverside Wedding?
We'd love to show you around.
Contact Riverside Pavilion to schedule a tour, explore available dates and learn more about our trusted Preferred Vendors—including Aunt Catfish’s on the River.
Because choosing the right venue is important.
Choosing the right team to bring it all together is what makes the day unforgettable.