Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum

As a bride from Pittsburgh but living out of town, it was important to me to show off my city and make everything convenient for my guests. Soldiers and Sailors was able to make it such a gorgeous event for my wedding but I got SO many compliments from everyone who attended. Working with Angela was entirely stress-free and the entire team helped during the day of, even going above and beyond and assisting both my bridesmaid when she had a low blood sugar warning prior to the ceremony and assuring me that everything was handled too. The building venue was gorgeous both inside and outside and the local accommodations were superbly convenient for all the guests.

Soldiers & Sailors was an incredible venue for our wedding this summer! We could not have asked for a more wonderful and accommodating venue and coordinators (Amber and Katie). From our initial tour through the actual day, they were responsive, attentive, and a pleasure to work with. They helped us craft the day and ensure it was a smooth and fun-filled night. We'd highly recommend Soldiers & Sailors for any wedding bookings!

My husband and I toured Soldiers & Sailors in December 2021 and instantly knew we wanted our June 2023 wedding there. Katie was our venue coordinator and she was terrific to work with. From day one, she was always so quick to respond to any questions we had and was such a big help in communicating logistics and other information to our vendors as we got closer to our wedding day which was such a big help. When our wedding day came, Katie and the entire team at Soldiers & Sailors were such a joy to work with. They helped the day go so smoothly for ourselves, our vendors, and our guests. We cannot thank Katie and her team enough!

Soldiers and Sailors was the perfect venue! Katie was so great to work with. She was quick to respond to our emails and super helpful with answering all of our questions. All of our tables were provided and in place well before our wedding. Everything was set up perfectly when we arrived. The venue is a beautiful space both inside and outside. We love the architecture, colors, hardwood floors, 3rd floor balcony, and SUPER high ceiling. It is a timeless space and was perfect for our classic wedding. We were able to drop off items the week leading up to our wedding and pick them up the Monday after so there was no stress about clearing everything out the day after. It is central to Oakland with lots to do, plenty of hotels, and a convenient parking garage underneath. We couldn’t have asked for a better venue!

We had our wedding here on 5/20/23 and could not recommend this venue enough!!! Katie at Soldiers and Sailors made everything so easy for us and was so incredible to work with. The ballroom is absolutely beautiful and our guests are still raving about the venue. My only wish is that I could relive my wedding reception at this perfect venue. You will not be disappointed if you book here!

I believe that using Soldiers & Sailors as our venue and working with Katie contributed in large part to our wedding being as amazing and stress free as possible. It was apparent from our first meeting with Katie that she goes above and beyond, especially compared to other venues we visited. Throughout the planning process she answered all of our questions quickly and her attention to every detail was fantastic. She made it easy to accommodate our handicap needs and even connected with the parking garage when we had concerns over local event the same weekend. It was very helpful that they let you bring in your DIY and things for the wedding day a few days early and store it after the wedding. Katie is well known and well loved in the industry and worked seamlessly with all of our vendors. When Katie was unavailable, every staff member we interacted with was equally as professional and helpful. The architecture and design inside wowed our guests, and my husband's family even has ties to the museum with photos of his family in their archives that Katie pulled out for us to see and take photo with on the wedding day. We chose to get married in the auditorium, but even if the ceremony is outside, we really liked the way the reception was separate but in the same building, just upstairs. A fantastic experience all around!

Katie at S of S is just fabulous. She was so patient with all of my emails and questions and made the process easy and enjoyable. We knew we loved the space after going to a military ball there and having a wedding there was an absolute dream.

We got married at Soldiers & Sailors in December and had a great experience working with them! Katie was the best, and even hopped in as bartender to save the day when she had a no show. The venue was beautiful. The ability to store items at the venue as early as Tuesday before the wedding was very helpful. They have a well thought out list of approved vendors and Katie coordinated directly with them, which was super helpful for us!

This venue is absolutely gorgeous and you can't beat the price. The staff is amazing and working with Katie West made everything super simple. She was ontop of any email we sent to her and always ready to help. I can't recommend them enough!

Soldiers & Sailors was an AMAZING part of our wedding experience. We had our ceremony and reception in the third floor ballroom. If your style is classic, timeless, and elegant the museum delivers in all aspects. The elegant architecture really complimented our wedding’s theme perfectly. Katie was our main coordinator for before and during the wedding and when I say that this woman is fantastic, it is under statement. She was SO thorough in contacting our vendors, organizing timelines, and easing any stress that my husband or our families had during the complete process. 1000 out of 10, would recommend over and over again if we could. 💕 Thank you Katie, Angela, and all the staff at S&S!!!!!

We had both our ceremony and reception at Soldiers and Sailors, and it was absolutely stunning all around! The ceremony on the front patio was everything I'd hoped it would be, and the ballroom upstairs was just beautiful! The coordinator we worked with (Angela) was EXTREMELY helpful and very communicative, and answered all of my questions very quickly along the way. I knew our day was in good hands with her! This is the perfect venue because both the patio and ballroom can be dressed up or kept simple, and you can't go wrong either way. It was the perfect size for us, and I wouldn't change a thing! HIGHLY recommend this venue for anyone looking for a classy, elegant venue!

We recently had our wedding at Soldiers & Sailors and it was absolutely perfect! Katie & Amber were fantastic to work with throughout the entire process and really made everything as easy as it could be. We couldn't have been happier with how everything turned out, and would absolutely recommend it to others looking around the Oakland area!

Angela and Amber were amazing and made sure our day went off without a hitch! When the weather threatened not to cooperate, they went above and beyond to make sure we could have the outdoor ceremony we wanted. All of our questions and requests were answered quickly. From the architecture, to the history, to the amazing spaces, our guests loved the venue and so did we!

This venue was a dream come true! Not only was the location stunning, but the history really set this place apart. It is so unique to host your wedding reception in a museum. We’re so glad to have the opportunity! A highlight was offering the museum exhibits to guests to view during cocktail hour. It was so nice to provide an activity while we were off taking pictures. The cherry on top was the staff here - absolutely AMAZING. They do a wonderful job and truly become your wedding coordinator for the day of. Very professional and very unique - I’d pick this venue again in a heartbeat. Thank you for making my wedding day special!

Katie West and team at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum made our wedding party a success! They were smart, attentive and sensitive to the many ways we opted to customize our reception within the ballroom. Vendors know and trust them. The ballroom is a grand space that added to the whole experience of a wedding reception. Our guests were wowed by its beauty and of the building' itself. Many guests commented on the historical nature of the museum exhibits and how fortunate they were to view them. All in all, a fantastic space and an amazing team!

I will just simply never get over our experience at Soldiers and Sailors and with Katie and Angela. They made the entire wedding process so organized and easy for me. The ballroom is soo beautiful but their expertise with design made it even more beautiful. They were so easy to work with and truly cared about making our day special. I can't recommend Soldiers and Sailors enough!

We had an AWESOME experience. I can't express how perfect our day was, and that was in large part due to the staff at Soldiers and Sailors. Katie was our coordinator, and she was extremely organized. We were in regular contact leading up to the day, and she was a huge help on the day of the event. We thought the bar packages were great and were able to add on a few things at a low cost. The contracted caterers were awesome (the food was delicious). When comparing to similar venues in the Pittsburgh area, Soldiers and Sailors was one of the most affordable. We were SO happy with our experience!

Soldiers and Sailors was an amazing venue. Angela was so knowledgable and helpful at every step of the way. I felt very confident in her and her staff from day one. Everything came together perfectly on our wedding day and I couldn't be happier. It's also a beautiful location.

We worked with Angela at Soldiers & Sailors, and could not have asked for a more organized, communicative coordinator in putting on our reception. We had a live band with a vocalist and five jazz musicians, plus a different musical arrangement for the cocktail hour, plus special requests for the bar package and cookie table. It was far from a run-of-the-mill wedding, but with Angela's help, it all went off without a hitch. The plans and payments as the wedding date approached were all straightforward, and setup up the week of went super smoothly. All the vendors knew where they needed to be and when. Then finally, as the cocktail hour and reception began, the atmosphere was refined but warm, the lighting and sound just right, and our guests had a wonderful time, thanks in part to Angela and her associates. Best of all, with hotel blocks down the street and our ceremony at Heinz Chapel, Soldiers & Sailors was perfectly located for a fully walkable wedding in the heart of Oakland. We'd recommend Soldiers & Sailors to anyone interested in the same.

My husband and I just got married and had our reception at Soldiers & Sailors on Saturday April 2nd and it was the perfect day! From the beginning of our wedding planning process to days after the wedding, the team was amazing and so accommodating and helpful. Angela is the best! She went above and beyond and ensured everything went perfectly and smoothly, especially the day of. Angela was so organized during the planning process and helped make sure everything was set and ready to go for our day, including reaching out to vendors and coordinating set ups, schedules, etc. It is SO nice that the team cleans up after the reception and stores everything for you until the following Monday. Such a relief and it allowed us to fully just enjoy our day! I highly recommend getting married here :) We had the perfect day. Thank you Angela and team!!!!! Ashley & Jon

The venue is beyond perfect and easy to work with. I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect day that was guided by Katie. She was so incredibly responsive and helpful. She made our whole experience seamless and perfect!

We loved everything about Soldiers & Sailors. It was a great, classic venue - we had our cocktail hour on the third floor foyer and balcony, and had our reception in the ballroom. Amber was so easy to work with and was great at communicating both with us and with our vendors during the week of the wedding to make everything seamless. There was a lot included for the price, it really was a good deal. It was nice to be able to drop stuff off earlier in the week and come in the day before to set up. They have some vendor restrictions, but they have several options that vary in price so that made it nice, and you had the guarantee of knowing that the vendor has worked at S&S and is reliable. They were very communicative about covid changes and answered all of our last minute panicked questions. We were able to also donate our leftover food to an organization for homeless veterans which was really nice. Overall, we were completely thrilled with this venue. It also made for gorgeous pictures!

Soldiers & Sailors was the most perfect place I could have ever imagined having our wedding. We postponed our 2020 wedding to November 2021 and knew we had to keep this as our reception venue. Working with Amber was absolutely amazing throughout the entire process, and her organization and relationships with the vendors was top notch. The venue itself was absolutely stunning. We held our cocktail hour in the 3rd floor hallway and reception in the ballroom. We absolutely loved the openness of the dance floor with the hardwood floors naturally creating a ton of space for our guests to dance all night long. With their preferred vendors list, we were confident with all of our choices and extremely satisfied with all our vendors due to their relationships with the venue and knowledge of the space. Amber helped create the most amazing wedding day and experience for us and we would recommend the venue to anyone in Pittsburgh!! (Huge bonus - we got married at St. Paul's Cathedral down the street and the location of Soldiers & Sailors was absolutely perfect. Our guests were able to walk from the ceremony to the reception without transportation)

We cannot recommend Soldiers and Sailors enough for anyone planning a wedding! Not only is it a beautiful venue, but their event coordinators are so wonderful to work with. My husband and I personally worked with Katie and she was a dream. I appreciated her level of communication as we navigated changing Covid-19 restrictions. She was so professional and friendly. We used the first floor foyer for our cocktail hour and the third floor ballroom for our reception and everything flowed very nicely. We loved it, our guests loved it, and I know you will too!

Soldiers and Sailors was an amazing place for our reception! The first time we saw the space we fell in love with it! We met with Angela and I was so happy with her attention to detail that we just knew we wanted to have our reception there! I can’t say enough good things about the help and support we received from Angela during the year we were planning our wedding. Planning a wedding during COVID was tough enough, but Angela always kept us up to date on capacity restrictions and the latest guidelines. She was always very positive and really helped us to feel at ease as we planned our wedding. I asked her a million questions and she was always quick to respond with an answer or her opinion. The entire Soldiers & Sailors staff was extremely kind and helpful.

We loved working with Soldiers and Sailors to plan our wedding in their beautiful ballroom. We were one of the many unlucky couples that had to move our wedding date twice due to COVID. Luckily, Katie from S&S was so accommodating and always kept us updated with the latest information. She even revised our floor plan in a pinch when we had less guests RSVP than anticipated. Once we were finally able to have our wedding day, I was impressed by how many staff were there on the day of to make sure everything ran smoothly. Katie and all of the staff went above and beyond. When our cake showed up a bit later than expected, I am about 90% sure Katie and her team personally put the fresh flowers I has asked for on my cake (and it looked amazing). The staff was also extremely helpful in getting the room cleaned up at the end of the night. In addition, I found the price of the venue to be reasonable and definitely worth it. It is such a grand venue with so much historic and architectural value, and the price is actually much less than many other venues we looked into. I would highly recommend Soldiers and Sailors.

We had our wedding at Soldiers and Sailors in August 2021 and it was so beautiful. We had the option to book out the entire museum, and we’re so glad we did! Our guests loved being able to look around the museum during cocktail hour, and we loved being able to have a relaxed and low-key wedding where we could mingle with guests. Our day-of coordinator was Angela, and she was amazing; she helped us get through our schedule smoothly and efficiently, without even breaking a sweat. If we didn’t have her to help out through the entire process leading up to the wedding as well as the day of the wedding, I think I would’ve been more nervous than I already was!

Soldiers & Sailors was the perfect centerpiece to plan our wedding around! We were postponed due to COVID, so it had been a rollercoaster of planning and flexibility, but could not have done it without the amazing staff at S&S. I especially would like to give thanks and praise to Katie, our event coordinator from day one and so grateful to have been able to work with her throughout this process. She was so kind, friendly, and her attention to detail, follow-up, industry knowledge, and guidance at every turn was invaluable and truly made the experience a joy. During the wedding week, the whole staff at S&S was so helpful – from Katie, to the maintenance staff, to Cindy at the front desk, the level of customer service was so impressive and a breath of fresh air during a difficult year. Every detail was perfectly thought out – from load-in, access to storage, access to the Founders Room for getting ready, the balcony space, all the preferred vendors, bar staff – everything went off without a hitch. They provide a very helpful list of preferred vendors and have experience working with many other vendors within the Pittsburgh community and also provided us many iterations of floor plans and setup options. All of our guests were in awe of the beauty, grandeur, and history of S&S as an event space and museum. It made for a beautiful backdrop for photos, videography, and central location in Oakland made it very convenient for hotels and transportation.

S & S has the best staff, places for pictures, and ballroom in Pittsburgh!

I had read glowing reviews about the venue itself and the staff. Katie West was our coordinator, and she sure lived up to the reputation I had read about in online reviews! Katie spent an hour and a half with us on our first visit to Soldiers & Sailors, and she always responded to my questions in a timely manner, whether 6 months or 6 days away from our big day. We did not need a separate wedding coordinator. Katie worked so fluidly with the other vendors and help make our day all that we hoped it would be! Not only is the venue beautiful and timeless, it is in a great location with lots of sights, restaurants, and accommodations within walking distance. We had a fantastic experience and would choose it all over again!

Soldiers and Sailors was an absolutely amazing venue. They were easy to work with, extremely helpful, and the location is just lovely. No regrets, just fond memories!

First, this venue is breathtaking. Guests have the opportunity to tour the museum between the ceremony and reception, which is amazing!! The reception area is large, elegant, and top notch. The balcony allows for unique photos as well as different ways to setup introductions/first dances. The staff is great - very responsive, attention to detail, friendly, and patient. I knew Amber and team had everything under control which allowed me to relax on our wedding night! Highly recommend!!

Soldiers & Sailors was a terrific venue for our reception, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a wedding venue in Pittsburgh. The ballroom is beautiful and quite capacious! We had about two hundred guests spread over twenty tables and no one was overly crowded. I loved the big dance floor, but I also liked that people could walk along the balcony above the ballroom to get away from some of the noise and also take some great pictures! I'll also say that the staff at S&S were extremely helpful, responsive, and patient! We looked at several comparable venues, and S&S struck me and my wife as very affordable given the value! Our main contact, Amber, let us know that they are able to maintain reasonable prices since they generally don't pay for advertising! Having the reception at Soldiers & Sailors was made even more convenient by the fact that a new hotel called The Oaklander recently opened up just across the street from it, so guests could just walk across the street when they were ready to turn in.

Katie was a dream to work with. Soldiers and sailors was a gorgeous venue to hold my daughters wedding. We rented the outdoor patio for cocktails and the sun setting behind the cathedral of Learning was so beautiful !

The venue staff were extremely professional and immensely helpful before, during, and after our wedding. Katie did a great job walking us through everything. Being a military member, she made sure that we got a discount as well. The venue was gorgeous and eloquent as well. It was the perfect place for our special day, and we’ll never forget it.

Perfect venue; perfect staff! From the moment I first inquired about dates until my new husband and I left the reception, this venue is top notch. It was really stressful planning a wedding for 350+ people when you live in another city, but Katie, Angela, and staff at Soldiers and Sailors were all about the details while making this adventure as stress fresh as possible. They helped me plan logistics, worked closely with my vendors, and answered my questions before I could ask. My cocktail hour was unreal and we are so glad we opted for the first floor museum add on. Our guest could mingle, rest, and explore the unbelievable exhibits. The venue is so beautiful that we spent only a few dollars on minimal decorations. I highly recommend Soldiers and Sailors for any event.

As soon as we walked into the stunning ballroom, we decided to select this illustrious landmark as our venue. The ballroom is elegant, simple, and the perfect canvass for our personal touches. The outdoor courtyard was the perfect space for our ceremony. Our 300 guests were dazzled by the entire experience. Angela was AMAZING to work with. She responded to every inquiry in seconds and went out of her way to make the day so special. We could not have asked for a better team in Angela, Amber, and Katie. We cannot say enough good things to capture how incredible they were.

Angela and Amber and everyone at soldiers made our wedding unforgettable! Angela was so helpful and made sure anything I needed was taken care of. This venue is beautiful and historic! Money to pay is donated to the museum and any unused food/flowers/desserts were able to be donated to areas of our choosing, arranged by their staff. We couldn’t have chosen a better destination to get married for our city wedding. EVERYONE should get married here!!!!

My wife Erin and I were married at Soldiers & Sailors in August 2019. As she is a Pitt grad, and I a history buff, it seemed like the ideal location for us both. Little did we know how right we were. We soon came to realize there was no place more perfect than Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum. The stunning beauty of the venue alone could be it's own major selling point, particularly at such a reasonable rental price. But what really puts S&S over the top are the people behind the operation: the event staff, along with their cache of premier vendors, ensure your entire experience will be completely stress-free and uniquely memorable, specifically because of just how much they pay attention to and care for each and every detail. The all-star team of rental consultants and onsite coordinators, most notably Katie West, along with Amber Gehring-McBride and Angela Tomlin, are the absolute best in the business. We cannot recommend Soldiers & Sailors enough. Thank you!!

I cannot praise Soldiers and Sailors more highly. For a large wedding party (we invited 270 and ended up with 200) this venue was the best value for the price. The venue itself is breathtaking. We opted to have both the ceremony and reception at S+S, so we got to make use of the auditorium and ballroom and their lawn for photos. They also have an option for an outdoor ceremony. Unlike other venues we researched, S+S came with many extra perks, including provided table and chairs set up and torn down by on site staff and early access. We were able to start decorating and to store items before the day of the wedding. Their event coordinators (Katie & Angela) are amazing. They always replied promptly and professionally, ready to answer any questions and to accommodate our requests. They had great advice and were there from start to finish, coordinating our rehearsal and the wedding day itself, making sure everything went smoothly. Our guests loved getting to see the museum and raved about how beautiful everything was. Our pictures turned out amazing, and the S+S staff did such a great job taking the load off of us and allowing us to enjoy our day. And knowing that our wedding helped support this historic landmark that honors our servicemen and women was just the icing on the cake. :)

I had the pleasure of having my wedding reception here in April 2017 and my niece wedding / reception on September 28, 2019. The Venue itself is gorgeous and Amber and her staff are excellent. The ceremony was located outside in the front patio and reception was in the ball room . It was truly beautiful, unique, and perfect for my niece and her husband. More than enough room for our guests and a huge dance floor. I just can't say enough about the attentive and NICE staff. I highly recommend this facility. They are very accommodating and devoted to making your special day perfect.

Soldiers and Sailors made July 5, 2019 the most special day for my husband and I. And Angela and the other folks made it their most important day as well. We were met every step of the way with knowledge, experience, passion, and genuine helpfulness! I would highly recommend entrusting Soldiers and Sailors with your special day because it will exceed your expectations.

Couldn’t of asked for a better venue for our wedding reception! We had a winter wedding and worked with Amber. From the beginning she knew our vision and made it happen. We held cocktail hour in the museum area which gave our guests a fun experience to look at all the artifacts and drink delicious signature drinks. The move to the ballroom was a smooth transition and the staff made sure everyone was attended to all night. It was an absolutely spectacular venue and staff to work with. They made our wedding better than we could have ever imagined!

The Wedding Rental Department at Soldiers and Sailors was absolutely the best to work with. Being remote, I appreciated the attentiveness and quick responses to all emails and questions I had. The entire team, especially Katie, was so kind and reassuring. They coordinated with our vendors on deliveries and timing so it was one less thing for us to worry about. Everything went as planned the day of!

Our wedding at Soldiers & Sailors was absolutely amazing, mostly because of two words: KATIE WEST. Katie and the ladies at Soldiers and Sailors, Amber and Angela, are incredible to work with. The venue search was the toughest part of wedding planning for me. I was starting to feel discouraged until I met Katie and Amber. Every other wedding venue I met with spent about 10 minutes or less with me and my groom, and I could never visualize the special day. Katie and Amber's tour of Soldiers & Sailors was at least an hour. These ladies have thought of EVERYTHING and know how to make an event perfect. Before I left my tour, I already had pictures from at least 5 other brides' weddings with similar color schemes to help with decor ideas and a stack of vendor recommendations. If you're getting married in Pittsburgh, I cannot imagine a more perfect wedding venue. Turning onto Fifth ave from Bigelow Blvd. and seeing this grand building is just so incredible. We got married on the front stairs outside and it was PERFECT. The ballroom to host the reception is such an amazing space. The venue allows you to start dropping off decor/supplies on the Tuesday before your wedding, which is UNHEARD OF, and they allow you to pick up your items on the Monday after your wedding. Katie coordinated with all of my vendors so I didn't have to worry about anything the day of. She had amazing ideas to make our wedding unique and special. Your guests also have access to the museum which is so special and different than a traditional venue. Katie and Angela were there at the rehearsal and on the day of our wedding to keep everything on schedule and get us down the aisle. I can't speak highly enough of the Soldiers & Sailors team and HIGHLY recommend this venue for Pittsburgh brides.