Lodging

Blackberry Meadows Farm is an easy 30-minute drive from the East End of Pittsburgh. We’ve included accommodation ideas for the East End, if you want to be closer to us and to all of the activities & restaurants we’ve recommended. We’ve also included accommodation ideas that are closer to Blackberry Meadows Farm, if you’d rather be closer to the wedding venue. When you book a room, make sure to ask for the Albright/Gola wedding rates.

East End Hotels(approx. 23 miles/30 minutes from farm)

Holiday Inn Oakland
100 Lytton Ave
group code: AGW
(book before August 27th)

Marriott Courtyard Shadyside
5308 Liberty Avenue
(book before August 20th)
To reserve a room, call 1-800-321-2211 and ask for the Albright-Gola wedding group. You cannot book on-line and receive the wedding rate.

Northern Hotel(approx. 8 miles/15 minutes from farm)

Marriott Spring Hill Suites Pittsburgh Mills
3015 Pittsburgh Mills Blvd
group codes:
  GAWGAWA for a room with a king bed and sofa bed
  GAWGAWB for a room with 2 queen beds and a sofa bed
(book before August 17th)

Wedding

The ceremony and reception will take place at:

Blackberry Meadows Farm
7115 Ridge Road
Natrona Heights, PA 15065

The ceremony will be at 5 pm with reception & dinner immediately afterward.

Wear something comfortable. If it’s a sunny day we’ll be walking on the farm a bit, and if it’s a rainy day you won’t want to be in heels anyway!

Many of you have kids, and we would love for you to bring them with you to the wedding; we’ll have food, fun, and enough babysitters on hand for all the small types. If you’re coming from out of town with kids but don’t necessarily want to bring said kids to the wedding, we’d be glad to help you find a babysitter.

Pittsburgh’s own Cajun band, Grand Bon Rien, will be playing during the reception. If you’d like to brush up on your Cajun 2-step, go here.

If you live in Pittsburgh, you can go to one of the monthly Cajun Dances at the Bulgarian-Macedonian National Educational and Cultural Center in Homestead. (Because a Bulgarian-Macedonian Center is the logical choice for Cajun dancing.)

Transportation

If you’re flying into the Pittsburgh airport and don’t want to rent a car, there are several other ways to get into town:

28X Airport Flyer, $2.60, runs every 20 minutes

Shuttles to the Marriott Shadyside and Holiday Inn Oakland can be arranged through the hotels. $24-27

Taxi: approx. $50 one way to Shadyside/Oakland
      approx. $94 to Spring Hill Suites @ Pgh Mills

Pittsburgh

September is a beautiful time of year in Pittsburgh. We’ve put together links to some things you might want to check out while you’re in town.

Museums & Attractions

The Carnegie Museums
The Mattress Factory
Kennywood Park
National Aviary
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Phipps Conservatory
Games N At
Nationality Rooms

Great Neighborhoods

Mt. Washington (ride the incline!)
Strip District
Lawrenceville
Shadyside
Squirrel Hill

Eat & Drink

Bloomfield Bridge Tavern
Brillobox
Church Brew Works
Quiet Storm
Coca Café(awesome brunch!)
Piccolo Forno
Mineo’s Pizza(the best)
Tin Front Café
Legume
Vincent’s Pizza Park(no, this is the best pizza!)