It is possible to plan an extraordinary, elegant wedding without going too far over-the-top, spending too much and overdoing it.

"The bride and groom had so much going on at their wedding, with activity carts and performers everywhere that it felt like a carnival ... and it wasn't a carnival theme," says "Eliza," a recent wedding guest in Connecticut. "To make room for the performers, you had to be on your guard so that you didn't trip the stilt walkers or get set on fire by the fire twirlers or bump into the hula dancers." Speaking of the same wedding, guest "Steve" said, "This wasn't a wedding; it was a kid's 3rd birthday bash."

Ouch. Not a good review for this wedding.

We can see the intention behind such over-the-top weddings. The wedding couple wants to plan an unforgettable day that's unlike any other, one that impresses guests with the visual "wow" factor and the unexpected fun factor. Couples spend a lot of time browsing Pinterest and top wedding blogs to collect their dream floral decor, table settings and surprises that will drop guests' jaws.

For some weddings, it's a celebrity musical performance: A Grammy-winning star or the original cast of a Broadway show serenades the couple. For others, it's a massive end-of-reception balloon drop -- which used to be primarily for New Year's Eve parties. Some wedding couples spend thousands of dollars to install greenery-covered swings in trees for guests to play on -- and take photos on, because everything is about the Instagram posts and the clever wedding hashtag.

"If you are among the wedding couples who want their entire wedding to be shown on Instagram by their guests, with lavish praise heaped upon their every design, performer, flower and menu item, you're going to be tempted to overplan and overspend," says Camille Cerria, nautical event planner at Smooth Sailing Celebrations in New Jersey and New York City. "Of course, you want your wedding location to be gorgeous, and you want special effects and dazzling elegance, food and drinks to treat guests like VIPs and the best of everything. It's your wedding! But to accomplish everything on your wish list, you can do far fewer things -- like booking a yacht wedding that gives you an amazing sea and sunset view, a sail past skylines and fall foliage, perhaps even the Statue of Liberty to thrill your guests who've never seen it live before."

A setting that gives you a stunning natural view from multiple angles can do the work of decor. This kind of setting -- or a natural forest, an estate with gorgeous grounds, a museum with amazing lighting, even an at-home wedding with your grandmother's rose bushes -- is going to set the stage for enjoyment and for those wedding portraits and Instagram photos you desire. Your setting doesn't even have to be an expensive location with a large site fee. Keeping the rule of "pretty space with a stellar view" in mind activates that "less is more" strategy that still impresses but doesn't bankrupt.

Speaking of cost, here are a few current prices for the average budget, not the ceiling-covered-with-exotic-orchids budget (courtesy of The Wedding Report):

Wedding cost: $24,700 in 2018 (down from $26,700 in 2016)

Event floral decor: $604 in 2018

Centerpieces: $326 in 2018

Cake: $418 in 2019

Photo booth: $379 in 2019

Limousine: $426 in 2019

These numbers might not seem like a lot, but consider the large number of wedding budget categories from large expenses like catering down to the smallest effect items like the pen used to sign the guest book.

For couples on a budget, finding smart ways to save while still making an impression is key to the wedding planning process -- and to your financial health after the big day. "If you're not on a budget, finding ways to not look like you tried too hard and threw everything against the wall is also key," says Cerria. She adds that some couples are just fine with lots of "wow" factor on their big day. It may be part of their culture, part of their family's style or just what they've worked hard to earn and show off.

So here are some tips from Cerria for practicing "less is more" successfully:

--Design smaller centerpieces with lovely greenery and florals (plus small multilevel decor items such as votive candles or river stones) to allow guests to see all that's going on in the room and see the other guests across the table.

--Focus on things guests will touch or taste, such as nice linens and amazing food and drink. These make a nicer impact than streamer cannons and balloon drops.

--Pay attention to timing. A brief edited video of your courtship that's sweet and sentimental will impress far more in its restraint than a 20-minute one -- which will likely turn guests to boredom (and their phones) and kill the party's momentum.

"Work with your vendors, mentioning that less is more. They know how to adjust the dials on the impression you want to make," says Cerria.