Bridesmaid Erica’s wedding was last month, and we did our bridal party shots in Washington DC’s Union Station. It was great. We traipsed all over the place, taking photos on escalators, in stairwells, in front of the architecture outdoors–everywhere. It was lots of fun, and her photographer got some KILLER shots. It also got me thinking… where would be some good Pittsburgh locales for OUR bridal party to demonstrate their smile-with-your-eyes skills?
Unlike Bridesmaid Erica and her husband, we’re not going to have a first look in order to take photos before the ceremony. I totally get why the first look is a good option–it allowed us to go to Union Station, after all!–but I’ve realized that I’m really a traditionalist about this. For whatever reason, I just feel really strongly that I don’t want to see Mr. Octopus until I’m walking down the aisle. That does mean that we won’t have a huge window of time for photos, though, so I’ve been thinking about some places that we can hit up quickly.
Spot #1: Heinz Chapel
Our ceremony location, Heinz Chapel, is kind of a wedding factory, and runs on a very tight schedule (there’s another ceremony just two hours after ours!). I want to max out our allotted time for photos in there, though, because come on. Look at this place.
Spot #2: Cathedral of Learning
After we get the boot from Heinz Chapel, I’m thinking it would be fun to move on to the building right next door, the Cathedral of Learning. It’s the main academic building of the University of Pittsburgh, and it looks like this from the outside:
and like this in the Commons, the main room inside:
It is super, super Hogwarts-y, right down to the giant fireplaces and the narrow spiral staircases carved into the stone columns in the middle of the room.
In addition to being gorgeous, the Cathedral was totally my happy place in college. Mr. O and I both spent a LOT of hours inside this place, so the pictures we take there will have an extra sentimental value.
Spot #3: The Carnegie Museums
I don’t know if we’ll have the time to make it over here, although it’s right across the street from the Cathedral. I also don’t know if they’d waive the $15 per person admission fee to allow us a quick 20 minutes of photos, especially because we would probably be there slightly after the 5 PM closing time. Sounds pretty doubtful, now that I think about it. But it would allow for some pretty badass pictures, considering that the Carnegie Museums of Art & Natural History include this Hall of Architecture…
… this main lobby area…
… and this performance hall foyer.
But, if we can’t make it into the museums, there’s another spot nearby which is a particular favorite of Mr. O’s…
Spot #5: Schenley Fountain
My husband-to-be loves this fountain/sculpture on Pitt’s campus. In college, I could very often find him sprawled out on a bench, eating ‘pad Thai out of a giant to-go box from the nearby food trucks. In fact, here’s a circa-2005 photo of us relaxing there.
In addition to being beautiful in its own right…
… it also offers up glorious views of the Cathedral.
Basically, we’ve got no shortage of beautiful backdrops for a quick-and-dirty photo session, and I think it will be really fun. It doesn’t hurt that our bridal party is an extremely good-looking bunch, either.
Can you tell which bridesmaids are related to me? And can you tell which one is the recent bride who had her engagement photos taken? Haha.
Did you do a first look, or skip it? How did you choose your photo locations?
(Oh, and what do you think, Corey Ann? You up for documenting all this fierceness? 
)
I did a first look, but it wound up being completely pointless because guests were already arriving when we did our first look. But, we had a really long aisle at my wedding, so I knew that if I wanted any sweet photos of my hubby’s face that we needed to do a first look. Over all it was fun, and gave us some nice photos. AND, it allowed us to go straight to the party afterwards. In retrospect, that was the BEST decision–because we were so anxious to start the party and spend time with our guests who had flown in from far away. 
We did not do a first look, which had it’s good and bad consequences. The good: we choose a beautiful location with a country setting. Suited us well, we are so country!. The bad: our guests at the reception had to wait for us.
I went to CMU, and I am thinking of a building near Pitt that has these beautiful, big columms, but I forget the name!! (it’s been too long since I’ve been back to the Burgh!). Also, Soldiers and Sailors is beautiful, Schenley Park, the Phipps Conservatory. So many beautiful places around there!
We’re not doing a first look bc, like you, I am bizarrely set on not seeing Mr TM until the ceremony…I’m hoping I don’t regret it, sometimes I get nervous that we won’t have enough time for photos and it does kinda suck we’re going to miss the whole cocktail hour…
I think we will be doing a first look – I really didn’t want to, but timing is just making it a necessity (even though the fact that we will be still makes me want to cry, just a little bit). But unfortunately the only time for ceremony we can get into our church is 6, and we can’t get to our reception until 6:30…well past sundown. I figured the point of having a fall New England wedding is the beautiful foliage, so hopefully the first look will give us a good chance to take full advantage of the daylight.
Love the interior of the cathedral–breathtaking!
We’re doing a first look but making sure nobody will be around, to make it more special and private.
love these locations!! most are where we are taking our e-pics in July 
I used to work at the Carnegie and they charge $400 to take any professional photos in their building. It’s an amazing place but totally not worth that cost. I would take a couple outside in front of Dippy tho!
Gorgeous spots! I’m having a hard time deciding whether or not to do a first look, and where to do photos. I might just find a field. :p
Aw, you-all were just 4 blocks from my house! And I’m a bit (happily) surprised that Union Station security didn’t give you any trouble. There have been some notorious incidents of security clamping down on photogs over the past few years.
Which might be a lesson for your own location selection — be sure photos are actually allowed. (Or, just risk it as with Union Station, on the theory that getting kicked out would make for a good story…. And who can say “no” to a bride in her dress???)
Love, love, love the cathedrals! Especially the hogwart-eque one. I am a sucker for Harry Potter.
I was in a wedding this past weekend and they didn’t do a first look. Their wedding photography after the ceremony lasted for 10 minutes…and they only did the normal family and bridal party photos. There was no jumping photos or anything!
Sigh….
We’re skipping the first look as well, and have not decided where our photos will be taken yet. You have quite the repetoire of locations though. Totally jealous!
Beautiful locations!!!! We are definitely doing a first look. That way our pictures won’t be so rushed.
I was at the Carnegie Museum of Architecture in February as an assistant for Cliff Mautner in February. You may want to drop that tidbit if you choose there as that may make them more apt to bend a bit as I think that was one of the highest $$ weddings there ever (IT WAS INSANE). I already know some cool places there too which helps!
Otherwise, that cathedral of learning looks awesome, are you able to just go there and shoot??
We’re not doing a first look either… But as we are getting married in mellon park, we’re going to make our way to oakland for the all around the cathedral shots (as I’ve been a grad student at pitt the last 4 yrs and he’s just finishing his undergrad there) and I’m dying to get a picture or two on the carousal that they put in Schenley Park plaza (It’s probably new since you’ve been at Pitt. It was the library parking lot that they reclaimed to turn back into the entrance to Schenley Park)
Mrs. Octopus, Boston, MA/Pittsburgh, PA Age and Occupation: 25, Grad Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Graphics Operator for TV News Engagement Date: May 6th, 2009 Wedding Date: September 2010 Venue: Heinz Chapel Ceremony, Museum Reception About Me: When my best friend dragged me to a toga party in our freshmen year of college, I was not expecting to meet my future husband; but seven years later, here we are. I'm a crazy-organized planner at heart, and I am a great lover of random trivia, books, chocolate, blogs, new and exciting adventures, mockumentary-style television, and anything heavily flavored with bright orange fake cheese powder. We're planning a festive and fun mini-destination wedding in the place where we met: fabulous Pittsburgh, PA! I can't wait to marry the man I love!
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