Putting their relationship on ice, the couple declared through a spokeswoman that their split was "a temporary thing, a mutual and amicable decision".
While raising four children, the couple declared bankruptcy in 2002.
Because of a change in English law in 1754, English couples seeking a quick marriage were obliged to cross the border into Scotland, where Scottish law required only that the couples declare before witnesses their wish to be married.
This isn't something that is possible to describe because every couple is different – some couples declare their love for one another every time they put the phone down for example, whereas others don't find it necessary and show their love at other times or in other ways.
For example, there is a Catholic church in Gorbals, the roughest district in Glasgow, where some relics of Saint Valentine are said to be kept; the local priest told the Scotsman he has seen couples declare their love and propose marriage in that auspicious place around this time of year.
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are the top days for new couples to declare their "coupled" status.
The couple then declare their feelings for each other in a passionate love duet ("Faithful love can't be marred").
Catriona recalls, "It was a very special day that allowed us as a couple to declare publicly what we had already declared in private six years prior: our love and commitment to each other".
And as prejudice against gays and lesbians fades, more of these ambiguously gay couples will declare themselves.
But her firm, Ultimate U.S.A. Weddings, has also arranged for couples to declare their vows on the Brooklyn Bridge and other uniquely New York sites.
