Ceremony vs Matrimony - What's the difference?

As nouns the difference between ceremony and matrimony

is that ceremony is a ritual with religious significance while matrimony is marriage; the state of being married.

(wikipedia ceremony)

* (both archaic)

(ceremonies)

A ritual with religious significance.

An official gathering to celebrate, commemorate, or otherwise mark some event.

A formal socially established behaviour, often in relation to people of different ranks.

(obsolete) An omen or portent.

* 1599 , , II. i. 197:

For he is superstitious grown of late, / Quite from the main opinion he held once / Of fantasy, of dreams, and ceremonies.

* 1599 , , II. ii. 14:

Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies, / Yet now they fright me.

* ceremonial * ceremonially * ceremonialness * ceremonious * ceremoniously * ceremoniousness * ramp ceremony

* * * *

(matrimonies)

Marriage; the state of being married.

* Book of Common Prayer

If either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony , ye do now confess it.

The ceremony of marriage.

A particular solitaire card game using two decks of cards.

* (state of being married) marriage, wedlock

* matrimony vine