Wedding Readings - Help Needed :) - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Sardy · 10-12-2010, 08:33 PM

Hi All--

Wonder if I might pick your collective brain for some quoteable material---I will be doing a few readings at my sister's wedding on Friday, and thought an excerpt, poem or song from Tolkiens works might be perfect!! While "The Road Goes Ever On.." seems the obvious choice, I was hoping to be pointed towards something a bit more obscure and apropos...?

An excerpt/poem/song would be fine, from any of Tolkiens collected works...

Any thoughts?

Thanks!!

Inziladun · 10-12-2010, 08:49 PM

"Where there's a whip, there's a will, my slugs." Perfect!

Perhaps part of the tale of Tinúviel as told by Strider in FOTR?

Sardy · 10-12-2010, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inziladun

"Where there's a whip, there's a will, my slugs." Perfect!

Perhaps part of the tale of Tinúviel as told by Strider in FOTR?

LOL! Or perhaps, "One Ring to Rule Them All..."

I'll take a look at Tinuviel now... Thanks!

Other thoughts?

Puddleglum · 10-12-2010, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inziladun

[I]Perhaps part of the tale of Tinúviel as told by Strider in FOTR?

For a wedding? I think that is a good choice. For example:

Quote:

Again she fled, but swift he came.
Tinuviel! Tinuviel!
He called her by her elvish name;
And there she halted listening.
One moment stood she, and a spell
His voice laid on her: Beren came,
And doom fell on Tinuviel
that in his arms lay glistening.

As Beren looked into her eyes
Within the shadows of her hair,
The trembling starlight of the skies
He saw there mirrored shimmering.
Tinuviel the elven-fair,
Immortal maiden elven-wise,
About him cast her shadowy hair
And arms like silver glimmering.

Erendis · 10-13-2010, 01:55 AM

Apart from the Tale of Tinuviel,which seems the most odvious choice,why don't you try a little bit of Thingol and Melian?The meeting part?I don't know if you do,but in our weddings we read a part of apostle Paul's letters that fits.

Legate of Amon Lanc · 10-13-2010, 02:56 AM

I think there aren't many apart from those already mentioned. I think the problem is that most of the possible parts are short, apart from those mentioned above, like the lay of Lúthien. It is, of course, possible to just have a shorter quote, but it depends what exactly is the custom and how would you like to use it... Anyway, in case you wanted to consider them, there might be e.g. some parts about Faramir and Éowyn (but I think it is not exactly suited for that, but you be the judge, maybe it is in this case) or whatever... You might like to go through all of them yourself, because, you are the one who should know what is "situationally appropriate" - like, in relation to the people and their relationship and all. For instance, even the random thing from Frodo about Sam with the "You will have to be one and whole, for many years. You have so much to enjoy and to be, and to do" (which can be sort of directed towards both, not only one of them - hey, actually! Only now have I realised - wouldn't it be all too great to apply this really to both of them together, you know, in the spirit of the well-known wedding-verse "and they shall be one..."), that could be good as well... But in any case, the best are probably the "classics" as mentioned by others. Maybe, as the last one, of the "songs", some part of the song of the Ent and Entwife. But then again, you have to judge what is the best situationally fitting... it might be even something completely unlikely and not so obviously related might work, you should just consider that too...

Mithalwen · 10-13-2010, 04:26 AM

This is a toughie..there are very few happy love stories in Tolkien and no real love poems. There are lovely scenes such as Faramir and Eowyn holding hands unknowing waiting for the stroke of doom but unless the congregation are all Tolkienists I wonder how much sense they would make. The wedding of Aldarion and Erendis is lovely if you forget how the story ends but out of context? Hmm

So much as I love Tolkien I think if I were choosing a wedding reading I would go for something like this (it is easier to follow if you ignore the line breaks):

i carry your heart with me
by e. e. cummings

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

Estelyn Telcontar · 10-13-2010, 06:44 AM

There are some nice lines in the "Tale of Aragorn and Arwen", Appendix A, where they meet in Lórien, though their renouncement of the Shadow is included. Whether that fits the personal context of the bridal couple remains for you to decide.

Fordim Hedgethistle · 10-13-2010, 11:16 AM

"But Sam turned to Bywater, and so came back up the Hill, as day was ending once more. And he went on, and there was yellow light, and fire within; and the evening meal was ready, and he was expected. And Rose drew him in, and set him in his chair, and put little Elanor upon his lap.
"He drew a deep breath. 'Well, I'm back,' he said."

Mithalwen · 10-14-2010, 11:08 AM

Whatever you chose - and I would be curious to know..I hope all goes well..

10-12-2010, 08:33 PM	#1
Sardy Wight Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hudson Valley, NY Posts: 111	Wedding Readings - Help Needed :) Hi All-- Wonder if I might pick your collective brain for some quoteable material---I will be doing a few readings at my sister's wedding on Friday, and thought an excerpt, poem or song from Tolkiens works might be perfect!! While "The Road Goes Ever On.." seems the obvious choice, I was hoping to be pointed towards something a bit more obscure and apropos...? An excerpt/poem/song would be fine, from any of Tolkiens collected works... Any thoughts? Thanks!! __________________ www.scottchristiancarr.com They passed slowly, and the hobbits could see the starlight glimmering on their hair and in their eyes.

10-12-2010, 08:49 PM	#2
Inziladun Gruesome Spectre Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Heaven's doorstep Posts: 8,038	"Where there's a whip, there's a will, my slugs." Perfect! Perhaps part of the tale of Tinúviel as told by Strider in FOTR? __________________ Music alone proves the existence of God.

10-13-2010, 01:55 AM	#5
Erendis Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Imloth Melui,with Yoreth's sister...Just finished the Panadol stock. Posts: 398	Apart from the Tale of Tinuviel,which seems the most odvious choice,why don't you try a little bit of Thingol and Melian?The meeting part?I don't know if you do,but in our weddings we read a part of apostle Paul's letters that fits. __________________ Ah,it's good to be home again!

10-13-2010, 02:56 AM	#6
Legate of Amon Lanc A Voice That Gainsayeth Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In that far land beyond the Sea Posts: 7,431	I think there aren't many apart from those already mentioned. I think the problem is that most of the possible parts are short, apart from those mentioned above, like the lay of Lúthien. It is, of course, possible to just have a shorter quote, but it depends what exactly is the custom and how would you like to use it... Anyway, in case you wanted to consider them, there might be e.g. some parts about Faramir and Éowyn (but I think it is not exactly suited for that, but you be the judge, maybe it is in this case) or whatever... You might like to go through all of them yourself, because, you are the one who should know what is "situationally appropriate" - like, in relation to the people and their relationship and all. For instance, even the random thing from Frodo about Sam with the "You will have to be one and whole, for many years. You have so much to enjoy and to be, and to do" (which can be sort of directed towards both, not only one of them - hey, actually! Only now have I realised - wouldn't it be all too great to apply this really to both of them together, you know, in the spirit of the well-known wedding-verse "and they shall be one..."), that could be good as well... But in any case, the best are probably the "classics" as mentioned by others. Maybe, as the last one, of the "songs", some part of the song of the Ent and Entwife. But then again, you have to judge what is the best situationally fitting... it might be even something completely unlikely and not so obviously related might work, you should just consider that too... __________________ "Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories

10-13-2010, 04:26 AM	#7
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,459	This is a toughie..there are very few happy love stories in Tolkien and no real love poems. There are lovely scenes such as Faramir and Eowyn holding hands unknowing waiting for the stroke of doom but unless the congregation are all Tolkienists I wonder how much sense they would make. The wedding of Aldarion and Erendis is lovely if you forget how the story ends but out of context? Hmm So much as I love Tolkien I think if I were choosing a wedding reading I would go for something like this (it is easier to follow if you ignore the line breaks): i carry your heart with me by e. e. cummings i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart) i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling) i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true) and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart) __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

10-13-2010, 06:44 AM	#8
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	There are some nice lines in the "Tale of Aragorn and Arwen", Appendix A, where they meet in Lórien, though their renouncement of the Shadow is included. Whether that fits the personal context of the bridal couple remains for you to decide. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

10-13-2010, 11:16 AM	#9
Fordim Hedgethistle Gibbering Gibbet Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Beyond cloud nine Posts: 1,844	"But Sam turned to Bywater, and so came back up the Hill, as day was ending once more. And he went on, and there was yellow light, and fire within; and the evening meal was ready, and he was expected. And Rose drew him in, and set him in his chair, and put little Elanor upon his lap. "He drew a deep breath. 'Well, I'm back,' he said." __________________ Scribbling scrabbling.

10-14-2010, 11:08 AM	#10
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,459	Whatever you chose - and I would be curious to know..I hope all goes well.. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace