Guest Welcome Guide

You're invited to NYC

[Your names] are getting married on [final date], 2027 in New York City and we cannot wait to celebrate with you. This guide covers everything you need to know to make your trip easy, comfortable, and as fun as possible.

We met in NYC, fell in love in NYC, and we want to share our favorite city with the people who matter most. Most of you are flying a long way to be here, and we are deeply grateful.

The wedding day

Date: [Day], [Date], 2027
Ceremony: [Time] at [Ceremony venue]
Reception: [Time] at [Reception venue]
Dress code: [Cocktail / semi-formal / black tie optional]
After-party: Karaoke from approximately 10:30 PM at [Karaoke venue]. Optional but encouraged.

We will share more detailed timing, addresses, and what to expect closer to the date.

Where to stay

We have arranged a hotel block at [Hotel name] in [Neighborhood].

• Booking link: [Block code or URL]
• Block rate: approximately $[X] per night
• Block expires: [Date, typically 1 month before wedding]
• Distance from ceremony: [X minutes by subway/Uber]
• Distance from reception: [X minutes]

If the block is full or you want to look elsewhere, here are good neighborhoods near our venues:

Avoid Times Square unless you specifically want to. Long-time New Yorkers don't go there.

Getting to NYC

Flights for Australian guests

The big international airports are JFK (most flights) and Newark (some Qantas, United). Both are roughly equal travel time to mid-Manhattan or Brooklyn (40-60 minutes by Uber, longer in traffic).

• Direct from Sydney: Qantas QF11 to LAX, then connection to JFK, OR United UA840 SYD-SFO with onward connection
• Direct from Melbourne: Generally requires a connection through LAX, SFO, or Doha (Qatar Airways)
• Average return cost in October: $1,400 to $2,000 AUD economy. Book by April 2027 for best prices.

Flights for Florida guests

• JetBlue, Delta, American, and Spirit all fly Florida to JFK or LaGuardia for $200-400 return.
• Direct flights are 2.5 to 3 hours.

From the airport

• Uber/Lyft is the easiest option from JFK or Newark. Roughly $50-90 USD to most NYC neighborhoods, more during rush hour.
• AirTrain + Subway from JFK costs about $11 USD total but takes 60-75 minutes with luggage.
• NYC Express Bus from Newark is around $20.
• Yellow taxis from JFK have a flat $70 + tip + tolls fare to Manhattan.

NYC for jet-lagged Australians

You will arrive feeling like a wrung-out dishcloth. We recommend:

Day 1 (arrival day): Don't try to do too much. Walk somewhere outside (sunlight resets your body clock), eat real food (no airport snacks), and try to stay awake until at least 9 PM local time.

Day 2: Light sightseeing. Some good "you are in NYC and your brain is half-asleep" activities:

• Walk the High Line (1.5 mile elevated park, great views, very flat)
• Sit in Washington Square Park and people-watch
• Brunch in the West Village
• Walk the Brooklyn Bridge from the Manhattan side at sunrise (you will be up early anyway)

Day 3 onwards: You are a real person again. See the wedding logistics below.

Getting around NYC

Subway

• Buy a one-way single ride: $2.90, swipe at the turnstile.
• OMNY tap-to-pay: Use your phone or contactless card. After 12 taps in a week, the rest are free (it caps at $34).
• Maps: Citymapper (best app), Google Maps (works fine), Apple Maps (less accurate for transit).
• Safety: Subways run 24/7 and are generally safe. Late at night, sit in the conductor's car (middle of the train, has lights on).
• No timetable: Trains come every 4-15 minutes depending on time of day. If you wait more than 10 minutes between trains and it is mid-day, something is wrong.

Uber, Lyft, and Yellow Taxis

• Uber and Lyft are everywhere. Surge pricing kicks in during rain, evening rush hour, and after big events.
• Yellow cabs are still everywhere in Manhattan. Hail one with your hand. They take cards.
• For 4+ people in a group, Uber XL or a yellow cab is often cheaper than two ride-shares.

Walking

NYC is one of the most walkable cities in the world. Grid system in Manhattan: numbered streets run east-west, named or numbered avenues run north-south. 20 blocks = 1 mile.

What to pack for early October NYC

October weather is one of NYC's best windows: cool mornings, mild afternoons, crisp evenings. Average highs 65-70°F (18-21°C), lows 50°F (10°C).

Definitely pack

• Layers, layers, layers. A light jacket or trench coat for evenings.
• Comfortable walking shoes. You will walk more than you think.
• An umbrella or compact rain jacket. October has 8-10 rainy days on average.
• A wedding outfit you can layer for cool evening photos (light cardigan, wrap, or shawl).

You won't need

• Heavy winter coat (unless you run cold)
• Snow gear
• Heavy sunscreen (still useful, but not summer-strength)

For the wedding: Dress code is [cocktail / semi-formal / etc.]. Outdoor ceremony portion at [venue], so flat or wedge shoes are smart for women if it is at Cherry Hill or Brooklyn Bridge Park (grass and stone surfaces).

Things to do in NYC (curated, not the tourist trap version)

Food

• Bagels: Russ & Daughters (Lower East Side) or Tompkins Square Bagels (East Village)
• Pizza: Joe's Pizza (Greenwich Village) for a slice, Roberta's (Bushwick) for a sit-down
• Late-night dumplings: Vanessa's Dumpling House (Chinatown)
• Brunch: Buvette (West Village), Tartine (West Village), or Five Leaves (Greenpoint)

Walks and views

• High Line + Hudson Yards
• Brooklyn Bridge at sunrise (less crowded than sunset)
• Walk through Central Park: enter at Columbus Circle, go to Bethesda Fountain, exit at the Bow Bridge
• Top of the Rock observation deck (better views than Empire State because you can see the Empire State)

Quirky stuff

• The Cloisters (medieval art museum in a quiet uptown park)
• City Reliquary (Williamsburg micro-museum)
• Smorgasburg (open-air food market, weekends)
• The Strand bookstore (18 miles of books)

Skip these

• Times Square (overwhelming, full of costumed characters who want money)
• Statue of Liberty boat tour (long lines, expensive, you can see her from Battery Park or the Staten Island Ferry for free)
• Most things branded as "NYC's #1 [something]"

Suggested loose schedule for the wedding week

If you have a week in town, this is a relaxed version. Adjust as you like.

A few small asks

• Photos: Please feel free to take photos throughout the day. We have a professional photographer and videographer, but personal photos are welcome too. Please tag us with #[your wedding hashtag] if you post.
• No phones during the ceremony: We want everyone fully present. Our photographer will share photos with everyone afterward.
• Gifts: Your presence is genuinely the gift. If you want to contribute, we have a small honeymoon fund at [link or details].
• Dietary requirements: Please tell us by [RSVP deadline] so we can let the venue know.
• RSVP by: [Date]

Contacts

If anything goes sideways, here is who to call:

• [Your name]: [phone] (also WhatsApp)
• [Mikaela's name]: [phone] (also WhatsApp)
• Day-of coordinator: [Name and phone, if applicable]
• Hotel block contact: [Hotel reservations line]