How does a commitment ceremony differ from a wedding ceremony?
A commitment ceremony – also known as a civil union ceremony or a domestic partnership ceremony – is for couples who want to celebrate their intention to foster a lifelong bond but who, for whatever reason, are unable or unwilling to enter into legal marriage. This situation might apply to same-gender couples, to elders who risk losing pension or Social Security benefits if they remarry, or simply to longtime committed couples who see no need for the legal framework of a civil marriage.
