Phipps Conservatory is a Victorian glasshouse in Schenley Park and one of the few venues where the room is the flowers. Numbers run from intimate gatherings to over 300, across the Palm Court, the Special Events Hall, the Tropical Forest Conservatory and the East Wing, which takes 60 for a cocktail reception or 36 seated. The Outdoor Garden tents 200 seated, and up to 250 with additional tenting. The whole facility is around $15,000 for a four-hour evening, with catering from roughly $110 a head off-peak against a minimum spend. Café Phipps is the exclusive caterer and there is no BYOB. Glass overhead means the interior light tracks the sky, so ceremony time genuinely changes the photographs.
Best seasons to marry here
Plan your day here
When are you getting married?
Pick a day and I'll work out the light for it — sunset here, when golden hour opens, and the ceremony time that puts you inside it.
Planning your timeline
| Month | Sunset | Ceremony | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5:17 PM | 3:17 PM | 3.2″ |
| February | 5:54 PM | 3:54 PM | 2.7″ |
| March | 7:25 PM | 5:25 PM | 3.3″ |
| April | 7:57 PM | 5:57 PM | 3.2″ |
| May | 8:28 PM | 6:28 PM | 3.9″ |
| June | 8:51 PM | 6:51 PM | 4.7″ |
| July | 8:49 PM | 6:49 PM | 3.8″ |
| August | 8:18 PM | 6:18 PM | 3.7″ |
| September | 7:29 PM | 5:29 PM | 3.3″ |
| October | 6:40 PM | 4:40 PM | 2.9″ |
| November | 5:03 PM | 3:03 PM | 2.9″ |
| December | 4:54 PM | 2:54 PM | 3.0″ |
Sunset times are calculated for this venue's coordinates, shown in EDT for the 15th of each month in 2026. Golden hour is the 60 minutes before sunset. The ceremony start is my rule of thumb — about 2 hours before sunset, so a short ceremony and family photos still leave the two of you in golden light. Adjust it to your own timeline. Average temperatures and rainfall are NOAA 1991–2020 normals from BRADDOCK LOCK 2, 5.7 miles away.
Amenities & Inclusions
Catering
In-house exclusive — Café Phipps. No outside caterers
Bar / Alcohol
No BYOB; bar run through the venue
Rain Backup Plan
The conservatory itself is entirely under glass
Verify Before You Book
Coordinates resolved from OpenStreetMap for the street address. Capacity, price tier, curfew, rain plan, sunset orientation and shade all still to be filled in.
Rob Craven
Lead Photographer
Shade Coverage
Glazed throughout — bright but sheltered, with the Outdoor Garden tented
Best Shots & Hidden Gems
Palm Court under glass, seasonal flower shows, the Outdoor Garden, glasshouse light in late afternoon
I know this venue's best angles, lighting, and hidden gems.
Wedding photography in Pittsburgh & Western PA →1 Schenley Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Pittsburgh, PA
Nearest Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
