Pittsburgh Area Venues?

[ladyciel]

I am going to be an OOT bride trying to plan a wedding in Pittsburgh, and through all of my online/magazine searching I'm realizing my first huge hurdle is going to be finding a venue we like and can afford. So, all Pittsburghers, your help is needed!!

Our Wants List so far includes...

-One-stop-shop (ceremony and reception at same location)
-Less than an hour drive from the airport
-Pretty outdoor ceremony space. Views of water or sweeping horizons will win us over
-Indoor backup location for ceremony in case of rain
-Capacity for 50-100 guests
-Elegant, but not "grand ball", decor
-Reception hall with space for the tables to surround the dance floor. We want the dancers and non-dancers to feel equally involved in the action

I can't really talk budget yet, because my parents refuse to talk $ support until the ring is on my finger (not too distant future). Also, I'm doing research now because there's a great chance my dad, ever the businessman, will expect a breakdown of cost/value options before any budget is nailed down. So, with that, if you have any ideas of places that might fit the above list, please share!! Thanks!!!

 

[dmamsquared]

http://www.springwood.org/events.html

I posted this back in May. Check it out.

 

[ladyciel]

Thanks, Dmam. Springwood was one of my top choices, and I may still go visit, but I found some posts on other sites from brides who said they were unbelievably difficult to work with. Especially for out of town brides. They didn''t want to discuss ANYTHING budget before they gave the entire tour and sales talk. They wanted an OOT bride to drive 5 hours and see the place before she ever knew if they were in her price range. If they''re that rude about even talking ballpark figures, I''m kind of guessing they''re more expensive then we''ll be willing to pay. It also makes me worry that it''s their way or the highway even once they have your money...

Have you had any dealings with them, Dmam? If so, how was your experience?

 

[dmamsquared]

No personal experience with the place. $90/head for dinner does not seem outrageous. You have to see if there are minimums. Photographers say it is lovely. Only you can tell whether it will be worth the aggravation.

 

[robbie3982]

We considered this place, but didn''t end up going to actually look at it http://www.theatriumonline.com/html/weddings.htm

 

[ladyciel]

Thanks, Robbie. Sadly, they were on my list until we realized we''ll probably have less than 100 people (their minimum

). Unless our parents want to add a bunch of people (and they probably won''t), our guest list barely touches 100 and it''s really likely a bunch of my family won''t come (they''re scattered all over the continent and nobody seems to like to travel/visit much....).

 

[robbie3982]

This is where my MOH is having her reception: https://www.memberstatements.com/tour/tours.cfm?tourid=20996

They''re not having their ceremony there since they''re getting married in a church, but I''d be willing to bet that they do outdoor ceremonies too. There''s not too much info on the website, but I know they can''t be too expensive since she''s on a pretty tight budget. I haven''t been there, but she was deciding between this place and the hilton that''s right there and she said this one was nicer. I''ve been to the hilton and it''s really nice, so this place is gorgeous I''m sure.

 

[ladyciel]

The link doesn''t work, Robbie - it says the session is expired. I tried taking the tour info out of the link and it took me to some place on the west coast.

 

[Lil0818]

I am getting married in Massachusetts, but I currently live in Pittsburgh. Here are some options that we briefly considered before moving our focus out East:

The Priory Hotel (Downtown)
Morningside Inn
Pittsburgh Field Club

I never visited any of these places, but from what I''ve heard through the grapevine, they are popular wedding spots in the area.

Good luck!

 

[ladyciel]

Robbie, nevermind, I figured it out. I google-mapped Hiltons in Pitt, spotted Southpointe Golf Club right beside one, and the the website ended up matching what you posted. Yay detective work.

 

[jstarfireb]

I just got a postcard from the Morning Glory Inn in Pittsburgh. Looks like a nice place, but I don''t know anything more about it:

http://www.morningglorybedandbreakfast.com/weddings.html

 

[godaime]

Hi I am an OOT bride planning my wedding in Pittsburgh too... I am also having a small wedding so I guess we have that in common. While Springwood looks really nice in pictures...when you see it in person its not as great. Plus their prices are outrageous...certainly alot more than 90dollars per person. It was like 120 per person not including tax and tips.

 

[littlelysser]

Here are some pretty cool places that I''d consider getting married in...if I weren''t getting married in my friends'' backyard:

The twentieth century club that was really cool and art-deco-y.
http://www.thetwentiethcenturyclub.com/home.html

There is also the Mattress Factory (modern art musuem, where you can have weddings)
http://www.mattress.org/

Carnegie Museum (amazing venue - might be pricey though)
http://www.carnegiemuseums.org/

Phipps Conservatory - ladyciel, I might look into this where I you. There are often weddings at Phipps and it is really cool place.
http://www.phipps.conservatory.org/

Um, there is an big yellow building on the corner of forbes and shady avenue in Shadyside ... I am totally spacing on the name... Pittsburgh Center for the Arts...
http://www.pittsburgharts.org/about_visit.php

There are also some cool restaurants and stuff that might work - depending on the size and type of wedding you want.

Just a few thoughts...

 

[ladyciel]

Thanks for all the ideas, ladies! Godaime, what you say about Springfield falls in line with what I''ve heard. People have said the grounds are gorgeous, the atrium is nice, but the house isn''t in great shape or nicely decorated. It''ll probably be out of our price range, too.

Hmmmmmmm, from the Pitt Center for the Arts website: "Note: Red wine is prohibited." Scratch them off the list...

We''ll probably get more info on/visit Morning Glory. My fear is that from the photos it looks like it may be kind of small, especially the outdoor area. Can anyone comment?