What to call your commitment ceremony

Q: We are planning to have a Commitment Ceremony, but neither of us likes the term. Do you have any other suggestions? - Genia and Katherine, Sydney, Australia.

A: You shouldn’t get too hung up on what your ceremony is called – the important thing is that you’re having one. Exactly what you call your ceremony may vary depending on the situation, and you can always take a creative and personal approach to describing the event. In addition to commitment, terms which work include union, bonding, joining of two lives, joining of our lives, joining of the lives of .... , and public profession of love before family and friends. Because you are in Australia, where same sex marriage is not legal, and where there are hefty penalties for the celebrant if it is not clear to everyone present that the ceremony is not a legal one, you should avoid using the words wedding and/or marriage, and, in your vows, avoid using wed, marry, husband, wife, or spouse. And please, please, please never use coy terms like groomette.

Have a wonderful ceremony ....