ADJ

brief, short
quiet, simple
elaborate, glittering
moving, solemn
private, public
formal, important, official, special
an official ceremony to welcome the new director
opening
the opening ceremony of the Olympic games
closing
award/awards
civil
cake-cutting, dedication, degree, funeral, graduation, inauguration, initiation, marriage, naming, presentation, prize-giving, signing, swearing-in, tea, unveiling, wedding, wreath-laying
the Japanese tea ceremony

VERB + CEREMONY

conduct, hold, perform
The marriage ceremony was performed by the bishop
attend, be present at, take part in

CEREMONY + VERB

take place
mark sth
a special ceremony to mark the end of the war

PREP

at a/the ~
the guest of honour at the ceremony
during a/the ~
A lot of people wept during the funeral ceremony
in a/the ~
They were married in a simple ceremony

VERB + CEREMONY

stand on
I won't stand on ceremony (= be formal)

PREP

without ~
Without ceremony, the woman slammed the door shut in my face

PHRASES

pomp and ceremony
the pomp and ceremony of a royal wedding
with due/great ceremony
With due ceremony, he took the oath to become president