Hidden Treasures: Oakland
When most brides think of a wedding in Oakland, the usual spots to look at are Heinz Chapel, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Phipps Conservatory. All three are incredibly popular and book up quickly.
However, there are two hidden gems in Oakland that I believe are worthy of a visit.
The first is First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh on Bellefield Avenue, just around the corner from the CMU columns. I really like this church! Among it’s many charms:
- Four, count them, four balconies. Front, both sides, and back
- The nicest wedding coordinators you will ever meet
- A private parking lot for the church
- Convenient parking garage for any overflow
- Magestic nooks, crannies, and Gothic arches for photos
- Off the beaten path by only one block
- The ability to bring in a guest minister
The second of my hidden treasures is the Twentieth Century Club. Located just down the street from First Baptist Church, TCC is on Bigelow Blvd. The outside doesn’t give you one tenth of a glimpse of the grandeur of the inside of the facilities. Founded as an all womans’ club, the TCC does not advertise in the traditional wedding magazines for our area. TCC relies on word of mouth from past brides, photographers, DJs and other guests who visit the site.
I won’t be able to sum up all of the charming features here but these are some of my favorite characteristics of TCC:
- Wonderful catering!
- The ballroom layout and it’s unique Art Deco feel. Very classy!
- The diningroom is a pleasure to photograph guests in
- The large floor to ceiling window on the second story is great for photos (especially useful if the weather is not cooperating)
- Charming salon-style rooms (also great for photography)
- Exceptional value (one of my brides told me that the TCC was very affordably priced for a reception)
- Super nice employees who are very attentive to the bride, groom, attendants of the wedding and even vendors!
So if you’re considering Oakland for a wedding and reception, I highly recommend First Baptist and the Twentieth Century Club.