(PRLEAP.COM) Portsmouth, NH, December 6 – New England’s newly engaged couples finally have a source to answer the question, “where do I begin?” Gala Weddings Magazine, distributed bi-annually through New England jewelers and newsstands starting in December, lands in the hands of couples during the first phase of wedding planning, the purchase of the engagement ring. The resource helps them get started, featuring a complete guide to finding their reception site, often the first major decision.

Publisher Hawthorn Publications has secured exclusive partnerships with Long’s Jewelers, Lux Bond and Green, Three Golden Apples and DeScenza Diamonds, who will give Gala Weddings to engagement ring customers and inquiring couples, assuring access to the resource during the one phase that precedes venue selection. Couples may now sign up to receive a free copy of the first issue at http://www.Elegala.com, Hawthorn Publications’ national wedding planning resource. The Magazine is also sold at New England newsstands for $4.95

Gala Weddings assists the newly engaged with content related to the initial stages of wedding planning: budgeting, building a timeline, choosing a wedding style and selecting the reception site. “A bride-to-be 16 months from her wedding day hasn’t much use for up-do ideas just yet,” says Cori Russell, editor-in-chief. “Planning a wedding is overwhelming, and a newly engaged woman needs practical advice to help her make the first major decisions,” she continues. “Above all else, Gala Weddings helps New England brides find and book their ideal reception site, which is the defining decision in planning a wedding.”

The magazine’s venue guide features a style comparison chart, site selection advice, and an editorial and pictorial directory of New England’s top wedding facilities sorted by state.

“Brides are often paralyzed by uncertainty while making the first major planning decisions,” Cori Russell continues. A survey on OneWed.com reports that recent brides list booking the venue as their number one wedding related stressor (1). The Wedding Report, an online market research study of weddings and marriage, estimates about 88,500 weddings will take place in New England this year (2). Now the region’s newly-engaged have a resource that speaks to them and answers their wedding planning needs.

About Gala Weddings Magazine
New England Gala Weddings is a bi-annual resource dedicated to the initial stages of wedding planning. The magazine features a directory of the region’s top wedding venues; other features cover the latest wedding tips, trends, stories and styles. Gala Weddings is the exclusive wedding magazine given to individuals inquiring about engagement rings at 20 jewelry stores throughout New England. With a circulation total of 80,000, Gala Weddings is also available at newsstands, store chains, independent boutiques and bridal shows throughout New England. New England Gala Weddings Magazine and nationwide Elegala.com are owned and operated by Hawthorn Publications.

About Hawthorn Publications
As one of the leading producers of superior special events brochures, Hawthorn Publications has gained strategic relationships with top wedding venues and a reputation as industry insiders. From that extensive knowledge base, Hawthorn Publications launched Elegala.com and Gala Weddings Magazine in 2006.

(1)Survey Conducted in February 2006, sampling 2000 people - says: “the venue hire [is] the most stressful element” http://www.onewedding.co.uk/wedding-survey.

(2) Data updated 7/31/2006 - http://www.theweddingreport.com/wmdb/index.cfm?action=db.textviewstate

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Note to Editor: Interviews with Publisher, Jessica Kaiser Sears, and Editor-in-Chief, Cori Russell, are available. Please contact Cori Russell at crussell@hawthornpublications.com for arrangements.