“If you are seeking the ultimate storybook venue and wedding, Chateau Challain and Cynthia Nicholson will not disappoint. The castle and grounds are real-life representations of fairytale settings, unmatched anywhere else in the world. The castle itself is a Neo-Gothic masterpiece with many incredible architectural features, and all suites and state rooms are well appointed with high-end antiques and modern amenities. Even your guests will count their time at the Chateau as once-in-a-lifetime experiences. The grounds have a lake, many well-manicured gardens and stone bridges, all great for photograph opportunities and adding to the French castle mystique.

The location of Chateau Challain is in the heart of the romantic Loire Valley and affords its guests the opportunity to explore the many vineyards and other castles of the region with ease. Every single guest has commented to us how wonderful their experience was (and we can tell they are a bit jealous that we were so fortunate to have found Chateau Challain and Cynthia Nicholson).

The wedding itself was like a broadway production. So many critical components with many moving parts. Cynthia’s crew is second to none. They are incredibly friendly, helpful and multi-talented. For instance, one gentleman on the staff was a bartender, resident DJ, magician, and hog roaster. And speaking of food, wow! From the pig roast to the Michelin-starred dinner, you and your guests will leave the Chateau with one of the best culinary experiences you have ever had. We still talk about the steak and salmon being the best we’ve experienced but do not just take our word for it. One of our guests is a famous restaurateur and believed that the filet was exceptional (he wound up procuring seconds!). The flower arrangements at the wedding in the courtyard were exceptional as were the reception table settings. Our cake was created in mirror image of our request and the fireworks, oh the fireworks…think a professional Fourth of July show in a major US city.

At the head of all these moving parts is the captain and maestro, Cynthia Nicholson. The best way to describe Cynthia is that she is a dream maker. She created a dream wedding for us, a dream we still haven’t woken up from. From the first day we arrived (Cynthia arranged for us to arrive a day early), Cynthia included us for a dinner she was making for the staff, knowing that we had had a long journey. She was incredibly generous throughout our stay, and she treated us and our guests like her family. The wedding day wouldn’t have been so absolutely enchanting if it wasn’t for her. She went above and beyond the call of duty, and she even literally got down on a knee to help me on a horse for photo opportunities. The ceremony that she orchestrated was full of emotion and love; Cynthia and the staff celebrated with us, and we felt they were a part of the wedding. And lastly, the reception was full of fun and joy. I have never seen my aunts and uncles – who are in their 70s – get out of their comfort zone so much and have such a great time.

Thank you so much, Cynthia! For any brides thinking about having your wedding at Chateau Challain, you will truly feel like a princess in your fairytale wedding.”