Ceremonial marriage is a common form of marriage

Marriage

Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

 in which a couple follows laws and procedures specified by the state in order to gain recognition of their marriage (ex. buying a marriage licence, participating in a ceremony led by an authorized official, having witnesses at a ceremony). They are often accompanied by wedding

Wedding

A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...

s, and have different forms, reflecting particular religious and philosophical views of the couple.

Ceremonial marriage is an opposite to common-law marriage

Common-law marriage

Common-law marriage, sometimes called sui juris marriage, informal marriage or marriage by habit and repute, is a form of interpersonal status that is legally recognized in limited jurisdictions as a marriage even though no legally recognized marriage ceremony is performed or civil marriage...

.