Elven Wedding Vows

First, the two lovers discuss the possibility, their discussion may end something like this:

Groom/Bride: My heart tells me that I love you and we should wed. What does your heart say? (Gives a silver ring to his/her lover)

Old/Vanyarin Quenya Version: Órenya quetë nin ya melinyet ar merin vesta tyenna. Man óretya quetë?

Exilic/Noldorin Quenya Version: Órenya quetë nin ya melinyet az merin vesta tyenna. Man óretya quetë?

Doriathrin Sindarin Version: Guren bêd enni i gi melin a bestathangid aen. Man gureg bêd?

Lindarin/Southern/Woodelven Sindarin Version: Guren bêd enni i gi melin a go-vestatham aen. Man gureg bêd?

Exilic Sindarin Version: Guren bêd enni i gi melin ar 'o-vestatham aen. Man gureg bêd?

Response:

Groom/Bride: My heart is like your heart. At the end of one year, we shall wed! (Gives a silver ring to his/her lover.)

Old/Vanyarin Quenya Version: Órenya ná ve óretya. Apa minë yénenna, veryuvalwë!

Exilic/Noldorin Quenya Version: Órenya ná ve óretya. Apa minë yénenna, veryuvalvë!

Doriathrin Sindarin Version: Guren be 'ureg. Na veth min în, bestathangid!

Rest of the Sindarin dialects Version: Guren be 'ureg. Na veth min în, go-vestatham!

The silver rings will be worn until they marry or decide to break up.

Week of the Betrothal:

The elves hold a feast, with both elves' families in attendance, and likely their friends as well. At some point during the feast, they stand where everyone can see and hear them. What they say might sound like this:

Groom and Bride together: Hail father and mother! Hail brothers and sisters! Hail male-friends and female-friends! We two will marry at the end of one year!

Old/Vanyarin Quenya Version: Alla ontari az ontaro! Alla hánor az néthar! Alla meldor az melder! Veryuvangwë apa minë yénenna!

Exilic/Noldorin Quenya Version: Alla ontari ar ontaro! Alla hánor ar nésar! Alla meldor ar melder! Veryuvangwë apa minë yénenna!

Doriathrin Sindarin Version: Ai onron adh onril! Ai muindyr a muinthil! Ai meldir a meldis! Bestathangid na veth min în!

Lindarin/Southern/Woodelven Sindarin Version: Ai odhron adh odhril! Ai muindyr a muinthil! Ai meldir a meldis! Go-vestatham na veth min în!

Exilic Sindarin Version: Ai odhron ar odhril! Ai muindyr ar vuinthil! Ai meldir ar veldis! Go-vestatham na veth min în!

Then everyone erupts into cheers and shouts well-wishes.

Before they make the announcement, they have a discussion. Here is how the conversation may end:

Groom/Bride: Alas, this marriage isn't our fate. (They give back their silver rings.)

Old/Vanyarin Quenya Version: Nai, vestalë sina ua ambartolwë.

Exilic/Noldorin Quenya Version: Nai, vestalë sina ua ambartolvë.

Doriathrin Sindarin Version: Nae, i vestad hen û amarth 'wîn.

Lindarin/Southern/Woodelven Sindarin Version: Nê, i vestad hen û amarth vîn.

Exilic Sindarin Version: Nae, i vestad hen û amarth vîn.

They gather their friend and families by a fire, and melt their rings before them. They may say something like this:

Ex-lovers together: We destroy the tokens of our love, and we will not marry.

Old/Vanyarin Quenya Version: Nan-cárangwë i tengwi melmengwo, az lá veryuvangwë.

Exilic/Noldorin Quenya Version: Nan-cárangwë i tengwi melmengwo, ar lá veryuvangwë.

Doriathrin Sindarin Version: Dan-echedimmid in naid meleth vîn, adh ú-vestathammid.

Lindarin/Southern/Woodelven Sindarin Version: Dan-echedim in naid meleth vîn, adh ú-vestatham.

Exilic Sidarin Version: Dan-echedim in naid meleth vîn, ar ú-vestatham.

The Noldor have a special tradition that goes with marriage. Before or during the feast, the mother of the bride (if the mother isn't available, another female relative will do this instead) will give the groom a gem hung on a chain to make a necklace, and the father (or male relative) will give the bride a gem hung on a chain.

A great feast is held, with the happy couple's parents there.

At some point during the feast, the couple joins hands and goes

to a place where everyone at the feast can see them. Then the

parents come forward to bless their marriage. Their blessings

may sound something like this:

Mother of Bride: May Varda Star-kindler hear ___ and ___'s calls, and may Eru the Father of All bless them.

Old/Vanyarin Quenya Version: Nai Varda Tintallë hlazuva elloi ___-wa az ___-wa, az nai Eru Ilúvatar alyuva tet.

Exilic/Noldorin Quenya Version: Nai Varda Tintallë laruva ellor ___-va ar ___-va, ar nai Eru Ilúvatar alyuva tet.

Exilic Sindarin Version: Lasto iâl ___ ar ___, ar elio din Eru.

The rest of the Sindarin dialects: Lasto iâl ___ adh ___, adh elio din Eru.

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Father of Groom: May Manwë Lord of Wind watch over ___ and ___, and may Eru the Father of All bless them.

Old/Vanyarin Quenya Version: Nai Manwë Thúlimo tiruva ___ az ___, az nai Eru Ilúvatar alyuva tet.

Exilic/Noldorin Quenya Version: Nai Manwë Súlimo tiruva ___ ar ___, ar nai Eru Ilúvatar alyuva tet.

Exilic Sindarin Version: Tiro ___ ar ___ Aran Einior, ar elio din Eru.

The rest of the Sindarin dialects: Tiro ___ adh ___ Aran Einior, adh elio din Eru.

They give the silver rings back to each other, and give each other new gold rings which they put on the forefinger of their right hands.

After the feast, they consummate their marriage.