civil ceremonies
Non-religious official unions
Civil ceremonies are official non-religious events conducted by government authorities, typically marriages or civil unions performed by judges, magistrates, or other authorized officials rather than clergy.
The term distinguishes secular legal proceedings from religious rites: They opted for a civil ceremony at the courthouse rather than a church wedding.
Civil ceremonies also include citizenship naturalization and other state-sanctioned rituals.
- registry officeCivil marriage and records bureau
- town hallLocal government headquarters
- marriageFormal union between partners
- legal unionState-recognized marriage
- celebrantOne who observes festivities
witness · courthouse · memorial service · funeral · city hall · vow renewal · exchange of rings · registrar · wedding vows · documentation · promise · certification · bride · symbolic gestures · officiant · public speeches · family gatherings · groom
civil ceremoniesreligious ceremonies
Formal worship practices
church services · religious rites · sacraments · holy matrimony · sacred ceremonies
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