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Weddings

About

Phipps Conservatory is a wedding venue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This exquisite garden venue opened to the public in 1893. Ever since, it has been a source of wonder, beauty, and instruction for generations of Pittsburghers and visitors from around the world. Now you and your loved ones are invited to come and experience this pageantry of life and color for yourselves. Here, you can select from among a number of charming, picturesque event spaces and then enjoy a day filled with moments you’ll treasure forever. Every love story deserves a journey into wonderland, and the Phipps Conservatory team can’t wait to share their little piece of paradise with you.

Facilities and Capacity

Phipps Conservatory has several fine indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception spaces. The four-tiered outdoor garden comprises nearly an acre of lush lawns and gardens, and at its center stands a large, picturesque fountain. The garden can be used as a ceremony or reception space, and seasonal tents, capable of covering up to 200 guests and a dance floor, are available. The multi-level Tropical Forest is the facility’s largest display area. Covering 12,000 square feet, it teems with lush tropical flora and features a treetop lookout, a fish pond, waterfalls, and gently-meandering paths. The Special Events Hall features lovely bamboo floors and floor-to-ceiling glass walls that offer stunning views of the adjacent Tropical Forest and distant city landmarks. The room also has state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment. The enchanting Broderie Room is modeled on landscaping styles popular among the French nobility during the reign of the Sun King, Louis XIV. It is embellished with formal hedged gardens, bronze Edmond Amateis maiden statues, and an Italian wishing well. The Broderie Room, along with the East Room, the Victoria Room, and the Sunken Garden, make up the conservatory’s East Wing, which can accommodate 60 guests for a cocktail-style reception or 36 for a seated buffet. The entire Phipps facility, a total of 14 rooms, is also available for rental.

Services Offered

Phipps Conservatory loves seeing wedding dreams blossom into reality. They offer numerous ceremony, reception, combination, and photo session packages, all designed to give you the flexibility you need to plan your perfect day. A special intimate wedding package is also available. This package includes a two-hour rental, a single-tier cake, five dozen cookies, and live-streaming services. A day-of coordinator will be available to answer questions and help you make the most of your time at Phipps.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$4,100

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$3,900

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$900

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$900

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Chairs
Clean Up
Event Planning
Lighting/Sound
Parking
Set Up
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Dessert
Server(s)
Wedding Cake

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$35

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Bartender(s)
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Limited Bar
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

7

Describe your venue:

Banquet Hall
Garden
Historic Building
Museum

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Bar Services
Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Get Ready Rooms
Liability Insurance
Outside Vendors
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Cocktail Reception
Dessert
Hors d'oeuvres
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Liquor License
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Aisle Markers
Audio Equipment
Chairs
Dance Floor
Decor
Lighting
Tables
Tents

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Valet
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

May
June
July
August
September
October

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
April
November
December

Reviews of Phipps Conservatory

This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

Powered by AI

Phipps Conservatory is highly praised by multiple reviewers for its beauty and exceptional service in hosting weddings. The staff, including Sahara, Caroline, and Dave, are commended for their helpfulness and professionalism throughout the planning process and on the wedding day. The venue's Broderie room, Tropical Rain Forest, and events hall are highlighted as stunning ceremony and reception spaces, with guests expressing admiration for the atmosphere and food. Multiple couples appreciate the accommodating staff, the ease of communication, and the willingness to bring their wedding vision to life at Phipps.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Phipps Conservatory is highly praised by multiple reviewers for its beauty and exceptional service in hosting weddings. The staff, including Sahara, Caroline, and Dave, are commended for their helpfulness and professionalism throughout the planning process and on the wedding day. The venue's Broderie room, Tropical Rain Forest, and events hall are highlighted as stunning ceremony and reception spaces, with guests expressing admiration for the atmosphere and food. Multiple couples appreciate the accommodating staff, the ease of communication, and the willingness to bring their wedding vision to life at Phipps.

Michelle
Michelle Sent on 05/14/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Unbelievably Amazing!

We had a small wedding (just six people) in the Broderie Room at night and it was simply magical. It was incredibly beautiful and romantic! Lovely Sahara was our coordinator and she did an absolute remarkable job making our day smooth. Anytime I needed anything through out the night, she was ON IT. We couldn't have asked for anyone better. As soon as I met her, I felt comfortable and at ease. Everyone at Phipps, especially Sahara, was responsive to all our questions and concerns. She was understanding and willing to make us happy on our big day... Phipps has so much history, as my husband's family is proudly a part of (history of the bonsai), and to make the Phipps' Broderie room our gorgeous back drop for our ceremony, we were really humbled honestly. Phipps is absolutely stunning at night. If you're looking for a beautiful venue for a small wedding like mine, consider the Broderie Room or any of the gorgeous rooms at Phipps! I mean, you don't even need to worry about flowers except for a bouquet lol. It's worth the memories, the pictures.... just everything!
K
Kelly Sent on 03/12/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing!

Phipps was great. Super accommodating to all my questions. The guy at the front desk even carried my dress to the bridal suite when I got there. Sahara was on the ball and kept me informed with everything. The Broderie room was absolutely beautiful! I highly recommend Phipps for your wedding! Thank you for making it a memory I will never forget!!!
Marissa
Marissa Sent on 02/09/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect Venue

We fell in love with Phipps on a previous visit to Pittsburgh. When we were deciding on where to get married, we kept coming back to how beautiful Phipps was. And decided this was the place to start our next chapter. The team was incredibly helpful in planning long distance, and took the time to meet with us every time we were in town and needed to go over any questions or details. Lauren, our coordinator, walked us through a lot of little details we hadn't even thought of to ensure our day was perfect.
Jeffrey
Jeffrey Sent on 11/03/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect Wedding July 2024

Phipps was the only venue we considered and couldn't imagine having our wedding anywhere else. Because it was a week day we also got some substantial discounts. We were lucky enough 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.
L
Leah Sent on 03/05/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Gorgeous Winter Wedding

We absolutely adored having our wedding here this past February! My husband and I met in undergrad and spent many date nights coming to Phipps over the last 10 years and we always thought it would be incredible to get married here. After we got engaged the first place we checked was here and they were available for our winter wedding date! Everyone at Phipps was amazing and extremely helpful with planning our perfect day. Sahara the coordinator was available at all times throughout the entire year of planning. Dave was our go to for all things catering and was transparent and communicative with everything as well. We got married in the Tropical Rain Forest and had our reception in the events hall and everything was exactly how we wanted it. We chose to do a plated dinner and added the soup course (10/10 recommend) and the open bar. All of our guests raved about the beauty of Phipps, the atmosphere and the food. We couldn’t have asked for a better place to hold our wedding and it really was our dream venue made possible by all the amazing staff at Phipps!
Amanda
Amanda Sent on 10/07/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Garden @ Phipps = dream wedding!

DREAM WEDDING VENUE! We did the Outdoor Garden for the ceremony + reception, and it was absolutely lovely. We loved working with Caroline Walker in Events+Drinks and Dave Swank in Catering. They are both super on-top-of-it, experts in making weddings exceptional at Phipps. They were so helpful with special things we wanted to do or allergies to accommodate. I also felt I could trust Phipps completely with regards to health and safety standards around COVID-19, which made me much more relaxed. All of their team members were kind, courteous, and professional. If you're considering Phipps, just do it. Absolutely lovely.
E
Elizabeth Sent on 07/30/2021
5 out of 5 rating

The perfect wedding venue!

My wedding was impacted by COVID-19. After a 2.5 year engagement, my now-husband and I were devastated when we had to plan, replan, cancel, and replan our wedding only to cancel it fully again due to the pandemic. While we still decided to be legally married on our wedding date, we looked forward to the thought of taking anniversary photos with our families the following year where we had planned to share our vows (safety permitting).

Amidst the chaos, Phipps--and our event coordinator, Caroline, in particular--proved to be a vendor we could rely on. Caroline was a source of tremendous comfort to us; providing understanding, flexibility, and sympathy every step of the way. She took great care in making sure our anniversary photo session felt just as special as if it were our wedding day all over again. We couldn't have been happier with our experience reserving the Broderie Room, and we look forward to finding an occasion to book with them again.
A Lucarelli
A Lucarelli Sent on 07/10/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing Day

We booked Phipps for our wedding reception prior to the pandemic. Planning throughout the ups and downs was difficult, but Katelyn helped us through every step of the way. Despite drastically reducing our guest list, she made every part of our day special and unique. Her attention to detail helped take so much of the planning stress off of us. Her attitude was always positive and we could really tell she loves her job. Any questions we had were answered quickly and she was available to talk when we needed her and make suggestions through the various situations. She connected with our vendors to make everything run smoothly. We got engaged at Phipps and the venue was perfect for our wedding style. We highly recommend the natural beauty of Phipps and the great event staff!
Rebecca
Rebecca Sent on 10/26/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect and easy to plan

The outdoor garden was amazing! Caroline was awesome to work with, especially during a pandemic. I couldn't have asked for a better ceremony venue! Everything was perfect!
K
Kaelyn Sent on 09/15/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Helped make our dream wedding come true

We cannot say enough good things about Phipps and the amazing staff. Caroline Walker and David Swank helped on the events and catering side of things and they were the most pleasant and caring people. Caroline was always so responsive and helpful and even helped me take care of a wedding day emergency when my dress got smudged on a car tire before my first look. Even amongst a global pandemic she made sure that we would have an amazing day and came up with suggestions and ways to still make our day great. On the catering side of things David Swank was also so responsive and always called us to be sure we were up to date on all current policies and information. Having a wedding during a pandemic should have been a painful and difficult process but Phipps took that burden from us. I couldn't imagine having our wedding in any other location. It was truly incredible. Not to mention that our pictures turned out so amazing and the unique backgrounds and colors truly make our wedding photos incredible. The food was also so wonderful and all of our guests raved about how good everything was. The food, service, location, and overall feeling went above and beyond what I ever could have imagined.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

104
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

4 Endorsements
VAMP Media VAMP Media Wedding DJs

A Pittsburgh standard of excellence in the historic Oakland section of the city. Several options for your wedding or event.

Lokmer Photography Inc. Lokmer Photography Inc. Wedding Photographers

I have photographed many weddings in the past at The Phipps. The beauty of nature in the various rooms and the outdoor environment all make for a beautiful event. Rachel and staff offer weddings, receptions and special parties for your special needs; and the professionalism is nothing short of superb which is expected from a first class venue. This is a gorgeous venue for some remarkable photos which our studio has created over the years. -John Lokmer - Lokmer Photography Inc.

Your Wedding Officiant Your Wedding Officiant Wedding Officiants

I have found Phipps Conservatory to be an excellent venue with a staff who works hard to meet all the needs not only of their couples, but also those who attend as well.

Map

Phipps Conservatory frequently asked questions

Phipps Conservatory includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Chairs
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planning
  • Lighting/Sound
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
Phipps Conservatory includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Dessert
  • Server(s)
  • Wedding Cake
The bar service starting price at Phipps Conservatory includes:
  • Bartender(s)
  • House Beer
  • House Liquor
  • House Wine
  • Limited Bar
  • Open Bar
  • Premium Liquor
  • Signature Drink
The space offered by Phipps Conservatory for wedding events is known for:
  • Banquet Hall
  • Garden
  • Historic Building
  • Museum
Phipps Conservatory offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Phipps Conservatory offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Phipps Conservatory offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Liability Insurance
  • Outside Vendors
  • Wifi
Phipps Conservatory offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Aisle Markers
  • Audio Equipment
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Decor
  • Lighting
  • Tables
  • Tents
Phipps Conservatory is recommended by 90% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.7 in quality of service, 4.6 in professionalism, 4.5 in value, 4.4 in average response time and 4.4 in flexibility.

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