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News, Announcements, Inside Stories, & Tips from Pleasantdale Chateau
The New York Times Feature of Pleasantdale Chateau Couple
It’s always a pleasure to open the pages of a major publication too see the smiling faces of another Pleasantdale Château couple. With every love story so meaningful and unique, it’s a joy to know that so many people can share a small part in the experience, as we’ve been privileged to do.
Article by Jenny Block/𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘠𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴.
Images by Pleasantdale Château Recommended Photographer Gabelli Studios.
The Conceptualization & Creation of Pleasantdale Chateau’s Arboretum Conservatory with Careful Attention to the Historical Legacy of our Estate
A five-year impassioned journey of meticulous planning, painstaking historical review, sourcing of the finest materials, and assembling the best skilled craftsmen from across their professions has culminated in the opening of our new Arboretum Conservatory.
Now available as host for your wedding vows and so very much more, we proudly share this next evolution in the immersive luxury amenities of our estate.
Steeped in history and true to the authentic character of what defines us, it cohesively connects our long and storied past to an even brighter future of possibilities to experience at Pleasantdale Château.
The painstaking transformation and endless planning of every detail has employed all the ideals of our estate without compromise. Authentic period design, responsible repurposing of historical materials, the sourcing of the finest natural products from across the globe, and employing the skills of master craftsmen are leading us to a culmination point of a magnificent space of celebration that is as unique and awe-inspiring as our château itself.
By honoring the original design and history of the over-a-century-old structure, in combination with a creative mindset, we actively embraced many elements that could reveal and build upon the distinctive character innate to the space.
From the serendipitous placement of the balcony, to the location of the naturally-cast light, and many more fortuitous surprises, a true vision of the Conservatory took hold in our imagination and planning, solidifying the fact that it would become just as inspired and unique as our château itself…and make us almost bold enough to say that it was truly “meant to be”.
This masterfully engineered conservatory with great pains for adaptive reuse, now flows seamlessly into the fabric of our château and offers a grand reveal upon being ushered through into an awe-inspiring place of grand-scale, with views soaring ever upwards within this gloriously light-filled space.
This grand endeavor was truly a labor of love, all to continue to deliver upon our relentless goal of providing our guests with only the best that we have to offer you. Thank you to all those of you who have encouraged us along on this monumental adventure.
(Filmed by Ethereal Media.)
Pleasantdale Château Wedding of NFL QB Kenny Pickett and Amy Paternoster Featured on the Cover of New Jersey Bride Magazine
To kick-off 2024 in style, New Jersey Bride magazine chose to feature on it’s Spring/Summer cover the Pleasantdale Chateau wedding of NFL Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Kenny Pickett and Amy Paternoster. With strong ties to New Jersey, this lovely couple aimed to find the ideal setting to host an extravagant wedding that would also ensure a high-level of privacy and care to their many high-profile guests and family.
To read the full article about Kenny Pickett and Amy Paternoster’s wedding at Pleasantdale Chateau, you can read the NEW JERSEY BRIDE magazine article here.
And for more photos of Amy and Kenny’s wedding, be sure to follow us on Instagram @pleasantdalechateau!
(Photos by Gabelli Studio.)
Pleasantdale Château Has Been Named One of the Most Luxurious Wedding Venues in the World
Pleasantdale Chateau has been named as one of the most outrageously lavish wedding venues located throughout the world — and chosen to be highlighted amongst an exclusive list of 12 exceedingly unique venues.
As the acclaimed international wedding experts at Wedding Spot describes, “Pleasantdale Chateau is considered one of the most sought-after celebrity wedding venues in the country, as the venue specializes in high-profile wedding coordination. This 40-acre turn-of-the-century estate provides a hidden and magical landscape capable of hosting the fairytale wedding of your dreams.”
From a castle on the Italian coast to a palace in India, Pleasantdale Chateau is included amongst this international shortlist of the most luxurious wedding venues that offer “awe-inspiring architecture, top-tier service, divine design, and so much more.”
“Do you dream of getting married at an enchanting castle or in the middle of lush, royal gardens? Are you a fan of all things opulent and extravagant? Do you simply just love browsing breathtaking works of art? If any of those apply, this list of luxurious wedding venues is for you,” explains Wedding Spot.
They continue, “Upon arrival, guests enter through ivy-covered gates plucked straight from a storybook before making their way into the breathtaking entry hall, the epitome of luxury. Inside the hall, a crystal chandelier, limestone columns, and 17th-century Spanish floor tiles welcome friends and family.”
To read the complete article, click here.
The Knot Recognizes Pleasantdale Château With Its 2024 “Best of Weddings” Award
Wedding of NFL Steelers Quarterback Kenny Pickett and Amy Paternoster at Pleasantdale Château
Surrounded by fellow Pittsburgh Steelers, notable guests, and close friends, NFL Steelers Quarterback Kenny Pickett married the lovely former Princeton University Soccer standout, Amy Paternoster, in a high-profile wedding at Pleasantdale Chateau.
When visiting our estate, Amy and Kenny said that they immediately fell in love with the storybook setting of Pleasantdale Chateau. As reported by PEOPLE magazine, “It was a fairytale venue where your jaw drops when you walk in,” says Paternoster. “So we knew we had to have it.”
The privacy and seclusion of our 40-acre estate made for an ideal location to host their wedding, with discretion ensured for themselves and their high-profile guests, with every detail attended to with the utmost care, as with all of our couples.
Taking inspiration from the long and storied history of our estate and the authentic characteristics of our French-Norman chateau, the couple played into the experience with themes that accentuated a bright, summery, French aesthetic.
With the beautiful on-site ceremony officiated by Pittsburgh Steelers chaplain Kent Chevalier, fellow teammates and coaches in attendance, and a custom-carved Steelers ice-sculpture, Kenny Pickett also shared the love for his team as well.
Looking stunning in Galia Lahav designer gown, Amy truly shined on her big day, with Kenny looking just as charming in a timelessly-classic custom black tuxedo.
From mixologists, to a custom tequila bar built of ice, lobster and seafood bars, and much much more, the cocktail hour showed off the Chateau’s true lavish gourmet-inspired style, that continued on to an extravagant dinner meticulously prepared by our executive chef and his talented culinary staff.
Amy and Kenny’s romantic first dance across our grand ballroom’s cloud-filled dance floor, furthered the fairytale feeling of the immersive Chateau experience. As the night progressed, the extensive live band and light show continued to build upon the exciting energy of the evening, with joyous celebration by all.
To read more about Kenny Pickett and Amy Paternoster’s wedding at Pleasantdale Chateau, you can read the PEOPLE magazine article here.
And for more photos of Amy and Kenny’s wedding, be sure to follow us on Instagram @pleasantdalechateau!
(Photos by Gabelli Studio.)
Pleasantdale Château Rated #1 of All Wedding Venues in New Jersey
Pleasantdale Château has been rated the number one wedding venue in New Jersey.
Recognitions like this are further encouragement for us to continue our dedication to providing excellence in culinary arts, service, and the guest experience that we individualize to each and every one of our weddings.
To be ranked #1 out of the Top 50 Wedding Venues in NJ excites and encourages our entire Pleasantdale Château team to strive even harder in our constant pursuit of perfection.
For the full article, be sure to visit nj.com.
The Knot’s “Best of Weddings” Recognition for 2023 Awarded to Pleasantdale Château
Our thanks to The Knot–and especially our amazing couples who’ve celebrated their wedding day with us–for being recognized with The Knot’s 2023 “Best of Weddings” award. Our guests’ reviews and input on their experiences at Pleasantdale Chateau were a key factor in earning this award.
According to The Knot, only the top tier (5%) of wedding professionals in the country are considered to receive this recognition.
We’ll make sure to place this honor alongside our existing “Hall of Fame” award already bestowed to us by The Knot!
(Photo by Gabelli Studio.)
Mahattan Bride Magazine Awards Pleasantdale Château With Its “Best of 2023” Honor
We’re pleased to announce that Pleasantdale Chateau has been recognized with Manhattan Bride magazine’s “Best of 2023” award for the wonderful wedding experiences that we’ve created on our estate.
To borrow this publication’s words, it is in acknowledgment of our “superior standards of service and quality”. This award is based on their stringent criteria of being considered outstanding in our knowledge of our field and in our professionalism; reputable in that Manhattan Bride magazine has received only positive reviews and comments from Pleasantdale Chateau’s clients; and reliable in that we follow up with care and insight.”
Our thanks to Manhattan Bride magazine for honoring our genuine commitment to our clients and to creating the best weddings in the business. We have many new and exciting things planned for the future and are eager to continue to elevate the experiences that we provide to our couples!
(Photo by Gabelli Studio.)
Bravo TV Network Personalties Celebrate a Winter Wedding at Pleasantdale Château
To confirm what many of you have noted seeing across the entertainment news outlets, we recently had the pleasure of hosting the pre-Valentine’s Day wedding celebration of Victoria Wakile and Teddy Kosmidis, most known from Bravo TV.
We’re so fortunate during this pandemic to be well situated to safely celebrate love and host events for our cherished couples.
As we continue to innovate our services to suit the current protocols, we also see the promise of easing restrictions on the horizon.
Whether high-profile or home-spun, we so very much value the wonderful families–each unique and special in their own right–that we have the genuine pleasure to create unforgettable moments of joy for in every situation that life brings us all.
Our congratulations again to Victoria and Teddy as well as all of our treasured couples who have recently joined our extended Pleasantdale family.
Seeing our estate and our lovely bride and groom spreading across the media landscape is a great reassurance for us that we’re getting back to doing the things that we love to do!
Regardless of how much our couples have appeared in front of the camera, we take great pleasure in playing our role in making each and every bride and groom feel like a star on their special day. And we were thrilled to do so for such a charming pair as Victoria and Teddy.
As a host to both movie productions and weddings alike, our château has appeared on the big screen and the small screen…but what we appreciate most is appearing on your screen!
(Photos by Courtney Simpson Photography. – @courtneysimpsonphotography)
(AS FEATURED ON BRAVOTV.COM AND E! ENTERTAINMENT NEWS.)
The Wonder of Winter at Pleasantdale Château
The coming of winter adds yet another dimension to the quiet beauty and charm of our expansive estate, further emphasizing the one-of-its-kind qualities that Pleasantdale Château has to offer our elite clientele. With wandering paths and meandering brooks traversing the blanket of white from the freshly fallen snow, our estate does truly feel set apart in serenity from the surrounding world–a winter wonderland all your own. As some of our guests have expressed, “In the white of winter it feels as though we are almost a castle on the clouds”.
(Filmed & Edited by Ethereal Media.)
The Knot Recognizes Pleasantdale Château With Its 2022 “Best of Weddings” Award
Pleasantdale Chateau Wins WeddingWire’s “Couples’ Choice” Award for 2022
Thank you to all of our amazing newlyweds whose rave reviews have again earned us the “Couples’ Choice Awards” recognition for “excellence in quality, service, responsiveness, and professionalism”! This year has already brought us an abundance of wonderful weddings, epic experiences, and fantastic new members of our extended Pleasantdale family…and we’re just getting started! Berit Bizjak Photography.)
(Image byPleasantdale Chateau Wins Manhattan Bride Magazine’s “BEST OF 2022” Award
Our thanks to Manhattan Bride magazine for once again recognizing Pleasantdale Château with its “Best of 2022” award, as we continue to strive to set the standard of experience for weddings celebrations in our industry. We genuinely appreciate this acknowledgement.Avonne Photography.)
As Manhattan Bride magazine explains its award considerations, based on thousands of interactions throughout the bridal industry, the recognition is in acknowledgment of our “superior standards of service and quality”. This “Best of 2022” award is based on their stringent criteria of being considered outstanding in our knowledge of our field and in our professionalism; reputable in that Manhattan Bride magazine has received only positive reviews and comments from Pleasantdale Chateau’s clients; and reliable in that we follow up with care and insight. We are proud to be honored for our genuine commitment to our clients and all of our incredible couples with whom we’ve helped to create extraordinary celebrations! (Photo byUnrivaled in Autumn – The Magic of Fall Across Our Estate
The turn to autumn across our estate is a time of magic, when the greens of our woodlands transform to golds, fiery crimsons, and striking amber hues, tinting the tree-lines and the meadows at your feet with rich color and crispness. Upon entering through our gatehouse, our gently winding road delivers an embrace of autumn color carrying you all-the-way to the doorstep of our Chateau, where we welcome you into the warmth of our attentive hospitality. Ensconced in the secluded natural charm of our grounds and the unrivaled expanse of our authentic historic estate, your exclusive experience with us is quite unique–one that sets us apart from the world beyond our gates.
(Filmed & Edited by Ethereal Media.)
VANITY FAIR COVER FEATURES ACTRESS LUPITA NYONG’O AT PLEASANTDALE CHATEAU
Pleasantdale Chateau estate is pleased to have worked with the immensely talented actress Lupita Nyong’o and the creative geniuses at Vanity Fair magazine for their October cover shoot.
The Chateau was chosen for yet another couture high-fashion on-location piece for its one-of-a–kind natural grounds and authentic historic architecture, ranking among one of the most sought-after retreats by the country’s elite photographers and filmmakers.
With makeup and styling by some of the biggest names in the business and donning fashion brands from Gucci, Tiffany & Co., and Givenchy, to Fendi, Prada, and more, the striking Ms. Nyong’o made for an exquisite choice for the featured piece, all while artfully utilizing the iconic beauty of our spectacularly secluded estate.
Pick up the October issue featuring Ms. Nyong’o and the Pleasantdale Chateau estate on the cover at newstands, or link to Vanity Fair’s article here: https://www.vanityfair.com/…/2…/09/lupita-nyongo-cover-story.
(AS FEATURED IN VANITY FAIR/COVER. PHOTOGRAPHED AT PLEASANTDALE CHATEAU BY JACKIE NICKERSON. STYLED BY SAMIRA NASR.)
The Natural Beauty of Summer on Our Estate
Before the sun sets on this spectacular season, enjoy a few brief moments savoring a quintessential warm summer’s evening at Pleasantdale Chateau, unique among the great estates of the eastern coast in its natural beauty and authentic architectural charm. From native wildflowers and formal plantings, this peak bloom period across our over 40 pristine acres of immaculately groomed grounds create a true sense of placid wonderment. With wide ranging views from above, you can almost picture yourself walking our meadows hand-in-hand with the one you love or relaxing with a glass of champagne alongside your bridesmaids upon the new custom-crafted teak balcony overlook adjoining your private bridal salon. With the finest of details, we’ve curated your exclusive suite experience to also welcome in the outdoors and deliver to you all the beauty of nature that our estate has to offer…An unrivaled experience designed for one of most fabulous moments of your life.
(Filmed & Edited by Ethereal Media.)
Il Borro Wine Dinner with Salvatore Ferragamo
What an exquisite evening it was at our Pleasantdale Chateau estate celebrating the wonderful wines of the treasure of Tuscany, the Il Borro estate and vineyards. Our honored guest, Salvatore Ferragamo, Chairman of the legendary Salvatore Ferragamo fashion brand and CEO of Il Borro Wines, was fantastically charming and insightfully engaging with fascinating anecdotes of the creation of his wines, spending so much of his time interacting with our guests.
By all accounts, our culinary team led by Pleasantdale’s Executive Chef Robert Albers, executed another fabulous pairing of dishes with the evening’s astute wine selections.
Our Director of Sales, Fred Fogg’s cohesive collaboration with Wine Legend’s President Mahesh Lekkala made for yet another elite experience for our guests, among whom were notable television personalities, high level chefs, wine industry experts, and so many beloved friends and family…including lovely past and future Pleasantdale brides and grooms.
So much of the joy that we get from organizing experiences like this is in connecting interesting people of talent and accomplishment with each other over the delights of fine food and wine–A priceless experience for those who enjoy events of distinction. Our thanks again to our valued guests, organizers, and participants who were a part of this wonderful evening; we look forward to future opportunities to welcome you back to our estate.
If you’d like an opportunity to join us for future events, please make sure that you’re a member of our mailing list.
Visit our Facebook Page for more photos of our Il Borro Wine Dinner with Salvatore Ferragamo.
Spring Awakens Across Our Estate
As the quiet wonders of early spring awaken on our estate, the verdant grounds, kept true to their natural beauty, are gently born anew with a carpet of greens and yellows and pops of pastels nestled within to welcome our guests with an unspoken promise of the start of new joys to come, like the wild hope of spring romance blossoming into a forever love.
Our Pleasantdale Chateau estate, a wedding day retreat experience for all seasons.
Pleasantdale Chateau Hosts the “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro’s daughter Sofia’s Sweet 16
As reported by PEOPLE magazine, our over-the-top birthday celebration takes the cake!
As a go-to venue for celebrity and elite celebrations, we “party like a boss”!
As published by PEOPLE magazine: “Cake Boss star Buddy Valastro‘s daughter Sofia turned 16 on Tuesday and to celebrate, her parents hosted an extravagant sweet sixteen party on April 12 that was straight out of a fairytale.
“I’ll never forget the moment you were born and I looked at you and I just cried,” Valastro said in his speech during the event, which was captured in the video by Ethereal Media. “Don’t ever change. I wish you all the happiness, luck and everything the world has to offer. Mommy and Daddy will always be here for you. We’re so proud of you in this moment. I love you my little bear.”
The party at Pleasantdale Chateau in West Orange, N.J. was attended by 400 guests including the “entire Cake Boss famiglia” and Real Housewives of New Jersey star Joe Gorga and his children, Buddy tells PEOPLE exclusively…”
FOR THE FULL DISH ON CAKE BOSS BUDDY VALASTRO’S SWEETEST FAMILY MOMENTS, READ THE FULL PEOPLE ARTICLE HERE >>
Video by Ethereal Media.
Photography by Michael Jurick.
Pleasantdale Chateau Rated #1 of All Wedding Venues in New Jersey
As reported by NJ.com, Pleasantdale Château has been rated #1 amongst all of the top ranked wedding venues throughout New Jersey!
According to NJ.com:
“As the warm weather approaches, so do the New Jersey weddings. Chances are you have at least one “Save The Date” magnet on your refrigerator right now.
And maybe you’ll be lucky enough to have been invited to a reception at one of these magnificent establishments…”
RATED #1:
Pleasantdale Chateau Recognized by Time/Money Magazine as One of the Top 9 Wedding Venues in the Nation
While we’re certainly used to regularly receiving awards and accolades for the grandeur of our unique estate and the high-level of events that we host, along with press coverage for the elite echelon of clientele we serve, it is still extra-special when an acknowledgment comes from leading international media outlets like TIME and Money magazines. We are honored to be recognized by these media industry stalwarts as one of the “Top 9 Wedding Venues” across the entire United States.
Serving Excellence to the Culinary Elite
As one of the top nine wedding venues in the country, we pride ourselves on being able to fully customize every detail of a wedding for a bride and groom. With our recognition as an industry leader as the top venue for food, culinary execution, and menu design, there are clients who seek us out from all over the world. Executive Chef, Christopher Engel, of the legendary Charlie Palmer’s famed flagship restaurant Aureole and his wife, Abby sought out Pleasantdale Chateau for their own wedding. They were able to find the European authenticity of a real chateau along with the culinary expertise of our team they were looking for. Christopher and his beautiful wife Abby had many international guests including some acclaimed chefs from across the globe. Wedding guests, as well as chefs from Italy and Germany, dined on an exquisite five-course tasting menu with individually paired wines. Our own Chef, Robert Albers and his culinary team executed the meal flawlessly, while our Pastry Chef, Carla Reinoso, tantalized guests with her artistic desserts. We are humbled by the guests who we served and the culinary talent we had dine with us for this event. Please enjoy this brief behind the scenes glimpse of our Pleasantdale Chateau team creating a fine dining experience…
(Filmed & edited by Ethereal Media.)
Pleasantdale Chateau Wins The Knot‘s “Best of Weddings” Award for 2019
This year just keeps getting better! Another great acknowledgement of the hard work we’ve put into creating spectacular wedding celebrations. In addition to being in The Knot’s “Hall of Fame”, we’ve been recognized again this year with their “Best of Weddings” award. Only the top 4% of wedding professionals across the nation are even considered to receive this recognition. Our thanks to The Knot and to our wonderful Pleasantdale couples whose amazing reviews were a big part of earning this award.
Pleasantdale Chateau Wins Manhattan Bride magazine’s “Best of 2019” Award
We’re thrilled to already be off to a great start to the New Year, with another recognition by Manhattan Bride magazine for our “superior standards of service and quality”. This “Best of 2019” award is based on their following criteria:
Outstanding … in our knowledge of our field and in our professionalism.
Reputable … in that Manhattan Bride magazine has received only positive reviews and comments from Pleasantdale Chateau’s clients.
Reliable … in addition to being on time, they note note that we follow up with care and insight.
According to Manhattan Bride, “We asked, are they … Trustworthy and knowledgeable? Open to discussion about creative ideas? Willing to work through difficulties and solve problems? Flexible enough to accommodate changes in plans, schedules, and other factors? Available for questions? Professional in their approach? In our dealings with them: Yes.”
Our thanks to Manhattan Bride magazine for recognizing our commitment to excellence!
Pleasantdale Chateau Wins “Best Banquet Facility” Award
Suburban Essex magazine has honored Pleasantdale Chateau for another consecutive year with its top prize of the Gold Award as the overall Best Banquet Facility throughout the region, as an exclusive, sought-after venue for weddings private social events and corporate meetings in the tri-state area. We greatly appreciate all of the individuals who made an effort to vote for us over so many other quality venues. Thank you!
Pleasantdale Chateau Wins Morris|Essex Health & Life Magazine’s Reader Choice Award for Best Wedding Reception Venue
Thanks to all the votes from readers of Morris|Essex Health & Life magazine, Pleasantdale Chateau was once again awarded with the number one spot in the category of “Best Wedding Reception Venue” for 2018. We appreciate all the support and great feedback from all those in-the-know. Thank you!
Pleasantdale Chateau Won’t Let Winter Sour Its Recipe for Local Ingredients
Picking Bright Flavors of Summer Sunshine From Pleasantdale Chateau’s Orangerie for an Orchard-to-Table Taste
There may be freezing temperatures in the forecast and snow piling up everywhere, but for the Knowles group of restaurants, it’s perfect New Jersey weather for picking oranges.
On a bitter cold day in West Orange, Wade Knowles, co-owner of Knowles Hospitality, stood alongside the operation’s Farm and Grounds Manager, looking up at the Calamondin orange trees growing inside Pleasantdale Chateau’s climate- controlled “Orangerie.” This stunning indoor greenhouse conservatory showcases a wide variety of tropical plants, exotic flowers, and–as its name suggests–is also the host to an intriguing collection of fruit-bearing orange trees. Studying the masses of brightly colored ripened fruit replete within the canopy of green leaves and twisted branches overhead, they decided it was time–time to harvest the oranges.
A ladder, some pruning shears, and a few short hours later, the crop of Calamondins had been picked, cleaned, and hand-delivered to another of the Knowles family’s properties less than a mile down the road. Once there, the diminutive fruits were quickly put to use by the venue’s executive chef. Prepped and placed in a heated sugar-water mixture, the chef began the process of candying the oranges. The next night the oranges would find a place on the plate of a new special on the menu. It’s just one example of the venue’s attempts to bring hyper-local fruits, vegetables and herbs to the table any time of year.
For Wade Knowles, maintaining the orange trees and the entire Orangerie is a labor of love. “The history of Pleasantdale Chateau and all of its one-of-a-kind elements makes it a true New Jersey gem worth preserving for guests hosting special events with us. We’ve put a great deal of work into maintaining and creating compelling spaces like the Orangerie that are difficult to find elsewhere,” said Knowles. “But what makes it all-the-more rewarding is to have an Orangerie that truly yields and can supply our restaurants with its bounty even in the middle of winter.”
The six generation family business , continues to honor its long-held philosophy of integrating fresh, local produce into the dishes that their restaurants serve. Long before the term “farm-to-table” was en vogue, their dining establishments were growing fruits and vegetables on their properties and working hand-in-hand with local farmers. When the Knowles family acquired Pleasantdale Chateau in 1994, it also revitalized the farm on the 40-acre estate to help service the needs of its restaurants. Originally Dutch farmland as early as 1835, the Knowles now operate their own farm as a means of supplying a broad range of ingredients to their restaurant kitchens.
The farm manager tasked with ensuring the health of the Orangerie as well as the maintenance of the farm and each of the properties’ gardens and grounds said, “It’s rewarding to see your hard work quite literally bear fruit. To know that we can create an environment that is visually appealing for our brides and other guests of the Chateau while also providing a green, local source of ingredients to our restaurants is encouraging.” In the latest season operating the farm, they have cultivated a range of crops from over forty varieties of heirloom tomatoes, to herbs, squash, cucumbers and much more. In addition to the farm’s orchard of plum, apple and pear trees, the farm also supplied the Knowles’ restaurants with several gallons of pure raw honey from its beehives.
To see more photos of the Orangerie or to learn more about The Farm at Pleasantdale, please visit one of The Farm’s social media pages.
Visit the farm’s Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest pages to see all the work that goes into running our farm.
A Family Who Called Pleasantdale Chateau Home
Tradition, history, and the importance of our team as family are core values at Pleasantdale Chateau. Shown here is one of the wonderful long-time grounds keepers, John Dykstra, from the early days of the estate, who not only cared for the expansive grounds but also lived on the property with his family. Members of the family recount their time spent growing up on the estate as being idyllic, having something out of a fairytale as their backyard.
The tradition continues to this day, as our current farm & grounds manager, Jaycie Sluss, not only oversees the upkeep and picture-perfect appearance of the same grounds Mr. Dykstra maintained, but resides on the estate as well to keep a close watch on its care. The dedication of our staff at all levels and their endless efforts towards perfection are what help to make Pleasantdale Chateau a fairytale experience like no other for our guests. (A special thanks to Troy Wesillius for his friendship and for providing charming photos of his family.)
Pleasantdale Chateau Wins Manhattan Bride Magazine’s “BEST OF 2018” Award
Pleasantdale Chateau is proud to be recognized again this year by Manhattan Bride magazine for our “superior standards of service and quality”. This “Best of 2018” award is based on their following criteria:
Outstanding … in our knowledge of our field and in our professionalism.
Reputable … in that Manhattan Bride magazine has received only positive reviews and comments from Pleasantdale Chateau’s clients.
Reliable … in addition to being on time, they note that we follow up with care and insight.
According to Manhattan Bride, “We asked, are they … Trustworthy and knowledgeable? Open to discussion about creative ideas? Willing to work through difficulties and solve problems? Flexible enough to accommodate changes in plans, schedules, and other factors? Available for questions? Professional in their approach? In our dealings with them: Yes.”
Our thanks to Manhattan Bride magazine for recognizing our commitment to excellence!
Pleasantdale Chateau Wins “Best Banquet Facility” Award
Suburban Essex magazine has honored Pleasantdale Chateau with it’s gold award as the overall Best Banquet Facility anywhere in the area, as an exclusive, sought-after venue for weddings private social events and corporate meetings in the tri-state area. Our thanks to all the readers whose votes helped us to bring home the accolade and win out over all the other great venues!
Pleasantdale Chateau Named As Wedding Spot’s “Best of 2016”
Pleasantdale Chateau is proud to receive Wedding Spot’s “Best of 2016” award for our private estate. We were selected based on the information gathered from the millions of couples that search and compare the over 8,000 top venues that Wedding Spot features.