Pittsburgh Zoo Garden Tent

We had our reception at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium and specifically went with the Garden Tent.

The Zoo events team was great. People liked the food; I was not crazy about it, but their on-site catering services sufficed and made it easier mentally to not have the option of even thinking about a food vendor. Managing vendors is the worst part of planning a wedding. Though I will say if the cheesy jalapeno cornbread is still an option, then go with it because that was fire and all people wanted.

We also had a little private tour of the zoo for our photos, like an hour before the reception, where it was just us. That was a nice feature from the zoo in our choice to go with them.

I highly recommend an outdoor reception if that works with your ideal date. I find people at weddings like to congregate outside and can leave a wedding feeling dead, but if it's all outside, people seem to stick around and dance more. There were no lulls in dancing at my wedding, and I believe that was part good DJ meets being outside.

Also, a plus to our specific date was that it lined up with their asian lantern lights festival, which made a really beautiful guest entrance experience that I didn't have to do or pay extra for. That is what the featured photo I'm posting this with is from.