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It took centuries for the homosexual act to move from being a sin “crying to Heaven for vengeance” to becoming an integrated part of domestic life, but only 25 years in Scotland to move from decriminalisation to civil partnerships. In the great scale of things, this is a small blink.

Moreover, let’s not be coy. Adultery may still be considered possible only within a heterosexual marriage — it is not acknowledged within the legalese of civil partnerships — but those gay men and women tying the knot in December are unconcerned about the small print. “We all call it marriage,” says Scott. “We consider ourselves to be getting married.”

He is only stating the obvious. For a start, look at the language. At the moment, when we use the word “marriage” in connection with civil partnerships, we stick it in inverted commas. Similarly with “wedding”. This will not last. Soon, the inverted commas will disappear and gay people will marry, period.

When Meg Munn, the minister for equality, talks about couples becoming “partnered”, as she has been careful to do, she knows this term is a canard. Even among the disapproving, “married” will soon steamroller “partnered”. And who, with an ounce of imagination, could be surprised? “I’m getting partnered in the morning” sounds more surgical than romantic.

Then there are the ceremonies. Stewart and Fletcher are to marry (there, I’ve abolished the inverted commas) in a grand chapel, while John and Furnish will walk the same walk as Prince Charles and Camilla.

Having posted the bans in their local town hall, as any couple is required to do, they will all make a “solemn and formal commitment”, one to the other. That most of the venues gay couples choose could never have envisaged being put to such a purpose is a nice irony, but the actual form of the ceremony will hardly be novel.

After making their vows, the newlyweds will process out as Mr and Mr, Mrs and Mrs or, in John’s case, Sir and Mr, which is already a concept quite familiar to shoppers in Asda and Superdrug, among others. Stores have been quick to see vast new marketing opportunities in wedding presents and cards for homosexual or lesbian newlyweds. My current favourite is the Darling, Dearest and Queerest embroidered towel.

What is the difference between any of the above — apart from the embroidery — and my own wedding day? Very little. What is more, when some of these gay marriages come to an end, which they surely will, the couple will get “divorced”, just as John and Renate Blauel did in 1988. With all this familiarity, the question for society now is not whether civil partnerships are any different from marriage, but whether, being so like marriage, they undermine marriage.

If you believe that an absolutely integral part of marriage is the procreation of children, clearly they do. However, for those who have no particular view about this but simply feel uneasy, the ball is now in the gay couples’ court. If, after all their campaigns to have their relationships formalised, they treat marriage as a joke, they will certainly do damage to an institution that is still fundamental to a decent and secure society. If, however, they treat it with respect, it is possible that they might encourage more heterosexual couples to do likewise.

With the preposterous John opting for a simple, dignified ceremony, perhaps all is not yet lost. Certainly neither Scott and Hertzog in Edinburgh nor Stewart and Fletcher in Aberdeen are taking their commitment lightly. What’s more, although John may dress like a fairytale queen for his party, the Scots couples recognise that the Civil Partnership Act is not just a “happy ever after” affair.

Both couples agree that new tensions will be introduced into gay relationships as, just like heterosexuals, gay men and women wonder if this person or that really is “the one” with whom they may eventually make vows and exchange rings.

“It will be a strain on relatively new relationships,” says Stewart, who has been with Fletcher for 13 years. Still, gay couples have one advantage over heterosexual couples — at least they can both pop the question. And they will, they will.

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