Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

re the day was flawless. Exceeded our expectations in every way!

orgeous, and as Pitt alumni, we were able to set things up so the Cathedral of Learning was in the background of our photos. The package includes everything you need: We were able to have a rehearsal the night before, they have a small room for the bridal party, all chairs and set up / break down etc. are included. We were able to take pictures in the outdoor garden space as well as a couple spaces on the grounds of Phipps. They also sent us a card afterwards, which was a nice touch.

h to work with Caroline through the entire process and I couldn't say enough positive things about her. It was so refreshing to work with someone that was so competent and great at her job. I sent her so many emails and she answered all of my questions with a lot of detail and helpful info. I had high expectations from her and she exceeded them, we’re so thankful for everything she did for us.

We had fond memories strolling the gardens the first time my husband visited Pittsburgh, and we loved the idea of a romantic garden party wedding, so Phipps was a no brainer. We used the Phipps garden space for our wedding ceremony & reception for 130 guests in early September. The outdoor ceremony took place in the gardens in front of the fountain, which was beautiful, and the reception occurred under the tent Phipps has up from April-October. Although the garden space is a beautiful backdrop for a wedding ceremony & reception, the outdoor reception space is essentially a concrete slab with a tent and folding chairs setup that Phipps provides. As a result, we spent extra money and time investing in decor, linens, and florals to brighten and warm the tent space. Our coordinator at Phipps was kind and helpful in the month leading up to the wedding, but I recommend hiring an external coordinator/planner to communicate with Phipps & your other vendors. The catering staff was incredibly helpful and communicative in answering our many questions. The food was one of the highlights of the night; guests raved about their entrees and were fighting over extra meals to take home. The staff beautifully displayed our homemade cookies for the cookie table and coordinated cookie delivery and clean up, which was a huge lift! The bar staff was offering generous pours and tasty cocktails that were much appreciated by guests as well. My only complaint was that the venue markets itself as having an "inclusive" package including food, rentals, & linens at one relatively moderate price, but there are multiple add-ons and upgrades that can easily make the rental more expensive, so be sure to review the contract carefully. Additionally, there are so many weddings and events happening at Phipps that you may have limited times for rehearsals, walk throughs, and vendor set up time. Our vendors were given 2 hours of set up time. (You could purchase additional set up time for $500, but our vendors had to be out at a specific time for another event before ours). As a result, our florists' team was working frantically to complete their designs, and Phipps catering staff were still setting up tables right up until our ceremony. Our guests weren't allowed in the garden ceremony space until 5:00 (which is Phipps' policy), and weren't allowed in the tented reception space until 6:15 after cocktail hour. It was chilly the night of our wedding, and guests wanted to be able to warm up out of the wind, but they weren't allowed inside immediately. Thankfully, this was a small issue for our guests that could be have been a significant issue if we had guests with mobility and/or health issues. I highly recommend Phipps for its beauty, food, and historic location, especially for microweddings inside the conservatory, but I would be sure to clarify with the event staff that your vendor team has sufficient set-up time as well. Overall, Phipps is an incredible wedding venue, and we would do it again in a heartbeat!