Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens — Attraction in Pittsburgh

August 2024 review update following wedding vow renewal ceremony:

We were blessed to have had the pleasure of renting this venue for our renewal ceremony in the garden.

• We would like to note a negative encounter with a woman employed by Phipps the day of drop off on 08/09. We were there to drop off decor supplies for our ceremony the next day. There was an event affecting parking and my husband was trying to ensure we were in the right location to drop items off and we parked in the loading dock area. We noticed a bunch of caterers preparing for an event. A helpful friendly caterer asked if he could help us and proceeded to see if he could find a staff member and cart for us. He found a Phipps staff member in the tent area she was extremely rude to the friendly vendor back there trying to help us. When he asked her a question, she rudely exclaimed that she was not the keeper of our Phipps coordinator. My husband thought that maybe she was just being rude to the caterer and mentioned that he was a customer and groom asking the question and she rudely repeated herself. Why say anything at all? The caterer told my husband to just ignore her and he shuffled and grabbed a cart for us until we were able to connect with Abbey for our drop off appointment. She should really improve on her customer service and people skills. Her behavior was not okay and uncalled for. I got the impression that she apparently does this all of the time when we mentioned the encounter. No one should have to tip toe around a single staff member. We are fortunate that one rotten apple 🍎did not spoil the bunch.😉*

Other than that, our ceremony was an absolute dream. All other Phipps team members were amazing. We were able to have received service from two phenomenal Phipps coordinators. Initial rehearsal was with Caroline Walker, Event Sales Assistant Manager and the 2nd rehearsal and day of coordinator was Abbey Russell, Event Sales Supervisor. Both were rock stars. They gave us ideas, told us about any venue restrictions, answered all questions and helped setup the chairs for our garden ceremony. The Phipps staff really were key in helping our event helpers coordinate and facilitate our guests, our venders and a seamless ceremony. We are grateful. We highly recommend this venue.

Previous review 2023: Beautiful venue with lots of beautiful flowers, plants, waterfalls and exhibits as well as delightful event spaces of various sizes and styles. We think we found our spot. ❤️Thanks to Deborah for the fantastic tour and for the...

I have been visiting Phipps for the last several years to enjoy the winter light show, but tonight had an atrocious experience tonight due to overcrowding. I had purchased tickets for a defined date and time slot over a week in advance. In the past, the crowd has always been manageable due to the limited tickets generally sold for time slots.

That certainly was not the case tonight. After having to choose between valeting or parking nearly a mile away, I then had to wait in line for 10-15 minutes just to enter the building.

The entire time my partner and I walked through the light displays, we were in shoulder-to-shoulder traffic with other guests. I jokingly remarked that it reminded me of being at a concert. I wish I would’ve known I would be around so many other people in such close proximity, so I could have brought a mask.

I also missed out on large parts of the Phipps experience that I had come to love over the years. I have always enjoyed being able to stop and look at the information boards or find the names of interesting plants. Tonight, I felt rushed through due to people being quite literally within an arm’s reach of me behind me, followed by a crowd. I wasn’t able to stop and admire or take pictures of plants, one of my favorite aspects of visiting Phipps.

Places to step aside and take individual/couple/family photos had massive wait times, and I missed several of these (usually beloved) photo-taking opportunities for fear of getting out of the line and joining only for it to have gotten even slower. My partner and I skipped the Hawaii room entirely because of how slow and miserable the experience had become.

I hope that Phipps can re-assess their priorities and not oversell tickets as they did tonight. I am very hesitant to...

Phipps Conservatory is one of the most stunning, timeless wedding venues in Pittsburgh, and as a wedding photographer specializing in LGBTQIA+ weddings, I can confidently say it’s an absolute dream to photograph. Every corner of this space—from the lush gardens to the breathtaking glasshouse architecture—feels like stepping into a botanical fairytale. The way natural light filters through the greenery creates the most ethereal, romantic atmosphere, making every photo look straight out of a magazine.

The botanical gardens, lush greenery & iconic glasshouse architecture create an editorial, timeless backdrop that makes every wedding feel like a fairytale. The natural light inside the conservatory is unreal—soft, golden, and perfect for moody, romantic photography. Whether it’s a small intimate ceremony or a grand celebration, Phipps provides endless gorgeous settings for photos.

The staff is incredibly accommodating, ensuring everything runs smoothly for couples & vendors alike. Plus, they truly value inclusivity, making it a wonderful space for LGBTQIA+ weddings & diverse love stories.

If you’re looking for a wedding venue that feels magical, elegant & completely unique, Phipps Conservatory is it. Highly recommend for both couples & fellow...