Historic Scotland’s U-turn on hosting wedding ceremonies at Arbroath Abbey has been hailed by an action group.
The tourist body first made mention of its threat to pull the plug on the staging of weddings at the site in July 2012.
After widespread condemnation from the public and the intervention of Arbroath Abbey Action Group, the body eventually reversed its decision.
Historic Scotland’s original decision was due to the lack of weddings taking place but it agreed to a one-year stay of execution until March 31.
The organisation has now revealed it will continue to allow ceremonies to be hosted at the abbey after an increase in the number taking place.
Arbroath Abbey Action Group chairman Harry Ritchie said: “This is really good news as we seek to encourage greater usage and awareness of the abbey.
“I think Historic Scotland deserve credit for this decision, which demonstrates their commitment to fully realising the potential of the site in a wide variety of ways.
“It would be fair to say that whilst, on the back of the public awareness campaign mounted by AAAG, interest in holding weddings at the abbey has increased, it is still short of the levels we would all wish.
“So I would encourage anyone planning a wedding in the next year or two to give serious consideration to having Arbroath Abbey as a backdrop to the service.”
The heritage site, where the Declaration of Arbroath proclaiming Scottish independence was signed in 1320, has been available as a venue for weddings for a number of years.
Leaflets advertising Arbroath Abbey as the perfect place for couples to tie the knot were launched last year.
Angus Council agreed to display the leaflets in local libraries and access offices.
As well as encouraging local couples to consider a wedding at the abbey the action group, also continues to try to tap into the growing market of American couples coming to Scotland to marry.
The action group sent the leaflet to the Scottish Coalition, a organisation made up of the six largest ex-pat and Scottish associations in America with a total membership in excess of 200,000 people.