Ooh la la, Lúthien...

[Orual]

Well, the thing is that the only defining requirement for marriage in the Church (don't take my word on this, though, I'm no theologian) is mutual consent on behalf of the two parties being married. The actual ceremony is formality and officiality, "for the record" and all that. If Beren and Lúthien decided that they were going to bind themselves to each other, be intimate solely with each other, in essence marry, then that's that. In essence, they're married.

Hence, "one night" for an elf signals a lasting, permanent and sacred commitment that will last unbroken and unbreakable ("indissoluble") for thousands upon thousands of years.

Choose wisely indeed. Ceremony is well and good, even preferable (as it makes matters official), but as long as they didn't...how shall I say this...get intimate with anybody but each other, they're married and in no sin.

Again, I am no theologian, but I'm pretty sure that what I said is correct.

Namárië,

~*~Orual~*~