Premier Bride of Las Vegas, a 3-year-old biannual magazine, contains a plethora of information of interest to couples preparing to get hitched here, from chapels and reception and rehearsal dinner sites, to florists, caterers, jewelers, DJs and photographers.

"We're not geared toward the bride who will let somebody plan their wedding," said Ben Falk, regional publisher and one of three co-owners. "We want the bride who's seeking out how best to plan rather than turning it over to someone else."

To that end, Premier Bride of Las Vegas is more than merely a book of advertisements or a directory of bridal resources. It also contains myriad articles designed to educate brides- and grooms-to-be about how to plan and pull off the perfect wedding. While the ads and services included are local, most of the articles are provided by the parent company, which publishes similar magazines in about 40 other U.S. markets.

"It's kind of like a franchise," said Angela Nelson, regional publisher and co-owner. "We own the license and the rights to Las Vegas, and the editorial and Web site come from corporate. It was a very affordable way to launch a business."

According to Falk, the three owners can modify the content to better suit the Las Vegas market, and they can also write their own articles. Indeed, the current issue contains stories titled, "What the Locals Know: Words of Advice from Local Experts" and "Out of Town Guests: Where to Go, What to See."

The owners also have the option of changing the design, fonts and colors used in the publication, which is purse-size and also includes a wedding calendar, a wedding budget, bride and groom's checklists and a wedding day checklist.

The publication, which is free and available at more than 350 distribution points in the valley, was the brainchild of Falk and his wife, Libby Falk, who serves as its graphic designer.

"My wife and I always wanted to do a bridal magazine," Ben Falk said, adding that the couple was unable to find a useful bridal resource when they got married in Florida. "We kept talking about it, and I probably told the story to Angela one day when we were working for a local tourist publication. One day Angela answered an ad in the newspaper and ordered a (Premier Bride) press kit and it was beyond what my wife and I envisioned.

"They were looking to expand so we sat down and ground the numbers and decided to stop working so hard for other people and do something for ourselves. Plus we saw a niche in the marketplace that was missing -- no high-end bridal publications."

Added Nelson: 'The design and the look of the book are perceived to be higher-end. It comes from the belief that a bride aspires to finer things no matter how much money she has to spend on her wedding."

Nelson said there are five other bridal magazines published locally, including TheBrideBook.com, Bridal Extravaganza, The Perfect Wedding Guide, The Spectacular Wedding Planner and Las Vegas Life Bride, an annual supplement published through Las Vegas Life.

Las Vegas Life is owned by the Greenspun family, which also owns In Business Las Vegas.

Nelson -- who owns 50 percent of the publication, while Ben and Libby Falk own 48 percent and 2 percent, respectively -- said the other publications have stepped up their editorial side since Premier Bride of Las Vegas debuted three years ago.

In addition to filling a high-end niche, the magazine is also intended to help dispel a myth about marriage in Sin City.

"There is a perception that this is a town of quickie weddings and that all there are are the wedding chapels on the Strip, which is the farthest thing from the truth," Falk said. "Las Vegas is a city that has a tremendous amount to offer in terms of weddings. Las Vegas is the wedding capital of the world."

According to the Clark County recorder's office, there were 114,544 weddings in the county in 2003, a figure that peaked at 121,547 in 2001. Nationally, according to Premier Bride, more than 2.4 million women said "I do" last year, and more than $36 billion was spent on wedding-related purchases. Nelson said the average cost of a local wedding is estimated to be $18,000.

Falk said Premier Bride of Las Vegas makes it affordable for local advertisers to slice off a wedge of that matrimonial pie -- or wedding cake, as it may be. For instance, a full-page, four-color ad that runs in both issues -- plus Web site coverage and monthly bridal leads -- costs $3,950.

"If you're a catering facility you can make that back quite quickly," Nelson said. "We offer advertisers something affordable that works."

To help promote Las Vegas as a high-end wedding destination, Premier Bride of Las Vegas is hosting the Premier Bridal Show on Saturday, Sept. 4, at the Pavilion Convention Center at The Rio. Admission is $14 at the door for the one-day event, which targets affluent couples preparing to marry.

"There have been bridal shows in Las Vegas in the past, but they were not catering to that upscale bride getting married at Bellagio," Nelson said. "It's reflective of what their own reception might be. They'll walk in and see a carpeted ballroom rather than concrete and grid ceilings. It will be conducive to something they want to attend, and a lot of vendors feel that way as well."

She said that vendors who have never previously participated in a local bridal show have signed up, including Neiman Marcus.

Tory Cooper, a well-known local wedding and event planner who once planned a gala reception for former President Clinton, will be the keynote speaker at the event. Cooper is expected to share some of her experiences and offer tips to attendees.

"In a busy city like Las Vegas, I'll often have dozens of events in various stages of the planning process," Cooper said in a statement. "Nonetheless, I believe each one is unique and needs to reflect the personalities of the people to whom it's important. In my career, I've developed ways to achieve this goal and create unforgettable memories for everyone involved. I'm looking forward to the show, which I believe will be a terrific resource for Las Vegas brides."

Indeed, Falk said they hope to have 90 vendors at the show. As for anticipated attendance, "That's the mystery question," he said. "If we get 400 to 500 quality brides it would be a successful event."

Added Nelson: "And we hope they bring at least two or three people with them. We would be happy, and our vendors have indicated that they would be, too."