The Church of Scotland has said it will continue to offer a warm welcome to engaged couples amid reports that humanist weddings are on the rise in Scotland.
The Humanist Society of Scotland predicts the number of humanist weddings will overtake the number being conducted in the Church of Scotland in two years' time.
Humanist weddings have been allowed in Scotland since 2005 and they are the third most popular type of wedding behind civil and Church of Scotland services, already outnumbering Catholic weddings, reports the BBC.
The society is holding its annual general meeting this weekend. The BBC reports that the society wants greater recognition of an increasingly secular Scotland.
The Church of Scotland refused to be alarmed, however, saying many couples continue to begin their married lives with the blessing of a service in the presence of God.
A spokesperson for the Church said: "The Church of Scotland extends a warm welcome to couples who on reflection choose a time-honoured service which may have been the choice of their parents and grandparents before them."
"According to the most recent national census 65.09 % of Scots identify with the Christian faith and the Church of Scotland has the largest allegiance. Many couples decide to begin their married lives with the blessing of a service in the presence of God."
