commitment ceremony

American  

[kuh-mit-muhnt ser-uh-moh-nee] / kəˈmɪt mənt ˌsɛr əˌmoʊ ni /

noun

1. a ceremony and celebration that affirms the love and commitment between two people who cannot or do not want to marry each other, typically a same-sex couple.

---

Etymology

Origin of commitment ceremony

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

We know “To T, or not to T?” has a happy ending, because it begins at D’Lo’s 2015 commitment ceremony to his partner, two months after starting testosterone therapy.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2022

Among other factors, they look at whether the couple was in a committed relationship, lived together or owned property together, supported each other financially, raised children together, or held a commitment ceremony.

From Slate • Jan. 31, 2022

Together for half a century, they held a commitment ceremony in 1996 and were married in 2013, after same-sex marriage was legalized in the District.

From Washington Post • Aug. 27, 2021

There, at Elvis Chapel, they held hands during a commitment ceremony, complete with Elvis impersonator.

From New York Times • Apr. 23, 2021

About 10 years later they had a commitment ceremony to celebrate their relationship.

From BBC • Aug. 4, 2017