Phipps Stories
Weddings Under Glass: Abbey and Paul
Abbey and Paul met online via Hinge in 2021. While Abbey had been on the dating app for two years, she was Paul’s first and only date through the app! .
Paul made a reservation at Alla Famiglia with a plan to surprise Abbey. On the way to the restaurant, the couple’s Uber driver decided to drop them off at the “wrong spot”. They were dropped off at a park on Mt. Washington with stunning views of the city. Paul said that he knew a shortcut through the park that would take them to the restaurant. They set off down the path, with Abbey following Paul. To Abbey's surprise, Paul got down on one knee to pop the question. Suddenly, two friends emerged from hiding spots to take pictures, with one jumping out from behind a tree and the other popping out of a porta-potty!
Before they were married, Abbey was studying at the University of Pittsburgh and she often visited Phipps, taking advantage of her free student admission. As a plant and flower lover, she thought Phipps was pure magic! Once she discovered that Phipps hosted weddings, she decided she would get married here someday. Fast forward to 2026, Abbey and Paul were married on the Tropical Forest patio in May where the spring rain held off so they could have their outdoor ceremony against a beautiful botanical backdrop. Cocktail hour was held in the Tropical Forrest followed by dinner and dancing in the Special Events Hall. They chose to keep the décor simple, using ivory-colored linens and candles on the tables with no flowers to create a calming atmosphere for their guests. Abbey wanted to make sure the plants and flowers of the Tropical Forest took center stage during the wedding!
Their favorite part of being married at Phipps was the stunning backdrop that the Conservatory provided. Abbey said, “Having a wedding in the middle of a city but having wedding photos that look like you were transported to a different place entirely was my favorite thing about Phipps.”
After honeymooning on the coast of Italy, Abbey and Paul are settling back into normal life in Pittsburgh. With the wedding planning chaos behind them, they are enjoying quiet weekends at home with their cat Basil.
Photograper: Wild North Weddings
Catering: Bistro to Go
Floral: The Farmers Daughter
