Pleasantdale Chateau

Ryan and I want to share our deep gratitude and sincere appreciation for the extraordinary experience we had at the Pleasantdale Chateau in West Orange, NJ. Our wedding day, held at this remarkable venue in September 2023, was not just a day we will remember for the rest of our lives; it was a day that exceeded our wildest dreams in every possible way. From the moment we first laid eyes on the Pleasantdale Chateau, we were enchanted by its sheer beauty. The venue's idyllic surroundings, from the manicured gardens to the enchanting architecture, provided an unparalleled backdrop that felt like something out of a fairy tale. It was love at first sight and reminiscent of our engagement trip to Europe. The team at Pleasantdale Chateau demonstrated a level of service that was truly second to none. We want to give a personal shout out to Fred, Tori, Santiago, Bryan, Dawn and our bridal attendants: Michelle, Ang. Every member showcased a high degree of courtesy and attentiveness. It was evident that they were not only exceptionally skilled but also genuinely passionate about their roles, ensuring that every guest had a memorable experience. From our very first inquiry to the final moments of our wedding day, they displayed professionalism, warmth, and a dedication to making our day exceptional. Their attention to detail and their ability to put us at ease throughout the planning process was truly remarkable. This level of personalized service made us feel like cherished guests, and it's a testament to the staff's commitment to going above and beyond. The food served at our wedding was a culinary masterpiece. All of guests COULD NOT stop talking about the food, especially the cocktail hour. Until this day, our guests are still talking about the food and how it does not compare to other weddings they’ve been to. Fred Fogg and his team included our favorite pasta dish - cacio pepe which our guests went crazy over. With my Filipino background, they also included a roasted pig which also was a hit. Every bite was a masterpiece. Period. We should also mention the alcohol selection was top notch. Our signature cocktails were a hit. The bar service was impeccable, and our guests were thoroughly impressed by the variety and quality of libations. The after-wedding breakfast was a delightful continuation of our celebration. It allowed us to spend more time with our closest family and friends in a relaxed and intimate setting. The accommodations at Pleasantdale Chateau were nothing short of luxurious. Our bridal suite was beautifully appointed, providing a spacious and elegant setting for us to relax and prepare for our big day. The room was impeccably clean, and the attention to detail in its design and furnishings was apparent. Our guests were equally impressed with their rooms. The Chateau's rooms were a blend of classic elegance and modern convenience, offering a perfect balance of comfort and style. The staff ensured that our guests were well taken care of and had everything they needed for a comfortable stay. We are incredibly grateful to the entire team at the Pleasantdale Chateau for their exceptional service and unwavering commitment to making our wedding day a dream come true. They have set a standard of excellence that is second to none, and we wholeheartedly recommend this venue to any couple looking to create a wedding day filled with beauty, perfection, and heartfelt moments. Thank you again to Fred, Tori, Santiago, Bryan, Dawn and our bridal attendants: Michelle, Ang and the rest of the team at Pleasantdale Chateau for making our wedding day an absolutely extraordinary and unforgettable experience. We cannot wait to celebrate this February for their Deja Vu event!

We can't say enough about our exceptional experience at this wedding venue. As foodies, my husband and I had that at the top of our priority list…and let me tell you it was nothing short of amazing. Every single item blew us and all of our guests out of the water. Seriously everyone could not stop raving about it, saying it was the best food they’ve ever had. It even exceeded my expectations, as I’ve never been to a wedding or event where I did not have single critique or complaint about a dish. The venue itself was a dream, a stunning and gorgeous backdrop for our special day. Tucked away in the little town of West Orange, it’s very unassuming at first…but as you drive in you feel that you’ve been transported to a gorgeous little getaway. You definitely don’t feel like you’re in NJ anymore! The second priority was the service and we wanted to find a venue that paid attention to detail, deliver exceptional service, and could ensure the day went smoothly. Pleasantdale achieved just that. The service and staff were impeccable, and anything we or our guests needed was taken care of. A special shout out goes to my bridal attendant, Liz, who went above and beyond to keep me calm, happy, and assist me with every single thing I needed (and I mean EVERYTHING) throughout the day. She even went as far as to keep me cool by fanning me with an electric fan in between all my pictures. She helped bustle my dress, put on my veil, helped hold my train the entire day and carried my touch up makeup and cellphone throughout the day. I needed to change into sneakers and she found my socks from my luggage upstairs in a split second. I don’t know how she does it but she is a superwoman!!! The day truly would not have been the same or run as smoothly without her. I really missed having her by my side when the day was over LOL. Lastly, we worked with Fred, who was our dedicated planner/ coordinator. He was so helpful every step of the way…from when we first toured the venue, to curating our food menu and even working with all our vendors to ensure everything was perfect for the big day. He was always quick to answer my messages and always had our best interests in mind…making sure we were happy and well taken care of. As a bride, there's often a lot to be stressed about, and a lot of details and logistics to figure out. But in working with Fred, I instantly felt at ease because I was confident that he would be able to take care of it all. (Which is extremely important because the last thing you want is to be stressing out on your wedding day). The entire Pleasantdale staff and service was truly exceptional, and unlike any experience I've had before. It allowed me to stay present, have fun, and create lasting memories for a lifetime. I’m still reminiscing about our wedding day and how perfect it truly was. Thank you Pleasantdale and everyone involved who helped make our big day so so special!!!

TLDR: We have toured 50+ venues until we saw and fell in love with Pleasantdale. Get married there!! Our wedding at Pleasantdale was perfect from start to finish - beyond our wildest dreams. We were treated like celebrities. Months later we still get texts and calls from guests (as well as people who didn’t attend but heard about it) raving about the best wedding they’ve ever been to. My husband’s grandma can’t stop talking about our wedding and calls it one of the best events in her entire life. The venue is breathtaking inside and out, from the rustic chateau to the all encompassing grounds for any wedding theme imaginable (water/pool, forest, rustic, greenhouse, fairytale, etc) - you won’t run out of photo ops. As someone who toured over 50 wedding venues I truly hope this review will save you some time and pain. We got married at Pleasantdale this spring. And every day since I wish I could go back to that day. If I have to name 5 best decisions of my entire life - choosing Pleasantdale was definitely one of them. I do really wish we saw Pleasantdale first or only saw Pleasantdale (for obvious reasons) because it checked all the boxes (year-round gorgeous grounds, a charming rustic European/American golden age chateau, fairytale wedding ceremony options - both indoors and outdoors, raving reviews/reputation, INCREDIBLE food (cocktails AND entrees), and most importantly, the BEST team/family you’d ever work with). We saw venues across Long Island, NYC, NJ & CT prior to Pleasantdale (it was a long difficult, painful 7-month journey). See photo proof of wedding brochures collected along the way. Had we seen Pleasantdale first it would have saved us the 50 trips touring other wedding venues. If you do the math, it’s a minimum 1-2 hours getting to/from venues, then about 1 hour at each venue. 50x that… I don’t think I could fully articulate the pain. From saying yes to Pleasantdale to our wedding day it was just shy of 4 months. We were so blessed to work with the nicest, most talented, most professional people who love what they do and are passionate about making the day the perfect day for every couple. From the bottom of my heart I want to thank Fred (the venue manager) who was a miracle worker. Without him we wouldn’t have had this wedding, and most definitely not a wedding at all because any sane person would have given up after seeing so many places and feeling let down. Fred is basically someone I could trust my life with. From day one Fred gets it, makes it happen, and has this rare natural ability to make anyone feel at ease (I was a hot mess) because he’s already got the flawless wedding figured out! A breeze to work with, Fred was honest, patient, and took great care of us. Santiago, Santiago, Santiago. How much more can I love you? Santiago was our Maître d. Boy did he know how to throw a party! Santiago knew what we liked before we even did. His passion and dedication to the couples is his secret sauce. Tori (the banquet captain AND best wedding advisor) was kind and supportive from the moment I met her. She had a great eye for things. I trusted Tori’s taste way more than my own. The day of our wedding Tori checked on us throughout the day making sure we were well taken care of and having the best time. Tori also worked her magic, along with Bryant, to make the day run as smoothly as it did. Everyone, RUNNNNNN to Pleasantdale and book your wedding there!!!

If you want the most perfect, amazing, stress free wedding day - have your wedding at the Pleasantdale Chateau. From day 1 of simply touring the chateau we were speechless. All the planning, every single person we came into contact with was better than the next. Our wedding day was the best day of our lives, everything we wanted and more and because of the amazing staff we were able to enjoy every second with no worries. There was not a detail out of place, the staff at Pleasantdale will leave you speechless. Special shout-out to Fred, his daughter, Santiago, Dawn, Beatrice, Angelique (and soooo many more) for going above and beyond from day one all the way til we packed our cars and drove off the next day. The food? Never had better. Guests having been raving about our wedding from the staff to the food to the decor & ambiance since they stepped foot on the grounds. If you are questioning if you should book here, no more questions stop and book (and please invite us so we can experience a wedding here LOL) You will not regret it for a single minute!