BOSTON -- There's no place like home, but when it comes to a popular wedding trend -- exotic locations are pretty appealing, too.

RESOURCES Destination Weddings.com Tools You Need To Plan Your Wedding

NewsCenter 5's Liz Brunner reported Monday that instead of gathering hundreds of family and friends for the traditional hometown wedding and reception, many couples are now choosing a more intimate gathering, in very out-of-the-way destinations.

While some like to tie the knot the traditional way, complete with wedding hall and wacky singer, more and more couples are choosing to get away from it all -- Antigua, Aruba, the Bahamas, you name it. The best part may be that the bride and groom have all the control, with the click of a mouse. Every detail is handled online, from save the date, to invitations, to hotel and airfare.

Deb Ryan of DestinationWeddings.com is what you could call a cyberspace wedding planner.

"We see where they want to go, how much they want to spend, guests, we do the whole thing," she said.

Since Framingham's Horizon Travel unveiled it's destinations wedding service a year and half ago, business has more than doubled. These pink folders are all weddings in the making.

"A typical wedding might have 150 guests where the reception is astronomical. A typical destination wedding would be 35, 40 people, typical cost might be $5,000," Ryan said.

"We'd rather spend the money on a down payment for the house," said Michael Weisses, who got married in the Bahamas earlier this month.

Ryan handled Michael and Leah Weisses' wedding.

"We wanted something small. We love to travel and thought a destination would be perfect," Michael Weisses said.

Plus, there were no family feuds about which church and in whose hometown. Leah Weisses is from Boston, and her new husband is from New York.

"Too political, who are the groomsmen, who are the bridesmaids --it's more clear cut this way," he said.

The Weisses and their 21 guests got a weekend vacation in an exotic setting, and talk about convenience, they were already situated for their honeymoon.

"The brides and grooms walk to the water, and he holds her in her dress. What a memory!" Ryan said.

"Putting our wedding in her hands made me feel safe," Leah Weisses said.

Because DestinationWeddings.com works on commissions from resorts and airlines, there is virtually no charge for their service, except for a $50 down payment.