(NAPSA)—Brides everywhere know that you don’t need a fortune to look like a million dollars on your wedding day. The same holds true for the service and the reception. Experts say that with a little ingenuity and attention to detail, it’s possible to put together an exotic event to rememberfor under $15,000. Here are sometips: * Using a wedding planner can be a wise investment. According to Jenny Bauman of Bliss Events in San Diego, a wedding planner often knows the vendors and venues and can actually help keep a wedding on budget and on schedule. * Do the invitations yourself. Since invitations provide the first impression for a wedding, think about making your own. Some brides gather their bridesmaids together to make the invitations. It can add the personal touch and eliminate or reduce professional printing costs. * Create a signature drink that goes with the theme of the wedding. When Jaelee Jones was planning her wedding, Bauman suggested that Jones create a signature cocktail to make the day more memorable. Jones decided to make something with Kahlua, her favorite cocktail. The drink, aptly named the Kahlua Exotic Bliss, was a combination of Kahlua, Stoli vodka, Hiram Walker raspberry schnapps, half & half and grenadine. The rich and elegant drink was a perfect cocktail to toast the happy bride and groom. Additionally, Bauman suggested that Jones go to the Web Using a wedding planner when selecting vendors and venues can help to keep a wedding on budget and schedule. Site www.kahlua.com to order customized gift labels for small Kahluabottles. The bottles were used as place cards on each table at the reception, and then as a keepsake for the guests. “This unique and personal memento was a big hit with all of our guests. No one at the reception had ever received anything like it,” said Jones. “And the best part about it was that the gift labels were free!” * Location, location, location. Even though the event location can frequently be one of the most exorbitant costs of a wedding, there are ways to reduce it. For example, look for a venue where catered food and liquor could be brought in. This can increase your menu options and make it easier to stay within your budget.
