My daughter is getting married next Fall and I want to help her find an unusual wedding site in the Pittsburgh area. They do not want hotel/banquet hall venues, prefer something nice but not "glitzy". Expect about 150 for sit-down dinner-many from out-of-town so don't want to go too far out of the city. Any help would be great, thanks.

Check out local museums.

snork:

I remember in the mid 1990s going on a charter boat to attend my sister's friend's wedding. It cruised up and down the 3 rivers and the captain of the boat married them. there was a reception area for sit down dinner and upstairs was the dance hall. the boat picked up the bride at Point State Park (where all three rivers meet) for the wedding ceremony. that is the most unusual experience I've ever had and it was scenic and lots of fun.

I live in Pgh and have been to lots of weddings. Good ideas:

1- The Pittsburgh Zoo has wedding facilities
2- Pittsburgh's Grand Hall at the Priory - it is an old convent turned banquet hall/b&b. the banquet hall is the old church, the b&b is the convent. food is amazing http://www.thepriory.com/grand.asp
3- Carnegie Museum Hall of Architechutre.

HTH!!

Hi:

Pittsburgh Center for the Arts
Carnegie Museum's Hall of Architecture
Pittsburgh Zoo's aquarium
Heinz History Center
Andy Warhol Museum
Frick Museum and Mansion
Kristen

Does Phipp's Conservatory host events such as weddings?

I was going to suggest the Priory, too. We went to a lovely wedding there.

I was at a wedding about 2 weeks ago at the Duquesne Club. The location was perfect for guests staying at the nearby Omni, and the venue was very classy and nice. It had a very old-school clubby feel.

Hi:

My SIL had her reception at Phipp's Conservatory. It had good points and bad points. The cocktail hour in the garden was wonderful and I would love to have a cocktail reception there. I would not, however, have a sit down dinner in the gardens. For the dinner the tables are all placed in a long line (this is how the pavement runs) with the dance floor and DJ (in her case) in the center. This means that the guests who weren't at one of the 2 or 3 tables in each direction closest to the middle couldn't hear the music or speeches and really felt out of the action. If she does go with Phipp's Rania's catering is really good.

I also thought of another- Pennsylvania Station is an old train station where people have receptions in the grand lobby.

Kristen

Just spoke w/my daughter and they haven't made their goal of a decision by Thanksgiving. Thank you for all the good suggestions-- they have been busy visiting many of the sites. They went to the boat today and like it the most so far. We'll see... In the meantime, have a happy Thanksgiving!