Phipps Conservatory

One of the things I appreciated most about Madison and Josh’s wedding was how every decision centered around their guests. They wanted everyone to feel included, comfortable, and part of the celebration from the moment they arrived until the final song of the night. It created such a welcoming atmosphere. You could feel how excited their family and friends were to celebrate with them, and that excitement only grew as the reception unfolded.

Guests spent cocktail hour exploring the Tropical Rain Forest at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, which always feels like a special treat compared to a traditional ballroom cocktail hour. When everyone made their way into the Special Events Room, the space had a completely different feel. Elegant draping stretched across the ceiling, the lighting gave the room a warm glow, and it was easy to see why this setting fit Madison and Josh’s vision so well.

There were so many thoughtful touches throughout the reception. Instead of a traditional plated meal, guests wandered between three creative dinner stations with pun-filled names like “Wok This Way” and “Meat Me At The Alter,” which had everyone smiling before they even picked up a plate. One of my favorite ideas from the evening happened during dinner. Madison and Josh had collected the first dance songs from married couples in their families ahead of time, and I played those throughout the meal. It was amazing watching couples hear their own wedding song unexpectedly, look at each other, and sneak onto the dance floor for a quiet dance together while everyone else enjoyed dinner.

The music throughout the reception reflected exactly what Madison and Josh had hoped for. Cocktails began with contemporary piano covers before dinner, blended country favorites, jazz standards, classic R&B, and singer-songwriter selections that kept the room relaxed while people visited. Once dancing began, everything opened up. Disco classics, rock favorites, pop hits, and hip-hop kept guests of every age on the dance floor together. Later in the evening, the foam glow sticks came out, the lights went down, and the entire room exploded with energy. By the last few songs, nearly every guest was gathered on the dance floor singing, cheering, and celebrating together before everyone headed off to continue the party at the after-party.

I left this wedding thinking about how generous Madison and Josh were with their celebration. Every part of the day was designed to bring people together, whether it was sharing a favorite meal, reliving family wedding memories, or dancing with friends until the very end. It was a joy to be part of their wedding, and I hope their European cruise is every bit as memorable as the incredible celebration they created for everyone back home.

Maddie and Nick’s wedding at Phipps Conservatory was a day to remember. Set against the stunning backdrop of Pittsburgh’s iconic botanical gardens, their fall wedding was nothing short of magical. The outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour in the garden were absolutely picturesque, with the warm, vibrant fall colors making everything feel even more intimate and special. Guests enjoyed sipping cocktails while soaking in the beauty of the gardens before heading into the elegant reception tent for dinner and dancing.

Music played a huge role throughout the day, and you could tell Maddie and Nick put a lot of thought into making it a key part of their celebration. From the ceremony to the reception, every song was carefully chosen to reflect their personalities. The cocktail hour was filled with laid-back, jazzy tunes that set the perfect mood for mingling, while dinner had a mix of modern and classic instrumentals, creating a relaxed yet classy atmosphere. Once dinner was over, the party turned up a notch. Guests hit the dance floor with a wide range of fun, high-energy music, from throwback hits to today’s bangers. The dance floor stayed packed, with everyone—from family to friends—getting in on the action.

What made Maddie and Nick’s wedding stand out was not just their obvious passion for music, but how they curated every moment to feel like them. They didn’t just stick to tradition—they made sure every part of their day was a reflection of who they are as a couple. By the end of the night, no one wanted to leave! It was one of those weddings where the energy just kept building, and people were dancing like crazy well into the final songs.

For Maddie and Nick, it wasn’t just about checking off the typical wedding boxes—it was about creating a day that was uniquely theirs. And they absolutely nailed it. From the beautiful fall setting at Phipps to the wild dance floor that had everyone on their feet, it was a celebration that their guests won’t soon forget. And as they headed off to start their honeymoon, you could tell Maddie and Nick’s wedding day was everything they dreamed of and more.

I’ll admit, I get excited when couples find incredibly special ideas to include as part of their wedding day.  I also love the people who choose to make the day their own instead of sticking to traditions that don’t match their style.  Kaitlyn and Andrew included lots of custom details and their entire celebration was the perfect match for them.  Their ceremony and reception was held on a perfect summer day at the always beautiful Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden.

Once guests entered the Special Events Room, they each received a special surprise at their table of a lucky bamboo tree, all of which was loving made by Andrew.  What a great and unique favor for everyone to take home!

Kaitlyn and Andrew had also chosen some fantastic music for dinner and dancing.  Everyone sang and danced to some wonderful music from oldies to today’s hits.

Kaitlyn and Andrew put a lot of time and energy on the details of their big day, and it all paid off.  They made perfect choices that made everything feel comfortable for not only them, but everyone involved.  At the end of the night they were surrounded by all of their favorite people who were clearly thrilled to help them celebrate their new lives together.

One of the many challenges when planning a wedding can be finding ways to incorporate your specific tastes while being sure to create a day that all of your guests will enjoy and remember.  Kate and Joe had no problem at all when it came to their amazing celebration held on a beautiful day at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

The ceremony was held in the outdoor garden, followed by a reception in the beautifully decorated outdoor tent.  Guests were treated to great music by a string quartet, followed by a selection of songs chosen by Kate and Joe.

Kate and Joe kicked off the evening with a wonderfully choreographed first dance, followed instantly by having their friends and family joining them for a fun and rowdy hora.  All night long there was a great variety of music that everyone could enjoy.  When it was time to dance, all of the guests had the chance to hear music from oldies to today’s hits.  Kate and Joe planned a wonderful day that was well suited to their tastes, and a perfect way to celebrate their love with all their favorite people.

Pittsburgh offers so many wonderful wedding venues, choosing the right one for your big day can be a difficult choice.  Finding the right size, style and atmosphere is so important to the success of every wedding.  Kate and Ryan could not have picked a better location than Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

It was a perfect Fall day as they were married on the beautiful patio area outside of the Tropical Garden at Phipps.  After cocktails, guests entered the ballroom for dinner and dancing.

The entire day flowed perfectly for the happy couple.  Guests were not only able to enjoy some fun dancing, but were also able to enjoy the beautiful evening outside on the patio.  Their friends and family were treated to a wonderful night as they came together to celebrate with the newlyweds.  Congratulations Kate and Ryan, I’m so thrilled I was able to be a part of all the fun!

There’s no better way to kick off the 2015 wedding season then with a fantastic spring wedding.  Ashley and Adam held their ceremony and reception at the beautiful Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA.  They took such care to plan a day which included all their favorite people, details and music.

A key to a great reception is to allow some variety into your music selections.  Lauren and Chris did an amazing job coming up with a mix of music that appealed to all of their friends and family for their nuptials and celebration at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh.

Phipps was the perfect location for the newlyweds’ big day.  Their ceremony and cocktails were held in the outdoor gardens with a live string quartet.  Throughout the rest of the evening, guests were treated to music from every decade from the 40’s til Today.  Since it was a wonderful summer day, guests were able to enjoy the space outside the Special Events Suite which featured a cigar bar!

Lauren and Chris did an amazing job mixing their tastes of 80’s and current music along with great classic songs they knew their wedding guests would enjoy.  Throughout the reception I had people stopping by to tell me how much they were enjoying the music selections.  At the end of the night, everyone cheered for these fun and sweet newlyweds and even insisted on an extra song to keep the party going just a little longer.

Planning a wedding is never simple.  Thousands of details need to be prepared, considered, and chosen in order to have your big day come together as you please.  Alys and Tim’s reception at the Phipps Conservatory Ballroom was the perfect example of excellent planning and wonderful choices that made for a fantastic and elegant reception.

The ballroom at Phipp’s was beautifully decorated for the newlyweds and their guests.  Alys and Tim selected a great selection of music for the evening which included Rat Pack standards, swing, oldies, 80’s, and Top 40 music, all of which suited their friends and family.

To cap off their celebration, they chose the perfect songs (Livin’ On A Prayer & Don’t Stop Believin’), which brought their evening to an epic ending.  They made many wise choices and prioritized their efforts for the wedding day, which made the entire day absolutely perfect.  They’re now headed off to Antigua for a well deserved romantic and relaxing honeymoon.

One of the first questions every newly engaged couple is faced with is determining how many guests should they invite to the wedding.  While many immediately think of how much fun the reception would be with 200-300 people, they miss out on how special the day can be with a smaller, more intimate group.  Alexandra Cervenka and Ryan Slack might not have had the largest guest list in Pittsburgh, but their celebration at the Phipps Conservatory Garden Tent was huge.

Phipps Conservatory made the perfect venue on this beautiful summer day.  They arranged and decorated the large tent in a way that made it feel the perfect size for their 65 guests.

When it came to music, Lexie and Ryan chose some special selections for the evening but wanted to leave lots of room for people to make requests and have fun.  Their playlist incorporated everything from jazz, motown, disco, rock and a few top 40 hits too.

After cocktail hour, the bride and groom entered the Garden Tent and began their first dance to Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together”.

Once it was time, the guests took advantage of every moment we had to celebrate.

I had first met Lexie and Ryan a couple of years ago at the reception of Lisa and Armando Padilla (where they had caught the bouquet and garter!).

Phipps employees commented to me on what a fun group this was and how the dance floor was packed all night.

As a special twist at the end of the night, the newlyweds presented their guests with a fantastic popcorn and italian soda buffet.  Everyone then jumped on a shuttle bus to head downtown and see the post Pirates game fireworks display!  What appeared to be what some would call a small wedding, ended as one the largest celebrations anyone had ever seen.

Obviously, people first think about music when hiring a DJ for their wedding.  While I encourage the couples I work with to make as many song choices as they wish me to play on the big day, sometimes it just takes a few songs to make the day unique and special.   Lauren Holly and Andy Millsaps made some key suggestions for their reception at Phipps Conservatory which I know I’ll never forget!

They set a great tone for the party as they entered the reception to U2’s “Beautiful Day” while their guests waved custom-made foam fingers.  Such a great start to a fun evening.

After their entrance, the newlyweds danced to “You Never Can Tell” by Chuck Berry, including all the great dance moves from the movie “Pulp Fiction”.

Lauren and Andy made lots of other fun choices for the evening, and Lauren even let her dad surprise her with a special song for the father/daughter dance.  (It was a unique version of Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” from the movie Parenthood.) Be sure to see the entire list that made for an awesome celebration.

After the festivities were completed, everyone had a great time enjoying some traditional wedding songs as well as modern hits.

It was such a pleasure working with Lauren and Andy.  They allowed me to use my experience to be certain their guests would enjoy themeslves and dance all night long, but they also made the right suggestions which created special memories that are truly their own.

Sometimes when I meet a couple for the first time, I can just tell how much fun we’re going to have at their reception.  That was certainly the case when I met Natalie Laneri and John Hurst to discuss their wedding at Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA.  Their outgoing and fun nature made me feel confident that their wedding day would be one that would be fantastic for everyone.

The ballroom at Phipps was decorated beautifully with their wedding colors.

Before dinner, John’s brother Cameron serenaded the couple as a special gift.

Natalie and John chose music for the evening that would be special to their families.  The cocktail reception featured Latin artists and dinner music had a more Italian feel.  Once dancing started, the floor was packed to modern music as well as some classic hits.

After the sun went down, it was time for the newlyweds’ first dance.

Things got a little crazy once it was time to celebrate!

Natalie and John’s guests were having such a great time on the dance floor that they could have easily celebrated long into the night.  As everyone gathered outside on that perfect Pittsburgh evening, the newlyweds had the oppourtunity wish their guests farewell.  They are now off on what I believe might be the perfect honeymoon as they visit both Antigua and Disney World.