A Return to the Gathering Place

A few months back, we had the pleasure of entering the Pennsylvania countryside to be part of a wedding in Pittsburgh at the one and only Gathering Place at Darlington Lake. And we’ve been called back to this venue with no complaints from a single member of our staff.

Gathering Place provides the rustic feel, with a cabin-like venue that boasts insanely large windows and views of Darlington Lake that will leave every bride, groom, DJ (us) in awe.

The scenery is breathtaking, and the winding path up to the venue with the tall, lantern lights dotting the path provide picture-taking opportunities that are rarely seen this close to Pittsburgh. 

It's safe to say that the newlyweds were living up the night at The Gathering Place.

Natural Beauty and a Whimsical Feel 

The Gathering Place provides a whimsical, country setting yet is just 10 minutes from numerous hotels. A little backstory on the venue is that it was built by the Amish with hand peeled logs that bring the outdoors, indoors with a wooded backdrop that can hold 50 to 225 guests.

Romantic and beautiful, you’ll be surrounded by:

    • Indoor and outdoor spaces

    • Covered outdoor spaces

    • Ceremony area

    • Reception area

Wedding parties are often seen in the covered, outdoor area with the lake as the backdrop. Perfect for pictures of the entire crew, the area is where groomsmen are often seen sitting with the boys, drinking and helping the groom-to-be relax before he says “I do” or spends the night on the dance floor with his beautiful bride.

But we noticed that the bride and her bridesmaids are more inclined to take pictures inside with the stunning woodwork and greenery surrounding the doors. Brides also love going out into the field to take pictures.

One of the most jaw-dropping picture opportunities is walking up the steps of the cabin with flowers on each side of the walkway and lovely, wooden rails going up the steps.

Whether we’re DJing the party indoors or the bride and groom choose to get married in front of the massive outdoor gazebo on the lake, there’s always great spaces for music, dancing and one-of-a-kind pictures.

Bringing Down the House for a Truly Special Couple

Every couple leaves a lasting mark on us – seriously. We’re able to get to know couples intimately, and the lovely couple had true love in their eyes. The laughs and love were brought out when they sat down with us to choose their custom wedding music selection that was brimming with personality.

We bring the music, but the couple brings the dancing.

Our team offered the couple dance lessons, which brought flare to the dance floor and had the crowd pumped up. 

The team of videographers were waiting in the back, capturing all of these key moments without interrupting the wedding flow in the process – something that’s very difficult to do. Whether your party is dancing on the floor, glancing out into the lake or lining up for pictures in front of the exquisite steps, Gathering Place will not disappoint.

Final Wedding Thoughts

We just wanted to say that we love what we do. Being a part of the best day of a couple’s life is something you can’t get in any other line of work. From wedding photography and videography to wedding DJing and MCing, we’ve been involved in many capacities in many, many Pittsburgh weddings. With the coming year, we’re looking forward to being involved in many, many more!

If you found some inspiration from this wedding blog, we’d love to hear about it! Contact Loyalty Entertainment for Pittsburgh wedding DJs, wedding photography, photo booths, wedding planning, videography, dance lessons, or just to chat about how your big day can be the best day ever. 

Olive or Twist: Cocktail Style Wedding in the Heart of Pittsburgh

Olive or Twist is the perfect location for newlyweds that want a classy, elegant venue where they can host their wedding ceremony, reception and rehearsal dinner. As a Pittsburgh wedding DJ, we know that every bride and groom we host is going to be blown away with their experience.

You get the cocktail vibe while being in the heart of the city at 140 6th Street in Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

A “Chill” Wedding with a Unique Backdrop

The bride and groom that we had the pleasure of hiring us as a wedding DJ in Pittsburgh loved the cocktail style reception. You're in a high-class venue, but it’s not stuffy, and you’ll never feel out of place.

High-top tables provide a more intimate, relaxed feel, and there’s even a couch seating area where guests can sit. There’s also a cozy lounge area where guests can sit back and relax in – or drink in.

Speaking of drinks, the bar has an extensive menu and is one of the best stocked in the area.

And the backdrop of the event space is impressive, with a brick wall that brings the rustic ambiance to the wedding. One thing the lovely couple said to us is that they had to do very minimal decorating because the venue’s décor is already near perfect.

Don't be afraid that a relaxed venue like this won’t have enough seating options for your guests.

The newlyweds had a guest list of at least 100+ people, and there was more than enough seats and tables left for an even bigger party.

Acoustics That Fill the Rafters

Our Pittsburgh wedding DJs love the vibe and ambiance, but we’re all about the music. We work closely with the couples so that they have a playlist that can bring young and older guests to the dance floor.

And the venue is more than accommodating.

We're allowed to amp up the music indoors to bring the bass to the dance floor while allowing for people sitting at the bar to have a conversation or order a drink without an issue. Due to city restrictions, the music must come to an end at 1:30 am, which is far later than this couple booked the venue for anyway.

The dance area is always pumping, and right in the middle is a well-lit backdrop with beautiful lighting and flowers surrounding it that make the couple the focus of every dance.

What's really nice about the bar is that it allows the bride and groom to take a moment to themselves and cling glasses together for a toast. The couple could mingle with their guests in an environment that is relaxed and hopping rather than be segregated on their own like in many venues.

Daytime weddings are really nice, too. 

Right next to the stage, there are bright, well-lit windows along with lighting that creeps up the brick wall to provide a romantic atmosphere for all couples.

Olive or Twist is one of our favorite venues to be hired for as a Pittsburgh DJ. You'll enjoy beautiful ambient lighting, a large stage, comfortable seating and a custom playlist that everyone can dance along to.

Final Wedding Thoughts

We just wanted to say that we love what we do. Being a part of the best day of a couple’s life is something you can’t get in any other line of work. From wedding photography and videography to wedding DJing and MCing, we’ve been involved in many capacities in many, many Pittsburgh weddings. With the coming year, we’re looking forward to being involved in many, many more!

If you found some inspiration from this wedding blog, we’d love to hear about it! Contact Loyalty Entertainment for Pittsburgh wedding DJs, wedding photography, photo booths, wedding planning, videography, dance lessons, or just to chat about how your big day can be the best day ever. 

Wedding Spotlight: Westin Hotel Convention Center in Pittsburgh

Want to experience an oasis in downtown Pittsburgh for your wedding? The Westin Hotel Convention Center in Pittsburgh is located in a 26-story hotel on 1000 Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh, PA. The venue’s space is massive, with great acoustics in the staggering 38,000 square-feet event space.

With three ballrooms for couples to choose from when getting married in Pittsburgh, there’s literally something for everyone.

3 Grand Ballrooms with Amazing Acoustics

As a Pittsburgh wedding DJ, we pay a lot of attention to the way each wedding venue we’re hired to work at performs in terms of sound quality. We had the pleasure of working with one couple that rented out the Westmoreland for their intimate wedding.

The floor-to-ceiling windows allowed the moon to peer through the room and let couples dance under the stars.

It's a romantic setting, and each of the three ballrooms have high ceilings that are great for sound quality. We've had the pleasure of working in all of the ballrooms in the recent past, including:

• Allegheny Grand Ballroom. A massive ballroom boasting elegance and a majestic feel. The ballroom can host up to 650 guests and makes this Pittsburgh venue jaw-dropping. Couples dance the night away under a massive chandelier, with 18-feet ceilings that make for picture-perfect photos and rising sound that fills the space.

• Westmoreland. A smaller, more intimate space with capacity for up to 150 guests. The space has floor-to-ceiling windows perfect for looking up at the stars or out on to the city.

• Pennsylvania Rooms. The same as the Westmoreland.

Unique Space for Unique Couples

Couples deserve a unique space for their event, and the Westin offers spaces and accommodations that make our DJs wish that they were part of the wedding party. Since the reception is held in a hotel, guests can book up room blocks for families, and the venue even makes arrangements for people coming in from out of town.

We don’t know much about the event managers – we're just here for the music – but we’ve seen them work closely with the bride and groom to make their wedding truly come to life.

Escalators, tall windows and funny moments taking pictures with the bride in one elevator and a groom in another looking surprised to see each other are a fun option for lasting memories. And walls filled with fairy lighting provide some of the most romantic, magical pictures that we’ve seen taken at a wedding.

The Heart of Pittsburgh

The Westin Hotel Convention Center offers a very upscale feel in the heart of Pittsburgh. The venue is massive, with beautiful views of the city and ample greenery inside to bring the outdoors indoors.

The couple of the night is pampered – as they should be – with a team willing to bring their dream wedding to life. With beautiful lighting, floor-to-ceiling windows, expansive ballrooms and top-notch accommodations, it’s easy to see why couples choose to have their wedding here.

For us, it’s a venue that we love bringing the party to with great music, stunning photo opportunities and memories that will last a lifetime.

Final Wedding Thoughts

We just wanted to say that we love what we do. Being a part of the best day of a couple’s life is something you can’t get in any other line of work. From wedding photography and videography to wedding DJing and MCing, we’ve been involved in many capacities in many, many Pittsburgh weddings. With the coming year, we’re looking forward to being involved in many, many more!

If you found some inspiration from this wedding blog, we’d love to hear about it! Contact Loyalty Entertainment for Pittsburgh wedding DJs, wedding photography, photo booths, wedding planning, videography, dance lessons, or just to chat about how your big day can be the best day ever. 

Untamed, Unforgettable Weddings at the Pittsburgh Zoo

The Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience for couples holding weddings in Pittsburgh. Elegant, beautiful and filled with animals (and we’re not talking about your guests), the zoo and PPG Aquarium have space for up to 300 guests, depending on the location chosen.

As a Pittsburgh wedding DJ, we love pulling into 7370 Baker Street in Pittsburgh, PA because we know that everyone, us included, is going to have an amazing time.

Three Vibrant Spaces for Couples and Their Guests

Couples and their guests can enjoy three main spaces where the party can last for four hours. 

PPG Aquarium

Love aquatic life? None of the Pittsburgh wedding venues that we’ve been a part of offer an experience quite like this. Couples and guests party to the backdrop of cascading waterfalls and a lush rainforest.

Ceremonies can be held among the wild backdrop, and there’s room for 200 seated guests.

A shuttle bus is provided to bring guests to the venue to eliminate long walks, especially for older couples or their parents.

At the Water’s Edge

A personal favorite of ours is Water’s Edge, which has space for 140 seated guests and a lot of sea life. An awesome opportunity to take pictures, Water’s Edge has an underwater experience where couples are often seen posing surrounded by a tunnel of sea life.

The coastal village has sea otters, sea lions, elephant seals and polar bears, making for a wild night of adventure.

Or Perhaps the Garden Tent?

Don’t want to disturb the aquatic life? Bring the party to the Garden Tent, which is a massive outdoor venue that oozes elegance at every turn. Guests are surrounded by botanical gardens and lavish foliage as up to 300 guests gather around the space.

Beautiful string lights hang down from the tent’s canopy and allow for the perfect ambiance when taking wedding pictures.

Bringing Down the House with a Faint Sound of Waterfalls in the Background

Guests enjoy bar service, laughs and stunning scenery, but as a wedding DJ in Pittsburgh, it’s up to us to bring the party. We love the openness of each space, and it’s a little different from most venues in the Pittsburgh area.

Why?

Waterfalls. The waterfalls are an amazing opportunity to take pictures and to soak in the nature that surrounds you. But as a DJ, we have to compete with the noise – it's quite loud. For some couples, they want us to crank up the music to drown out the waterfall.

Others, they love the waterfalls and want to have the noise level just right so that you can hear the faint sound of the water crashing down the rocks.

For us, we’re here to please and make the couple’s special day unforgettable.

Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium are truly a one-of-a-kind experience where guests have the opportunity to explore the zoo and aquarium in a way that general admission doesn’t offer. Guests can explore the tropical rainforest or rush up to the upper floor to take pictures as we fill the venue with the couple’s playlist.

Final Wedding Thoughts

We just wanted to say that we love what we do. Being a part of the best day of a couple’s life is something you can’t get in any other line of work. From wedding photography and videography to wedding DJing and MCing, we’ve been involved in many capacities in many, many Pittsburgh weddings. With the coming year, we’re looking forward to being involved in many, many more!

If you found some inspiration from this wedding blog, we’d love to hear about it! Contact Loyalty Entertainment for Pittsburgh wedding DJs, wedding photography, photo booths, wedding planning, videography, dance lessons, or just to chat about how your big day can be the best day ever.