Crossword Genius

Ceremony at first, then often it’s thrown (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

confetti

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'ceremony at first then often it's thrown' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'ceremony at first then often it's thrown' is the wordplay.
'at first' says to take the initial letters.
'then' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'thrown' indicates anagramming the letters.
The first letter of 'ceremony' is 'c'.
'often'+'it'='oftenit'
'oftenit' with letters rearranged gives 'onfetti'.
'c'+'onfetti'='CONFETTI'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for confetti that I've seen before include "It is thrown at happy 16s" , "Scraps of coloured paper thrown in celebration" , "Throw it at the wedding, it's in bits" , "Celebratory paper at wedding" , "Bits thrown at weddings" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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