{Coming to New York} for Vera Wang

Welcome back to The Big Apple! For your third visit to Vera Wang, it's time to leave the upper quadrant and stay downtown! The Greenwich Hotel, located in Tribeca, one of the most hip neighborhoods in the city, is an oasis of luxury in the middle of the busy city. The hotel was actually envisioned by actor Robert DeNiro and his partners, and features paintings by DeNiro's father throughout the hotel. Every detail of the hotel is exquisitely and thoughtfully decorated, down to the elevators with their italian tiled floors and leather paneled walls. 

None of the 75 rooms and 13 suites are the same. They all feature Duxiana Beds, Siberian oak floors, large soaking tubs, Ipod docks, complimentary internet and organic bath amenities from McBride Beauty. The hotel hosts a restaurant, Ago, which features authentic Tuscan Cuisine as well as in room dining 24 hours a day. The hotel's Japanese influenced spa, Shibui, offers a variety of relaxing treatments to take the stress out of planning a wedding!

When you book at the Greenwich Hotel you will get access to their exclusive library, and when you book a suite with ClassicTravel.com, you will get a 30% discount VIP card at Mulberry's downtown store. 

After you visit the Vera Wang flagship store, head over to Cartier's Madison Avenue Boutique, located about 6 blocks away. No matter what style your dress is, diamonds are always a girl's best friend! While you are there, don't forget to get jewelry for yourself and your bridesmaids. This is also a good time to think about a special gift for your groom! We love this classic Ronde Louis Cartier watch, a timeless gift that will be remembered for a lifetime. To make it even more special, you can get your initials and wedding date engraved on the back. Another great idea while you are at Cartier is to get cufflinks for your groomsmen. This will ensure that on your special day everyone looks uniform, and it is a gift they will definitely use again.

For more information about this or any other hotels on ClassicTravel.com, please contact Jerry Hirshon at 212-404-6777 or at jerry@classictravel.com.

{Coming to New York} for Vera Wang

Now that you have picked out your Vera Wang wedding gown and you're ready to come back to The City That Never Sleeps for your first fitting.

For your second trip we recommend staying at the Mandarin Oriental. This fabulous hotel overlooks Central Park and features such luxuries as Bose sound systems and flat panel televisions in the suites. 

The hotel features Asiate, a renowned restaurant combining French and Japanese cuisines. The Spa at Mandarin Oriental combines modern techniques with Asian-based rituals. An amazing 75 foot lap pool overlooks the Hudson River, and the lobby bar features gorgeous views of Central Park.  

When you book at the Mandarin Oriental with Classictravel.com and Virtuoso, you will receive a one category upgrade upon arrival, subject to availability, daily continental breakfast for up to two in-room guests, via room service or restaurant and two cocktails and a "signature"

 appetizer at MO Bar once during your stay. 

Now is a great time to start looking at invitations. When we need help with invitations here at Classic 

Travel, we always call our friend, Nikola at Smythson, a luxury leather goods and stationery company with a store located on 57th St., just a few blocks from the Mandarin Oriental. 

They offer the ultimate hand engraved & calligraphied invitations, with their own exclusive fonts and exceptional service. Nikola recommends ordering the invitations about 5 months before the wedding, or even longer (6-7 months) for a destination wedding. The proofing process takes only about a week, but to actually hand engrave the invitations takes 2-4 weeks. 

He also informed us that if your invitations are hand engraved, you will probably want the envelopes to be hand addressed by a calligrapher, which also takes about 2 weeks. He mentioned that for destination weddings, clients often send out an informational card closer to the wedding with all the finalized travel and hotel plans. Don't forget to put your travel agent's information on your invitations to let them take care of all your guests!

For more information about booking a room at the Mandarin Oriental, or planning your trip to New York City, please contact Jerry Hirshon at 212-404-6777 or at Jerry@classictravel.com. 

{Coming to New York} for Vera Wang

So you've decided that the perfect dress for you is one of Vera Wang's timeless, elegant gowns. But for a gown this special there is a process that goes along with it! First, you must go to the Vera Wang Flagship Store at 991 Madison Avenue, to choose the perfect dress for you. Then there is a series of 3 fittings to custom tailor the gown for you. Make sure you make your first trip there at least 8-10 months before your big day, because these gowns take 4-6 months to make! 

If you're going to be coming in to New York, for your first Vera Wang trip, we recommend staying at The Carlyle. It is near the Vera Wang Flagship Store, and is a great way to experience NYC in style! This hotel has been host to dignitaries and celebrities from around the world, and is in one of the most exclusive and upscale neighborhoods in the city. This was the first and only New York hotel we suggested when planning one of the Dalai Lama's first tours of the United States. 

When you book at The Carlyle Hotel with Classic Travel & Virtuoso, you will receive an upgrade upon arrival (subject to availablity), $80 of breakfast credit that can be used via room service or in the hotel's restaurant, complimentary high speed internet access, a welcome amenity, and an addition $50 food or beverage credit, to be used once during your stay. Leave it to our friend Maureen Stella, Director of Sales and Marketing at the Carlyle to see to it that your stay is nothing but luxurious and relaxing as you start your preparations for your wedding!

If you are planning on actually having a destination wedding in NYC, now is the perfect time to go to different venues and sample menus, and learn more about their wedding packages! Here are our top 3 picks for wedding venues that any New York City bride needs to see!

The Carlyle - As mentioned before this is one of the most luxurious and beautiful hotels in the city! They offer many different sized halls for special events, with great menus & amenities.

The Plaza Hotel - This well known and world renowned hotel is the perfect place for a classic elegant wedding. It is right across from Central Park, which is a great spot for wedding photos!

The St. Regis Hotel - This amazing, extravagant hotel is the top in luxury. Boasting 16 different event spaces, you are sure to find the one that is perfect for your dream wedding. 

For information about any of the hotels mentioned, please contact Jerry Hirshon at 212-404-6777 or jerry@classictravel.com.