Starting Venue Shopping

ChristineNB

So my partner and I are coming up to PGH this weekend to look at venues.  As I had mentioned previously, we were looking for an affordable venue (around $1,000), for around 100-150 guests, where we could bring in our own caterer.

Currently we are scheduled to view the Union Project, Pittsburgh Opera House (both me and FI are really loving this place from the website), and the New Hazlett Theater.  We are also going to see some of the outdoor parks that are good wedding locations, such as Highland Park, and Hartwood Acres. 


Anyone have anywhere else to add that might be good for me to check into while in town?

Christine

Britt0412

@arf - not to hijack this thread, but what replacement photog did you end up going with?

arf3420

I LOVE the Opera House!  We're having our weddng there in June :-)   Highland Park is also really pretty... We had our e-pics there... although our photographer sucked and never gave them to us (but that's another story!).  Pittsburgh weather is so terrible though, that's why we were afraid to go with an outdoor venue.  New Hazlett was pretty cool too, but more expensive than the Opera House and their layout was smaller and kind of strange.  I looked at Hartwood too.  We were looking for about 150 guests, and I think their space was too small for that.  Can't really remember for sure though.  And I think the wedding had to be over by 6 or 7pm because the park closes, but it would work if you want an afternoon reception.  Good luck with your planning :-)

pantherRN

Also, with Hartwood, you have to bring in every.thing. Literally, everything. Tables, chairs, linens, etc. I think Hartwood's price is pretty cheap, but it can get expensive when you add all of the rentals in.

Flowerstar1023

The Aviary is in the $1500 range but includes tables, chairs, et cetera (as long as you don't want super fancy ones) and they allow four different caterers. You can bring in your own booze too which saves money. 

arf3420

Lol... it's hijacked.  We decided on Stephanie Strasburg.  I just met with her last week, and she seems wonderful!  Now I just hope she doesn't disappear like our other one... Or hold our pictures hostage.  haha.  Still no word from that girl... I'm so sad that I'll never get our e-pics.  I even already bought a bunch of really pretty frames to sit a few pictures on our guestbook table.  She just makes me so angry because I even asked if she could just email the pics to me without editing them or anything, so it would literally take her one minute to do it.  Soooo frustrating!!!  But at least Stephanie seems like she can be trusted :-) 

kirstberger

Does anyone know what time you have to be out of the Opera House by if you're holding your reception there?

ChristineNB

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_pennsylvania-pittsburgh_starting-venue-shopping?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:116Discussion:842d61a3-9cbf-4b5f-a7a6-9a1dc2cb4628Post:58ef9e94-3721-41dd-96f5-e5b0ef0effda">Re: Starting Venue Shopping</a>:
[QUOTE]Does anyone know what time you have to be out of the Opera House by if you're holding your reception there?
Posted by kirstberger[/QUOTE]
I'm sure they told us when we saw it but I don't remember.  I don't remember it being rediculously early, maybe 10 or 11ish?