banns
Formal notice of intended nuptials
Banns are a public announcement in church of an intended marriage, traditionally read aloud on three successive Sundays before the wedding.
The practice allows anyone with knowledge of an impediment—such as a prior marriage—to come forward.
Though largely ceremonial today, banns remain part of Anglican and Catholic tradition: The banns were read without objection.
Marriage rite and feast
- marriageFormal union between partners
- betrothalFormal marriage agreement
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- nuptialsVows and rings
union · espousal · affianced · fiancé · fiancée · bride · bridegroom · spouse
Formal public announcement
- publicationIssued written material
- readingInterpreting written text
- postingPublishing content online
- declarationFormal public announcement
notification · notice · bulletin · pronouncement · broadcast · disclosure · divulgence · public notice
Formal worship structure
- solemnizePerform with due ceremony
- officiantCeremony presider
- chancelAltar-adjacent clergy space
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
homily · benediction · sanctuary · vestments · acolyte · cantor · psalms · processional
Habitual group practice
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- observanceKeeping of customs
- conventionAgreed standard of behavior
practice · time-honored · ecclesiastical · Anglican · Catholic · canonical · parish · antiquity
Thing that obstructs progress
- challengeTest of ability
- forbidDeclare not allowed
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- hindranceBarrier to progress
obstacle · prohibition · prior claim · consanguinity · bigamy · dissent
wedding
Marriage rite and feast
- marriageFormal union between partners
- betrothalFormal marriage agreement
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
nuptials · union · espousal · affianced · fiancé · fiancée · bride · bridegroom · spouse · matchmaking
proclamation
Formal public announcement
- publicationIssued written material
- readingInterpreting written text
- postingPublishing content online
declaration · notification · notice · bulletin · pronouncement · broadcast · disclosure · divulgence · public notice · registry
liturgy
Formal worship structure
congregation · homily · benediction · sanctuary · vestments · acolyte · cantor · psalms · processional · altar
custom
Habitual group practice
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- observanceKeeping of customs
convention · practice · time-honored · ecclesiastical · Anglican · Catholic · canonical · parish · antiquity · continuity
impediment
Thing that obstructs progress
hindrance · obstacle · prohibition · prior claim · consanguinity · bigamy · dissent
- marriage lawmarriage contract, divorce decree, marriage certificate, matrimony, divorce petition
- weddingwedding, wedding ring, marry, wedding ceremony, wedding rings
- marriagebride, groom, wedding, husband, wife
- British ReligionAnglican, Church of Scotland, Archbishop of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral, Westminster Abbey
- engagement termsengagement, betrothal, wedding vow, ring, proposal
- obsolete relationship wordsbetrothed, beau, suitor, courting, swain
bannsdivorce decree
Court document ending marriage
annulment · divorce · dissolution · decree absolute · divorce papers
bannsimpediment
Thing that obstructs progress
objection · forbiddance · prohibition · interdiction · caveat
- one-armed banditLever-operated gambling machine
- travel banProhibition on journeys
- red bannerCrimson flag or ensign
- nuclear test banProhibition on atomic explosions
- banned booksLiterature officially prohibited
- banner yearPeriod of outstanding success
ban, abandon, banner, banned, bandit, bans, banal, banning, banners