Who should get married at the Allegheny RiverTrail Park?
Allegheny RiverTrail Park weddings are really perfect for couples who have a deep appreciation for the outdoors and natural beauty. You get this incredible combination of the Allegheny River’s peaceful flow with sprawling greenery, all in a relaxed public park setting.
The setting is incredibly dynamic throughout the day. In the morning, you might see rowers gliding past on the Allegheny River toward Pittsburgh, creating a peaceful backdrop. By afternoon, the sun hits the water in a way that makes everything sparkle under the bridge– it’s amazing for photos. And then as evening approaches, you get these incredible sunset views that paint the sky in pinks and oranges, reflecting off the river during your reception.
What makes the Aspinwall Riverfront Park wedding venue really special, though, is how it balances city convenience with natural serenity. You’re close enough to Pittsburgh that your guests can easily get there, but once you’re at the venue, you feel like you’re in this peaceful riverfront retreat. The setting gives you those stunning water views without being too far from urban amenities. It’s like giving them the best of both worlds – a destination wedding feel without the long-distance travel!
Aspinwall area Wedding Vendors and Hotel Options
Nearby you could consider setting your out of town wedding guests up at the Hampton Inn & Suites up the road 10-15 mins in suburban Harmarville, at the SpringHill Suites in Pittsburgh’s Bakery Square area (also 10-15 mins), or perhaps at some more iconic Pittsburgh hotels downtown like the Omni William Penn or Renaissance Hotel (15-20 mins).
I think the riverfront park particularly appeals to wedding couples who care about community and sustainability. Since it’s a public park, your celebration is actually supporting a space that gives back to the local area. There’s something really meaningful about that. And to further support small businesses, I recommend you reach out to some Aspinwall area veterans in the wedding industry. Locally consider using The Farmer’s Daughter Flowers or Bella Christie bakery!
Aspinwall Riverfront Park | a Unique Wedding Venue
Offering a less conventional wedding venue with a lot of character, the Allegheny RiverTrail Park is still neutral enough that you can customize it to the vibe that you are going for. Whether you’re dreaming of a casual garden party or a more formal affair, the Gem on the Allegheny space can easily be transformed to match your style. It’s wonderfully flexible!
You can have your ceremony overlooking the water or flanked by tall trees, set up a small dinner party on the outdoor covered patio or have a larger former gathering in the hall. The structure is endlessly customizable with its clean lines and high ceiling. (Think the Carnegie Museum Hall of Sculpture but outdoors with a natural vibe). Or set up a reception that takes advantage of both indoor and outdoor spaces, with an intimate gathering that flows throughout different areas of the park.
Most importantly, most of the spaces are under cover! So you don’t have to manage an elaborate last-minute rain plan while still achieving the outdoor vibe that you are looking for.
For Frances and Noah’s wedding day they each first celebrated a tisch in separate spaces (Noah indoors and Frances out on the covered patio), where they also signed the ketubah. I love that this traditionally male custom was adapted so that they could both share in some time celebrating with their loved ones! After the ketubah was signed and Frances was veiled, the bride and groom came together before the ceremony. Their ceremonial chuppah was placed out on the grass in front of a tall row of trees, which allowed for guests to be seated on the lawn or wander into the tall structure for cover.
After their ceremony the newlyweds were whisked away for the yichud, in a separate closed space at the Aspinwall Riverfront Park, while their guests settled into the reception area and dancing / celebrating commenced on the lawn.
I think part of the reason the venue worked so well for Frances and Noah is that the Gem on the Allegheny was able to accommodate their need for a lot of different spaces for all the different events they had planned on their wedding day! It also helped that it had the perfect relaxed vibe for this wonderful couple who prioritized time with their people over everything else.
For couples with Pittsburgh connections, The Allegheny Rivertrail Park in Aspinwall is a fantastic venue to showcase the city’s riverside character to their guests. Pittsburgh’s number of bridges rivals Venice alone, and you get one right next to you on the Riverfront… so don’t forget to sneak out with your photographer at sunset to get some beautiful portraits on the water!
Allegheny RiverTrail Park Wedding Photos
Here are dozens of my favorite photos from Frances and Noah’s wedding, for you to enjoy! I label myself a documentary wedding photographer because I want more than anything to show you the story of your wedding day from your guest’s point of view- all of the joy and laughter and tears and hugs and all of the in between. <3 Everything you experienced but also a million tiny moments that you missed on a day that goes by WAY too quickly!
After 20 years of photographing weddings here’s my hot take: Yep, portraits are important, and a lot of fun to capture… but anticipating / finding art in the candid moments is way harder. And it’s a challenge that I would love to take on for you! Please reach out to chat about the experience you would have working with me as your wedding photographer. <3
And then enjoy scrolling through dozens more Allegheny RiverTrail Park wedding photos below, as part of this beautiful bride and groom’s wedding day!
The Allegheny RiverTrail Park Wedding Cost
Curious about how much it costs to have your wedding at Aspinwall’s Riverfront Park? For a current estimate, reach out to the Director of Park Operations Tony here and expect a response in 24 hours. You can schedule a site visit, too! The park’s website also has some more basic information about this unique outdoor wedding venue here in Pittsburgh. Here is what Director of Park Operations Tony Miga has to say about the park as a wedding venue:
“Allegheny RiverTrail Park provides a unique setting, overlooking the Allegheny River, set in a beautiful park space, adjacent to the communities of Aspinwall, O’Hara, and Sharpsburg. We have a great combination of indoor and outdoor spaces and lots of picturesque backdrops for photos. The space can be decorated to suit any type of décor and provides plenty of places to have both your ceremony and reception. It’s also a space you can return to over time. You can come back and enjoy the park long after your wedding day. And hosting your wedding here not only makes for a lovely setting for your celebration but it helps support the park.”
The Allegheny RiverTrail Park is an independent non-profit and uses the funds raised through wedding rentals to support programming, upkeep, and improvements. I love that some of the expenses from your wedding go right back to the community!
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